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<\/a>The time worn phrase of \u201cYou can\u2019t judge a book by its cover\u201d can apply to many things in life. In the case of one Jonathan Byrd, an American singer-songwriter based out of North Carolina, you have to really dig into the book to see what lies ahead.\u00a0 His story consists of being labeled a folk singer where in 2003 he was a New Folk competition winner at the famous Kerrville Folk Festival where he actually set a record for CD sales. The dude looks country as all get out, but is as he says \u201c I\u2019m a poet that rocks\u201d which fits quite well if I do say so myself.\u00a0\u00a0 The way he can slide from ballads to hit the gas rockin\u2019 effortlessly is a pleasure to see live.<\/p>\nIn very fluffy poetic fashion, JB had a small table with flowers in a small vase, candle and a freakin\u2019 piggy bank up on stage setting the tone for an evening of from the heart tunes. Little did the crowd in attendance know that spooky scorching rock was coming along for the ride in his presentation along with tongue-in-cheek\u00a0 antics.\u00a0\u00a0 Johnny Waken is like a human cartoon who backs it up with versatile and talented licks on mandolin, acoustic and burning psycho electric.\u00a0 Hell a mouth harp and scrub board were also employed by this animated ball of fun.\u00a0 Andrew Pressman provided a very steady stoic bass that kept the bottom filled nicely all night.\u00a0 He scanned\u00a0 across his many albums all night.\u00a0 Some plums from the 2014 release \u201cYou Can\u2019t Outrun The Radio\u201d were hand clappin\u2019 \u201cPoor Johnny\u201d, killer guitar on \u201cBig Truck Brought it\u201d, mandolin jamfest\u00a0 with bass influx deluxe on \u201cStarlight\u201d and a tune written on skype creating the illusion of closeness \u201cClose Enough to Touch\u201d.\u00a0 From 2011\u2019s \u201cCackalack\u201d, \u201cChicken Wire\u201d was a hoot complete with head pokin\u2019 with his chin and dear to the heart \u201cFather\u2019s Day\u201d was epic about his southern Baptist dad.<\/p>\n