Tyron Benoit - Mid-City (2025)

This effort gets out at full gallop as “Start Again” captures a rootsy Americana rock tradition. Guitars have clarity, the beat is straightforward & driving. Tyron has a good voice with a raw, imaginative tone. It has distinction but not too much; he has more character to his tone & would be a great counter-balanced vocalist with The Eagles. He could turn them away from the homogenized California sound they seemed to thrive on. Tyron & the guitar work of Joe Walsh would certainly add a new chapter to that band.

But…Mr. Benoit (lead & acoustic guitars/accordion/vocals/bgv) is doing fine by himself. Some tunes are fairly basic, but Tyron does have additives that keep each tune interesting. He mixes up the country, rock, blues & folk style he’s mastered with spoonfuls of Louisiana Bayou through Colorado mountain air. He reminds me of an obscure Colorado artist who recorded 3 excellent albums for the renowned independent label Tumbleweed back in ‘70s Denver – Arthur Gee. Mr. Gee (“Love Song 450,” “Love Song 451”) had similar soundscapes with a more diversified voice. Mr. Benoit follows a similar path. “Raining In Kentucky” is a fine example of this.

There are 10 Mid-City excursions recorded in New Orleans & produced/arranged by Donald Markowitz (bass/keys/guitar). Some songs will get stuck in the muck of mainstream, commercialized pop, but the musicianship is sharp throughout & never wallows into second-hand tunesmith toss-offs. A viable upbeat turn comes with Tyron Benoit’s accordion bellows hum on “Louisiana Time,” – addictive to dancing feet. A hint of zydeco & Cajun runs through the piece with a light touch. One of the album’s best tracks. Invigorating stuff.

“Bogue Chitto River Blues” continues with the slight zydeco-Cajun embodiment & it’s also a well-delivered piece. Catchy. The rich country thrust comes with “Feels Like Home” — an ideal cover for Glen Campbell (if he were still with us). This is beauty. Tyron goes deeper into the country tradition with “Spent” with lots of spirit & a country-blues sauce that I know The Band with Levon Helm would have covered. The instrumental break dips into Spanish terrain & it only enhances the tune. A well-arranged piece sung with sincerity rather than showbiz gloss.