Thanks for the copy.. honored to see my name there. You've done something here. I was thinking about the writing - a beauty of honest anguish. This album is unique, it doesn't just play - it makes you listen. till then Gene
Former Cooperstown resident releases his first solo album
Ryan Burger - who goes by Weaver - formerly performed with a group called "The Well." By AMANDA WITHERELL Staff writer
A former local man is making his dream a reality. Ryan Burger, 31, a 1993 graduate of Rocky Grove High School and former resident of Cooperstown, released his first solo album, "Transfer", in September. As with most new artists, Burger, who goes by Weaver, started performing in garages. "I was about 15 when I started in garage bands," Weaver said. "I used to get rides to practice." After graduation and with garages behind him, Weaver attended the Music Institute in Hollywood to pursue his musical career. Weaver, who says his musical influences include Neil Young and Bob Dylan because of their storytelling styles, graduated from the Music Institute two years later and moved back to Pennsylvania. After moving home, Weaver traveled to Pittsburgh periodically, looking to perform. "Right after I graduated in California, I moved home and would drive to Pittsburgh looking for music," Weaver said. "I was ready to rock." In his travels to Pittsburgh, Weaver teamed with fellow musician Michael Evans, and they formed the band The Well. The band also included Jennifer Bruce and Franklin native John Monarch. "We played a lot in Pittsburgh, where I moved and lived for five years," Weaver said. "The band became real popular. We recorded our first album in 1995." But The Well's success appeared short-lived when Evans moved to Florida. "After Michael (Evans) moved to Jacksonville, he would call and tell us how much opportunity (for musicians) there was there," Weaver said. "So we moved to Florida." "He was right, there is so much opportunity, the summer is so long and there's entertainment everywhere," he said. "There are so many places to play. I realized if you are good and motivated, you can live off of that (playing shows) here." Since the move to Jacksonville, Weaver has taken on a couple of different projects. The Well, which became popular in Florida as well, broke up in 2005. "Immediately following the last Well show, the band Safety 1st was formed," Weaver said. "It's a six to seven piece band that I've played with for two years. We didn't hit it as hard but it was kind of a nice break." "After The Well broke up, I took a year to regroup," Weaver said. "During that down time, I worked on "Transfer." While on downtime from Safety 1st, Weaver developed his own independent label and recorded "Transfer", his first solo album. "I did it all myself," Weaver said. "I actually recorded it on an eight track and brought it back to Pennsylvania to do the rhythm tracks." While in Pennsylvania, Weaver called upon his "favorite drummer", Franklin native Steve McMurray, to aid him in the rhythms. "He's my favorite guy to work with," Weaver said. "I wouldn't even call a famous drummer before I call him, but with me being in Florida, time and money only allow so much." Weaver wrapped up his recording with McMurray in Franklin and took his album back to Florida, where it was released Sept. 6. Weaver and his fellow musicians also make annual summer trips back to Pennsylvania. "We use the trip as a vacation and to see family," Weaver said. They also perform a free outdoor concert while they are home. "We've done this every year in August, this is the 11th year coming up," he said. "They call it Weavestock. It's held on a piece of property my friend owns in Geneva (near Conneaut Lake). We don't advertise anymore, we just leak the date and people show up." Weaver is now working on a new project with a new band called Captain Hook. "We've been writing every week," Weaver said. "There's open jam nights all over down here, so we have been able to test drive a couple of our songs and it turned out really well." Captain Hook performs a slightly different sound than Weaver's "Transfer." "We play a lot of our own songs, but we've got more of a Nirvana and Audio Slave sound," Weaver said. "It's much different than on my "Transfer" CD. I got that out of my system and I'm ready to slash again." More information about Weaver and his CD can be found at weavermusic.biz.
The air is stale and smells of dried peanuts and beer.
Barflies drag on cigarettes.More beer flows.Then,a sound wafts up through the floorboards,a sharp electric whine,changing the mood in an instant.
Jacksonville guitarist and songwriter Weaver begins to sing ,performing songs from his solo release,"Transfer".It's his first attempt at making music on his own,though he's played in a number of bands around northeast Florida.Weaver began working in Jacksonville with pop band The Well, wich broke up in 2004,and currently keeps his chops up with The Safety 1st Band.But his new record is more of a personal venture,one he describes as "a group of songs i had inside of me"[transfer is] an opportunity to get them out of my system."
Weaver wanted his first record to be simple,nothing more than acoustic guitar,bass,drums,harmonica, and voice.So he bought an 8 track reel to reel tape recorder and converted his dad's garage into a makeshift recording studio.To release the record,Weaver created Unga Bunga Music Publishing.The record represents a story he's been waiting to tell for sometime,and the fact that Weaver did it himself,made it that much more personal."Technology the way it is,people with experience...can get good equipment and do it on your own,"he says."Doing it on your own time."
Now that he's gotten his mellow debut out of his system,Weaver is ready to get back to the bussiness of rock-and-roll working with guitarist Ron Grimes on new material."Everything is going to change again,"he says."Me and my bass player, Dell ,are writing new songs...There's a mean fire comming back to rock real hard."
