The Wiltern (Los Angeles, CA)
03/15/24
On March 15th, singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, California. The 28-year-old artist, originally from Clovis, California, first found fame through his YouTube channel back in 2011. His covers reached hundreds of thousands of followers, leading him to release his first original E.P., Because of You, in 2012. That same year, Beatty sold out the iconic Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California. After taking a bit of a hiatus, he collaborated on projects with Brockhampton before pursuing his solo music again. Beatty began to move away from traditional upbeat pop music to find his own sound. His debut studio album, Boy In Jeans, was released in 2018, followed by his sophomore album, Dreaming of David, in early 2020. In spring 2023, Beatty’s third studio album, Calico, was released. It has now been critically acclaimed and met with tremendous praise from fellow musicians and industry professionals. After a short five-city tour late last year, Beatty is back with a proper North American Tour, the “Calico” tour, spanning 20 cities across the United States and Canada.
With the entry line wrapped around the block and no opener, the crowd was delighted when Beatty’s band appeared onstage soon after doors opened. The room erupted in applause after the first song, “Ribbons,” finished, leaving Beatty speechless. Even in just a few words, it was obvious how much this show meant to him. As I looked around at the other fans in the venue, almost all were watching the artist very intently, not talking to those around them and keeping a steady focus on him and his performance. Beatty performed his album, Calico, in its entirety, including a few songs from his other projects as well. Many artists came to support him including Lizzy McAlpine, Charley Hickey, and Ella Jane. Despite the hundreds of concerts I’ve attended in my personal and professional life, Ryan Beatty will forever be one of my favorite artists to see live.
