David Serby: Press

Honky-Tonk Friday - David Serby’s Incredible Story And His New Song “Permanent Position”

When country musician David Serby goes looking for his biological parents, he finds the root of his artistic talent -- and a brother to boot.

John Conquest picks ASN as one of the best albums of 2007.

Another Sleepless Night picked as the Best in 2007 in three categories.

Album of the Year
Top Male Artist
Top Songwriter

Another Sleepless Night Makes KEXP Top 10 List of 2007!

. . brand of honk-a-billy blues probes the gut-kick you get when your heart breaks in more pieces than you know how to deal with.

". . . South Pasadena-based honky-tonker David Serby came to the festival with a short, rousing set that called to mind another local talent, Dwight Yoakam. "

STAGECOACH BEST PERFORMANCES, PART 1

David Serby is terrific, someone who's got the songs (tales-o'-heartache aplenty!) and personality to make a big bust-out into the mainstream (but, like Dwight Yoakam, we can see him keeping a foot in alt-country).

Serby has had a life that could be a country song - or several . . . . It's inspiration for songs that pack quite a punch, wallowing beautifully in heartache and sadness when not dripping with menace . It all adds up to a sterling new chapter in the history of California country.

Another Sleepless Night
(Harbor Grove ***1/2)

With easygoing Dwight Yoakam-meets-Ricky Nelson vocals, his skill is at sharp turns of phrase, and he has a fine debut album getting him noticed in country circles.

"Smooth traditional country with a blues bent and a lot of feel. Serby could be big one day."

"As far as we are concerned this is one of the most fun country records of the last few years!"

"A great collection of rockin' uptempo tunes, traditional country shuffles, soft crying in your beer-ballads performed with a heavy backing sound and great vocals by David. Not a filler song here. . . "

CMT.com -- First Day of California Festival Shows Country Music's Depth and Evolution:

" In another era, Nelson would have been a prime figure on the Mane Stage, but his current stature as an against-the-mainstream country act placed him on the Palomino Stage, which embraced alt-country artists who tend to play looser with the stylistic rules of the genre. Among those who worked the Palomino successfully were Robert Earl Keen (who applies his grainy vocals to a raucous musical package and themes of literary hijinx), former Mavericks vocalist Raul Malo (who laced his material with varying degrees of Latin influence) and David Serby (who kicked off the entire day at 1 p.m. with barroom songs featuring his psychobilly phrasing)."

Link to the entire article below

"David has produced another Classic Country Album full of foot stompin', toe tappin tunes that will have you up and rockin around from the very first note. . This album is a MUST for all true Country Music Fans."

"...slyly intelligent, well-crafted honky-tonk songs."

"The vividly simply lyrics tell daunting tales of lost loves, heart aches, and cheating. . .It's easy to get lost in the stories, but each track is accompanied by superb instrumentation. . ."

"Serby is one of those small handfuls of artists evey generation that demands close attention. Fans of hard country will be impressed."

"A strong offering from Southern California alt-honkytonker David Serby, who bursts forth with some first-class, true-blue twang. . .Folks who like hardcore, lean-boned twang really ought to check this one out."

LA "Another Sleepless Night sports a harder sound and 15 rueful new songs, mainly about crash-and-burn romances. (Nobody's ever happy for long in Serby's universe). David Serby is the goods."

"real songs of dirt and dust-of love, lust and heartbreak, where dreams and regret often collide without warning. You don't just hear these songs, you feel them. . No doubt about it, country music needs David Serby."

"This unassuming Illinois-born neo-honky-tonk musician is currently writing songs as full of brilliantly observed detail as those penned by his obvious model, Dave Alvin. I shit you not. And at every live show, he seems to pull yet another magnificent new song out of his bag. Nice guy, too. So buy his album, check out his local gigs, and keep your eyes open – Serby’s gonna be around for a while."

WESTERN BEAT RADIO - Billy Block

"Following the tradition of California country legends like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam, David Serby throws his cowboy hat in the ring of fire and comes out a winner"

LOS ANGELES TIMES - Geoff Boucher

“Serby’s brand of alt-country is coffeehouse smart and roadhouse rough. But "Dirt" is about a workingman’s romantic anguish. “All I have is dust, sweat, love and lust…there ain’t no diamonds in the dirt beneath my nails.”

MILES OF MUSIC

It`s A Cracker!! 100% Guaranteed!!

David Serby writes and performs traditional Californian country - a description which is only as distinct as the various elements that make up its varied sound. A little honky-tonk, a bit o` Bakersfield, some Texas-style roadhouse, and just plain classic country all figure here with many of his songs bearing the signposts and markers of a region in which a number called "Santa Ana Winds" can only be written and fully understood. Calling the Golden State home, the Illinois raised Serby has recorded I Just Don`t Go Home with a host of local musicians who have played with the likes of Rita Coolidge, Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Chris Hillman and Dave Alvin, among others - names which can be cited here as influential and, to some degree, similar. He has the humble honesty and the plaintive, easy delivery of a folk singer who has his stories. And as he`s telling them you swear this guy`s lived `em. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music