On first impression, Dave Onions comes off as a thick-fingered, truck-driving man.
It wouldn’t be hard to picture him barreling down I-80, Messiah of the Highway,
screaming down on slower traffic. An elbow to the breeze, his long hair waving
wildly, cigarette dangling out from behind a casual smile, smoke mingling with the
wisps of his Fu-Manchu.
After learning of his past work-experiences it’s even
easier to imagine this scene. He has tended bar and worked in the building trades.
He even did a stint as a cop. Above all these things though, Onions is songwriter
attempting to usher in a new era of folk music.
Dave Onions is Bluebird.
Or maybe Bluebird is Dave Onions. There is a certain amount of autonomy between
the two. Bluebird is the same person whether it be on stage in front of a crowd or
perched on a bar stool in some shit-hole tavern.
I was taken a back when I entered
the bar that Bluebird told me to meet him at. The dim lighting reflecting off the
polished mahogany of the bar. The chic exposed-brick of the walls. Sullen, aging
hipsters posing generically at their stools. The practiced and well-worn
expression of boredom on their faces. I was even more perplexed when I was told
they didn’t serve High Life, which I wrongly assumed had over taken PBR as the new
hipster beer. This was not exactly the kind of place one would expect to find a
blue-collar songwriter.
Yet, when I found Bluebird at the end of the bar he was
hunkered over a thick stew and the remnants of a Bloody Mary. Before I could
finish my greeting he was offering me some of his meal. It finally started making
sense; he simply doesn’t give a damn. Bluebird is at home anywhere he goes. It is
this characteristic that separates Bluebird from his contemporaries. There is no
bullshit. He is not playing a part. The same working class attitude he lives his
life with forms the pillars of his music.
Sonically it is hard to label Bluebird in
any specific genre. They are neither intentional love songs nor intentional
drinking songs. They are simply Bluebird. Lines about salvation mingle freely with
verses concerning bouts of drinking and drug use. All with unforced honesty, songs
are free to breath and meander as if they were a living entity onto themselves.
“
I’m not one to sit down and write a song, they come to me as I’m driving in my pick
up or drinking out at the bar,” Bluebird explains. “I definitely feed off my
surroundings. I give more credit to the people around me, they really write the
songs.”
It is easy to believe this after meeting him. It is just the way Bluebird
is. Nothing is assumed or faked. Nothing is held back or censored.
Standing
outside, Bluebird hits his Pall Mall and smirks as a couple leaves the bar. The
woman leans drunkenly onto her boyfriend, who is supporting her up. As they hit
the cross walk five-feet away, Bluebird tells me how he noticed them at the bar and
was confused on why such an attractive woman would be with such a frumpy looking
guy.
“I get it now though; she’s probably always totally annihilated like that.
The kind of girl that is already black-out drunk when her friends pick her up to go
out.
“That’s the kind of women I need, that way she won’t remember how bad the
sex was the night before,” he says with a laugh.
.......................... ......oooO............... .....(....)................ ......)../....Oooo..... .....(_/.....(....)....... ...............)../........ ..............(_/......... ........................... ......oooO............... .....(....)................ ......)../....Oooo..... .....(_/.....(....)....... ...............)../........ ..............(_/......... ........................... ... I WAS ............. .......... HERE ...... ..Leaving my ....... Footprints in your
Love your music! You are talented!! You are invited to watch my TV show on line. Go to www.bluehighwaystv.com download station. Scan on TVU player for bluehighways 640. Thurs EST 8:30pm & 11:30pm, Sat 4:30pm, Tues 5:30pm. Every Thurs begins a new segment. If you enjoyed my show please send a comment to www.bluehighwaystv.com under feedback. Means a lot to me! Hope you enjoy my music! Visit My new web page. www.turnintocountry.com Thanks so much! Tresa :)xoxoxo Jonesborough Intro Tresa Jordan TV Host
ahhh thank you sir. you too! i was shitfaced and sloppy but i'm glad you still enjoyed it.
:)
we'll have to talk about recording..however it's not as easy as you would think...i have a contract and everything i do musically has to be approved by the boss...but i'll see if i can...which i really want to.
thanks my brotha, you as well. it was a pleasure sharing the stage with ya. hopefully we can do it again sometime. buddy of mine are going up to the brothers lounge on 117th and dtroit tonight for jam night. its always a good time. bring your geeeeetar if your not doin anything.
I got it. I haven't listened to it yet because Halley is burning it and I think putting it into the BSR rotation. I read the liner notes and I felt honored. We need a show together very soon.
Sonshine...Don and I are going to Florida on the 17th...we would love to come to your next show...getting married this summer at Mastic Woods...whoop whoop...we would truly be blessed if you could come...God Bless you Dave...you will forever be in our thoughts and prayers...can't hide from prayer...Love you...Mom and Don...
LightHeart
My fellow MySpace friends I come to you with peace from my heart & soul. Right now I have nothing. I have no money. I can not afford to pay my rent, electric or gas bill. I have no work or no gig. I do have my faith & LightHeart. Help me get LightHeart off the ground. LightHeart will be more than a Rock-N-Roll group that is a result of a religious experience. LightHeart will develop into an organazation that will give help & light & prayers to all. All of your donations will be tax deductible so please include your return address. I will send you a reciept. All the Angels & Prophets with Jesus Christ ask for your gift to help LightHeart get it together.
