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Turn down the lights. Go get yourself a slow sipping drink. That’s where you’ll want to be when the smooth soul of Ryan McCalmon “washes over you,” according to the performer’s Web site, http://www.ryanmccal-mon.com. Hailing from Portland, Maine, McCalmon will bring his emotionally charged “Acoustic-Soul-Rock” fusion to the Frequency at Memorial Union tonight at 8 p.m. for what looks to be a great evening of music.
Nominated Best Singer-Songwriter at the Boston Music Awards this year, McCalmon has impressive achievements. His current album, “Come Home,” marks a return to his acoustic roots. He has spent time playing with a range of other groups in recent years. Released in December 2005, McCalmon’s album has garnered critical acclaim. Consisting of eight tracks, it is a “low-key, soulful album, charming enough to woo anyone with a beating heart,” wrote Amy Martin in the Portland Phoenix on its release last year.
McCalmon’s style echoes older soul classics of the 1970s, such as Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers, while complementing his contemporaries including Amos Lee and Ray LaMontagne. Usually joined by Matt Lydon on drums and Gavin Castleton on keyboard, McCalmon will give a solo performance tonight.
His MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/ryanmccalmon, provides readers with a four-track sneak preview, which includes “Had to Lose,” “Walking Away,” “Ocean Eyes” and “All This Time.” For more information, tour dates or photos, check out McCalmon’s official Web site.
Sam Pfeifle, writing for The Phoenix, described McCalmon’s music as “soulful and thoughtful R&B, pop and soul” in which “everything’s languid, but it’s sultry Courvoissier languid, not groggy morphine languid. Bear-rug-in-front-of-a-fireplace languid.” And if the weather is finally on the turn, tonight’s Frequency could be a great opportunity to welcome winter snuggled in with a few friends. So grab yourself a coffee and settle in for an hour or so of stress-free soul – rug optional.
Related Posts:- Acoustic songwriter bares soul at Java Jive (February 27, 2003)
- ‘Tin Chef’ invades the Union tonight (April 18, 2005)
- Renaissance and Chapter 6 rock Memorial Union (April 14, 2003)
- Frequency teams up with UVote to ‘rock’ the Union (October 23, 2006)
- Boston-based acoustic act plays to dismal crowd for Frequency finale (December 4, 2006)
