Made A Believer Out Of Me

Life takes you to wild places if you just let it. Although I’ve always said I’m just a writer with a camera, I’ve been using it more lately to document rallies and protests across the Twin Cities. My photos are nothing special, but like my concert photos, they capture a moment in time. They’re raw and convey emotion so beautifully. That’s what I did Saturday during the day- documented yet another rally and march of the people around the state capitol in Saint Paul. By the time it was over, I was exhausted and cold (it was freaking chilly out on Saturday morning), but my day wasn’t over. Although I was tired, I needed a perfect show to cap off my beautiful day, and, thankfully, The Turf Club in Saint Paul had just the show for me.

Clayton Ryan has been all over the country, whether that was through touring or where he decided to lay his head for a certain amount of time, but here he is in Minnesota– a place that he and I agree is a truly amazing place. It didn’t take me long to fall into Clayton’s world. His powerful voice was as commanding as it was beautiful. Each word felt like a new ocean to explore in a way. The depth of his voice was immeasurable, and the emotion that came with each word made you feel like you had known Clayton for years. It was just what I needed to continue the powerful sense of community and love I had felt earlier in the day, and it also had the perfect amount of spark to help me push through how tired I was.

Although it was hard to take your eyes off Clayton due to the sheer vocal power this man has and his larger-than-life quality (this guy is tall- like super tall- like a giant tall and I mean that with all the love and I hate to call him out like that but, come on, Clayton is freaking tall), there was no ignoring the band that was backing him. They were tight to a point where I don’t even have the right words to describe it. Sure, Clayton’s voice was stunning, but there were moments when Clayton let the band take over, and you really got a chance to see that it wasn’t just Clayton, it was his band. One of these moments was during their truly amazing cover of “War Pigs” from Black Sabbath. Sure, an interesting choice for a more singer-songwriter leaning vibe, but it was so perfect. It showed just how much creativity both Clayton and his band have. I don’t know how I’ve been sleeping on Clayton Ryan for so long, but he definitely grabbed my attention and heart on Saturday night. I can’t wait for another night spent with this truly amazing musician.

Honestly, I could say the same thing about the headliner of the night- Liam St. John. Sonically, Liam St. John and his amazing band seemed to bridge the gap between a singer-songwriter styled American sound with something a bit more classic Rock n’ Roll. Every song they played, even the softer, acoustic-based ones, came with a sense of life behind it that I wasn’t quite expecting but one I welcomed. Although it felt like all smiles and cheer just due to the energy that Liam and his band brought to the stage, there was no denying the feeling of depth and emotion that he brought to the table. Every song told a story and, even if that’s not what Liam talked about between the tracks (more on that in a hot minute), you were quick to fall into his story in a very personal way.

Liam St. John is a talker. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s a heck of a performer, too, but there was just something so special about the way he interacted with the crowd between almost every song. He was funny and raw. At one point, he admitted to the audience that he had to use the bathroom and left the band on stage to jam for a couple of minutes. Sure, this could have absolutely been planned, but in the context of everything else that Liam had said between each song, it fit and didn’t feel like a schtick or anything like that. From talking (and singing) about his childhood and growing up with the “forefathers” (Jim Beam, Evan Williams, Johnnie Walker, and Jack Daniels) to just being almost flirty with the audience in a way, you may have walked into this set knowing nothing about this man but, by the time it was done, you felt like you had been friends for years. Was this something he does at every set he performs? I don’t know, but I’d like to think that the love that could be felt throughout the Turf Club led to a much more intimate and personal experience for us all.

Before I let you go, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Liam St. John’s amazing band. Like the set from Clayton Ryan, it was all eyes and ears on Liam, but there was no ignoring his tight band. You really have to see their talent shine during Liam’s bathroom break, but there was never a point during the set when the band wasn’t holding their own. I don’t mean that just musically, I mean that with their personalities as well. This is a band that clearly loves what they do, and they do it because they love it. Even during the slower, sadder songs, there was something joyous shining from the faces of the entire band. It added that special sauce that I needed to turn a set that would typically lull me to sleep sonically into a powerful night that will not be soon forgotten.