Sycamore Green

(Self-released CD EP)

Sycamore Green hangs around somewhere on the edges of Matchbox 20 turf, and Rob Thomas fans seeking a local analog would do well to investigate this band. Vocalist Mike Murdock has got as solid a voice as you could hope for, doing his rocker thing with attention to convention—belting it out soulfully, emotively, but careful not to sound like a wussie. The rest of the band backs him faithfully in this, churning out a sturdy rock rhythm that’s middle-of-the-road like Bill Clinton, doing its best to appease all and offend none with songs like “Not to Mention” and “Starting Tomorrow”—tunes that simply get the job done, economically. Sycamore Green runs no risk of being slurred as “eclectic” or “arty”; anyone hankering for four-on-the-floor rock squawk without the frosting can count on this four-song demo CD to whet the appetite. For a further fix, make sure you get out and see their live show.