When I met David briefly before he went on, my first impression was, he looks a little like Michael Bolton and talks like Dick Cavett. Obviously, he avoids barbers, displaying a long mane which would make any female green with envy.
During David’s set, I was struck by how original his music sounded. It was difficult to pinpoint his influences, which are assimilated into his unique style–a little folksy, with a touch of country rock, and a dash of blues, all presented with David’s charismatic stage persona.
Each song is preceded by a little story or a funny monologue. On one song, David played his acoustic guitar like a percussion instrument. On another song, he muted three of the strings, which was preceded by a story of how he came to use this technique. He said that one day he left his pick in the high strings near the bridge, and when he went to play it sounded different–even cool. So, he bent a piece of plastic so it wouldn’t keep falling out and wrote a song using this muted string method.
For many years as a traveling troubadour, David shunned domestic life, but two years ago he got married, and wrote a song about some of the odd things he says to his wife, with the refrain, “I can’t believe I said that to you.” Nurturing a marriage and touring for many dates during the year is a tricky juggling act, but David has found a way to make it work.
Over his career David has released 9 albums and has just released a 10th original CD, called Change. It features 13 previously unrecorded songs. David said from the stage that he used other instruments, but there are no sounds other than acoustic guitars, voices, percussion, and cello. In college, David went from being a radio disc jockey to pursuing a career as a professional singer/songwriter. In 1997, David toured Europe, Australia, and New Zealand which expanded his fan-base considerably.
Later, near the end of the 1990s, David was featured along with Bruce Springteen, Aimee Mann, Ray Manzarek, Suzanne Vega on the Songs Inspired by Literature, Chapter I– a project to benefit literacy campaigns. His children’s recording, S.S. Bathtub recently won its fourth national award, and led to the publishing of a hardcover children’s book. Beside his exhaustive touring schedule, David is a sociopolitical activist. He formed a non-profit corporation to help Guatemalan schools called PEG.
One of David’s most endearing stories is about the time he was driving in Louisiana and ran over a big piece of cement, which put a hole in his van’s oil pan. Soon his van started to smoke and he pulled over to the breakdown lane. At the time, this part of Louisiana had been hit hard by hurricane Rita and the water was rising near his van. While he waited for AAA to rescue him, he thought about the terrible problems and tragedies that happened to the hurricane Katrina victims. He also learned a lot about the disaster from talking to the tow truck driver and when he got home he wrote a song about the experience with the refrain, “in Louisiana, the water will always win.”
Witnessing David perform was a memorable experience. He bonds with his audience with his stories and monologues. His show is more like a one person play with music than a concert. At the European Street, David played to a full house of mostly fans who remember him from his previous performances. Not only is David a gifted singer/songwriter, but his comedic delivery is funny. In total, David is a class act. He transcends the mundane and ascends into a new level of higher consciousness.
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