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Dave Sills
Pop / Rock / Acoustic

"In the service of song since 1971."

Chicagoland, Illinois
United States

Profile Views:  4829




Last Login:  10/10/2008
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   Contacting Dave Sills

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/davesillsmusic  

   Dave Sills: General Info
Member Since6/7/2005
Band Websitedavesills.com
Band MembersDave Sills (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gerald Dowd (drums, percussion), Chris Walke (all manner of stringed instruments played in a lead fashion), Scott Stevenson (keys), and whatever bassist he can get to show up to the gig.
InfluencesPeter Himmelman, Justin Currie (Del Amitri), Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz, Finn Brothers, and solo), Lloyd Cole, Odds, Michael Penn, Aimee Mann, U2, Tom Waits, The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, David Gray, Sam Phillips, Elvis Costello, and a multitude of others, some of whom are my "friends."
Sounds LikeLyrics that aren't meaningless drivel. Melodies that stick in your head. Ache and angst without being whiny. "Uplifting it ain't."
Record LabelWindow Sills Records
Type of LabelNone



Dave Sills's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Songwriting is murder  (view more)

Dem-O'The Week  (view more)

New demos every week  (view more)

I’m a miserable bastard  (view more)

Check out this event: Dave Sills acoustic show  (view more)

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   About Dave Sills
I was born and raised on the rough and tumble streets of Chicago’s western suburbs. It was a tough childhood – we only had 12 kinds of cereal in the pantry and my parents couldn’t afford to buy me a pony. We struggled to get through the tough times, like when the cable would go out or when we would just get bored. Those were dark days indeed, but we got through with love.

My first instrument was the cello, which I took up in elementary school. A girl that I had a crush on played violin and I thought that by joining the orchestra she would notice me. I wanted to play double bass, but they said I was too short and handed me a cello instead. I didn’t care until I realized the cellists were seated quite far away from the violinists, and as such, the object of my affections never did notice me. Thus began a lifelong association of music with heartache.

A year or so later, I begged my parents for a guitar, for a guitar was sure to attract more girls than a cello. My parents of course had noticed my lack of commitment to the cello and were reticent that I would treat the guitar in a similar fashion. But they couldn’t resist when I held my breath until I turned blue. After the paramedics left, they agreed to get me a guitar.

I took some lessons and a bit later I started a band with some friends. Well, it was kind of an imaginary band, since none of my friends played instruments. They just thought it was cool to say they were in a band. Eventually that band broke up due to musical differences (the difference being I was a musician, they weren’t). I then met several people who actually did play instruments and I was struck with a brilliant idea – why not form a band with them? This band could actually play gigs, and I figured that some gigs would finally get me the attention of all the girls who had been ignoring me. But they still ignored me, much to my chagrin, instead choosing to focus on the lead singer.

This made it clear that I could not live by guitar alone. So I decided to “carpé mic” if you will. I began writing my own songs to sing and poured myself out into the lyrics. I started recording those songs and collected some of them together as what the kids used to call “albums”. The first one was True Fiction, the title was derived from a quote by the author Jessamyn West - “Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” The next one was Sometimes Nothing, from a line in the film Cool Hand Luke - "Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand." My most recent record was called Waiting Room, which was the working title of the song that became "All Messed Up" and not related to the length of time it took to make. I'm currently prepping for the next one, for a possible 2008 release (knowing myself as I do, however, I wouldn't put big money on it).

I can often be found playing in, around, over, under, and between Chicagoland. If I'm not there, look in the basement. Not my basement - YOUR basement. I must say that I was quite surprised when I found your enormous collection of vintage Belgian porn down here. Maybe 'deeply disturbed' is more accurate...


   Dave Sills's Friend Space (Top 32)
Dave Sills has 502 friends.
 Barack Obama 


 Gerárd Dèpardowd 


 Dick Smith 


 Peter Himmelman 


 Justin Currie 


 CROWDED HOUSE 


 Colin Devlin 


 Aimee Mann 


 Sam Phillips 


 The Who 


 The Beatles 


 Tom Waits 


 Michael Penn 


 Gomez 


 Cee Double U 


 the rami lama 


 Peter Adams 


 Matthew Sweet 


 Tommi Zender 


 Andrea Savage 


 Spinal Tap 


 Flight of the Conchords 


 Paul F. Tompkins 


 Zach Galifianakis 


 efroten 


 WTF???? 


