More and more and more

Ryan Montbleau Band opens for Kyle Hollingsworth

It's amazing that Ryan Montbleau can remember all the words. The singer-songwriter's band stands on its own, led by a '70s-soul-funk rhythm section, viola, keys, and Montbleau's Keller Williams-esque acoustic strumming.

But it's his lyrics that win accolades, such as second place in the 2007 International Songwriter's Competition.

Closing his latest album, the solo "Stages: Volume II," the song "More and More and More" is full of catches and subtle observations of the injustices of consumer culture. It touches on everything from 50 kinds of toothpaste to 40 kinds of soap.

"With another 50 choices comes another hundred voices in my head. No great angels, no big devils, just another hundred levels to contend with," sings Montbleau.

The song continues through a myriad of daily decisions: "Should I go for the 15 grain to the light seedless rye to the enriched unbleached unbromated stone ground whole-wheat flower. Does it have high-fructose corn syrup? Is it genetically modified? Is it safe for my children, and how would I decide?"

After five minutes of these tough decisions, the song wraps up.

The songs on the band's last album, 2007's "Patience," are similar in their unconventional, nonrepetitive lyrical structure.

"In a sense, I'm a spoken-word poet, but I'm singing stuff," says Montbleau, referencing the song "75 and Sunny," one that many fans have connected with.

"There are so many words, and chorus changes. Forever, I'll probably see people singing along, and I almost feel bad, because it's like they can't. It's really a demanding study to sing along with that song."

For the band's next album, which they're currently raising money for, Montbleau says they're looking at the songs and figuring out "how much we can take out." The 32-year-old is also beginning to pull lyrics from outside of his own personal history.

"If something from your life works in a song, that's great," he says. "But ultimately the song's just gotta work. In a sense, it doesn't matter if it's exactly what happened to you. But every song, you connect with."

Montbleau used to play the Pour House on Savannah Highway in West Ashley. His career has grown exponentially since, including a tour with his hero, Martin Sexton, and a recent gig with Ani DiFranco in Chicago. He's looking forward to returning tonight on a co-bill with Kyle Hollingsworth (of the String Cheese Incident).

"I love the people at the Pour House, and the guys from Sol Driven Train, that whole crowd," he says. "They all take good care of us; such good people."

The band always makes a beeline for Folly Beach when they roll into town.

"We haven't seen a lot of Charleston, I guess, but we're so happy with the parts we do see," says Montbleau.

"You know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We just go right to Folly and chill out."

If you go

Who: The Ryan Montbleau Band.

When: 8 p.m. tonight.

Where: The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway.

Cost: $13 at www.etix.com, all Cat's Music and Monster Music locations.

Hear His Music: www.kylehollingsworth.com.

Info: 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com.