The second show in this current series of Since The Devil Is Gone I Mostly Feel Lonely sees Ryan Francesconi take the stage at Monarch armed simply with his acoustic guitar. Having been part of Joanna Newsom’s backing band for some time and not to mention the brains behind much of her last album Have One On Me, he has been proiducing his music for years, both acoustic and electronic and now takes himself to Europe to show us wannabe guitar players how it’s really done…I’m not a wannabe by the way, I just don’t try, it’s easier:
In 2011, Portland’s Ryan Francesconi has established himself as a leading figure in acoustic composition and performance.
Parables, his first record under his own name (having been producing solo electronic music as RF since 1999), gave dazzling notice of his ability to conjure pieces that ring with personal truth while absorbing myriad influences and techniques. Recorded live without overdubs, Francesconi’s solo acoustic guitar creates a surprisingly rich sound that hints at his extensive musical interests – American bluegrass, Baroque lute music, traditional Bulgarian folk and jazz improvisation among others.
“One of the most awe-inspiring musicians I ve known … it is nearly impossible to believe he’s picking those strings with just one hand. This is solo music that sounds like an ensemble, an ecstatic and measured reconciliation of West-African/ Balkan/ Baroque/ bluegrass influences, which ultimately resembles nothing I know”
– Joanna Newsom
Here’s he is…see if you can keep up with his fingers movements…must drive his cats nuts:
