The Silver Spring Penguin

Writing a band profile is always tough when that band posts no biographical info on its website. Example: David Andrew Smith. According to his MySpace page, Smith is from Ellicott City, and he might be part of a band. That’s all I got.

But when the band website runs thin, one must actually work for that info, and listen intently to the artist’s music. So here’s what I got on Smith, according to his tunes: He likes being in love, even if love doesn’t like him back.

That’s not to say his joints are sappy tear jerkers. In fact, Smith manages to mash mellow, country acoustic with driving rock beats, then layers that sound with lyrics and vocals a la Matthew Sweet and Nick Lowe. That equals some pretty damned good tunes.

The one that’ll stick in your head for days (if not weeks) is “Talk to Me”, a sweetly plaintive but not totally wussified song that rings of Del Amitri. Equally infective is “Sweet Sweet Nothing”, which has a slightly harder edge and a warning to all who dare to mess with a certain chick.

“So Much Has Changed” leans towards country, very much like The Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes” tripped soft rock with straight-up Western. Meanwhile, “Bound” is an acoustic ballad all the way.

Sample David Andrew Smith’s sound on his MySpace page, then check him out at McGinty’s Public House (911 Ellsworth Dr) Friday night (yeah, that’s tonight). The Irish pub usually charges a $5 to $10 cover charge, so be prepared to spread the wealth.

Photos courtesy of Kim Hutchens and William Cornett for David Andrew Smith.