AustinExperience.com - Guy Forsyth

Guy Forsyth Guy Forsyth

This review has been a long time coming. I've been a fan of Guy's for years, and I kept saying to myself that I need to write a review; first when I started this website, then when I saw Guy's SXSW performance, then when 'Voices Inside' was released...

Finally, after seeing him perform at Lucky Lounge for the Austin Music Foundation (AMF) Incubator Finalist Showcase, I forced myself to sit down and crank out this review. The world MUST know about Guy Forsyth. Every time I see him perform, I am thoroughly impressed.

(Side note about the AMF performance: Without a doubt, Guy's performance was the highlight of the day. At the time of this writing, AMF has not announced its selection for the 3 Incubator slots. I think it's a no brainer. If Guy isn't selected, I don't know what criteria AMF's panel is using to make their decision.)

Most reviews on this site are specific to the review of one performance or a new CD release. This, on the other hand, is a more complete assessment of the performer.

A little more than a decade ago, I set out to celebrate a friend's first day of drinking legally. Being the poor souls that we were, we went looking for a joint with no cover. We wandered into the 311 Club on 6th street and encountered a blues musician showing his ability to handle the harmonica. At the time, you could catch a number of blues musicians on any given night playing the standard blues patterns and inserting their simple lyrics. It was obvious that Guy was different. There was much more thought given to the lyrics and the construction of each song. What got me hooked as a fan of Guy's was the following: In the middle of one of his songs, he walked off the stage, left his microphone behind and began belting out the lyrics as he worked his way up to the bar. Guy demonstrated that he had one powerful voice and he can project it. He sat down and the bar and had a drink while the band went into an extended instrumental set. When Guy had finished his drink, the song continued as he made his way back to the mic. Somewhere in there, I believe he shared the following advice: "If you don't want a woman who drinks, don't pick up women in bars."

At this first encounter, Guy had an empty pitcher on stage and was playing for tips. There were no more than about ten people in the club counting myself and the waitstaff. A couple weeks later, I set out to purposely see his show. In just a short amount of time, things had changed quite dramatically. Guy was still putting on a stellar performance, and as a result his audience had grown quite rapidly. The 310 was packed. Still somehow, he could still be heard over the crowd when he abandoned the mic. From that point forward, I've made a point to get my hands on any CD that Guy puts out. (Somewhere I've got a tape he put out. Then, I began the CD collection with High Temperature.) I also picked up a T-shirt (black ink on a cheap white T with Guy, Rich Chilleri, Keith Bradley, and Rob Douglas -- three musicians that I haven't seen for years).

Over the years, Guy's instrument of choice seems to have shifted from the harmonica to the resonator guitar. I'm not saying he doesn't play harmonica anymore. He does, just maybe not quite as much as he did when he first began performing in Austin. In addition, you may catch him playing the saw. Did I mention he plays a mean slide guitar?

I haven't seen as many live performances as I'd like, but I have faithfully bought Guy's CDs. Each one has shown a slight shift in Guy's style, new influences, and a growing maturity in his writing. Recently, I decided to make myself a "Best of Guy Forsyth" CD. I copied my favorite songs off High Temperature, Needlegun, Can You Live Without, Steak, and Voices Inside. (I may have copied one of Guy's songs from an Asylum Street Spankers CD as well.) Then, I attempted to burn all these songs onto a CD. This is where I had a problem. I can only fit about 80 minutes of music onto a CD. The painful process of determining what songs to purge had begun. My dilemma only underscored the whole reason for writing this review--Guy cranks out a lot of fabulous music.

For those of you who live in Austin, go check him out. Period. For those who can't make it to a show, here's my recommendation. Buy Needlegun. No question, you'll like it. If you want your next Guy Forsyth CD to be more bluesy, buy Steak or High Temperature. If you want it less bluesy and more Americana/Singer-Songwriter-ish, by Voices Inside or Can You Live Without. If you find that there is something newer out on the market when you read this, buy it. At the last show I attended, Guy played several songs I had never heard. They sounded ripe for the radio, so I suspect he'd be including them on his next recording.

Over the years, Guy's name keeps popping up in the top ten for multiple categories in the Chronicle's music poll, but he doesn't pull off that #1 slot. I've come to the conclusion that Guy is the most underappreciated talent in Austin. Why he hasn't conquered the world by now is a mystery to me. It's just a matter of time.

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Read the review of Guy Forsyth's Love Songs: For and Against.

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