Genuine Syd rises from ranks

Armed with a guitar and heartfelt lyrics, Boston-based Syd is squarely placed in the ever-swelling ranks of fresh-faced male singer-songwriters. It’s a place, he says, that’s a blessing or a curse, depending on the day.

“Once you get a review that tears you apart as some sort of Dave Matthews impersonator, it’s frustrating,” the Vermont native says. “But some days it’s kind of cool.”

Sure enough, Syd’s recorded work bears a resemblance to that of his fellow Matthews-inspired peers, including our own local wunderkind Howie Day.

As Syd sees it, the current crop of male singer-songwriters is “just an extension of the Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish and the Gin Blossoms” – groups that when stripped of their mellow, radio-friendly rock coating reveal a tender singer-songwriter center.

It was while attending Emerson College in Beantown that he recorded his debut disc, “Week Days Weak Knees,” which became a surprising critical and commercial success thanks to downloads and sales via Internet sites.

Now, having recently released a new album and completed a degree in new media at Emerson, Syd is taking to the road. Joined by fellow guitarist and longtime friend Tuck Stocking and bassist Dylan Allen, Syd will be playing around the college campus circuit through the fall, with a few club dates thrown in for good measure. The trio will make a stop here in Bangor on Sept. 2 for a free 11:30 a.m. show at the University College of Bangor.

“Fault Lines,” his sophomore effort, finds Syd breaking slightly away from being just a solo thoughtful young man with a guitar and embracing a sound that’s a little fuller, a little more amped. It’s a subtle change, but along with his distinct, resonant voice, it’s one that might help Syd stand out from the crowd.

For information on Syd, visit www.sydband.com. George Bragdon can be reached at gbragdon@bangordailynews.net.