Dave Golden

Artist Information

Biography

Dave Golden's music career began in the NYC jazz world where, as a teenager in the 90's, he gained critical acclaim as a young composer and avant-garde guitarist. By the time he was 18, he was playing at the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival, billed alongside landmark artists like B.B. King, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and Roy Hargrove. With back-to-back awards from Downbeat Magazine and an invitation to record in Paris in hand, he said no and walked away...

He went off into the Berkshire Mountains, where the music world heard nothing from him.

In 2004 he returned, this time as a roots-tinged folk musician, and with his first show at LA’s famed Molly Malone’s, he started turning heads. “Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Dave Golden... an interesting change from the usual... His songs echo John Lee Hooker’s definition of the blues.” (Entertainment Today) “Edgy and poetic Dave Golden has quickly become a favorite... He’s attracted the ‘A’ List to his door.” (Americana Tonight) Golden was offered a recording deal with Nashville producer Bob Johnston (Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson) but instead chose to record New Orleans, the true center of the music world. Eagerly anticipated, it was just about done when Hurricane Katrina... well, you know the rest.

The original masters were gone and the backups were fried.

After quickly recording a collection of one-takes in the back of a van in the foothills of Austin, Texas, released by Saing Music as the hauntingly tender collection “How to Breathe,” he hit the road again. Sold Out concerts in NYC and Philly, 5 performances during SXSW and bills with Rufus Wainwright, Mark Geary and Ben Taylor marked his return. How To Breathe debuted at #2 with CD Street and Dave Golden replaced David Crosby as their #1 Selling Acoustic Artist.

And once again, audiences were captivated with Golden’s fun, personable and passionate live performance.

“Beautiful melodies with such delicacy... poetic and soulful... highlight and perfect end to an amazing weekend of music... a riotously fun time.” (Nuvo/2005 Midwest Music Summit review) “Another gem…acoustic artist, Dave Golden... the best musician I’ve seen all weekend... The fact that this guy has me liking country music tonight makes him absolutely aces!" (Randomville/2005 Midpoint Music Festival Review) "Can you say ‘fast-track? Dig it: Springsteen, Dylan, Cat Stevens." (City Beat/Cincinnatti ) "Dave Golden has found his voice through the simple accompaniment of an acoustic guitar... reminiscent of early Bob Dylan, but ultimately - gratifyingly - he is no one but Dave Golden." (Williamette Week/MusicFestNW Review)

Golden continues to tour, writing on the road and taking recording breaks in New York and New Orleans.

CONTACT: Connie Oakley, connieoakley (a) gmail.com
VISIT: www.davegolden.com

Instrumentation

Dave Golden - guitar, vocals, harmonica, octave mandolin
Alex Cohen - drums
Doug Berns - bass

For acoustic shows, Dave either plays solo or as a duet with fiddler/mandolinist Kara Kulpa.

Discography

11.5, 2007 (rock)
Monsterland, 2007 (rock)
How To Breathe, 2006 (alt-country, roots, alt-folk)
Wake To These Satellites, 2005, Lost! (alt-country, rock)
All I Never Wanted, 2004 (alt-country, rock)

Sometimes the Neighbor, 2003 (original motion picture score)
Live at Montreux, 1997 (jazz)
Dizzy Spell, 1997 (jazz)

Official Website

http://www.davegolden.com

Audio

• After The Flood
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• Trust in the Gut
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• Katie's Song - Live, Acoustic @ McAlister Auditorium, New Orleans
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• If I'm Gonna Die Young
• Follow the River
• After The Flood

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "The best musician I've seen all weekend... this guy has me liking country music!" [+ Show ]
  

  "#2: Dave Golden. Another gem... Wearing a cowboy hat and gruff beard, he asks: 'How many of you l..."#2: Dave Golden. Another gem... Wearing a cowboy hat and gruff beard, he asks: 'How many of you like Country music?' Silence. 'Uh oh' is his reply. But once he gets going, he’s playing fast enough to hang with Tim Reynolds. Golden is burning up his guitar while playing the harmonica simultaneously. And with this I have to award him the best musician I’ve seen all weekend.
  
