Dave Desmelik and any and many variations of Gary Wiley, Richard Foulk, Mars Fariss, Josh Gibbs, Chris Kew, Andy Gibbon and Grady Wiley
Influences
Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Uncle Tupelo, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Led Zep, Paul Simon, Townes Van Zandt, Ryan Adams, Tom Petty, Bill Monroe and songwriting friends and players.
Dave Desmelik has established himself as an accomplished and rising singer/songwriter whose music might best be described as Americana or Alt/Country. Drawing upon influences from country to bluegrass to blues to rock n' roll, Desmelik writes and performs a unique blend of songs.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growing up in Alpharetta, GA, music affected Dave early. He started playing bass guitar in his high school jazz band, as well as cello in his high school orchestra, while also learning the guitar. Playing guitar, writing music, and singing songs became a part of Dave's life, but it was not until he moved to Flagstaff, AZ that his songwriting would really take hold. During his time in AZ, Dave played and wrote songs with such acts as The John Treitor Band, Big Jim and the Twins, and Onus B. Johnson.. Onus B. Johnson has released two CDs, "Johnson Family Jewels" (1998), and "Box of Moonlight" (2000) on which Dave's songwriting is a key ingredient. Dave has released five independent CDs, "Move On" (1998), "Have Another" (2001), Afterthoughts" (2003), "When Your Eyes Are Closed" (2005) and "Unheard Of" (2007).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave returned to his southeastern roots in 2003, and is currently living in western NC, where he has been performing regionally as a solo artist and and with his band "the HillBilly Cadavers". At the present time, Dave Desmelik continues to write songs and play music that is consistent and identifiable to all of his growing fanbase.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some career highlights and awards:------------------------------------------------
*"Unheard Of" reached 16 on the EuroAmericana chart (June 2007)-------------
*"2006 Best Local Artist (Alt/Country) Mountain Xpress readers' poll-------------
*"When Your Eyes Are Closed" reached 6 on the EuroAmericana chart (Jan. 2006)-------------
*"When Your Eyes Are Closed" reached 12 on the FreeForm American Roots chart (Jan. 2006)-------------
*Winner of 2004 Asheville "Make A Wish" songwriter shootout-------------
*Winner of 2002 FAME (Flagstaff Awards for Music Excellence) award for best singer/songwriter-------------
*Onus B. Johnson voted Flagstaff's best band three times-------------
*Onus B. Johnson was a band finalist at the 2001 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some artists Dave has opened for and/or shared the stage with:-------------------------------
*Jack Johnson*----------
*Robbie Fulks*----------
*Shawn Mullins*----------
*Chuck Brodsky*----------
*Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey*----------
*Larry Keel*----------
*Adam Levy*----------
*Jeff and Vida*----------
*Ryan Montbleau Band*----------
*Bow Thayer*----------
*Cary Hudson*----------
*The Benders*----------
*Clay McClinton*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There is an old soul lurking inside this Alpharetta, GA native. Dave Desmelik's warm and weary vocals channel the plain-spoken Florida legend Ronny Elliot and Texas songwriter James McMurtry." -Jeff Weiss Miles of Music------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Desmelik reminds me of the reasons I got into bed with Americana on the first date. An unpretentious approach to songwriting and performance, gritty and generic without being predictable, his songs show an excellent range." -americana-uk.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Desmelik's brand of Americana is the kind that makes you neither cry in your beer nor suck it down at a grim pace. His is the kind that makes you stop drinking for just a moment to acknowledge it with an emotional nod, a shiver of recognition that touches your own experience." -Joe Sample (Focus Newspaper)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"His methodical songwriting style, unassuming arrangements, and quietly persuasive lyrics are strangely captivating and become more powerful with every listen." -Randolf Brooks (FlagLive)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"His songs are simple, well-crafted, and instantly likeable." -crookedrain.co.uk---------------------------------------------------------------------
Come down and play a show with me my friend, it has been a long time. call or email me. Hope you are doing good, I was playing Eben's Cove for Betsy the other day while drivin, we were diggin on you. Guitar/Harmonica-mandolin/piano trio gig? acoustic......nice.
Just want to remind everyone to get their fine selves to the Saxon and show how cool Austin music scene really is. Let's rock the place! It's The Ruby Jane Show being filmed for tv. Be in the audience and get yourself on tv, all you dudes, dancers, and wonderful Austinites!!!! Let's show the Austin music love to the world! 4:30-5:30! Ruby Jane
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
Awesome!! Sent you a text message about a month ago, riding down the rode with Paul listening to one of your tunes.....need to play a show in your neck of the woods-hope all is well with you and yours!
Dave Desmelik! Thanks for being a friend. Please take the time to check out the Studio's bands on our playlist. Use the links to check out the band's pages. Do what you you can for your local scene. You are the people that make the music scene happen! Tell me what you think!
Hey, Dave, doing well thanks...how the hell are you? It has been too long. I'm getting back from NZ in a couple weeks, so things will crank up here again soon. Hope we can get together...Jimmy
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane. I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Hey, It's Dave Clupper. If I haven't told you thank you for your support yet, thank you! Check out the video below for a live clip shot from Downtown Tulsa with my daughter Ellen. Also, stop by my profile and enjoy a majority of my new record "Letting Go" released earlier this month. If you want to own a copy, look for the Buy Now Button on my profile or to just own a track, visit iTunes by clicking here. Talk soon!
After pre-release tours in Colorado and Georgia, Dehlia Low’s new full-length cd “Tellico” will be presented for the first time in Asheville this Thursday at the Grey Eagle ($8/10, thegreyeagle.com)! Several cuts off the new disk can be heard on at www.myspace.com/dehlialow and live takes of a few of the songs will be performed Thursday afternoon on WNCW 88.7FM. Thursday night’s show will also be a chance for those of you who didn’t make it to Merlefest to hear Lyons, Colorado’s own Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, who are also preparing to release a new disk next month. Dehlia Low will also be joined by “Tellico” producer Jon Stickley of the Shannon Whitworth band. We hope to see you out and thanks for supporting live, original, and local music.
We will be playing our first electric show of the year at The Grey Eagle this coming Saturday, April 18. We hope you and your friends can make it out. Advance tickets are on sale now. This is an all ages show.
