WXPN Artist To Watch - December 2007
Ryan Bingham

South roots country rocker, Ryan Bingham, has a rough style that encapsulates his life struggles on Texas and New Mexico ranching communities. Though he is still young at 26 years old, his husky voice and mature content makes him appear wise beyond his years. According to Texas Monthly, "Bingham sings what he knows: Both a boyhood marked by one eviction after another and a career as a bull rider on the Southwest rodeo circuit seem to inform his every word." His music is infused with strong bayou- influenced instrumentals, heavy southwestern flavors and stubborn lyrics, which combined create incredible music that demands an audience.

His new album, Mescalito, contains hit after hit of gritty and dense material. Songs such as "Borracho Station" incorporate Spanish language and culture into the lyrics. Though his lyrics occasionally become extremely wordy, they evoke a great sense of Bingham's struggles and personality. However, not all of his songs are flooded with his tender and informative accounts on life. Some songs, such as "Bread and Water," sparsely contain lyrics and focus more on bluesy melodies. The album also demonstrates Bingham's inventiveness with the use of mandolins, harmonicas, strong stomps, claps and the slide guitar. While his lyrics and guitar playing are at the forefront of his music, the rest of the sound skillfully emulates loneliness and hardship.

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