Ryde at Sk8bar

I knew it was going to be a good day when the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Can’t Stop” started playing through the overhead speakers. I was at EntertainMART, one of the coolest stores on Earth, trying to kill time while I was in town before the gig started. When the song began, I recognized it instantly, but the title escaped me at first for whatever reason. Nevertheless, when I finally did recognize the song, I took it as a sign: This was going to be an awesome night.

I was in St. Joseph to see a local band called Ryde. The style of music they played was somewhat rooted in the classic era of the Chili Peppers: 90s alternative rock. That is to say, the band’s influences remain similar, albeit with a greater and heavier sound, like Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice in Chains, etc. I had interviewed the band via Snapchat the day after their debut gig in March, but I had yet to actually see their show.

Saturday. April 9 rolled around. It was the date of the band’s second gig. They were opening for a metal band from Kansas City called Torn Asunder. It would be the first time ever that I had seen a band’s show in person after initially hearing about them online. I was a bit nervous but ultimately more excited than nervous. “Can’t Stop” over the speakers fueled this emotion, something that would still be buzzing around my head even hours after the show had finished. . .

---

Sk8bar was a small but cool bar. I had never been there before, and it was almost like entering another world when I stepped through the door. Most of the concerts I have been to occurred on outdoor stages. Sk8bar was furnished with record album covers on the walls, band patches sewn onto couches, and a couple booths, like the kind one would find in a small town diner. The place oozed coolness.

I joined Ryde at one of the booths for a quick interview before the show. The band was dressed in band t-shirts and jeans - proudly displaying some of their influences of AC/DC, Soundgarden, and Iron Maiden. For drummer Lucas, lead guitarist Will, and rhythm guitarist/lead singer Nic, it was only their second show — and it was bassist James’ first show with the band. I asked the band how they were feeling since it was only their second/first gig: excited and eager to help people have a good time with their music. I asked James how he felt since it would be his debut show with the band. He said he felt good and that it helped knowing that his family and friends would be in the audience.

I was curious to know if there was anything the band would want to improve on from their first show; saying that, I knew from my prior interview that the band had been in high spirits and had had only good things to say about their debut show. Yes, it had been a success, but Ryde said they hoped the transitions between songs would work out fine, as they were testing out some not-yet-released original songs. One of these was titled “Snafu” which delighted the band upon stating that it would be “Snafu”’s debut. Still, their set would include a couple cover songs because, perhaps unfortunately, it is necessary to include a few songs people are familiar with to ease them into hearing songs they do not know. Nevertheless, the band told me that they hoped one day, when they have been more established as a band, that their original songs will be welcomed and received the same as the songs they cover in their setlist.

Ryde took the stage, opening with a cover of Iron Maiden’s “Aces High” off of Powerslave. It stands out as an epic, charged song to begin with. Energy simply soars off of this track!

For the rest of Ryde’s set, this energy would not cease; it seemed to only build with each passing song.

Their setlist was intertwined with cover songs and originals alike. Oftentimes, it would appear as a medley – with an instrumental segway bleeding into an original from a cover. There were times when these transitions were unexpected but still came across as natural, and it was a delight to experience.

“Second Life”, the band’s first original in the set, featured an amazing guitar solo. It was awesome to hear how their original songs fit into the era of their influences; it seemed that where their influences left off, Ryde picked right up and fused it together with some talent and creativity of their own.

The band paid tribute to Foo Fighters' late drummer Taylor Hawkins with a couple more covers - “Generator” and “Monkey Wrench”. “Generator” surged with energy and sounded amazing. As the set went on, the energy climbed.

“Snafu” was a song that I was excited to look forward to. It was a song that had briefly come up in the interview after the first gig, but it would not be debuted until their second show. I think this song is a good representation of the band, rising up in an exhibition of epicness with a guitar solo that made me stop and pause just to try to fully appreciate it. “Snafu” radiates with strong adrenaline, something that starts with the bass intro and does not surrender by the end of the track.

The band finished off with a cover of Metallica’s “Creeping Death” and another original song titled “Lose Your Mind”. I was eager to hear “Lose Your Mind” in a live setting, as it was a song I had first been introduced to thanks to the band’s Soundcloud. Hearing the song live was a really cool experience; it is one thing to hear a song in a recorded version, but hearing it live is arguably the most definitive version. With live music, one does not get to redo or have a second take. What you hear is what you get. And in this case, it was an awesome experience. Truly, from the beginning of their set to the end, Ryde was a band who soared and glistened with energy, attitude, and emotion. My only request would be to hear their other song “Tribute” in a live setting, but it was a great set as it stands. A band in their early days is something full of potential and excitement, and seeing Ryde’s second show was certainly an experience fulfilled by such expectations.

Ryde’s next show is yet to be announced, but in the meantime, one can listen to their music on Soundcloud and look forward to when their next gig is, as I would highly recommend seeing Ryde in person. The characteristics from their studio material - where emotion and determination reign - are exhibited further and expanded upon in a live setting.

At the end of the night, I was left to reflect that it had indeed been a good day and an even better gig. Perhaps, recognizing a song you know in a secondhand store is a good omen, and one that you should follow, especially in the instance that it leads you to support a small, local band whose talent is still in the early stage; yet, it remains a source of interest and intrigue. . . What is next for Ryde is unknown, but what is known for the band is their ability to write original energizing songs of their own while still paying tribute to those who have come before.

SETLIST:

Aces High - Iron maiden

Second Life - Ryde original

Generator - Foo Fighters

Snafu - Ryde original

Creeping Death - Metallica

Lose Your Mind - Ryde original