Deeply influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck and the "Three Kings" – B.B., Albert, and Freddy – there’s little wonder why David Kolker’s guitar playing has the feeling of royalty. Blending a level of energy, inspiration, and commitment he extends the boundaries of a creative art form in a way that is powerful, pure, and distinctly his own. His mind-blowing solos—perhaps the definitive demonstration of his virtuosity—find him possessed by something remarkable.
Growing up in suburban Northern New Jersey, the youngest of three kids, David Kolker began playing guitar at age 5 - you could say by default. Often hanging around the den watching his older brother’s band rehearse, David was free to experiment with their instruments when they were off at school.
Playing along with albums from Zeppelin, Floyd, the Stones, and Skynyrd allowed Kolker to learn the nuances of the instrument and helped him develop his initial style. While his guitar playing and singing pull heavily from the blues tradition, his songwriting his the function of the music he grew up listening to on American Rock Radio in the late 70’s/early 80’s, creating a sound that his refreshingly modern and at the same time real Rootsy, Aggressive, and Melodic. It has been described as "Urban Americana".
David and his band, consisting of Kolker (lead guitar/vocals), Paul LeFebvre (guitar, pedal steel), Nikolaz Schuhbeck (Drums), and Derek Layes (Bass), has been holding residency at various institutions in New York City. The vibe of these performances has attracted many notable musicians to stop by and sit in with the band - including legendary drummers Bernard Purdie (Aretha Franklin, Jeff Beck, etc.) and Zigaboo Modeliste (founding member of the Meters) and renowned guitarists Mark Whitfield and Melvin Sparks. In addition to the nights David headlines sold out shows at hometown venues The Mercury Lounge, Knitting Factory, and The Stanhope House, he has opened for Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Dickey Betts and Great Southern, Derek Trucks Band, and Leo Nocentelli of the Meters among others. David Kolker has established himself as a leader of a new generation of rock musicians keeping the form exciting, vital, and evolving. Bucking the current trend of image-driven music on the scene today they offer a modern, straight-ahead, blues driven rock assault that is honest and pure.
As a songwriter, David Kolker's lyrics speak to the generation X'ers whose ideals and sensibilities are often lost in the "Hollywood" version of what rock acts are supposed to be. His songs tell it straight and give you the feeling that he knows what you're going through as he and the people close to him go through it too. Vocally, he sounds like a young Ray Charles. In fact, he sounds alot like Ray Charles, had Ray Charles grown up playing guitar and listening to Led Zeppelin records. While Kolker sings his songs with a tremendous passion and energy, it’s his beat up guitar that often does the singing for him.
alright, so people always say happy hump day for Wednesdays. I think its just as strange to say happy Uphill on Tuesdays, or happy Downhill on Thursdays, but i've never ever seen or heard anyone wish that. -Brandon
Honesty
Doesn’t Pay:
Tough Times for New York’s Greatest Rock Band
By Enzo
Pasquale
They’re not hip. They’re not cool. They don’t own skinny ties or tapered
jeans. Hell, they’ve never seen the
inside of a vintage clothing boutique, and were they to enter one, the owner
would fear this to be some sort of thuggish shakedown or extortion plot. Their prison-bodied bald and tattooed front
man, Vinny, is enforced by his
motley posse of pre-Giuliani alleyway throwbacks --- really, really good
musicians --- who cut their collective teeth on the true blue thrash and
hardcore scene that once bellowed out of CBGBs during a time when street crime
was a career path and, maybe as a result, New York City had a music scene. I dare not forget to mention their drummer,
Hemi, is a former Israeli soldier who served for the near-death experiences,
not the scholarship. Advice: don’t screw
this band. Repeat after me: there is no rock band more New York than Urbansnake READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
Great to share the bill with you as well! You guys were fantastic. Loved the Police cover! We used to do Can't Stand Losing You for a while. Definitely keep in touch.
Dropping by to wish you the best day ever and tomorrow do the same. If you have the means please give a couple of dollars to charity. Be it to fight Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer, Hunger, AIDS, or any other cause that touches your heart. I know of no better feeling than what you feel when you make another person’s day a little better. Bill
STOPPED BY TO GIVE SOME LOVE AND RESPECT!! STOP BY AND CHECK OUT THE FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK. BANDS CAN PROMOTE ON MY SITE !!COME VOTE ON YOUR FAVORITE PICTURE FROM CRUE FEST '08! HAVE A KICK ASS JAMIN' DAY!!! KIM
