Dave Desmelik and any and many variations of Gary Wiley, Josh Gibbs, Andy Gibbon, Grady Wiley, Cary Fridley, Mars Fariss, and Richard Foulk
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 six independent CDs, "Move On" (1998), "Have Another" (2001), Afterthoughts" (2003), "When Your Eyes Are Closed" (2005), "Unheard Of" (2007), and "Onlooker" (2009).------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:--------------------------------------
*2009 "Best Of" Mountain Xpress Readers Poll placed in three categories Folk, Country-Alt/Country, and regional musician Brevard, NC-------------
*"Onlooker" on the Roots Music Report Folk Airplay Chart for three weeks (Oct. 2009) reaching 17-------------
*"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*----------
*Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons*----------
*Jeff and Vida*----------
*Ryan Montbleau Band*----------
*Bow Thayer*----------
*Cary Hudson*----------
*The Benders*----------
*Clay McClinton*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The music seems less filtered, more accessible, and on this album (Onlooker) - Dave Desmelik's sixth - he again shows that he understands the simplicity and power of the collective human experience, and that he has a real talent for conveying it with words of proper weight."
-Brent Fleury (BoldLife Magazine)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Desmelik's music is honest, his (life) are relevant questions, and he plays guitar viciously. This man carries with him the legacy of a dying breed."
-Rein van den Berg (altcountryforum.nl) Netherlands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"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---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi wir sind von Max Herre ( Freundkreis ) als einer von 10 featured artists ausgewählt worden. Sagt allen Euren freunden bescheid auch voten. Ihr müsst unbedingt für uns TÄGLICH voten unter:
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Dave Desmelik, How's it going? I just wanted to let you know that my debut CD "Like I'm Beautiful" is now available on iTunes, on sale for only $5.94 this week!
Hope that you enjoy and have a blessed day! Kelly Murray
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
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