Our lives are bookmarked with great songs. We remember the one we played for our high school sweetheart, we remember the one that played when we held hands at the roller rink, we remember the ones that gave us the soundtrack to our first road trip or retreat. Great songs—the ones that say things we didn’t even know we wanted to—are hard to come by, and Ryan Meyers writes great songs.
The Ryan Meyers Band call Mississippi home, but find themselves playing their music all over the country to bars, churches, and auditoriums full of people with one thing in common: they love great songs. In their travels, the band has found a home at many Catholic churches, thanks to their faith-based songwriting, passion, and advocacy for “the least of these,” those most marginalized by society. While the band speaks from an undeniably Catholic Christian worldview, people of all faith traditions (or none at all) find common ground in the themes of life and love, faith and doubt, struggle and freedom. “Jesus is about real life,” says Ryan in an interview with a local radio station. “The Gospel is about real life, so the Church and the art it produces should be about real life.”
The band believes that “real life” should be explored honestly in their music, and their latest release from GIA’s Disciple Records label, “Quiet Cities”, is a testament to that ideal. Songs like “Boy” and “Running Out of Faith” manage to straddle the line between autobiographical and universal, chronicling a seeker’s journey of growing up, and struggling with faith, both in himself and in the divine. “Days Like These” and “Hold On” explore relationships old and new, and “Life as a Carnival” takes an artistic look at life’s many distractions from truth and love. “Wherever Your Treasure Is,” the most overtly Christian lyric on the record, is a prayer born from Ryan’s experience of losing many of his material possessions and rediscovering what was truly important after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on his area in the fall of 2005. Through the lens of faith, the Ryan Meyers Band gives an honest representation of what it means to be truly human.
Ryan Meyers Band’s live performance has graduated from great to truly outstanding over the past five years of touring, and has garnered praise from not just church groups (which tend to be more forgiving) but from major players in the mainstream pop-rock scene. In a recent review, the band is said to “take their audience on a high-energy journey through the things they thought they’d long given up on… Meyers’ honesty on stage and the band’s feel and reaction to the audience had a room full of strangers resolving to one another as they left to give faith another chance, and to rekindle relationships they’d let die.”
Ryan Meyers Band is currently booking for the next season, and would love to make an appearance at your church or venue. Call (601) 434-1049 or e-mail booking@ryanmeyersband.com for more information.
RMB is...
- Ryan Meyers (guitar, vocals, songwriter)
- Josh Foulon (drums, background vocals)
- Matt Woodard (bass)
- Joby Barnum (lead guitar)
About Ryan...
From the press release from Ryan's first CD, "Learning to Dream."
Ryan Meyers took his first guitar lessons as a student at Sacred Heart School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Little could he have imagined that within a dozen years his faith and musical talent would come together in a fresh way to reach out to young Catholics with the message of Christ’s love through the innovative genre of contemporary Catholic music.
In his debut album with Disciple Records, “Learning to Dream,” Meyers – now an accomplished guitarist -- mingles heartfelt lyrics with soulful and energetic acoustic pop music to take his listeners on a journey into today’s world through the eyes of faith and hope.
“This album is introspective – almost confessional,” says Meyers. “It reflects the things I was thinking about when I wrote it, things like relationships. Are they strong? Will they last? It deals with horizontal and vertical relationships – with others and with God.”
Meyers says he finds lyrical inspiration simply by paying attention to life. Whether he is sharing his belief that God is always with him (“Sometimes in Silence”) or sharing the plight of society’s most marginalized people (a homeless man, a prostitute and an unborn baby in “Invisible People”), Meyers’ work has a clear focus.
“I am especially trying to reach out to Catholics in their late teens,” he says. “They aren’t used to being preached at, and they don’t know what to think about Christian music. I am catering to a less religious or spiritual audience, while still drawing them to this type of thought – and I want them to enjoy the music at the same level as the mainstream stuff they listen to. I want my music to have a crossover appeal.”
A big fan of recording artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and Elton John to Bebo Norman and Switchfoot, Meyers seeks to constantly broaden his musical horizons. And as the Director of Youth Liturgy at Sacred Heart Church in Hattiesburg, he is well acquainted with the audience he is trying to reach.
“I grew up in Sacred Heart Church,” says Meyers. “I’ve lived in Hattiesburg since I was two.”
