Old friends bring new sound and style to the White Horse

David Cody & Michael J find harmony in music and comedy with unique show

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 9, 2023

David Cody, left, and Mike Lytle will bring their music and comedy duo, David Cody & Michael J, to the White Horse on Aug. 10. Photo by Fred McCormick

Funny anecdotes and witty one-liners fly with little effort when singer-songwriters David Cody and Mike Lytle get together. It’s been that way for decades, as each of them played venues around their Western N.C. home.

The chemistry between the longtime friends and performing artists inspired the unique blend of music and comedy they will bring to the White Horse Black Mountain at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 10, as David Cody & Michael J take the stage for an evening of laughter and original songs.

Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and available at whitehorseblackmountain.com, or $12 on the night of the show, which will place concertgoers in a live video shoot with the duo, which represents a new chapter in the lengthy careers of both members.

“At this point, we’re a couple of old guys who just want to have fun,” said Cody, who has written nearly 1,500 songs and recorded five albums since the early 1980s. “We like to make the audience feel like they’re part of the show, because they are.”

While comedic interludes keep the audience engaged, the music is serious business, according to Cody.

“I’ve always been into songwriting, and when I met Michael, he was into it, too,” he said. “He’s a great guitar player and singer, but what drew to me to him was his songwriting. Our styles are a little different, but I really appreciate his writing.”

Cody’s ability to read a room from the stage adds another layer to the dynamic, Lytle added.

“When we’re in a room and people are paying attention to the comedy, when we bust out one of our songs, people listen,” he said. “A lot of that starts with David, because he could talk to an empty room and have the bartender applauding. He can work a room better than anybody I’ve ever worked with.”

It’s a skill Cody began honing decades ago when he took the stage in the Town Pump Tavern for his first solo performance.

“One thing I’ve learned over the years is that every night is different and every crowd is different,” Cody said. “You have to adapt to the people who are sitting in front of you, and one of the most effective ways of doing that is by connecting with them.”

The White Horse, a venue familiar to both artists, offers an ideal setting to do just that.

“I begged the White Horse to let us perform and film this special there,” Lytle said. “They have the best lighting, the best stage and outstanding acoustics. I feel like it’s one of the classiest places in WNC, and we’re really looking forward to filming here.”

The audience can expect a unique show that blends comedic timing with music featuring precision vocal harmonies.

“We’re equally proud of the songs and the comedy,” Cody said. “We’ve worked very hard on this material, and everything always comes out right.”

It’s a formula that “works like a charm,” Lytle added.

“We have a chemistry that allows us to sit beside each other, while David plays the comedic straight man while I’m our version of Tommy Smothers,” he said. “I do some pretty stupid things, and he just sits there and stares at me. He always knows exactly how to react, and it feels like magic.”