The band has suffered recently from what has driven so many promising musicians from the business, success outside of the music industry. They have professional careers with fortune 500 companies, wives, children, mortgages and all of the things that turn music into a hobby. They still get together for a gig someplace in the area about once a month.

The rest of the line-up was to be Silk Knives (for their CD release), the John Lefler Band (Lefler formerly of Dashboard Confessional), a young man named Tom Lynch and King Finn. The evening began to fall apart early. Silk Knives cancelled due to illness. I arrived too late to get a fair look at King Finn and the Houston climate “steam bath” had pervaded the venue to the point that dehydration was a clear and present danger.

After completing the set change from King Finn, Tom Lynch kicked off his set with no introduction. Like so many starting musicians, they pushed their equipment beyond its best results making the lyrics hard to catch, especially not being familiar with it to begin with. There was a professional restraint to what the band was putting out, with some tasty slide work by Seth Plemmons and a strong supporting rhythm section.

The phrasing of the obviously original work, the placement of hooks and a melodic voice made me sit up and take notice. I later checked his songs out on reverbnation and bandcamp. His voice and stage presence brought to mind a young Chris Isaac. I hope that we will be seeing more of this young guy.

http://tomlynch.bandcamp.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/tomlynch

Day’s Drive put on a set that is familiar to fans with originals “You’re a Hypocrite”, Listen to the Rain”, “Break the Cycle”, “Breathe Into Me”, somewhere now and a cover of the Killer’s hit “All Those Things That I’ve Done”. The band can do those core songs with enthusiasm on demand for a short set like tonight’s. Some of their shows in the outlying areas are longer and show them stretching out with a few newer tunes and a few more covers. Those shows are especially fun.

I stepped out to the patio for a breath of fresh air, while John Lefler’s band set up. I’m afraid that my old body was not ready for another hour or so in the steam box, but I heard the first two numbers from Lefler’s band and caught a few minutes of the show as I passed back through the venue. His performance was tight and professional from the few minutes that I spent listening. He is based in Dallas now and is scheduled to make another trip to town in the near future. It would be worth a listen and I’m making a note to check it out.