Smith DeVille

Smith DeVille plays at many corporate and family events because they bring a Texas Hill Country feel to their performances. Playing an interesting mix of songs that the audience wants to sing along with for example songs like "Bobby McGee", "Wish You Were Here", "Helpless" and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", some crowd favorites. You'll also hear Phil's incredible lead guitar playing blues and songs like "Route 66", "Honky Tonk Blues" and Ricky Nelson "Waiting At School" interspersed with their Americana original music. Phil plays electric and acoustic guitars with Mandy on acoustic rhythm guitar; the show takes you on a musical journey where Mandy and Phil play both together and take turns singing lead and playing solo to bring a fresh perspective to each song throughout the show.

Sunshine, Honky Tonks and Texas skies create a fine backdrop for the Americana Duo, Smith DeVille. Like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting, spirited and vast with expression, these songwriters have many stories to tell. Humbly inspired by their heroes Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, and Hank Williams they take the listener on an alt country adventure where cowboys drive trucks, sailors croon mermaids and the soul yearns for “milk and honey on the other side”. Their songs reveal a view into their life where driving across Texas, walking the beaches of Galveston and 2 stepping across an old dance hall is just who they are. Sparking and reflecting life’s passions as seen through their eyes both independent performers in their own right have risen from the ashes, morphed and reemerged as one.
DeVille and Smith met over 15 years ago, “I had gone out to promote my band in Kemah at a place called “The Sandbar “and Albert Storo was playing with Philip on Bass. I was looking for a producer and bass player for my upcoming album and that’s how it all began,” explains Mandy. It was shortly thereafter they played their first gig in 2002, recorded their first album “Mandy Smith Group”, and they have been making music ever since. They released their next album “West Texas Sun” at Hard Rock Café, and opened for some great artists like Guy Forsythe and the Stone Coyotes in addition to participating in SXSW.
They recorded 4 albums in about a year’s time including; “Mandy Smith Group”, “West Texas Sun”, “Coming Home” and “Texas Star” which caught the eye of producer Maureen McNamara. Maureen saw the body of work at Cactus in the local music section and from there they were asked to contribute a song and do a cameo appearance in “Hot Town Cool City” the documentary film about the Houston Art Scene airing on PBS. It was from those experiences that Smith DeVille was born and they have been a constant for each other in music and life ever since.
Phil, the master architect of their Americana sound, has an extensive musical background deeply rooted in blues. He always had a country sensibility “I’m Burt Wills and she’s Tanya Tucker but together we have a magic that creates our own sound”. Phil as well as being a surf guitar hero thrived throughout his career playing in his early 20’s with Zebra 123/Mojo Nixon and then went on to have his own rockabilly band Mustang Lightning out of Denver Colorado in the 90’s. Mustang Lightning led him to a ten-year stint in New Orleans landing a record deal with Monkey Hill. He was now label mates and touring with Cowboy Mouth and the Sub Dudes and spent time playing with many notable artists including John Sinclair, Michael Ray, Alex Chilton and opened for great acts like the Texas Tornados, Thunderbirds and Blues Travelers. Other career highlights include each having his songs on several movie sound tracks including “Miles To Surf” and “Vampira the Movie”. The Rodeo ultimately brought DeVille to Houston and the rest is history.
“Smith Deville is me at my roots,” Phil explains and goes on to say that now as a singer songwriter the writing comes more from the heart; “it’s now about everyday life”, he says. Before the stories were built around the coolness of Mustang Lightning. They were singing about street fights and picking up chicks; the things that are important when you’re in your 20’s and then Phil goes on to say “as you mature you want to write songs about real life but there is a different focus.” He says that his influences are now Daniel Lanois, John Fahey and the forgotten folk stuff, “Dylan emerges and means a lot more to me now and I dig the esoteric.”
Over the past year Smith DeVille has released several singles including “Sunshine” and “Ranch Hand Man” on CD Baby with an EP5 release on Sound Cloud. Mandy explains, “Sunshine” is a song people are really identifying with that really stands out. The song was inspired by the sunflower garden in our backyard.” Phil recalls he was standing out side, “the sun was shining; I was just out there spinning around with my guitar goofing off and there it was”. Smith DeVille truly enjoy the writing process and Phil spends most of his time crafting the songs, “it’s a way of life” he says.
You can hear the sounds of this Americana Alt-Country Duo at Visionary Noise events including the upcoming Groove and Vibe Festival in November, the Americana, and Taco Cabana in Katy! Find them at the Height’s Epicurean Market every first Saturday and the Katy Market Day every Third. You can hear them being played on KPFT 90.1 FM. Major supporter’s of the duo include (link hidden) a culture, art, and music publication and Visionary Noise production company their record label. Find out more about Smith DeVille on their website (link hidden); get their music on CD Baby, Sound Cloud & You Tube; Facebook. “We are ever so grateful to our fans, (link hidden) & Visionary Noise !”

Smith DeVille can bring their own gear for most performances and can adapt to any sized venue. On the simple side we can show up with 2 guitars and plug in or we can bring 4 guitars with accompanying amps and all mics and stands for the show. We have our own PA as well.