Ryan Lee Crosby

RYAN LEE CROSBY wrote his newest, “Everyday Escape,” for his younger brother Adam, who now plays drums in Crosby’s backing band, the MINDLESS. “The song is about living with a debilitating drug addiction, which is something that is a near subject to both of our hearts,” says Ryan, who took home Best Local Singer-Songwriter in the Phoenix’s 2006 Best Music Poll. The track is among the new songs he’s demoing at his home studio. Another new one, “Angela,” is an autobiographical song about a troubled couple. “It’s got a dreamy country feel as of this moment, though I’ve been working on a solo recording of it that’s very inspired by Vincent Gallo’s album When.” The band recently shot a video at Coney Island and at a show at Fat Baby in Manhattan for their “Obey Me,” which is currently available on Newbury Comics’ Wicked Good Boston Bands 2 compilation. Check out “Everyday Escape” at www.myspace.com/ryanleemusic  and at the Abbey Lounge on July 15. . . . If you dig this year’s ArtBeat festival, which will take place this weekend in Davis Square, you can thank a Somerville Arts Council committee that includes WMBR DJ Jon Bernhardt, Emily Arkin, who also plays in Shepherdess with Hilken Mancini, and indie-music booker Stacie Slotnick. “Whenever possible, we like introducing Somervillians and all festival goers to something new rather than bands who have already played the big music venues around town,” says SAC member Rachel Strutt. Among this year’s Somervillians: Somerville High alums MIGHTY MYSTIC, ANTJE DUVEKOT, a rising folk star who lives in Davis Square, RAMONIACS, and UV PROTECTION. Also on the bill are alt-country rockers FRANK SMITH, rock singer-songwriter CHRIS BROKAW, rock/soul revue the RUDDS, and art rockers NEPTUNE. Visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org  for a complete schedule.

On the Web
Ryan Lee and the Mindless: //www.ryanleeandthemindless.com/
ArtBeat 2006: //www.somervilleartscouncil.org/programs/artbeat/2006/

Email the author
Sarah Tomlinson: stomlins@mindspring.com