As part of this group's on-topic discussion regarding
singer/songwriters who deserve to be heard by a wider
audience may I offer these observations about Austin
Texas based artist, Danny Schmidt.

I have often admitted to spending considerable time
thinking what it would have been like to have been in
Eva's audience, even by chance for one night. Would
"that" voice have knocked me off the chair? Would I
have been as haunted by the beauty of her art as I am
to this day simply from the recordings? I'd like to
think the answer is, "Yes without question."

While no artist I have seen has Eva's talent, a few have had that
knock out effect that I believe Eva would have had. I've written
about becoming emotionally undone by Coles Whalen as she sang,
"Providence", a song I had not heard prior to before attending
her show (Coles, incidentally has a new album coming
out in a month or so).

Today, I'd like to introduce one more artist who was nothing
less than overwhelming when I heard him play four years ago.
At that time, Danny Schmidt had just released the album,
"Parables & Primes", with more than one song that would come
to define his craft for melody and dense lyrics. This weekend,
when I heard Danny play at my favorite house concert series
in Lawrenceville Georgia, he was again touring in support of
a new album, "Instead The Forest Rose To Sing," which is note
for note as good or better than anything else he has
released. Consider the song that opened the concert:

--
All by my lonesome and by myself
Ain't no soul left this boy can sell
Cause there ain't no reason to make no rhymes
Oh child, you're right on time

Oh child, the things I could tell
The things I could tell you, but you already know
Those rhymes ain't cards you play like poker
They're jokers so hold 'em til the fools all fold
From BETTER OFF BROKE
Words and Music by Danny Schmidt
--
Like so many of his songs, this one stands comfortably alone
as a poem. The words become unforgettable when combined with
his melody.

I asked Danny who his musical influences were. He told me that
the most significant one was Mississippi John Hurt, a songwriter
whose work was lost for nearly forty years. Along with Hurt's
songs, Danny recalls decorating the walls of the bedroom in the
house where he grew up with lyrics from Bob Dylan songs. I
inquired if Dylan's early writing style which is know for
being obtuse or ambiguous was also an influence. The answer
was probably not. Danny told me that he produces most songs in
a day or at most two and that any multiple meanings arise after
they are put down to paper and not intentionally beforehand.
Another of Schmidt's songs,"This Too Shall Pass", that has
words which serve as an example as they are rich in meaning.

--
Things change fast
But this too shall pass
Better carve it on your forehead
Or tattoo it on your ass
Cause who can tell
When the clock strikes twelve
If today's become tomorrow
Or if it's all just gone to hell
from This Too Shall Pass - Words and Music By Danny Schmidt
--
Schmidt may use allegory and other writing tools but his approach
is usually to the point. He told me that a writer needs a lot
of confidence if he/she is to intentionally include meanings
which are not immediately clear. That clarity may help to
explain why his writing stands out from other singer/songwriters.
The point of view is razor sharp as if he is asking his
audience, "Have you gotten the point?" Anyone who answers
in the affirmative will sit comfortably in his audience.

The evening I heard Danny he was performing with two other
acts, Jonathan Byrd and Doug & Telisha Williams. I believe
my twenty dollar ticket was one of the best bargains I have
ever purchased in many years of concert going. All of these
artists deserve to be heard by a wider audience. They are
on tour together in the U.S. for another month or possibly
more. Don't miss the chance to hear them.

The concert closed with one last song from each of these
wonderful artists. The song Danny choose is from his album,
"Little Grey Sheep". If I'm not mistaken, most the audience
found it impossible to forget, just the same experience I had
when I first heard Danny.

--
When I die, let them judge me by my company of friends
Let them know me as the footprints that I left upon the sand
Let them laugh for all the laughter
Let them cry for laughter's end
But when I die, let them judge me by my company of friends

When I die, let them toast to all the things that I believe
Let them raise a glass to consciousness
And not spill a drop for grief
Let the bubbles rise at midnight
Let their tongues get light as thieves
And when I die, let them toast to all the things that I believe
from "COMPANY OF FRIENDS" Words and Music by Danny Schmidt
--

Warm regards,

Scott

Lilburn, Georgia

Links:
Danny Schmidt
http://www.dannyschmidt.com/
Jonathan Byrd
http://www.jonathanbyrd.com/
Doug & Telisha Williams
http://www.dandtw.com/


Danny Schmidt Videos:

This Too Shall Pass
http://www.dannyschmidt.com/index2.html
Company Of Friends
www.youtube.com/watch?v=boqQxwiUT2A