From his early years, Meyers says he could pick up any stringed instrument and play it, but he didn’t start to perform until his first semester of college. That was when he met and teamed up with fellow musician Doc Harrison to form the Christian praise and worship duo, “The Elusive Dudes.”
“That’s when it became evident to me that I wanted to become a professional musician,” he says.
With religious roots in the Catholic church, Meyers says, “I have no clue what I’d be like without my Catholic faith. It’s such a huge part of who I am, how I think, everything. There have been quite a few times where I’ve thought that things would be a lot easier – especially in music – if I detached myself from it. As many hardships that come with being a Catholic, especially lately, I can’t find any instruction that’s truer to the message of Christ.”
Today Meyers is married and the father of a beautiful little girl, Anna. As he continues to expand his music ministry to an ever-larger audience, his desires remain the same.
“I hope my music will make people think about things in a new way,” he concludes. “I hope it’ll make them tap their feet. I mostly hope it’ll make them smile.”
Notable Performances
National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry, MAIN STAGE (Pittsburg, Las Vegas)
National Catholic Youth Conference (St. Louis, Atlanta)
Young Neighbors in Action (Tijuana, St. Louis, Chicago, Gulf Coast, Detroit)
Future Full of Hope Katrina Benefit (St. Louis)
Rock for Relief Katrina Benefit (Boston)
East Coast Religious Education Conference (Washington, DC)
Hofinger Conference for Religious Education (New Orleans)
What We Can Do
Our primary method of doing ministry is through concerts of our original music. We find this to be the most effective use of our talents, and are constantly amazed at the great reactions from people young and old after an evening of sharing our music. That being said, if your event is in need of something other than an evening concert, we're also proficient at the following:
Concerts
Youth/Lifeteen Mass
Praise & Worship / XLT format (with or without Adoration)
Prayer Services
House Band for Weekend Retreats
House Band for Conferences or Rallys
Music Leaders for Mission Trips or Getaways
Day of Christian Service (we provide the "Sendoff", help to arrange and participate in meaningful service with the youth of your parish, and finish up with a high-energy concert)
Ask Us (we can probably do it or point you to a friend who can)
Ryan is also available for the following as an addition to any booked concert, or on days that the band needs a day to rest:
Talks / Teaching (especially the subjects of Catholic Social Teaching and Effective Youth Liturgy)
Workshops for Young Liturgical Musicians or Planners
Retreat or Event Theme Song Composition (please allow 3 months for composition, and another for recording if desired)
Sample Lyrics
Of all the aspects of our ministry, the lyrical content of our music is what we're most proud of. Here's a sample of a few of our most popular songs:
Invisible People
Download MP3
I’m an invisible man
You look right through me so you won’t feel the pain
Of knowing that the way you live determines where I stand
In my invisible world
You give me nickles, but you won’t shake my hand
And I can’t believe in the “God” you claim to serve
I’m an invisible man
I’m an invisible girl
Men, you smile at me with five-dollar bills
Though you see my skin on Tuesdays, boys, you’ve never seen my eyes
In my invisible dreams
I ride the carriages of princes and queens
But in the morning when I wake I want to put myself to sleep
We are the least of these
You look through us every day
We are the least of these
We beg for your change
We starve for your love
We aren’t invisible
But we are invisible
I’m an invisible child
My mother says I’m just a careless mistake
But I didn’t really accidentally come
In my invisible world
I have a hearbeat ,but I don’t have a voice
And you think if you can’t hear me scream that I feel no pain
We are the least of these
You look through us every day
We are the least of these
We beg for a change
We starve for your love
We aren’t invisible
But we are invisible
Could we really be the face of God?
Could we really be the face of God if we are invisible?
Walk Away
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Have you ever felt a love so deep it makes your heart break?
Have you ever felt a love so good?
Have you ever known a love that covers everything you can't shake?
Have you ever known a love so good?
I love you.
I saw you staring through the glass pane of a window in an airplane.
I saw you looking for a love so good.
I heard you praying in a dark room where you were sure no one would hear you.
I heard you praying for a love so good.
I love you.
I know where you are and I know where you've been, but still I'm calling out your name.
I know just how hard a little life can be, but you can leave it all behind.
Come walk away with me.
I saw you sitting in the back row where all the sinners come to dine with me.
I saw you longing for a love so good.
I heard you crying in the corner prepared to welcome me with perfume.
I heard you dying for a love so good.
I love you.
I know where you are and I know where you've been, but still I'm calling out your name.
I know just how hard a little life can be, but you can leave it all behind.
