10.28.26 - Amsterdam, NL
On a crisp Wednesday evening, Ryan Beatty brings his Arms Over Armor tour to Amsterdam’s Paradiso. This venue, in all its grandeur, never gets old. Tonight especially, the stained glass windows and wrap-around balconies seem like the perfect backdrop for the artistry that awaits us. A buzzing crowd fills the site’s largest room (Grote Zaal). Bob Dylan blasts from the speakers on a very well curated pre-show playlist. The lights dim and we give the band a warm welcome.
Beatty steps on stage in a smoky blue haze. Immediately, he launches into “Secret Language” track four off of Sweet Fortune, released this past June. The song is a fitting opener; it contains the tour’s namesake lyric. The room is instantly taken by Beatty’s vocals. To say he’s angelic might sound hyperbolic, but I can’t think of a more apt descriptor.
Photo courtesy of IG: shotsbywende
He performs two more tracks, “Cinnamon Bread” (from 2023’s Calico) and “White Lightning,” before really addressing the room. He lets us know that this is the first solo show he’s ever played in Amsterdam, so it’s “extra special.”
Three songs in, and he’s already earned a warm welcome.
The applause seems to stretch longer and longer with each tune, and Beatty humbly thanks the crowd after every song’s end. He continues weaving in tracks from Calico with the new setlist, featuring “Bright Red,” “Ribbons,” and—my personal favorite—"Andromeda," among others.
They all work in tandem; no song feels out of place. In fact, everything that’s happening on stage seems meticulously cultivated. The performance is stirring not only because of Beatty’s voice. The power of his lyrics seems to take our collective breath away. These are vulnerable words, and he’s sharing them with an intensity that feels sacred.
Beatty appears as moved by the music as the rest of us. He is totally engrossed. One chair sits behind his mic stand, and often, when the band plays their interludes, he falls back and sits, swaying to the melodies with his eyes closed.
Photo courtesy of IG: shotsbywende
The middle of the set brings “Too Many Ways,” a highlight for me as it’s my favorite track on Sweet Fortune. He adds a run to the final refrain that erupts the crowd and gives me full-body chills. He also performs a gorgeous cover of Willie Nelson’s “Summer of Roses.” Nelson’s outlaw country influence is notable in Beatty's work.
Aside from his sweetly uttered ‘thank you’s,’ Beatty doesn’t pause much to chat. That doesn’t stop a connection from forming. He takes care to use the whole stage, oftentimes splitting the verses on either side and coming back to the center for the refrain. During “Virtuoso,” he sings the lyric, "Shame on me if I show up underdressed," then cheekily asks, “Where?” gesturing down at his all-black suit and heeled boots. Beatty’s confidence oozes through every syllable he sings. Each note is placed exactly where he wants it.
The final song in the standard set is “Phantom,” Sweet Fortune’s opener. He soaks up some of our raucous applause before scurrying off stage. The cheers don’t let up, and quickly the band returns for a much-anticipated encore.
Photo courtesy of Jill Nuelle
He starts with “Bruises Off The Peach,” the runaway hit from Calico. He thanks us for being a wonderful crowd and shares that he has one more song for us. It’s “Fleur De Lis,” the longest and final track off Sweet Fortune. It’s the perfect ending to a night that already feels like a dream. Sometimes when you witness such a talent, the edges of the memory seem hazy before it’s even ended. We’ll hold on to this one until the next time he comes to town.
