MUSIC

Goode's Armadillo Palace is proud to welcome Ryan Beaver. (acoustic show)

When Ryan Beaver went onstage for his very first public performance of his own songs, he tripped on the last step and nearly took a serious stage dive – guitar and all. So he turned to the audience and said, “They told me to break a leg and I’m trying.” That’s the kind of chutzpah that any young musician needs if they’re gonna succeed in this scarily tough business. The kind that, combined with a little naivete, drives a greenie to send his music to someone like Lloyd Maines – no introductions, no connections, just a cold-call request for an opinion. Fortunately for Beaver, Maines actually listened – and recognized the talent in what he heard. Maines hooked Beaver up with another esteemed Austin musician/producer, David Grissom – whose last high-profile gig was as guitarist/music director for the Dixie Chicks’ last tour. The result is a remarkably self-assured and mature-sounding album that fairly shouts, “This kid’s going places.”

Easily besting most of the debuts we’re likely to hear out of Nashville or anywhere else this year, Beaver’s Under the Neons contains 12 cuts – and about 12 potential hits. It also boasts contributions by some of Austin’s finest players. Even though he took what seemed like a bold approach, Beaver is a guy whose head is firmly placed on his shoulders.

Born and raised in Emory, Texas, he earned a degree in business from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2006, then went home for a year and worked in a bank while trying to decide whether he should pursue his musical dream. Meanwhile, he sent his tunes around. “I wanted to see if someone said, ‘Hey, you know, it’s pretty good. You should keep doin’ it,’ or ‘Hey, you probably need to quit.’ I didn’t know what to expect. Well, Lloyd and David really took the time; they’re great guys and it means a lot when somebody takes the time to talk to a young kid about that kind of stuff.”

Born on St. Patrick’s Day, Beaver does seem to have a four-leaf clover or two with his name on it. That first onstage experience, at the Piney Woods Pickin’ Parlor in Mineola, Texas, occurred at the invitation of his guitar teacher – who had given Beaver, then 18, just a couple of lessons before asking him to open a show. “I’ve always played music,” says Beaver. “It’s really been the thing that I’ve done and done well. … I told myself that it was gonna be a hard road. Sometimes, you fight those things that are tellin’ you you should do it. I finally quit fighting it." The new Austin resident is working on doing just that, armed with quite a collection of tunes.

Right off the bat, he grabs a listener with “South Texas Skyline,” a song he says is about “finding a place where you finally feel you belong.” “I Thought I Knew” is one of those ballads that grips the heart with its regret. “I thought I knew/what love was all about,” he sings. “I was sure from the moment I saw you, there was never any doubt/guess they were right/We just moved too fast/But my God how can you know anymore if these things are gonna last?” “Two Words Shy of Lonely” is a perfect song title – and a great song; “I Shoulda Kissed You” and the title song are big crowd-pleasers, too, as are “Too Tall Jimmy” and “Hellbound,” two rowdy, Texas-style good-time tunes. Driving country rockers, they display yet another facet of Beaver’s talent; you listen and think, “Wow, this guy’s already so good. Where will he be in five years?” The answer should be picking up his Grammys and CMA Awards.

Keep an ear out for him; with his luck, pluck and talent – and friends – don’t be surprised if he hits the big time even sooner.