Young piano player rocks Sidecar Tasting Room

DRIPPING SPRINGS — Some talented musicians have played live at the Sidecar Tasting Room since its opening on Old Fitzhugh Road. Some are well-known, some are known and some are unknown. Ryker Pantano, a 12-year-old locally known piano player and singer from Dripping Springs, is one of those who may be well known soon.

Pantano has played with other musicians, entertained at parties, at Dripping Springs Founder’s Day and for patrons and out of towners at Hudson’s on Mercer Street, where he began piano lessons at its School of Music at 5 years old. Child prodigy Liberace began his studies at the Wisconsin College of Music when he was only seven years old and began performing with orchestras in his early teens. Pantano is no Liberace yet, but he could be someday.

The piano man, as he’s sometimes called, or just Ryker, does have a set list, but can play and sing just about anything and has original material, too. He can play an assortment of piano songs from Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”, Carole King's “It’s Too Late”, Michael Murphy’s “Wildfire”, Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” and others, as well as rock, pop and current favorites. An avid harmonica player, he enjoys including the wind instrument in several cover songs. He likes to learn new songs, loves to entertain his audience and he has drawn a steady crowd of fans.

“He has family, friends and regulars who come anytime he’s here,” the Saturday night bartender said when Pantano, who has been playing at the Sidecar on a semi-regular basis, made his feature musician debut playing for three hours. “And the walk-ins who drop by for a glass of wine or cold brew normally stick around when they hear him playing.”

While no music is scheduled for July and August at the Sidecar, he might be found sitting at its piano on any Friday or Saturday evening.