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Story and photos by Kate Seesholtz
With a front man as captivating as Ryan Tedder, it was easy for OneRepublic to instantly win over the audience of the packed out Ryman Auditorium. The group brought out hit "Stop and Stare" early, as well as their newest single "Good Life." The multi-talented band members kept the audience guessing throughout the night, as they switched effortlessly from instrument to instrument. Their cellist doubled as a pianist, while their guitar player switched out for a violin. Though, it seemed impossible for the crowd to take their eyes off of Tedder.
The front man had started his career in Nashville, so this was a homecoming for Ryan Tedder. It was easy to feed off of his excitement as he raced back and forth to cover the entire stage and connect with every inch of the great hall. He led the band through a mix of old and new songs, and even some covers thrown in. Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" took on new life with the addition of Tedder's sultry vocals. As the band prepared to play their only love song off their newest album, Ryan Tedder explained that he often had trouble penning such tunes. He said he could only write about stuff that he knows, he's unable to fake it. That's one of the major reasons OneRepublic has enjoyed such a devoted following. The songs come from a place that's real and relatable.
Other highlights of the evening included the band's lauded single "Apologize," which started off with a haunting cello. During the song Tedder leapt off the stage to give the audience a chance to sing along. To round out the evening the band launched into an electrifying version of "All the Right Moves," showcasing the extreme vocal range of its lead singer. Though, the best part of the show just might have been the encore. As OneRepublic returned to the stage, the familiar notes of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" drifted over the crowd. The audience went crazy as the song slowly morphed into The White Stripe's bass heavy "Seven Nation Army" and eventually to Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back." Joining the band for the mash up were Tedder's cousins, band Sons of Slyvia, who added a distinctive bluegrass vibe to the mix.
One Republic closed out the evening with the somber "Come Home," a song penned from the viewpoint of an expectant fiancé, waiting for her solider to return home from the war, and their title track "Waking Up."
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