Ryan Beatty Plays to a Silent Basement (East)

If you’ve been to The Basement East before, you wouldn’t have recognized it on Feb. 19. Ryan Beatty was scheduled to play at 8 p.m. with no openers–just him and his incredibly talented band.

Regardless of the artist performing, The Basement East is typically a high-energy raucous environment with the most eager fans in the front row and others milling about, drinks in hand, maintaining a low hum of conversation while enjoying the set.

This was different.

I knew the guest list would be full and that this was a sold-out show, but I’d been to “sold-out” shows before. I didn’t think twice about it. When I walked in 15 minutes before the start of the set, I was pleasantly shocked to find that the venue was already packed full. People were eagerly waiting for Ryan to make an appearance and when he did, the place erupted. But then it quickly fell to complete silence. And it stayed that way nearly the entire time.

Ryan made his way to his signature seat in the middle of the stage, fitted his headphones and made a quick introduction, sharing that he was feeling a little under the weather but would still give the performance his all. And although his speaking voice was a little raspy, his singing didn’t suffer.

After the first few songs, Ryan admitted from the stage that he’s quite comfortable with silence so he wasn’t planning on talking much. He followed the warning with a sheepish joke about feeling awkward. Whether due to not feeling his best or because he wasn’t feeling chatty, Ryan followed through on the promise and let the music do the talking.

This would be a show unlike any other I’d seen, especially at a standing-room only venue. Ryan never moved from his seat and the audience stood in silent, rapt attention for a full hour. It became clear that this was not your average audience either. The room was full of not only Ryan’s fans, but his friends and colleagues. They were fellow artists, producers and industry professionals. The crowd knew every word but sang them in such reverence, at a volume that communicated more respect than enthusiasm. So much so that I almost regret fumbling my way through the enamored crowd to get to the bar*. I definitely stepped on the toes of people much more talented than me.

*The Basement East has the crispest Miller Lite in Nashville. I can’t explain it and I can’t resist it. You’re welcome.

He is probably most comfortable as a producer, evidenced by the way he so clearly feels and moves with every pulse and inflection in his music, but Ryan Beatty is being packaged as a pop star. And it’s working for him. Although his set was only an hour give or take (I’m not complaining about being in bed before 11 on a weeknight), Ryan Beatty clearly filled the souls of those listening. The applause and cheers that followed his set were those of his peers honoring his craft and that of his band.

The type of music Ryan creates doesn’t require a live band in today’s world, but his choice to play with one showcases his commitment to the art and creating a more immersive, compelling and textured experience for himself and the audience. This choice paid off at The Basement East with the crowd cheering even more enthusiastically for the band as a whole than Ryan as an individual— again, a testament to the musical caliber and appreciation of the crowd.

I hope Ryan Beatty was able to rest his voice after a night like that. He earned it.