When Ry Bradley decided to create a video for his new single, “Miss Treat Me Right,” he knew right away doing it truly live was the only way to go. Not only does it capture the essence of what he’s going for as a musician, it’s also a not-so-subtle commentary on the state of so many videos today. “The people I want to play for, who like what I do, they want to hear a live band,” he notes.
“So much of what you hear now is ridiculously over-produced, the studio has become an instrument instead of a recording tool. It’s getting to where there’s no room for spontaneity. So I wanted to go in with the band I have here in Nashville and deliver the way we do live. This video was shot fully live, one take, no overdubs.
“When you go to a blues show you don’t want to see karaoke. It’s not necessarily wrong if someone’s playing live to backing tracks, but there are a lot of people, definitely the people who are coming out to see us who want real live music. There’s something about a real live band that allows for critical mass to come through.”
Bradley guides his band through a sizzling version of the song, with a live horn section amping up the Memphis vibe. You can tell he’s truly in his element in this live setting; his playing and singing have the confidence and drive that come from years of dedication to the point where he’s clearly at ease and having lots of fun. “Blues and roots fans, they want the real shit. I wanted to make a video, but the thought of lip syncing turns my stomach – a grown man in his 40s should not be lip synching like a pop star; I want people to get the real me. Unfiltered. Real live performance is an experience you can’t bottle and replicate, and you shouldn’t want to either!”
