Davey O.
It’s no surprise that Buffalo, NY born and bred songwriter Davey O. has been described by Buffalo News critic Jeff Miers as having “a journalist’s eye for detail and poet’s ear for the well-turned observation”. Embarking on a decade-plus journey that has resulted in a collection of justly-earned, highly introspective songs, Davey crafts pure Americana that is not of the social and political consciousness, but drawn from the deep well of experience and human emotion – no hackneyed story lines, no insincere polish, just an unflinching poet’s look at life. The characters woven seamlessly into stories of which the song itself becomes the soundtrack for the movie playing inside the listener’s head.
Armed with a steady, rhythmic pulse on his Gibson guitar, a battered straw cowboy hat and a no apologies rust-belt work ethic, Davey puts rubber to asphalt, entertaining attentive, diverse audiences at listening rooms, coffeehouses, nightclubs, festivals, colleges and universities throughout the Northeast, Midwest, Midsouth and Atlantic U.S. – performances that result in engagement and communion between performer and audience through story and song.
The hard work has paid off with recognition by way of a New Folk Finalist Selection at The 2013 Kerrville Folk Festival, an Official Showcase Selection at the 2011 Folk Alliance Conference and coveted opening act slots for Ellis Paul, Amy Speace, Tracy Grammer, Eilen Jewell, Suzanne Vega, Eric Andersen, Cheryl Wheeler, Sloan Wainwright, Kim & Reggie Harris, The Kennedys and Poco.
In August 2012, Davey released – “Testing For Rust” which grabbed the attention of Folk & Americana DJ’s across the country, earning him top grades on the Folk DJ Charts. “Testing For Rust” debuted on FOLK DJ Radio Charts at #20, made the Top Sellers on CD Baby, hit the Airplay Direct Charts Top 50, and spent 11 weeks in the Top 25 on the Roots Music Report (RMR) for State of NY. “Testing For Rust” was also placed on the 2012 “Best of” lists by radio stations WVPE (Elkhart, IN), WHRW (Binghamton, NY), 90FM (Stevens Point, WI) and WMSC (Montclair, NJ).
In September 2014, Davey release a 7 song EP, “No Passengers”, co-produced by Neale Eckstein at Fox Run Studios in Sudbury, MA over the course of a day and a half. Like its predecessor “Testing For Rust”, “No Passengers” also captured the hearts of folk DJ’s around the country, debuting as a Top 20 album on the Folk DJ Charts for September 2014 and remaining a Top 25 Contemporary Folk CD on the Roots Music Reports for the better part of five months. “No Passengers” also received critical acclaim with inclusion on the “Best of 2014” lists of no less than six radio stations – WHRW (Binghamton, NY), WAMC (Albany, NY), WMSC (Montclair, NJ), Radio Crystal Blue (Tacoma, WA), WVPE (Elkhart, IN) and The Sundilla Radio Hour (Auburn, AL). “No Passengers” was also graded among the Top 100 Contemporary Folk Albums of 2014 on the Roots Music Reports, landing in the #25 position.
Equal parts songwriter and storyteller, Davey has also earned the respect of his peers for his constant dedication to the art of song craft as well as for his incredible work ethic, which finds him performing close to 140 dates per year.
Davey is looking to build on the success of his previous releases with the 2017 release of “A Bright Horizon Line” – his new, full length CD. Joined by veteran folk artists Tracy Grammer (background vocals), and Pat Wictor (dobro), as well as up and coming artists Matt Nakoa (piano), and Eric Lee (mandolin, fiddle), “A Bright Horizon Line” is a collection of 10 tracks (9 original compositions, and a cover of the Crowded House classic “Don’t Dream It’s Over”) – each one taking the listener on an adventure via music and words, strung along the common thread of this journey we are all on. Co-produced with Neale Eckstein at Fox Run Studios, the production values and arrangements are clear, concise, and cinematic in their quality, successfully capturing the elements of both contemporary and traditional folk music.
