For all their success, both locally and in places distant, Peterborough musicians Ryan and Sam Weber can point to three simple words at the heart of all good things that have come their way: dogged work ethic.
Since knocking on the late Ronnie Hawkins’ door some 25 years ago, the brothers from Maryland, Baltimore have rarely if ever sat idle. Blessed with a loyal following that continues to gravitate to their live shows, Ryan and Sam have consistently reinvented themselves, their recorded music reflecting the diverse music genres and styles that only their combined talents can conjure up.
It took a bit but the brothers have now released a self-titled album; an 11-track compilation of new material. It’s their 18th independent album, with its title The Weber Brothers suggesting a need to introduce themselves when, in reality, that introduction was made years prior.
On May 1st before a sold-out audience at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough, Ryan and Sam — backed by guitarist Emily Burgess and drummer Maddy Hope, with Juno award-winning producer Lance Anderson on keyboards — released their new album.
That show marked the start of an ambitious tour that comes to Lindsay’s FLATO Academy Theatre on Thursday, May 14, with Warkworth singer and songwriter Matthew Holtby opening. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show cost $43 at www.flatoacademytheatre.com.
“You know the old saying, ’18th time’s a charm,'” deadpans Ryan when asked his thoughts on the new album.
“As far as our evolution goes, I don’t know if that’s something you plan or something that happens as you go. Things that happen to you, not just musically but whatever you do. All that is with you and that makes who you are in the present day. If you’re doing music, it’s going to reflect all that with even consciously trying to do that. It’s going to be there just because of what you’ve done.”
VIDEO: The Weber Brothers with The Band’s Garth Hudson (Market Hall, 2003)
For his part, Sam says their 2003 debut album, 149 Lake Street, was recorded at a time “when we still had so many things ahead of us.”
“We hadn’t done any major touring yet. As you keep releasing music, you gain knowledge and experience that’s reflected in the music. You hope for that.”
Ryan concurs, noting “We were greener than grass seed” at that time, adding “Now we’re a little less green.”
The new album, says Sam, was “quite a few years” in the making.
“We took this winter, long and cold as it was, to sort of hunker down in the studio and at my place, and finished it out.”
Asked if the songwriting process gets easier over time, almost to the point of being second nature, Ryan says “there are two ways you can look at that.”
“It is like anything else in that the more you do it, the more you practice it, you hope that you get better at it,” he says.
“But when it comes to art, any kind of art, it’s less about you and more about opening yourself up so it can flow through. The task is getting out of its way so that can happen.”
“The more forceful you are with ideas, if you’re looking too hard, it’s not generally the best stuff,” adds Sam, adding “For me, what comes natural always translates into a decent song and how it reaches people. Keeping it simple is key.”
AUDIO: “The Weber Brothers” (2026) by The Weber Brothers
There was, however, a moment when Ryan and Sam were forceful — bold, even — and that moment started the journey that brought them, and their music, to this point in time.
The story, told numerous times to the point that it’s somewhat of a local legend, relates how two teenaged boys left their Baltimore home in the dead of night, and headed north to the Stoney Lake home of their idol, the late Ronnie Hawkins.
Offering to help with chores on the expansive property in exchange for all the music business knowledge that Hawkins could impart, Ryan and Sam’s determination and talent impressed the rockabilly music legend.
Before long, the brothers were members of The Hawks, and found themselves performing alongside the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, and Jeff Healey. As a continued show of reverence for all Hawkins did for them, a photo of him loomed large on the screen backdrop at the Market Hall show.
“Hard work,” says Sam when asked for the most important lesson that Hawkins passed on.
“It is fun, we do what we love, but it is work and it’s to be approached in a professional manner. If you put in the work and keep your mind set on that approach, it will pay off.”
“It takes focus and it takes daily practice … that was one of Ronnie’s main quotes he hit us with all the time,” adds Ryan.
“Practice and play every day. Even now, we still strive to live up to that every day. Ronnie used to say ‘If you leave your instrument for one day, you’ll notice it. If you leave it two days, other musicians will notice it. If you leave it three days, everybody is going to notice it.'”
And so the seeds of that dogged work ethic were planted, eventually bearing fruit in the form of countless sold-out gigs and an impressive discography.
Speaking to this album release tour, Ryan says having Anderson in the mix for a few shows has been a treat.
“You know he’s going to come prepared. He brings a lot to the overall sound — he really fills things out.”
Select future shows will see keyboardist Jesse Whitely guest as well as Rico Browne, a longtime musical collaborator and on-and-off member of The Weber Brothers Band.
The band itself features Burgess, a multiple Maple Blues Award winner. And then there’s Hope on drums; an exciting gig for the young player who honed and refined her talent at the numerous blues jams held at the now-closed Jethro’s on Hunter Street West.
“We could tell the potential was great,” says Ryan of seeing and hearing Hope perform for the first time, adding “She’s putting the time in. That’s what you really have to do … be open to hearing things from people who know. She’s got that fire of somebody just getting going. That’s exciting for us.”
“Maybe that’s what Ronnie saw in us,” chimes in Sam.
From the outside looking in, what countless live music fans have seen over all these years are two brothers who, from all appearances, get along well and are on the same page musically as well as personally. Still, brothers being brothers, is that really the case at all times away from the public eye?
“It’s natural because it is all we’ve ever known,” assesses Sam. “We complement each other. We each have our strong points and weaknesses. The two of us, together, create one balanced person.”
“Each of us on our own — not balanced,” adds Ryan, “We’re Ying and Yang. I’m Yang. Those moments (of familial stress) are pretty rare. Maybe that’s because we’ve done this so long, we know how to do it at this point.”
And so, with the new songs getting their due and the album itself available for digital purchase on Bandcamp or by messaging The Weber Brothers via Facebook, one of two questions remain: Does the new album represent the best recorded work Ryan and Sam have done to date?
“This album is the best at this time,” says Ryan, adding “It came through us at this time because now is the time for it. I don’t rank any album we’ve done. I’ll leave that to somebody else to do. I just know I really love this album.”
“It’s a different thing, and that’s what we strive for with every album,” adds Sam. “Try new stuff and see what sticks.”
The second question? For all their talent, passion and drive, how is it The Weber Brothers haven’t been signed by a major record label and been granted all the next-level trappings that go with that?
“We continue to strive and play for whoever is there,” says Ryan.
“If the room is packed, great. We’ll play to that. If it’s a little less, we’ll play to that. It’s really about touching whoever you can. That said, we’re ready when they are. Here we are, baby.”
VIDEO: “Before We Arrive: The Story of The Weber Brothers” trailer (2016)
In offering his perspective, Sam recalls the words of another mentor.
“Bobby Watson said it’s a wonder to him why success has to be this brass ring up in the clouds, when true success is loving what you do and moving people with your music.”
“If you’re striving for something outside of that, it’s easy to get discouraged,” he adds. “You just have to remember why you started playing music in the first place — because you love it.”
For more information on The Weber Brothers, including their albums and performance videos, visit www.weberbrothers.com.
