When Ryan Beaver went onstage for his very first public performance of his own songs, he tripped on the last step and nearly took a serious stage dive – guitar and all. So he turned to the audience and said, “They told me to break a leg and I’m trying.” That’s the kind of chutzpah that any young musician needs if they’re gonna succeed in this scarily tough business. The kind that, combined with a little naivete, drives a greenie to send his music to someone like Lloyd Maines – no introductions, no connections, just a cold-call request for an opinion. Fortunately for Beaver, Maines actually listened – and recognized the talent in what he heard. Maines hooked Beaver up with another esteemed Austin musician/producer, David Grissom – whose last high-profile gig was as guitarist/music director for the Dixie Chicks’ last tour. The result is a remarkably self-assured and mature-sounding album that fairly shouts, “This kid’s going places.”