Byrd and Street
Austin, Texas, United States | SELF
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Byrd And Street:
Stories Of Life,
Songs Of Love
Album Review
by George Peden
"I wake up every morning to that same old bump and grind./Chasing a dollar, falling in line/ Over my head, underpaid and overdue/ I’ve got one thing on my side, Baby, Baby that’s you./ Lost in the shuffle, but I’m still in the race/ Backed in a corner, but I know this ain’t my place." -Byrd and Street from "Baby That’s You"
The title of Austin, Texas, duo Byrd and Street’s latest release, Stories Of Life, Songs Of Love, is a fitting one. With an album of original music touching life and love, all done in a bluesy, Americana vein, Tommy Byrd and Kathy Street share an appealing formula on their self-released album. The duo, who formed in 2001, recently won a local Performer of the Year award. Now they prove their mettle and versatility here with fine harmonies, crafted songs, and seasoned experience.
Smooth tones, a relaxed style and no fuss vocals – that’s Tommy Byrd. Listen closely. He’s a little like Lyle Lovett. It made their publicist, Marilyn von Steiger (Stop the Truck and Bob Dildy), laugh when I told her that, but she didn’t disagree). I mean, to these weathered ears, he does! Having shared stage space with the Geezenslaws and Willie Nelson and inspired by the Beatles, Byrd bought his first guitar in ’64. He’s been kicking around in bands since. Now this prolific writer has found form in his band mate, Kathy Street.
Kathy Street is a singer, actor (she’s starred in local productions including, The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady) and songwriter. She, too, is no stranger to bright lights and rowdy crowds, as her musical career began in 1967. With a voice helping them win the 2002 Austin Songwriter’s Group annual contest, Street comes armed with a soulful and energized voice.
The album opens with "Baby That’s You," an appealing musical entrée to the 12 offered tracks. Sprinklings of accordion and fiddle prop the tale of daily rituals, survived only with a partner’s love, while confirming shades of Lovett appear in the lyrics of love’s better qualities, "Ain’t It Funny." Move to "The Melody Of You" and "Lonesome Without You," and the mood hits. These guys are love merchants. They share their passion for words and performance with a charm that spells Austin, but with a message that’ll travel to reach a willing heart.
While Byrd and Street weave their magic, a tight band of fiddles, mandolin, accordion, piano, guitars, drums and bass makes stable harmony. The musicianship here is top drawer Texas. When the band strikes up with hard bass slaps, fiddle, and brushed drums on "Rock Away The Blues" or the guitar-led, drum-driven, funky tale of desperate romance on "Hard Time," you know this is no dress rehearsal.
The successful spirit of this album is simple. Tommy Byrd writes a good tune. There’s no struggle to make or force a story line; Byrd just lets it flow. Kathy Street, mellow and warm, plays her part, too. It’s a blend that shines on the easily understood tale of first kisses on a front porch, kids in their Sunday best, angry words forgiven and hands held tight, as heard on "Just An Old House".
A good part of writing for CountryReview.com is the chance I have to hear original music. Sure, some of it falls flat, but some, well, it makes you say, simply, "Yes!" Beyond the crowds, trendy CMT, and the fickle followers of fashionable cowboys, is the rich world of independent music. A place where real music, not just CD sales, drives the deal, a place where music arrives shaped from skill and passion. Check out Byrd and Street. Their stories of life and songs of love prove my point.
(October 2004)
Related Links:
Artists-Independent
Official Website
- Country Review.com
Discography
CD: " Love Broke the Fall," "Stories of Life ,Songs of Love"
Whole Wheat Radio, KRTS(www.marfapublicradio.com),
Photos
Bio
Singing their original award — winning Americana music with impeccable harmony, Tommy Byrd and Kathy Street have been making songs together since 2001. ABOUT BYRD & STREET
Audiences are in for a treat with Austin duo Byrd & Street noted for their “impeccable male/female harmony,” “solid first-class songwriting” and lively stories about their songs. Four-time nominees for Texas Music Awards (2009, 2012, and 2014) and three- time Kerrville Festival New Folk finalists including 2013, their songs have been recorded by other artists, including Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary. Their CD’s have made the Folk DJ “Best of Year” Charts, FAR Charts and the Texas Roots Charts. Their new CD, Words and Music was #2 on the Texas Roots Charts, and made #8 and remained on the Folk DJ Charts for 4 months this past summer. It was also listed on "Top Records of 2014" at station WVPE in Elkhart, IN, WCGS in Gosher, IN and KEOS in College Station, TX. Hear music and find more info: www.byrdandstreet.com
“This is exactly why I keep playing music on the radio for the past 24 years! Trust me, I get a lot of music here, and this sets the standard for everyone else to shoot for. I want to get you folks to travel up North to IN and do a concert up here.” Norm Mast, WVPE Elkhart IN
Love your new CD!! Your music is full of hope and optimism mixed with a little humor, just what a weary world needs! Listening to it has improved my outlook on life. D. Mahoney Tyler TX
"If I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life it would be Byrd & Street's Words and Music." Jim Fisher, WGCS, Middlebury IN
Tommy Byrd
"In 1964 John and me saw the Beatles singing on TV. That's all it took, that was the start, something new was beating in our hearts."
"Big Stars in a Little Sky"
And it's being going ever since.
After seeing The Beatles, Tommy and his friend John bought guitars, learned some chords, and started writing songs. They started a band and played all around their hometown in south Arkansas, and even recorded a couple of records which made it to the top of the charts on the local AM radio station. That's when Tommy knew music was going to play a big part in his life.
A lot has happened since then. Tommy and John lost touch when Tommy went off to college, where he helped start a band called River City Street Band. River City wound up in Memphis and became the first all-white band to be signed by STAX Records. They made 2 albums, did a few concerts, even sold records in Japan. But it didn't last, and soon Tommy found himself in Austin, Texas, drawn by the mix of the cosmic cowboys and hippies and the wonderful Austin lifestyle. "To make a living I started writing jingles", Tommy recalled. Sammy Allred, a KVET morning radio show personality, heard his jingles and asked him to play with the Geezinslaw Brothers which he did for several years. "That led to singing with Willie Nelson on Amazing Grace on his album, The Sound in Your Mind. That's one of my all-time favorite memories".
After leaving the Geezinslaws, Tommy became a partner and engineer in a local recording studio where he worked with and learned from some of the best Texas musicians around, like Jerry Jeff Walker, the late greats, Walter Hiatt and Champ Hood of Uncle Walt's Band, Mitch Watkins, Roscoe Beck, Eric Johnson, Marcia Ball, Kinky Friedman, the amazing Johnny Gimble, and so many more. What a wonderful education that was!
Soon he put together his own home recording studio where he recorded demos of his songs, a couple of which were signed to Famous Music in Nashville. Tommy jokingly, and honestly, says, "Some of my songs have been rejected by the biggest names in country music!"
He's won many song writing contests and awards over the years. In the 2006 Austin Songwriters Group Competition, he wrote the #1 country song. But he says that writing the winning song in the Official Song of Austin contest is one of his proudest moments. He won $12,000 in cash and prizes, was interviewed by local TV shows and the Associated Press. He was also mentioned in USA Today. "But by far, the real highlight was performing it live on the main stage at Austin Aqua Fest with Christine Albert. What a great memory."
And then Kathy and Tommy met. That was in 2001 and once again.
"That's all it took, that was the start, something new was beating in our hearts."
"Big Stars in a Little Sky"
Kathy Street
In college Kathy was lead vocalist in a folk trio in college in Baytown, Te
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