Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
I'm listening to your latest as I type.  "That's real love..." 
Lovely, and as the mother of an echolalic child, I particularly want to
thank you for "Echolalia": it is just perfect!
  

    

Thank you!
  

    

Three very positive reviews of my new CD:


 <http://www.kindweb.com/reviews/review.asp?ID=24437>

 <http://www.jambands.com/CDReviews/content_2008_12_02.04.phtml>

 <http://www.honesttune.com/content/view/1424/27/>h

You can hear it, read more about it, and buy it at
<http://www.dgans.com/weirdest/>
  

    

My new CD, "The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best," has gotten
several very positive reviews - and no negative ones that I've seen.  But
this one, posted yesterday, is the most positive yet.  Some highlights:


David Gans: The Ones That Look The Weirdest Taste the Best

By Dennis Cook

Though the title suggests Captain Beefheartian oddity, this is in fact a very
lovely, fairly pure folk-rock album, and perhaps David Gans finest recorded
hour to date.... Gans has quietly grown & grown as a singer-songwriter in his
own right, and his latest collection elevates him to the stature of John
Gorka, David Wilcox and Greg Brown in the modern folk pantheon.

"Headin' Home Already" is something I can easily imagine Garcia diggin' into
with an oversized spoon.  "Echolalia" could be the best Michael Hedges in-
strumental you've never heard, and "An American Family" and the monotheist-
bashing "Save Us from the Saved" carry the sincere gravitas and homespun
honesty of primo Pete Seeger. Gans really holds his own throughout, and it's
not all folksy wisdom either....  [Producer Tim] Carbone integrates every-
thing in a way that vibes strongly with Workingman's Dead and other '70s
California Country gems. The end result is something you're likely to find
yourself throwing on with great regularity.

In every aspect, this is a very personable, humanizing collection, where Gans
offers his strongest voice (literally and figuratively)....


<http://www.jambase.com/Articles/16660/David-Gans-The-Ones-That-Look-The-Weirde
st>
  

    

Great review!!  Congratulations!

Next, reviewers will be comparing other recording artists to you!
  

    

"That's months away," as Martin Mull once said.
  

    

> In presenting “The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best,” David Gans
> has offered a charming collection of songs that catalogue his wry perspec-
> tives as a singer, songwriter, and as a prominent figure in the Grateful
> Dead community.  The album pulls from lots of different traditions in these
> songs, as the simplicity of bare bones folk is evident in certain tracks,
> while others feature robust musical interplay and exchanges.  On several
> tracks, Gans offers a sardonic wit and a story-telling style that reminds
> me John Hartford at his peak.  On other tracks, where the subject matter
> takes a serious turn, he sings in a simple, emotive style that is far less
> humorous, but just as effective.  The inclusion of Tim Carbone and his
> bandmates from Railroad Earth has infused the album with a full-bodied,
> robust sound and the talents of these contributors are prominently dis-
> played throughout the album.  In these tracks, Gans indicates a need for
> patience and fortitude in a difficult, fiscally unsure world, but offers
> music and fellowship as useful, helpful tools to deal with these problems.
> The resulting prescription seems logical, self-fulfilling, and well-
> delivered in the tracks on this album.

Read the rest:

<http://www.homegrownmusic.net/product-reviews/david-gans-the-ones-that-look-
the-weirdest-taste-the-best-cd>

<http://tinyurl.com/homegrown-weirdest>
  

    


March 26-29: Suwannee SpringFest, at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in
Live Oak FL (just across the Georgia line). DG plays solo and with Rubber
Souldiers! Plus Donna the Buffalo, Emmitt Nershi Band, The Duhks, The Lee
Boys, Darrell Scott, Darol Anger & Mike Marshall with Väsen, Blueground
Undergrass, Dread Clampitt, more TBA. http://www.magmusic.com



The Suwannee SpringFest is happening this weekend!  Rubber Souldiers will
perform Friday afternoon on the Amphitheater Stage, and again (under the
guise of "David Gans and Friends") Saturday evening in the Music Hall.
Fellow Souldiers Chris and Lorin will do their wonderful duo thing, too.  I
perform solo Friday morning, 10 am on the Amphitheater Stage.  Also
appearing: Donna the Buffalo, Emmitt Nershi Band, The Duhks, The Lee Boys,
Darrell Scott, Darol Anger & Mike Marshall with Väsen, Blueground Undergrass,
Dread Clampitt, and many more!  It all happens at the Spirit of the Suwannee
Music Park at Live Oak, Florida, just south of the Georgia line.  Info at
http://www.magmusic.com



More gigs, solo and with Rubber Souldiers:

Tuesday, March 31, 6-10pm: Rubber Souldiers perform at the Annual Kickoff
Dinner/Fundraiser for the 20th Larkspur Flower and Food Festival. American
Legion Hall, 500 Magnolia Ave. Larkspur CA (Formerly the Larkspur Cafe
Theatre). Tickets $30 including dinner, wine, and live music. No host bar.
For reservations Call Joanie Connor, LCA President: 415-924-3808

Thursday, April 2, 9:00pm: Rubber Souldiers Revue at the Ashkenaz, 1317 San
Pablo Avenue, Berkeley CA. $10. 510-525-5099

April 17-18: SpringJam 5 at Camp Zoe, Salem MO. The Schwag, NRPS, Donna Jean
Gochaux, Moonalice, DG, and more. http://www.campzoe.com

Thursday, April 23: Rubber Souldiers (acoustic) open for Greensky Bluegrass
and Great American Taxi at the Mission Rock Cafe, 817 Terry Francois Blvd.,
San Francisco

Friday, May 1: DG plays in the Poster Room at the Fillmore. Railroad Earth is
the headliner! DG plays before the show and during the set break.

