Bobbo Byrnes BOBBO BYRNES

Bobbo Byrnes
Bobbo Byrnes 
Highway Five Records

Hints of a Sparkling New Direction From Orange County

Americana singer-songwriter Bobbo Byrnes has come a long way since moving from Boston, Mass (he was part of their punk scene) to Southern California.
There, he founded one of Orange County’s leading Americana rock bands, Fallen Stars’, where after reading too much Kerouac, ‘
Byrnes folk inspired storytelling is of the most accessible kind; after reading too much Jack Kerouac and hitchhiking during his youth he eventually settled down to learning and sharing his stories with others as songs.
Byrnes connects with people both on and off stage; he’s a people person, plain and simple; and his well spun songs make that connection with listeners of all ages.
While most are self-penned, he also works with co-writers like Morgan Keating, Jeff Turner, Ben Riddle and Kirk Diedrich.    

A busy man, only last year he released the album October; which he recorded in two days while out on the road. One session in Hansa, Germany and the other at the Windmill Lane studio, Dublin. In recent years, his music has drawn comparisons with Glen Hansard, The Waterboys and Ed Sheeran among others of that ilk.

On listening to his work (the self-titled, Bobbo Byrnes) it’s easy to understand his love of electric lead guitar, smoking rhythms that lift you to the rafters.
Around Here kicks his seventh album away in a gritty fashion, driven by searing electric lead and a solid rhythm he vents his frustration.
“And Its always going to be the same around here.
It’s all red lights going into town,
….I can’t leave, but I’m going”. 
I Can’t Say is another to focus on frustration. Here Byrnes speaks of some one that had a drink problem… is he the man in the story?
I wonder?
On Long Way Down he is in reflective mood, singing of ‘life’ and how you can’t fight it or change the past. More solid rhythm in the background that to some degree is ‘dreamy’.
“There’s a light shinning down on Plain Street,
but it hangs in a sky over Main Street”
and
“It took me 24 years to find my place here on Plain Street”. Which somehow sounds like something from the 1980’s.
Whatever, Byrnes sounds at ease with life.

Never Learned To Fly continues the sequence of stories and life and L.O.V.E. Though it has plenty fine electric lead guitar, the record at this point possibly needs to focus more on his vocals and lyrical depth?

Too Many Miles has a wonderful feel, the best song so far on the record as Bobbo strips it down to shuffling rhythm, organ, electric lead guitar (with a brilliant solo), striking harmonies and outstanding lead vocals that speak of how there’s been
“Too many miles,
Painting she bought hangs on the wall,
Left her coat on the chair,”
as he struggles with the separation… a heart-torn Country gem. 

Bad Decisions opens with;
“Bella was a witch, who studied my palm.
You thrive in chaos.
I want to make some bad decisions, some bad decisions,
I met her church group, her boyfriend as well.
I want to make some bad decisions with you”
he pleads.
“What would Jesus do?
I want to make bad decisions.
Hitching south it took me three days.
I crossed the border on foot.
Finally, You are gonna be my bad decision,”
The story and desire now complete.
By far, the finest song up to now.

“Please forgive for all this silence on my mind”
he sings on the more poppy, feel good love song, Some Salvation. Bolstered by shared lead vocals with his wife, editor, soundboard tech and bassist, Tracy Byrnes.
It’s a winner!
The deep harmonies, work out well and the emotions are real, as the song looks for the couple to try again.

Glad And Sorry (the Faces song written by Ronnie Lane) opens with more fine harmonies, with the song’s underbelly warmed by lead electric guitar, the fine use of piano gives it an additional edge and a relaxed, lazy feel that ‘Plonk’ would be proud of.
“Can you show me a dream?
Can you show me one that’s better than mine”.

Chance starts gently and is cleverly underpinned by a pronounced pedal steel guitar, female harmonies and Byrnes again, is in a relaxed mode.
Here he speaks about ‘leaving things to chance’.
“How love is not a picture, but a story.
Just leave everything to chance.”
This time Byrnes’ lead guitar is powerful and the neat piano delivery on the fade out ensures the album closes on a positive note … or two.
While I’ve not heard his previous six albums I’m led to believe that this is something of a new direction for Bobbo Byrnes; but as a standalone album it really stands up against everything I’ve heard in the Americana/Alt Country market over the last few years.

 Review by Our Man From Havana … Maurice Hope
Released June 1st 2024
https://bobbobyrnes.com/

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