Dan Garner

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

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Released: Jan 1, 2009

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
3:14
564 plays
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YES I DO
2:39
309 plays
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WILD
3:27
334 plays
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25 Things
3:17
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Without A Broken Heart
3:33
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Total Plays: 18,321 / Plays Today: 4See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Americana / Folk Rock / Garage
Location SHREVEPORT, Louisiana, US
Profile Views: 42051
Last Login: 4/18/2011
Member Since 10/23/2005
Website http://dangarner.blogspot.com/
Record Label GAZEBO RECORDS
Type of Label Indie
Bio
..LOUISIANA HAYWIRE @ KSCL's Battle of the Bands!!...... .. .. .. .. .. Click ..here .. to buy my CD. .... .. .. .. .. ................ Click ..here .. to buy my CD. .. .. .. .. ...................... .. .. .. .. .................... .......... .......... ...... BIO: Dan Garner has been described as a singer/songwriter who paints a diverse sonic and lyrical landscape, showcasing a broad diversity of musical influences. His work has been compared to Nick Drake, Michael Franks, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen meets Guy Clark. Dan was an apprentice for thirteen years to the late legendary pre-war bluesman, JesseThomas, recording and performing with him until Thomas’ death in 1995. Dan played with Thomas in venues and festivals across the country, including the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the Long Beach Blues Festival. Living Blues magazine referred to Garner’s work on the release of Thomas’ "Lookin’ For That Woman" as "well attuned." That description inspired the title for the Blue Goose Blues Records release of Dr. Cookie & Louisiana Dan’s "Attuned To The Blues". Through various labels, Garner has produced eleven releases, which span the genres of acoustic blues, rockabilly and gospel. In addition to documenting some of the vanishing music traditions of Northwest Louisiana, "Louisiana Dan" Garner has also produced music for commercials and jingles in the Americana tradition. He has recently contributed a chapter to the University Press of Mississippi’s "Shreveport Sounds In Black and White" a history of music in North Louisiana. "25 Things" is his first solo release and "The Second Album" is his second. "College Radio Dance Party", released in July '08 is a collection of his alternative music. Garner has just released "Dan Garner IV" in February '09. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. ......follow LouisianaDan at http://twitter.com.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. ............ A review of "The Second Album" by Karl Hasten... "THE SECOND ALBUM"/DAN GARNER... "Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m sad" Dan Garner sings on "Without A Broken Heart", the rocking first cut on his newest CD release. That seems to be an appropriate sentiment symbolizing the melange of feelings on the release, "The Second Album", where Garner candidly portrays a wide range of emotions. As on his former release "25 Things", Garner also shifts fluidly between styles and genres, from the stripped down folk of "Red Balloon" to the country shuffle of "I’ve Got A Fever" – the latter stoked by the always flawless guitar of Mark Griffith who adds great flair to the CD in several notable places. Listen for his subtle nod to Hendrix on "Gypsy Woman". When Garner checks into "Wing Motel" it is with an endearingly insouciant, Guy Clark-meets-Leonard Cohen vocal, yet he moves easily to the Kinks-like, neo-punk rave up on "Same Sun". From rockers to acoustic, Garner maps the shifting landscapes of love with a practiced hand. Whether reflecting on the "wreckage strewn" or being "down to my last card" on "What Is Happening To Me" or the driving optimism of "I’ve got a fever, white hot and pure" on "I’ve Got A Fever" he deftly illustrates that he has been to both the deserts and the oases of relationships. Though "The Second Album" is filled with one strong cut after another-even more consistently than "25 Things" (possibly due to the shear number of songs on the latter) – Garner seems most at home on the acoustic singer/songwriter work he is known for in his many live performances around the region. "Where Are You Now", recorded live, is a real standout, exemplifying his striking talent for intimate connection in delivering his heart-felt lyrics. .... .. .. .. .. ........ A FIRST REVIEW OF "25 THINGS": 25 THINGS/Dan Garner A sprawling, ambitious project with 25 songs, ³25 Things² paints a diverse sonic and lyrical landscape that showcases Garner¹s broad diversity of musical influences. At times displaying the perceptive intellect of a Leonard Cohen, at others, exposing a Warren Zevon playful slyness, ³25 Things² cooks up a gumbo that sacrifices stylistic continuity for an always surprising and satisfying ³eclectricity.² On the opening cut, ³I Told You Before,² Garner attempts to impart world-wizended wisdom to his children, and that lyrical maturity is masterfully counterbalanced with the raw musical energy of a proto-power punk music bed. This is a great device for luring the kids in to listen to the message with music they can relate to. Telling an obstinate, know-it-all teen, ³you¹ve got more issues than Time Magazine² smartly sums up every parents dilemma with their rebels with or without causes. Garner moves from the energetic power of proto-punk to the realm of ³sensitive singer/songwriter² with effortless ease. In ³You¹re So Beautiful² he tells the object of his affections that ³you¹re so beautiful, you don¹t even know.² This is a subtle but searing romantic line guaranteed to make a heart melt, right up there in a league with ³you had me at hello.² On several notable cuts like ³What Makes The World Go Round,² ³Someone Who Can² and the unsentimentally nostalgic ³Bossier Strip² Garner slips into the smooth blues grooves indigenous to this area . Garner is not only a prolific writer but a well-versed student of the musical history of this area and beyond. Given that talent, Garner references several genre and artists without sounding like he is copying any of them. His vocals do occasionally evoke early Dylan and Nick Drake, even Michael Franks here and there, but he never appears to be doing a cover. And, since he wrote all the songs on the CD, he has kept everything well within the range of his voice. There are some stand out guest star s on ³25 Things² including guitarists Mark Griffith, Ron Johnson and Dave Green; background vocalists Cookie Garner and Amelia Blake and The Ever Ready Gospel Singers to name a few. Ron Johnson¹s fluid, blistering lead work on ³Someone Who Can² channels Stevie Ray Vaughn¹s swagger and Dave Green adds an alternative and progressive fire to ³I Told You Before.² Griffith¹s ferocious space blues attack on ³Bossier Strip² seems to come from a Boom Boom Room in a parallel dimension. The closing title cut gives us a hilarious menu of arm chair philosophical nuggets encased in a musical shell of talking blues a la early Dylan. They are guaranteed to make you think - and to make you smile, if not laugh out loud. Remember, ³it ain¹t the jeans that make your butt look fat.² Tales of love both lost and found; insights both profound and tongue in cheek; superlative songwriting craft; and vocals comfortable in their own skin. These elements make for one of the most entertaining and enjoyable releases in recent memory. All songs written by Dan Garner. Produced by Dan Garner Mastered and Released by Why The Hell Not Records Art Design: J.K. Potter --------------------------------------Karl Hasten, The Forum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. JESSE THOMAS .......... .. .. .. .. ....> Johnny "Slim" Campbell .. .. .. .. .. Paul .. .. .. .. .. Garner marked his national television debut on the series, "Sordid Lives" which began airing on the LOGO Channel, July 23rd, ’08. See clips below for a peek. ..So Bad Uncut -Olivia Newton-John - Sordid Lives: The Series...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ......
Members
I perform with a number of super talented musicians from the "Magic Circle" of this area. My latest CD features Mark Griffith on Lead Guitar, Rick Willis on Bass Guitar, Jim O'Brien on Drums, Cookie Garner on Vocals & Percussion, Heather Romero on Flute and Matt Whatley on Ebo.
Influences
.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....Try JibJab Sendables® ..eCards.. today!.... .... ...... ...... ...... MADAME K
Sounds Like
...... "Shreveport Sounds in Black and White" from the University Press of Mississippi, compiled by noted "Leadbelly" author, Kip Lornell and Tracey E. W. Laird!! It's a page turner and a mind expander...you'll never look down the mean streets of Shreveport in the same light again. Get a couple of copies!! http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1068 I wrote the chapter in here on "The Old Bluegoose". ......