David Jon DeWees

Artist Information

Biography

Born in Waverly, IA, my childhood years include living in Green Bay, WI, in Alabama for a short time, then relocating to Appleton, WI. Listening and absorbing music from my older brother's collection, I was primarily influenced by singer/songwriters from various genres. Some of these many influences include: Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Beatles, and the Allman Brothers. I pride myself in offering a unique and fresh approach to various cover tunes as well as implementing my own original material. The act surprises most audiences, as the presentation and upbeat performance defies most listener's preconceptions of a solo act. Implementing multiple instruments also serves to create additional variety and interest from the audience. I am also proud that the audience has been enthusiastic in response to my original material as well.

Instrumentation

I am currently performing solo and play both acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica. I am also in the process of adding backup musicians to the act.

Discography

I have released two original LPs. The first endeavor is titled "Aimin' to Please" with full band production of 13 original songs and arrangements. The second project is titled "Me, Myself & I" which is a more "stripped down" approach and in an acoustic vein. Both of these works are available on i-Tunes, with streaming and sales opportunities throughout various avenues in the U.S.A. and abroad. I am currently laying down tracks for an upcoming CD to be released sometime in 2009.

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/davidjondewees

Audio

• Best I Can
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• Judgment Day
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• Me Myself & I
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• High Roller
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• Aimin' To Please
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Lyrics

• Best I Can
• Judgment Day
• Me, Myself, & I
• High Roller
• Aimin' to Please

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• David DeWees Aimin' to Please [NMG] [+ Show ]
  

  "What Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey and Jimmy Buffett is to South Florida, David DeWees ca... "What Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey and Jimmy Buffett is to South Florida, David DeWees can be to Wisconsin. David DeWees? Yes, David DeWees, a multi-talented singer/songwriter from the Fox Valley who writes and sings original songs that cover the entire musical spectrum, from pulsating rock to twangy country to barroom jazz, often with a distinctive Wisconsin bent. On "Judgment Day," the opening track to Aimin' to Please, DeWees' debut CD recorded at Nexus Studio in Waukesha, the singer takes us to the inner city (Milwaukee?) and a disturbing observation on how conditions have deteriorated there in the 90's. Next thing you know, you're laying back in a field with a blade of grass between your teeth, relaxing to the earthy title track, a simple man's paean to true love. In fact, DeWees' musical world is a lot like our state; juicy rockers like "To Live and Die" (featuring powerful back-up vocals by Janet Planet, who appears on numerous tracks on the CD) capture the go-for-broke attitude of all the people who left the county for the fast -paced environment of cities like Milwaukee or Madison, while the touching "All I Need Is You" is a country boy railing against all those material things associated with big city livin'.
  David DeWees displays great virtuosity alternating between musical styles while all the time singing about love set amidst distinctly '90s settings. His talents might have previously been unknown to most of his fellow Cheeseheads, but after a good listen to Aimin' to Please, they might all agree that when you say "DeWeesconsin, you've said it all."
  
  Danny Mager

• 'Aimin' to Please' [+ Show ]
  

  David DeWees is hoping his first CD will bring him to the Fox Valley as a performer and help launch ...David DeWees is hoping his first CD will bring him to the Fox Valley as a performer and help launch his career as a full-time musician.
  The 33 year-old vocalist, guitarist and songwriter is a 1979 graduate of Appleton East High School who currently lives in Milwaukee.
  His debut CD, "Aimin' to Please," recorded at Nexus Recording Studio in Milwaukee, was released recently.
  "We are looking to get up into the Fox Valley," DeWees said. "We don't have a date scheduled yet. But I'd like to do a concert at the Pickard Auditorium."
  The songs on the CD cover a wide musical spectrum. They range from "pulsating rock to twangy country to barroom jazz," according to one reviewer.
  "It is hard to define," said DeWees, who adds that he is reluctant to label the music because it crosses over so many genres. "It is probably more country than anything else, although I hate to pigeonhole it."
  One of the selections, "Wally's Song," is dedicated to the memory of his late Appleton friend, Wally Stichart, who died in a car accident in 1991.
  Stichart's parents, Henry and Edith Stichart, 1150 E. Pacific St., were so touched by the gesture they ordered 30 of the CDs.
  DeWees said he had 35 original songs of his to choose from and narrowed the list to 13.
  "What we tried to do is have some continuity," he said. "But we figured we would try different things, almost on purpose, and let the music come through."
  DeWees' parents moved to Appleton when he was 8 years old. He received his first musical training when he was 13 under the tutelage of Gary Shaw at Henri's Music in Appleton.
  He played in the East High band and occasionally performed in a duet with his guitarist friend, Tim Kettenhofen. He also gave guitar lessons at Henri's for three years.
  "I always had an urge to explore different types of music other than top 40," DeWees said, listing Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Neil Young, and Van Morrison as musical influences.
  DeWees worked for a time in his family's grocery business after he graduated from college and even operated his own store for a year.
  "I tried to be a grocer but I couldn't do it," he said. " I started writing songs as a way to relieve myself of the retail business."
  He started sending out demo tapes iin October, 1993. Then he got a lucky break.
  The operator of Shank Hall in Milwaukee asked him to open for Soul Patrol, a rock/jazz group, in November 1993. He performed an hour long segment with his acoustic guitar.
  Eric Carmen, the former lead singer for the Raspberries who is now co-owner of the Carmen/Daniels management agency in Los Angeles, was in the audience. He approached DeWees after the show and asked him to send a demo tape.
  DeWees contacted Pat Tilley from the Nexus Studio to help him get together the demo. But Tilley offered him a contract to stay and produce a CD.
  