Thursday, May 7, 9am to 1pm: Marin Farmers' Market, at the Marin Civic Center
in San Rafrael CA.

Saturday, May 9, 9:30am to 1:30pm: Grand Lake Farmers' Market, at Splash Pad
Park, Lake Park and Grand Avenues, Oakland CA.

Friday, May 15: DG and Zac Matthews at the Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Avenue,
Oakland (near the Berkeley line) http://www.nomadcafe.net

Sunday, May 17: Rubber Souldiers, the Raveups, and others perform "'60s
British Explosion Unplugged!" at the Freight and Salvage, 1111 Addison
Street, Berkeley

May 22-24: Desert Rocks Music Festival, Moab UT. ALO, Hot Buttered Rum, The
Mother Hips, The Motet, and more. http://www.desertrocks.org/

July 4 weekend: Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Garrettsville OH.
Dark Star Orchestra and many more! http://www.nlqp.com

*
My CD "The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best" is getting airplay all
over the country. If you aren't hearing it on your local AAA, Americana, or
jamband station/show, please help the cause by requesting it! And of course,
buying a copy. http://www.dgans.com/weirdest for lots of info, audio samples,
and several ways to buy it, either all at once or individual tracks.

Rubber Souldiers is a Beatles "jam band" with Lorin Rowan, Chris Rowan, David
Gans, and friends. http://www.rubbersouldiers.com
* * *
As always, more info at http://www.dgans.com/gigs.html
  

    

The Beatles jam band is back!


RUBBER SOULDIERS REVUE 
Tonight!  Thursday, April 2, 9pm

Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
<http://www.rubbersouldiers.com>
<http://www.ashkenaz.com>

Lorin Rowan - guitar, mandolin, vocals
Chris Rowan - 12-string guitar, vocals
David Gans - guitar, vocals
Joshua Zucker - bass, vocals
CC Dawson - drums, vocals

We are expecting some guests, including Eric Rawlins <woodman> and Eric and
Suzy Thompson.
  

    
<tnf>, Saturday I bought the FLACs of your 11/16/2007 American
Beauty/Workingman's Dead show with Jim Lauderdale, Ollabelle, and
others (from FestivalLink.net
<http://flink.livedownloads.com/show.asp?show=3641>). I think they're
great.

I haven't owned those LPs since I dumped all my vinyl a few years ago,
though I have lots of live versions and covers in more modern formats.
It was nice to hear all those songs together (though not in their
original order, alas).

It was especially thrilling to hear Catherine Russell soloing on two
songs--I love her New Speedway Boogie. I remember hearing her perform
it before I knew much about her--it was at a festival where I usually
did a lot of venue hopping, but during her performance, I told my
friends I'd meet them later so I could stay until the end of her set.
When she did that song, which I've always valued personally, and nailed
it, I nearly fell out of my chair.
  

    

Catherine is a treasure. And she's a dyed-in-the-wool Deadhead, vintage 1969!
  

    

Here's a collection of video clips fomr the Suwannee SpringFest.  My Beatles
Jam Band, Rubber Souldiers, were the talk of the festival with our Music Hall
set and an after-hours jam that went on for hours and hours.

<http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A6EF9DFE01720FFD>
  

    

Two clips from Sam Bond's Garage in Eugene 2/15/098 -

It's Gonna Get Better:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV6BZ0RSpvo>

Blue Roses:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9YNv8G1tb4>
  

    <scribbled by tnf Sat 18 Apr 09 11:42>
  

    

"Seeds and Stems" recorded in Missouri yesterday, prefaced by my story of
being stopped at a drug checkpoint en route.

<http://cloudsurfing.gdhour.com/archives/1776>
  

    

That was great, David!  I was so amused that, in order to sing the song, 
you had to explain not only what seeds and stems were, but also what album 
covers are!
  

    
Hey they played a track (Going to the Grateful Dead--can't remember
the real title) on WNCW! I was in my car and they played Ripple and
then your song. IT was so great. I called them to thank them for
playing it and suggested that they play more of your songs especially
because a lot of people don't know that you do other things besides the
Dead Hour. DJ said "Yep, David Gans is the real deal." 

Anyway, just wanted you to know
  

    
Aw, thanks Julie!  I know they've been playing "Down to Eugene."  I hope they
take your advice and play some other tracks.
  

