When his bandmate and lead singer fell ill before a music festival in early 2024, Ryan David Green faced a pivotal decision: perform solo or cancel the set. He chose to step on stage alone, offering the audience something unexpected by leaning heavily on his original solo guitar compositions. The final notes were met with a standing ovation. “That’s when I had this great feeling,” Green recalls, “that there were others out there like me, who were moved by this kind of music too.”
A longtime member of the acoustic duo Ryanhood (with whom he’s toured and shared stages with Jason Mraz and Train), Green now makes a bold and confident entry into the captivating world of solo guitarists with his album, Off and Running. Filled with virtuosic guitar that is remarkably accessible, the album features eight instrumentals and three vocal pieces, offering moods both otherworldly and surprisingly intimate.
The album showcases Green's versatility, from the joyful fingerstyle opener “The Journey” to the poignant vocal ballad “Afterlife” (amusingly based on a transcendental conversation he had with his 3-year-old son). There’s a seamless interplay between instruments, featuring guests like drummer Jordan Perlson (Adrien Belew, Kaki King), dobro player Abbie Gardner (Red Molly), and Juno Award-winning violinist Ben Plotnick (The Fretless), who all add depth and texture to the songs on which they appear.
Unlike many in the virtuoso instrumentalist field, Green’s intricate guitar work feels purposeful and emotive, aiming to connect rather than just impress. And while he may prefer to let the music do the talking most of the time, his spoken words carry a compelling yet gentle conviction.
Album Credits:
The Journey (2:52)
Afterlife (3:07)
Reina de la Noche (2:56)
Looking Back (4:51)
Off and Running (3:21)
Time Is Not What You Think It Is (2:19)
In a Dream (2:14)
Song for Beth (3:06)
I Fell (2:23)
After the Rain (2:35)
Was It Always Like This? (2:39)
Production Details: Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Ryan David Green Tracks 1, 2, 5 & 9 mixed by Ryan Alfred Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova Cover Artwork by Jessica Gonzales Photography by Taylor Noel Photography
Guest Musicians:
- Drums on track 1 by Jordan Perlson
- String arrangements, violins, and violas by Ben Plotnick
- Cellos by Kaitlyn Raitz
- Dobro by Abbie Gardner
About Ryan David Green: A graduate of Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, Ryan David Green has performed on four continents, been profiled in Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and twice been named "Best Guitarist" in the Tucson Music Awards (where he currently resides).
His original compositions have received numerous film and TV placements, including shows on E!, Lifetime, and ABC Family/Freeform. His acoustic duo Ryanhood (with musical partner Cameron Hood) has performed with a wide range of artists including Jason Mraz, Matt Nathanson, and Train, and were named the "Best Group/Duo" in the International Acoustic Music Awards.
National Flatpicking Champion Peter McLaughlin describes Green’s playing as “powerful, unpretentious, tasteful, inspirational, and evocative”. Peppino D’Agostino (voted ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist’ by Guitar Player Magazine) adds, “Green's touch on the guitar is delicate and intentional, adding nuance to already captivating melodies”. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls Green “A Berklee-trained player capable of full-on shredding”.