Come walk away with me.
Running Out of Faith
Download MP3
I hung your picture on the wall
Next to the cross you carried
And standing underneath it all
Can't help but keep on staring
I'm running out of hope
I'm running out of love
I wonder if this faith
Could ever be enough
That mustard seed seems bigger every day
I'm running out of faith
Like a diamond in the sky
With everybody underneath
I know you're closer than the air I breathe
But you seem completely out of reach
I'm running out of hope
I'm running out of love
I wonder if this faith
Could ever be enough
That mustard seed seems bigger every day
I'm running out of faith
I'm running out of hope
I'm running out of love
I wonder if my faith, unfaithful as I am
Could ever be enough
That mustard seed seems bigger every day
I'm running out of faith
Recordings (Main Releases)
 Released April 2006 GIA's Disciple Records |
Quiet CitiesChasing After HomeMiddle America Running Out of Faith Hold On Boy Waiting Up Life as a Carnival Days Like These Linger Quiet Cities Wherever Your Treasure Is (The Hurricane Song) |
 Released September 2003 Independent Re-Released August 2004 GIA's Disciple Records |
Learning to DreamSometimes in SilenceInvisible People Broken This Road Walk Away This Moment Forever Picturebox Learning to Dream Traveling Song Tell Me Tyler |
Recordings (Compilations)
 Released November 2006 Aftermass Records (Indie) |
Catholic: Go ahead. Listen.A dual-disc compilation given out at the 2006 NCCYMRunning Out of Faith Invisible People |
 Released November 2006 Cincinnatti Rock for Life |
Cincinnatti Rock for LifeA compilation Cincinnatti Rock for Life and Pregnancy Center WestInvisible People |
 Released October 2005 GIA Publications |
Mercy, Mercy!A benefit album for parish musicians affected by Hurricane KatrinaSometimes in Silence |
 Released February 2005 GIA Publications |
Fireside Youth Bible Companion CDA CD and prayer booklet released to compliment the Fireside Youth Bible for young CatholicsBroken |
 Released October 2005 Archdiocese of St. Louis |
Future Full of HopeA CD sold in the St. Louis Archdiocese to benefit families affected by Hurricane KatrinaRunning Out of Faith (LIVE RECORDING) |
Basic Booking Information
We've never in our 5 years of itenerant ministry turned down an opportunity to perform and minister to young people because of money. That being said, we do offer our services to the Church on a full-time basis, meaning that what we do pays for the roofs over our heads and the food on our families' tables (not to mention health insurance!). As a starting point for each performance, we ask for $1,800, plus mileage from point A (Hattiesburg, MS or the previous performance) to B (you) to C (the next performance or back to Hattiesburg) at $0.50/mile. For this cost we're able to consistently provide professional sound reinforcement, ample promotional materials, and a high-energy, high-quality performance.
If your parish or event has a smaller budget than you feel appropriate for our band, please let us know, because there are ALWAYS ways to make it better for everyone. One obvious way is to arrange for another concert in the same or neighboring diocese to reduce travel costs, another is to team up with other groups (possibly even other faith traditions to make it an ecumenical gathering) and co-sponsor the event. Also, sometimes funds can be appropriated from other ministries within the church if we provide a workshop or service gathering during the day before an evening concert. Any way we can make it feasible to do ministry at your event, we'll make those accomodations.
The process of booking an event usually follows the same pattern:
1. Initial Contact (you call us or we call you)
2. Review (we look at the needs of your event, you determine whether we're a good fit for you)
3. Stipend Negotiation (together we work out a fair stipend for the band that is within reason for your community)
4. Contract/Deposit (we send you a contract, and you return it signed with a 30% deposit on the stipend)
5. Promotion/Preparation (together we strategize promotion of the event, we provide materials for your use and make suggestions to how to go about getting young people there)
6. Travel Expenses (before we leave, we have a check from you for the full travel amount agreed upon)
7. Performance (after getting lost at least 3 times, we arrive at your parish, set up sound, finally put a face to names, drink a lot of water, and do what we're best at).
8. Follow-up (hopefully you'll tell us how amazing everything was and make suggestions how to make it even better)
Contact Us
You can contact Ryan directly at the 2thru7 Artists Agency: (601) 434-1049 or by e-mailing booking@ryanmeyersband.com.
Please be prepared with a general idea for a date, what the needs of the event are, an estimated budget, expected attendence, and whether or not you plan to charge admission.