Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
David Rawlings: Poor David’s Almanack

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • David Rawlings: Poor David’s Almanack
David Rawlings: Poor David’s Almanack
Fri Aug 11, 2017
Iain Patience

David Rawlings is quite the guy these days. A still youthful picker with an extraordinary command of the roots and traditional end of US country music, often now called Americana, Rawlings has been plying his trade for many years, always earning praise, accolades and generating interest in both the genre and his own, personal take on it all. Surprisingly, perhaps, he also remains firmly footed and rooted in a bubble of modesty and humility that, frankly, is a rare thing in modern-day Music City, Nashville, where he is based.

With a new album, ‘Poor David’s Almanack’, a genuine solo effort, due to drop in a few weeks time, he is relaxed, confident and satisfied with the result of his own writing and recording that features his long-time music partner Gillian Welch and is produced and released on their joint-enterprise label, Acony Records.

Rawlings has long been recognised and acclaimed as one of those singular guitar pickers who has his ‘own’ sound, a rare distinction in a world of wannabe guitarists. Asked where it originates, he seems momentarily bemused, surprised to be asked and disarmingly phased, if not pleased, by the very thought: ‘I just try to play things my own way. I don’t try or have the ability to copy others. I like to think I learn from other players, but in reality I just play the way I play. I worked out a way of playing that worked with Gillian (Welch.) We play together, a friendship, where we each try to catch a feeling, a mood, a combination of notes that expresses a feeling,’ he says. ‘I never had the ability to just copy other players. With Gillian, I try to share a mood, maybe different combinations of notes.’

David RawlingsRawlings is also noted for the use of his 1930’s Epiphone archtop guitar, a vintage instrument seldom seen these days and certainly favoured by few: ‘I love its tonal range, a place between G’s lower register and bass that fits real well with the band. (David Rawlings Machine). It allows me to add colour and it also serves what I play in most cases. I’m a singer who plays guitar that mimics the voice.’

And with the new album, leaning heavily towards and featuring traditional sounding songs and lyrical styles, Rawlings adds: ‘The songs (all written by Rawlings) are in traditional forms but all share a feeling that might be different, a natural progression.  I started playing when I was about sixteen and took to it quickly. I knew that was what I wanted to do, to become good enough. Looking at influences, I must say Norman Blake. I’m a huge fan and learned to flat-pick from his records. Norman will start a piece that then becomes kaleidoscopic in style that is wonderful.’

Other influences include an eclectic mix, with the Smiths coming as something of a surprise, perhaps: ‘I loved their fun style. And Johnny Marr was always interesting and different. There’s Willie Nelson, in a different way; and Chet Baker, a master of creating tension while remaining full of colourful soloing. There’s always a sort of suspenseful feeling there. I hear it in Neil Young too, at times,’ he laughs.

‘I think tension in the music is important. I guess I try to play guitar like, say, Dylan plays harp. I’m not too concerned about the key – maybe it’s in G with a D harp – it’s a sound that’s important. It’s all about using the instrument to create a feeling, to give emotion. It all comes together like a car moving.’

Rawlings confirms the importance of other Nashville musicians in his apparent success, singling out Americana/Country siblings Tim and Mollie O’Brien in particular for their help, support and belief in both he and Gillian Welch at the beginning of their Nashville careers: ‘Gillian had written a couple of songs, one was covered by Emmy Lou Harris, including ‘Orphan Girl’ and ‘Witchita.’  Tim and Mollie both worked and recorded them first, I think. It was our first flush of success,’ he adds. ‘It gave us the confidence to get out there and showed us we could do it ourselves and pushed us into a challenging place where we had to think and work at a higher level.’

With his own jointly owned record company at Acony Records, Rawlings has turned his hand to producing too and confirms he enjoys that process though it does eat into his time: ‘I enjoy producing records, it’s great to get involved in other projects though I have a tendency to become so wrapped up in it that everything else gets neglected,’ he quips.

Rawlings will be taking to the road soon, touring extensively in the USA and also Europe early next year, including Netherlands, where he says he’s always had a great time with great audiences and support from his fans.

http://davidrawlingsmusic.com

Reviews
Album
David Rawlings
Month: Aug 2021
Matt Morson Matt Morson Releases “Tailgate Patio,” A Simple-Pleasures Summer Jam All About…
Rise Carmine Alt-Psych Rocker Rise Carmine Wants to “Be The Only One” in New Single
Astrid Tanton Take Oath & Bear Witness: “Jury” is in Session for Canadian Artist Astrid…
Daniel Monte Orchestral Pop-Rockers Daniel Monte Release Moving Music Video for Single, “…
Month: Sep 2021
Downtown Exit Downtown Exit Releases Soundtrack for Band Member Glenn Dixon’s “Bootleg…
Theo Ogundine London, UK-Based Soul Artist + Netflix's "Top Boy" Actor THEO…
Solstice Jig ViVA Trio Rhythmic & Celebratory, Award-Winning ViVA Trio Release First-Ever Folk-…
Mena Hardy Canadian singer/songwriter Mena Hardy Releases Compelling Single “Man I Love”
Lara Taubman Singer/Songwriter Lara Taubman Releases Groovy, Funk-Inspired Single in “Hookup…
Lento y Pegadito MellyQueen & Skyzz Toronto-Based Latin-Pop Artists MellyQueen & Skyzz Set the Night Ablaze…
The High Loves Alt Rockers The High Loves Put a Breakup Behind Them With New Single, “Sometime”
Brandon Glazer Brandon Glazer Releases Title Track of New Album – Because of You
June Garber June Garber Releases New Video of Classic “Windmills Of Your Mind”
Ozzie Lovin Ozzie Lovin Gets “Lost In You” in New Single
Marty Zylstra Singer/Songwriter Marty Zylstra Lights Up the Sky with Blistering New Single &…

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 45
  • Page 46
  • Page 47
  • Page 48
  • Current page 49
  • Page 50
  • Page 51
  • Page 52
  • Page 53
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers