With his arrival at Smith Music Group, Travis Kidd may be a new name and face on the Texas music scene, but in actuality, he’s a seasoned veteran with a 10 year history as a full time musician. Based in Tulsa, Kidd has gathered a flock of loyal fans throughout Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and Colorado and is primed and ready to expand his reach across the Red River and beyond. Averaging over 150 shows year, both with his band and as a solo performer, Travis has built a reputation not only as a strong songwriter and magnetic entertainer, but also as one of Tulsa’s most underrated guitar players. And although accolades are nice, consecutive Tulsa Spot Music Awards as “Best Country/Americana” artist in 2006 and 2007 don’t begin to accurately describe his style and sound. Although Kidd’s last independent release, Anytown U.S.A. (of which he sold nearly 5,000 copies via his website and live shows alone) did play more to his singer-songwriter and country leanings, his live show reveals a background influenced just as much by the guitar-driven rock of the 70’s and 80’s. Based on his musical and physical ties to Oklahoma, it’s not uncommon to hear Travis referred to as part of the Red Dirt music scene, even though that’s not completely accurate. Although he does travel in similar circles and shares a mutual respect with those artists; having shared the stage with Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, No Justice and The Great Divide, Kidd is more intent on being true to himself and as such, has created something that often sets itself apart from his native contemporaries. Armed with a strong pop sensibility and a true musician’s viewpoint, Kidd has a gift for writing seemingly simple songs with big hooks to catch your ear, underscored by a musicianship that often gets overlooked as being more technical than most typical country-rock releases. Recently added to the Smith Music Group stable of artists, Travis Kidd’s newest CD, Mid America, isn’t so much a warning shot as an introduction to the man and what makes him tick. Although lead single “Oklahoma Sunset” was initially written for his wife, its imagery conjures an evening that anyone in Oklahoma or Eastern Texas can identify with as the sky turns reddish-orange with purple highlights and the breeze carries a palpable heaviness that can nearly be cut with a knife. Within a single listen, it’s easy to imagine the song could find itself a home in both the Hot AC and Contemporary Country formats. That’s only one side of an artist whose influences reach back to the guitar oriented rock of the 70’s and 80’s. Not only does Kidd let go with a greasy blues rock riff that channels his youthful indulgences in 80’s rock, he also pays homage to the masters with a rocked up version of Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money” and a syrupy sweet version of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” that will keep all the ladies in his audience swooning. A few listens to MidAmerica will quickly explain why Kidd has shared the stage with artists ranging from The Dixie Chicks and Jack Ingram, to luminaries like J.J. Cale and Hank Williams Jr., storytellers like Todd Snider and Robert Earl Keen and guitarist extraordinaire, Monte Montgomery. And just in case you think it’s all a case of smoke and mirrors, take a quick listen to Kidd’s atmospheric guitar work in “Anticipation” or his exploration into classic Steve Miller territory with the title track, then check him out live and let him prove you wrong. Welcome to MidAmerica and say hello to your new tour guide, Travis Kidd. If you stick around and rub shoulders with him, he’ll end up giving you the insider’s tour of Midwestern music.