I'm a sucker for a cute boy that can sing AND play piano, so Between the Trees frontman Ryan Kirkland stole my heart three years ago. The Orlando-based group writes pop-rock songs with a Christian rock undertone. In 2006, the band hit the scene with their album The Story and The Song (Bonded Records). They became an instant household name in Florida, playing shows here and there, and traveling around the state opening for Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. In early 2007, the band signed with Universal Motown Republic, but shortly after, announced that they had "parted ways" with the new label.
The time had come for Between the Trees to move on to bigger and better things. They hit the studio and started recording their sophmore album, Spain, which dropped August 11. To celebrate the launch of their new album, the band hit the road with Farewell and Punchline and lucky for me, they made a stop in Tampa this past Thursday, October 1. Even the flu couldn't stop me from seeing these guys. I was there front and center, trying to sing along.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 7, 2009.