  By: Bob Lowe
  Appleton Post Crescent

Setlist

ORIGINAL & COVER TUNES ALPHA ORDER BY ARTIST

Allman Brothers - Melissa/Midnight Rider

Beatles - Come Together/Yesterday/I’ve Just Seen A Face/She’s A Woman/Blackbird/Help/Hide Your Love Away/Something/Rocky Raccoon/We Can Work It Out/If I Fell

Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven

Jackson Browne - Song For Adam/The Pretender/I’ll Do Anything

Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday

Eric Clapton - Before You Accuse Me/After Midnight

Joe Cocker - Wrote Me A Letter/Unchain My Heart

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Teach Your Children/
Suite Judy Blue Eyes/Cost Of Freedom/Woodstock

DAVID JON DEWEES SINGER/SONGWRITER/MUSICIAN/ARTIST
~New Tunes~
Best I Can
Ride Brother Ride
Bein' Me
Best Buddy & Me
Debra Jean
Prodigal Son
Humpty Dumpty

"Aimin to Please CD”
Judgment Day
We’ve Got It All
Tundra
Don’t Wanna Run No More
Aimin’ to Please
High Roller
To Live & Die
Westbranch
Racin’ at Night
All I Need Is You
American Dream
Ain’t No You
Wally’s Song

“Me, Myself & I CD”
In The Garden
Sittin’ On Top Of The World
Group Therapy
Number On You
Home To You
The Other Side
Jo’s Song
Social Suicide
Me, Myself and I
Daddy’s Little Girls
Crazy 'Bout You
Food On The Table
Here To Stay
When You’re Gone

Bob Dylan - It Aint’ Me Babe/Times They Are A Changin’/Blowin’ In The Wind/Like A Rolling Stone
Forever Young/Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

Eagles - Tequila Sunrise/Take It Easy/Johnny Come Lately/Desperado

John Fogerty - Bad Moon Rising

Al Green - Stay Together

Merle Haggard - Momma Tried/White Line Fever/
Are The Good Times Really Over For Good

Tom Petty - The Waiting/Last Dance For Mary Jane/Refugee/Free Fallin’

Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally

John Prine - Hello In There/Illegal Smile/Flag Decal/
Sam Stone

Bonnie Raitt - Runaway

Otis Redding - Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay

Bruce Springsteen - Fire/Thunder Road/Born To Run
Pink Cadillac/My Home Town

Cat Stevens - Wild World/Father And Son/Moon Shadow

Stephen Stills - 4 And 20 Years Ago/Love The One You’re With/For What It’s Worth

James Taylor - Fire And Rain/Sweet Baby James/Steamroller’ Blues/Shower The People/Up On The Roof/Close Your Eyes/Country Road/Millworker/You’ve Got A Friend/Machine Gun Kelly/Secret Of Life/Handyman/Carolina On My Mind/
Something In The Way She Moves

Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine

Neil Young - Heart Of Gold/Alabama/Old Man/Needle And The Damage Done/Come’s A Time
Four Strong Winds/I Am A Child/The Loner/Ohio/Southern Man/Rockin’ In The Free World
Hey, Hey, My, My/Sugar Mountain/Harvest Moon/Lotta Love/Mr. Soul/Down By The River/Love Is A Rose

I perform a mix of covers and originals, with attention to flow and tempo to keep the show moving at an appropriate pace for the particular venue and audience. I typically perform 4 sets which spans a 4 hour period.

Basic Requirements

Calendar