    
Great track, David. The performance has a great feeling to it, and I almost
hear the steel guitar that isn't there. Nice.
  

    

Meanwhile, this review in email from Rip Rense in LA:

> David Gans does not come to singing by effortless grace, by his own admis-
> sion.  He has worked long and hard, and paid a lot of performance dues, to
> become the singer and player that he is today.  But a hell of a lot of art-
> ists do not sing like James Taylor or Judy Collins, so c’est la vie.  The
> ones that sound the weirdest sometimes taste the best.  What longtime
> (eons!) Grateful Dead Hour host Gans has succeeded at doing, through per-
> severance, love, and labor---and, yes, talent---is becoming a highly am-
> bitious songwriter and accomplished guitarist.  Both are in evidence on
> this, his finest recorded hour (give or take a minute.)  The Ones That Look
> The Weirdest Taste the Best is a friendly and imaginative production with a
> decidedly acoustic “real music” feel, courtesy of a few crackerjack multi-
> instrumentalists (Consider Andy Goessling’s arsenal alone: autoharp, banjo,
> guitar, ukulele, clarinet, bass clarinet, 12-string, steel guitar, barisax,
> vocals.)  Splendidly recorded, lovingly arranged, carefully crafted, the
> eleven songs on the album are like family members: recognizable as part of
> the same gene pool, but each with a distinct presence.  This stylistic
> variety---from whimsical to heartfelt to sarcastic to angry---is highly
> laudable, and all too rare among contemporary artists.  The banjofid-
> dledriven “Shove in the Right Direction” has a hook that the Grateful Dead
> might have enjoyed grooving on (or The Dead might still?), “The Bounty of
> the County,” a paean to produce (!), is charming, and “Down to Eugene is a
> jaunty, if a bit late, anthem for traveling Deadheads.  Gans bites dog: the
> songwriter does right by lyricist Robert Hunter on “Like a Dog, a wonder-
> fully bilious piece, then waxes optimistic on “It’s Gonna Get Better
> (though this cynic remains unconvinced).  “An American Family” is perhaps
> the most intriguing lyric on the record, as Gans somewhat bitterly explores
> the attitudes of three family members beset by vagaries and disenchantments
> of the 21st century.  (“When my optimism falters, I just turn on channel 2/
> to wallow in nostalgia for a life I never knew.” Ouch.)  There is also a
> comparative rarity among balladeers: a nice instrumental, “Echolalia,” but
> for my money, what there is of it, the standout track here is a forthright
> denunciation of the gawd-fearing, self-righteous poisoning so much of con-
> temporary discourse and life.  “Save Us From The Saved” says everything
> that needs to be said about the worldwide cancer of religious zeal.
> Pointed, witty, bitter, true.  An important song.  The Dixie Chicks should
> cover it, and maybe one or two others on this disc.   

Rip is at < http://www.riprense.com>

The CD is at <http://www.dgans.com/weirdest> and on the iTunes music store,
CDBaby, etc.
  

    
Great review, Mazel Tov!
  

    


Thursday, May 7, 8:30 am to 1 pm: Marin Farmers' Market, at the Marin Civic
Center in San Rafael CA

Saturday, May 9, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm: Grand Lake Farmers' Market, at Splash
Pad Park, Lake Park and Grand Avenues, Oakland CA.

Friday, May 15: With Zac Matthews at the Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Avenue,
Oakland (near the Berkeley line) http://www.nomadcafe.net

Sunday, May 17: Rubber Souldiers, the Raveups, and others perform "'60s
British Explosion Unplugged!" at the Freight and Salvage, 1111 Addison
Street, Berkeley

May 23: Desert Rocks Music Festival, Moab UT. ALO, Hot Buttered Rum, The
Mother Hips, The Motet, and more. http://www.desertrocks.org/

Sunday, May 31, 2:15-3:45 pm: Rubber Souldiers play the Larkspur Flower and
Food Festival, on Magnolia between Ward and King Streets, downtown historic
Larkspur CA. Free! Info: Larkspur Community Association 415-924-3808

July 4 weekend: Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Garrettsville OH.
Dark Star Orchestra and many more! http://www.nlqp.com

July 23-26: Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport CT

October 22-25: MagnoliaFest, at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live
Oak, FL

*
My CD "The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best" is getting airplay all
over the country. If you aren't hearing it on your local AAA, Americana, or
jamband station/show, please help the cause by requesting it! And of course,
buying a copy. http://www.dgans.com/weirdest for lots of info, audio samples,
and several ways to buy it, either all at once or individual tracks.

Rubber Souldiers is a Beatles "jam band" with Lorin Rowan, Chris Rowan, David
Gans, and friends. http://www.rubbersouldiers.com
* * *
As always, more info at http://www.dgans.com/gigs.html
  

    
Hmmm. Bridgeport,CT. Only a few hours away. Must think about this.
  

    

Crosby, Stills and Nash are the Sunday headliner.  I play Saturday evening.
  

    
Them I can skip. You, on the other hand, I haven't seen in a decade.