David Byboth

Photograph—Jennifer Sebby

Mountainponyphotography.com

TOUR

MUSIC

Click Here for Ragamuffin Radio’s

Ragamuffin Mike’s Story review of

“My Mind’s Eye”

PRESS

My Mind’ Eye Review

Buddy Magazine—May 2008

David Byboth’s OFFICIAL Debut CD. My Mind’s Eye, is a pleasant, sincere mix of folk & blues that comes from a real appreciation for the art. He shares ten of his own, personal songs – often based on people he knows – and a powerful cover of Kevin Welch’s “Flycatcher Jack & The Whippoorwill Song.”

The playing is always strong. The lyrics range from solid to strong. Byboth has a good feel for creating pictures and moods with a handful of details. He was a fan fixture on the Texas music scene for years, and a good friend of other musicians; it’s nice to see his growth into a writer and performer. Most of the songs explore the human condition, from pleasant memories to old friends to “Black Dog Blues” where a depressed man holds “47 goodbyes” in his hand in the darkness. In “Strays of the Human Kind,” a woman lives her life learning how to fly out of that darkness.

My Mind’s Eye is a serious CD, although not nearly as dark as those two examples indicate. Produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard (who also adds acoustic guitar), My Mind’s Eye includes performances by Billy Cassis (acoustic guitars, melodeon), George Reiff (shakers), Rick Richards (percussion), Eleanor Whitmore (mandolin, harmony vocals), Kelley Mickwee (harmony vocals), and Chip Woodburn (acoustic guitar). Byboth adds acoustic guitar and mandolin to his fairly deep, almost formal vocals. – Tom Geddie

Review From Miss Lana.com

David Byboth

"My Mind's Eye"

By Lone Star Mama

Singer/songwriter David Byboth has been performing for quite sometime now, and has finally put the finishing touches on his first CD. A pure D self proclaimed “folk” singer, Byboth’s first CD is top notch, even for those of us not considering ourselves “folkies”.

As both a review writer and house concert host, I am often privy to those who send that first CD. I’ve gotten the whole spectrum of quality and content, and never really know what to expect even when expecting from an artist I’ve known for a while. I had a pretty good idea that Byboth’s CD would be one of the better ones, but folks, it’s one of the great ones. All the tunes are written by Byboth, except for a great co-write with Jim Bush on “Swimming for the Surface” and an excellent cover of Kevin Welch’s “Flycatcher Jack and the Whippoorwill’s Song”.

“My Mind’s Eye” is not only one of the tracks, but is the highly appropriate title for this disc. This CD is truly a glimpse into Byboth’s world through his mind, and he paints clear, intimate pictures of his characters and emotions with his carefully chosen words. He shows his clarity, strengths, seriousness, sense of humor and vulnerabilities all in one neat, high quality package. This one gets played over and over as I drive (where I listen to the majority of music) and it has become a family favorite. I smiled just a few days ago as I heard my 10 year old happily singing along to several of the cuts.

The opening track is one of my favorites, one of those songs that actually runs through my head sometimes and doesn’t aggravate me that it’s doing so. “Dave and Louene (The King & Queen of Melrose Drive)” tells of a special couple Byboth lived next door to years ago. He gives such clear character sketches of them that I want them to be my neighbors, I want to know them.

“On Saturdays when I was gone
He’d crank up the mower and mow my lawn
And trim my bushes, weed and edge and sweep
And I’m come home from working late
On my front porch I’d find a plate
Of Louene’s chicken fried steak, cornbread and beans

They’re seventy plus going on eighteen
The ball room dancing King & Queen
Of Melrose Drive, Dave and Loueen
I can close my eyes and see them there
Smiling face and silver hair
On Melrose drive, the beautiful Dave and Loueen”

Nosy as I am, I asked and found he did actually perform the song for them, and framed the lyrics for them, and they were completely thrilled. I wish they had been here to see the final product and tell Byboth how proud they were of him yet again. Somehow, I think they would have been THE guests to mingle with at all the shows. And what I wouldn’t give to have tried that chicken fried steak.

“Ought To Be Texas” ought to be the new song used to promote Texas Tourism. I already love Texas and live here, but if I didn’t, this tune would sure make me think about getting here as quickly as I could. This song was actually written in 1995, and 13 years later it’s as relevant as if it were written yesterday. I think this one will always be very near and dear to my heart.

Other favorites of mine on the CD are “Before the Longest While”, “Engineer Song”, and “New Year’s Day”, but I have to say if I had to pick only one, “My Mind’s Eye” would be the top pick.

“Momma’s pullin’ a pie from the oven
I can smell it from where I’m at
It’s coolin’ in the window where the dogs can’t get it
Waitin’ to make me fat"

And that’s just the beginning. Squirrels, Bill Monroe, a broken down hearse, a “Jesus Loves You” sticker, and a familiar songwriter are all tied together in this incredible song, with the chorus:

“I didn’t see it but I know that it happened
As I was driving by
I closed my eyes and it was all there
In my mind’s eye”

Really fantastic stuff, this is a “must have” to your CD collection.

Now maybe you’re under the incorrect impression that I like it because my friend did it. Well, my friends know I’m pretty honest if they ask my opinion on something. If they don’t want the truth, they better not ask. It’s the same for review writing, friend or not. Honestly, this will still be one of my top CD’s at the end of 2008, it’s got staying power. I’m not the only one who apparently believed in the project. Produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard and mastered by Gurf Morlix, Byboth was also able to enlist the the talents of Rick Richards, Eleanor Whitmore, Kelley Mickwee, Chip Woodburn, Billy Cassis, and George Reiff to complete this wonderful disc.

Check this guy out at www.byboth.net or on www.myspace.com/byboth

Lone Star Mama

Written by Dana Jones, March, 2008

Eartaste Blog—Swimming for the Surface