CAMBRIDGE, MA - July 7--The Friday night show at Club Passim began with the pleasure of an unannounced Owen Plant opening set. I had previously seen Owen play at City Limits in Tucson, but crowd issues in trying to check IDs and identify those who were over and under 21 made it difficult to focus on Owen. This time, I was able to truly enjoy the show put on by a very talented performer about whom I've previously heard many raves. I would have enjoyed a longer set, and hope to have another chance to see Owen in the near future!

This show was my chance to see Ryanhood in their other home, the other location which could be argued as the starting point for their careers. Seeing a show at Club Passim, about which I've heard so much history and so many stories, just made it an even more fun show to attend.

Ryanhood took the stage with “Army,” followed by “Stopless.” Lately, both are staples for Ryanhood shows. Following those two, they played the jam currently referred to as “Appy Jam,” but with a possible new name coming in the future. Even though they played it the night before, it seemed to take new, different turns, with a different energy. Each time I hear this instrumental, it seems different, though I haven't yet figured out if there's improvisation going on, or just energy changes making it seem new each day.

Ryanhood's set included the rarely played “Look Love;” Ryan and Cameron explained that Club Passim audiences are "listening audiences", so it was a song which could be played for them. The chords for “Helpless Hopeless” were "borrowed" for "Postcards," which went immediately into a rejuvenated “Helpless Hopeless.” As Ryanhood works with their producer, Ross Hogarth, there's a certain recognizable feel to songs they are considering for their new CD. This night, “Helpless Hopeless” was recognizable as one of those songs. The feel of the song shifted in a way that, while you could tell it was the same song as on Forward, it was also clear that it has headed in a new direction. With plans for a much wider distribution with their next CD, the "new" “Helpless Hopeless” seems a great option for Ryanhood.

The set finished with Owen returning to stage to play the song he co-wrote with Ryan and Cameron, “Around the Sun.” The song debuted at Club Passim back in March as “Move Me Round the Sun,” and has since undergone changes in preparation for studio recording. The encore was “Welcome You Into My Head,” which has also undergone changes for possible use on the next CD. Lyrics have changed, the parasol is gone, but it's still clearly the same song. As they finished, Ryanhood received a standing ovation from a clearly entertained and impressed crowd.

Set List:

Army
Stopless
Appy Jam
Okay
Photographs
You Used To
Back Into Blue
Gardens and the Graves
Look Love
Mrs. Robinson/Ms. Jackson mashup
Ivy
Postcards->Helpless Hopeless
The World Awaits You
Nothing But the Real Thing
Born to Run to You
Around the Sun (with Owen Plant)

Encore: Welcome You Into My Head