Guy Forsyth

300 Miles From There to Here (Small and Nimble)

The audio-visual cross-pollination of 300 Miles From There to Here is refreshing. Guy Forsyth and band – Will Landin on bass and tuba, Jeff Botta on percussion – appear on a DVD of shows videotaped in Waco, but there’s also a live CD recorded at Gruene Hall. With no overlap between the 26 songs total, there’s a huge assortment of the local songwriter and guitarist’s real-deal brand of roots and blues. The video lags at times, even with Forsyth dreamily bowing the musical saw on “Summertime,” but “Thank You for My Hands” just comes across as hippy-dippy beyond belief, and the logo of disc sponsor Texas Music Cafe that pops up on occasion is just distracting. In comparison, the Gruene set is positively aflame, especially on a steamy rave of Bo Diddley’s “Mona” and the slide-guitar wail of “Econoline.” (Thu., 9:30pm, Saxon Pub; Sat., 8:50pm, Continental Club)

**.5

This article appears in March 18 • 2011.

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