Backing his latest CD, ‘Cackalack’, JB took us back to real, everyday experiences in all of our lives in one way or another. He amazingly recorded the album live in six hours with no headphones, no listenbacks, no seperation and no overdubs in a converted garage in Toronto, Ontario. “I Was an Oak Tree” showed the killer capabilities of Mr.Brooks on steel guitar immediately complimenting the Texas-influenced jivin’ country style of Byrd.

Superb highlights included “Chicken Wire,” which made you laugh about messin’ with them there roosters, tender “Wild Ponies” and a heart grabbing “Father’s Day” about everyone needing a hero and his was his dad. JB had a very easy rapport with the packed house and showed a dry sense of humor when discussing his bumper crop of acorns he was selling for hog meat on-line! He called himself the”high tech redneck on the internet” as he slid into a smokin’ good sing-a-long “White Oak Wood” about cookin’ a hog the right way.

Byrd & Brooks have ties to playing together and this was their first time in four years to do it. They are doing 4 gigs together on this tour and it is a pleasurable coupling live. In fact, they both won new folk singer awards in 2003 at Kerrville. Byrd let Colin step up and do his cool tune “Enough” which he made popular with his old group, The Band of Heathens.

CB strapped on the electric and Byrd let it loose on “May the River Run Dry” stretching every song to the limits with elongated jams, which rocked the cozy confines of BHC. JB’s influences come from the diverse group of musicians like Bob Dylan, Anais Mitchell, The Beatles and Merle Haggard. I see some Neil Young and Eagles in there, too.

His compelling and soft spoken realness in expressing characters to thee audience is an art form indeed. These two gents combined to bring a sizzling spookiness to “The Law and the Lonesome” with Brooks’ haunting backing vocals blending well. Byrd really brought the ‘feel good’ with his spot on cover of “City of New Orleans,” which just seemed to wrap around the crowd like a comfy blanket.

Byrd is a very good story teller who gets you wrapped into a story, but doesn’t over do it in the least. Dude has been touring full time since 2000. One could only imagine how cool this cat would sound in a full blown rockin’ band expressing his feelings of every mode of human emotions and remaining damn cool doing it…God Bless and hug a fellow music lover today!