"Transfer" is available at Weaver's website at WEAVERMUSIC.BIZ
Bikers and Local businesses help out musician
I'm a Blues aficionado. I mean I really LOVE Blues music, particularly bands with a good harmonica player. I've seen Blues bands all over the country and there are two Blues harp players in the Jacksonville area that are among the best I have ever heard play. One of those two, Tommy Ray Kittle, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Tommy had been enduring the chemotherapy and radiation treatments while still working, until he had to have surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. While he is recovering from the surgery for the next couple of months, Tommy is unable to work his regular job and has been informed by his employer that he has no disability insurance. He can't even play any music gigs, due to the surgery.
Tommy currently lives in St. Augustine, but comes from Athens, Georgia. He has been singing since he was three years old, started playing guitar at the age of eight, and has been playing Blues harp since 1984 with various Blues bands. He additionally was the front man for a group out of Athens, called the Condors, that played all over Georgia.
Some friends of his, Chuck and Julie Johnson, with a lot of help from Robert and Terri Wagner, James Townsend, and Brian and Bobby Kessinger, decided to organize a benefit to help out Tommy with his bills and living expenses. They got together with Ed and June Brown, and set up a motorcycle poker run and party afterwards at Whitey's Fish Camp on SR 220 on Fleming Island. For those unfamiliar with poker runs, there are five designated stops, including the start and end points (usually bars), where each participant will draw a card. At the end of the run, the holder of the best poker hand wins the pre-determined cash prize. For this poker run, the designated stops were: starting point-Whitey's Fish Camp; 1st stop-the Howling Wolf in Putnam Hall; 2nd stop-the Hi Level Bar in Palatka; 3rd stop-John's Pit Stop in Green Cove Springs; and then back to Whitey's for a total of 98 miles.
Chuck and Julie put out the word for donatable items and wound up with over three thousand dollars in goodies to raffle-off at the post run party. Some of the donors included: Adamec Harley Davidson, the Lex and Terry Radio Network, and sportscaster Sam Kouvaris. There were many, many more donors, but I have to apologize for not having the room to include them all. The biggest contributor was Whitey's Fish Camp on SR 220 in Fleming Island, who hosted the poker run kick off and the party afterwards. The Johnsons also got in touch with Weaver, the front man for a new band called "Captain Hook". Tommy has stood in and played many, many times with Weaver's various bands over the last few years, and Weaver readily accepted the invitation for Captain Hook to play at the benefit, along with various musical friends from around the Jacksonville area.
Chuck Johnson and Robert Wagner had Tee shirts made for the working volunteers that unofficially named this event the "Warped Colon Benefit" in Tommy's honor. Even though slightly morbid, Tommy loved it and was even wearing one of the Tee shirts. Ed Brown labored over the grill all day, cooking all of the food for the participants. Despite heart bypass surgery 4 months prior, James Townsend collected a record amount of the donations.
There is a peculiarity about bikers that when someone is in need, even someone they have never met, they will drop everything to go on a ride to help that person. This happened again with Tommy Ray Kittle. The poker run on August 4th was a success, despite the occasional outpourings of Florida's Liquid Sunshine. 54 motorcycles signed up, along with their various passengers. Each person made a suggested $10 donation for each desired poker hand. This donation also entitled the participants to a free dinner at the party at Whitey's and the opportunity to listen to some outstanding rock music. Tickets were also sold for a 50-50 drawing. A 50-50 drawing is where special tickets are sold, a drawing is held, and the winner receives half of the special ticket sales. The other half goes to the beneficiary of the event. $400 was raised through the 50-50 drawing, with the winner receiving $200 of that. However, the winner donated his entire portion back!
The music performed by Captain Hook and friends was absolutely fantastic. Captain Hook consists of lead guitarist Weaver, Jennifer Bruce on vocals, Dell Hand on bass, and Burt Rayburn of the Robbie Ducie Band from Augusta, Georgia (who happens to also be Tommy's cousin), standing in on drums. Jen Bruce has a voice that is awesome, her range has been described as going as low and deep as a glass of bourbon whiskey to higher than Axel Rose or Robert Plant, occasionally in the same breath! Walk on performers included Ron Grimes on guitar, Jim Jurnigan on guitar, and the other of the two best harmonica players I was talking about earlier, Whitey Brown. Also appearing was the 18-year-old phenomenon, Caitlin Johnson, daughter of Chuck and Judy. Just recently graduated from high school, Caitlin started out as a music student of Weaver's and has developed into an excellent guitar player, singer, and song writer in her own right. She has been playing occasionally with Weaver's previous bands and is going to be the lead-in performer for Captain Hook in a set of shows in Pennsylvania, later this month.
With the entry money from the poker run, 50-50 prize earnings, and all other contributions, over $2600 was raised to help out Tommy. Unlike a lot of charities where only the profits go to the beneficiary after paying out expenses, ALL proceeds went to Tommy. All work, effort, prizes, and food were donated without charge to help out Tommy.