Ryan Montbleau Band: Night After Night

Enlarge Ryan Laurey

The Ryan Montbleau Band isn't playing sold-out stadiums just yet — at least not as the headlining act.

Ryan Laurey

The Ryan Montbleau Band isn't playing sold-out stadiums just yet — at least not as the headlining act.

The Ryan Montbleau Band is based in Boston. But it doesn't spend a lot of time there.

Instead, it's playing live — nearly 200 nights in the last year. Performing night after night, in taverns and cafes and clubs across the country, the band is earning its fans the old-fashioned way.

"I think it's the most obvious point of contact with the people — just bring the music right to their faces," Ryan Montbleau says. "And hope that they come."

The band's sound is at the intersection of roots, rock and singer-songwriterly folk. The sextet of Montbleau, James Cohen, Jason Cohen, Laurence Scudder, Matt Giannaros and Yahuba Garcia-Torres has a new studio album, Heavy on the Vine.

While in Washington, D.C., the group stopped by NPR headquarters to play some songs. In between, Montbleau and the group spoke with guest host Mary Louise Kelly about their heavy touring schedule, their fictional trombonist and getting the most of their AAA membership.