David Serby – Broken Heart In a Honky Tonk
Despite the L.A./Bakersfield address (home of Buck Owens) for this singer, the Country authenticity in his voice is pure old-world flavor. He has a twang, not quite at the level of Randy Travis, but what pours forth is furnished with gradients that make his Country music stylistically upbeat, high-energy & filled with straw & a perfection to form.
“Broken Heart In a Honky Tonk,” & “Don’t Stay Fixed,” work. Serby (vocals/acoustic guitar) doesn’t use many corn-pone clichés in his lyrics. No Hee-Haw here. His voice when singing straight is warm & blissfully lost in the hayseed groove on “Flight Path.” This has good dance vibes, great beat application, & he maintains a mainstream appeal without getting too sugary & commercial. The tunes have a catchiness, while being introspective & adventurous.
Yes, he’s in that arena with Dwight Yoakum & at his rockiest like Dave Alvin. He’s mining a vein that was “spent,” but he’s found inspiration left behind by the legends. I’m impressed with his clever word use, the verses & instrumentation. Nothing retro — though that’s where the seeds are. He makes the lyrics as interesting as the composition. He’s not Outlaw Country, or pure C&W, but he knows how to mix the lot into a heady foam of Buck Owens meets Larry Weiss meets Gram Parsons.
“Chase a Buck” has high-test fuel the way the late Eddie Rabbitt applied it to “Drivin’ My Life Away,” & “I Love a Rainy Night.” There are 11 bright connections to Broken Heart In a Honky Tonk (Drops May 29/Jacaranda Records/41:35) produced by Edward Tree (electric & nylon-string guitars/Wurlitzer) & recorded in San Gabriel, CA & Venice, CA. The sound is pristine, & the songs are built solidly. “Border Town Romance” is closer to Tex-Mex with a smooth swipe of accordion & fanciful acoustic guitars.
Rockier is “Gone For Good,” & “Charm, Looks, Or Money” with its Del Lords double-fisted guitar & drum snap that finds Serby with a convincing country-rock voice. Serby lays out a set of country that’s persistently distinct, while “No Happy Endings” is danceable & straightforward driving, jubilant & disciplined.
The ballad “Little Ol’ Bruise” is in the tradition of the more countrypolitan singers. Whereas “If I Weren’t Me” is sung deep ala Matt Johnson of The The on his splendid 1995 Hank Williams-dedicated album “Hanky Panky.”
Lots of nuggets to discover if you appreciate old-school country music with the expertise of a wonderful artist with a modern touch.
Highlights – “Broken Heart In a Honky Tonk,” “Don’t Stay Fixed,” “Flight Path,” “Chase a Buck,” “Border Town Romance,” “Gone For Good,” “No Happy Endings,” “Little Ol’ Bruise,” “Charm, Looks, Or Money,” & “If I Weren’t Me.”
Musicians – Kevin Jarvis (drums), David J. Carpenter (bass/bgv), Chris Lawrence & Jay Dee Maness (pedal steel guitars), Carl Byron (piano/accordion/Wurlitzer), Darice Bailey & Teresa James (bgv).
CD photo by Jeff Wiant. CD @ Apple & https://www.davidserby.com/