  The crowd really likes his anecdotes between songs... A cover of Johnny Cash’s 'Long Black Veil' and the fact that this guy has me liking country music tonight makes him absolutely aces!"

• "His songs echo John Lee Hooker's definition of the blues... straightforward, rarely simplistic." [+ Show ]
  

  "An interesting change from the usual... His songs echo John Lee Hooker's definition of the blues......"An interesting change from the usual... His songs echo John Lee Hooker's definition of the blues... And while Golden's lyrics and technique are straightforward, they are rarely simplistic... A definite Austin City Limits atmosphere... Review: A-"

• "Edgy and poetic Dave Golden has quickly become a favorite." [+ Show ]
  

  "Since his May 2004 debut, edgy and poetic Dave Golden has quickly become a favorite. In just a few..."Since his May 2004 debut, edgy and poetic Dave Golden has quickly become a favorite. In just a few short months Dave Golden has attracted the 'A' list to his door."

• "Riveting, raw, soulful Heartland Rock." [+ Show ]
  

  "Raw, soulful Heartland Rock... riveting live performances, right on track... country music strippe..."Raw, soulful Heartland Rock... riveting live performances, right on track... country music stripped to its gritty essence."

• "Poetic and soulful... Highlight of the Midwest Music Summit" [+ Show ]
  

  "Beautiful melodies with such delicacy... poetic and soulful... a riotously fun time... highlight..."Beautiful melodies with such delicacy... poetic and soulful... a riotously fun time... highlight and perfect end to an amazing weekend of music."

• "Dig It: Springsteen, Dylan, Cat Stevens."
  

  "Can you say 'fast track?' Dig it: Springsteen, Dylan, Cat Stevens"

• "Intimate and direct... Dave Golden seems to be walking the line" [+ Show ]
  

  "The urban, ethnic son of an intellectual family would at first seem an unlikely candidate for the g..."The urban, ethnic son of an intellectual family would at first seem an unlikely candidate for the gravelly, neo-country/rock songbook that he is building. But to his credit, Golden manages to bring believability and credibility to his performances... openly autobiographical, without being pure ego indulgence... Dave Golden seems to be walking the line, with a growing fan base for his intimate and direct live performances, in all the many genres he serves."

• "Gratifyingly, he is no one but Dave Golden." [+ Show ]
  

  "Dave Golden has found his voice... reminiscent of Jeff Tweedy and Bob Dylan, but ultimately - grat..."Dave Golden has found his voice... reminiscent of Jeff Tweedy and Bob Dylan, but ultimately - gratifyingly - he is no one but Dave Golden."

• "Excellent, Awesome, Country Joe McDonald would be proud." [+ Show ]
  

  "Excellent acoustic-based music... Country Joe McDonald would be proud... Dave finished his set wi..."Excellent acoustic-based music... Country Joe McDonald would be proud... Dave finished his set with 'Hold On Tight' as he unplugged his guitar and walked off the stage into the audience area and played. Awesome."

• "A powerful songwriter and a great performer... we'll bring him back anytime." [+ Show ]
  

  Dave Golden is a powerful songwriter and a great performer. He brings a solid crowd and he always ...Dave Golden is a powerful songwriter and a great performer. He brings a
  solid crowd and he always connects with them, sometimes stepping off stage to sit on a table and play. Dave brings a rowdy bar to an attentive hush; we'll bring him back anytime.
  

Setlist

100+ originals.

Crowd favorites / Set staples: Follow the River, Trust in the Gut, The Johnstowne Co., Pawn You Ma Heart, Caramel, Frida, Hold On Tight, If I'm Gon' Die Young, Appalachian Fight Song, Katie's Song, How To Breathe

Basic Requirements

Calendar