 Mandy 


 Sister Gina 


 Performing Songwriter Magazine 


 CHEAP TRICK 


 Gravity Studios 


 93XRT 





Dave Sills's Friends Comments
Displaying 33 of 33 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
London Egg





Sep 30 2008 5:51 PM

Ay mate,

Thanks fer the cool add.
We hope yer diggin' our sound and vibe.
Welcome to London Egg-land, where no one is a stranger.

Peace and Rock on,
LONDON EGG
NYC
Tommi Zender





Aug 23 2008 8:02 PM

Album 4? What's the rush there? LOL Slow down a bit...you're making me look really bad, as I've been in service of "messing up the song" since '66.

Can't remember if I said it, but nice job on the Tom Waits and Bread too at the Erald-Gay birthfest '08 the other night.
Cee Double U





Jul 19 2008 10:11 PM

ummm... when a sack o' money appears on my doorstep.

(note to self: check doorstep)
Cee Double U





Jul 18 2008 2:54 AM

oh hey, guess I can put up a comment on yer myface spacebook thing-a-ma-hoozy here. um, that's all I got tonight. (hmmm...if I had a nickel for every...)
Darren





Jun 3 2008 4:08 AM

Hey Dave Sills, I just bought you as my PET!
Click here to find out how much I think you're WORTH!



Dave, how's everything in the midwest?

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The Guitar Wall





May 25 2008 8:22 AM

Great to be here, Dave... be well and be wall!

TheGuitarWall


b





Mar 18 2008 2:53 AM

i like the new demo alot. looking forward to the new one, whatever it's called ;)
Funktional Family





Feb 6 2008 2:30 AM

HI Dave!!! Any gigs comin' up?? Hope things are well with you-xxoo--sk
SQUEEZE (Official)





Jan 7 2008 1:44 PM

Wonderful to meet so many old friends and make new ones...

Chris & Glenn
SQUEEZE

www.squeezeofficial.com
The Official Squeeze Web Site

WTF????





Jul 27 2007 4:50 AM

Hey Dave----
Thanks for making me feel better with yer tunes....---Stef
Tracy





Jul 11 2007 8:00 PM

You sound fantastic! Right in my own backyard too! I'll be sure to catch one of your shows. Good taste too. ;o)
Trace
Sue Fink





May 30 2007 1:31 PM

Dave -- thanks for the add! Sorry I missed your Hunt Club shows. I hope you do it again soon.

Nice to hear your tunes here -- "Rarest of Birds" is still one of my favorites... hope you enjoy mine as well!
best, Sue
Gerárd Dèpardowd





May 22 2007 9:08 PM

what am i doing sept 31? looking for a new calendar....a MARTIAN calendar!
Funktional Family





May 21 2007 2:31 AM

FRISBIE





Mar 27 2007 5:09 PM

Nice tunes man. Any friend of Dowd's...




Shana Gray





Mar 26 2007 1:40 PM

hey there mr. sills,

your music is goody-good-style. and the beared one on your tracks doesn't sound bad either.

what's happening at the hunt club? i'm a pacifist, myself.

best,
shana gray
Trampoline Records Fans





Mar 26 2007 2:43 AM

Thanks Dave!!
Gerárd Dèpardowd





Dec 12 2006 4:30 PM

there. happy now?
Ken Simpson





Nov 27 2006 4:29 PM

Very nice tunes, Dave. Hope to see you live someday. It's great to see the talent on the Pennlist. Cheers from Indianapolis!
Ken
Dave Dalton





Nov 8 2006 2:36 AM

Greetings from another Illinoin. I really like your music, we have similar tastes. Let me know if you ever come north to perform.
The Uncle Devil Show





Sep 24 2006 1:03 PM

Here we go, here we go, we are the Uncle Devil Show...
Alison





Sep 2 2006 8:34 PM

Thanks, Dave!!! :)
Tim





Jul 22 2006 3:54 PM

Hey buddy,
When are you playing in the city next? We need to kick it Borders-style.
Jilann O'Neill





Apr 23 2006 10:21 PM

Dave,

Thanks for the invite! I'm glad my music has inspired you to do so because....

ME AND MY MUSIC LOVE YOU AND YOUR MUSIC!!
HAPPY DAYS!!
Himmelfans





Apr 23 2006 12:53 PM

Such great tunes! : )
Debbie





Apr 23 2006 1:26 AM

Hopefully, I'll be able to get to Chicago some day and make it to a gig. 'Til then, I'll continue to enjoy both of the CDs. Money well spent!
Porl





Apr 20 2006 10:24 PM

I love "Not Far Behind"!! Nice tune. Nice work!!

Porl
Bari





Apr 1 2006 3:06 PM

Great music! Do you have new dates for performances?
Hilary