Ryan Beatty at the Lincoln Theatre on September 26, 2026
This past Saturday night, attendees of Ryan Beatty’s D.C. stop in the Arms Over Armor Tour at the Lincoln Theatre received an invitation into the studio with him and the band in an authentic, no-frills show that brought warmth to a rainy evening. The opener, Canadian singer-songwriter girlsweetvoiced, opened the event with thirty minutes of bubblegum-sweet bedroom pop that ruminated on all of the emotions that accompany breakups, growing pains, and moving away from home. The standout moment from her set came at the end, when she performed her song “Tonight,” which samples Joni Mitchell, on dulcimer.
For Ryan Beatty’s set, the stage was transformed into an intimate studio session: the band casually arranged in a semi-circle around Beatty’s solitary chair and mic stand. The simple light effects enhanced the pensive and nostalgic emotions of Ryan Beatty’s lyrics as they drenched the stage in burnt oranges, sky blues, and cinematic spotlights which highlighted his silhouette. Although he admitted to being sick, Beatty’s under-the-weather voice was still the envy of all, effortlessly belting ballads like “Phantom” and “Secret Language,” or dancing over riffs in “Fleur de Lis” and “Cinnamon Bread.”
What stood out the most from Ryan Beatty’s set was his own visible and infectious enjoyment of the music and appreciation for his uber-talented band. Whether in the crescendoing outros or twangy guitar riffs performed by guitarist Mason Stoops, Beatty was head banging, dancing, and strumming on air guitar like a teenager blaring their favorite record alone in their room. This energy was palpable throughout the theater; I glimpsed heartwarming moments of best friends dancing in the back rows or holding each other as they swayed to their favorite songs as we all sang along with Beatty on the choruses. That Saturday night, we were all a part of the band.
Margot Kukulski is a first-year student in the College studying Government.
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