Davey O.

Artist Information

Biography

If you don't already know of Davey O. and his music, perhaps it's time. This Buffalo, NY based songwriter has embarked on a decade-plus journey of growth, discovery, joy, and heartbreak that has resulted in a collection of justly-earned, highly introspective songs, - pure Americana written for the thinking person that is not of the social and political consciousness, but drawn from the deep well of experience and human emotion - no hackneyed story lines, no insincere polish, just an unflinching poet's look at life. The characters woven seamlessly into stories of which the song itself becomes the soundtrack for the movie playing inside the listener's head.

Armed with a steady, rhythmic pulse on his Gibson guitar, a battered straw cowboy hat and a no apologies rust-belt work ethic, Davey puts rubber to asphalt, entertaining attentive, diverse audiences at listening rooms, coffeehouses, nightclubs, festivals, colleges and universities throughout the Northeast, Midwest, Midsouth and Atlantic U.S. - performances that result in engagement, participation and communion between performer and audience through story and song.

The hard work has paid off with recognition by way of seven ASCAPlus Awards, five Buffalo Music Award nominations , a 2004 WNY People's Choice Award and coveted opening act slots for Tracy Grammer, Eilen Jewell, The Ginn Sisters, William Elliott Whitmore, Eric Andersen, The Kennedys and Poco, as well as a Formal Showcase selection at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, TN in February 2011.

Davey is currently on the final leg of touring in support of his fifth release, the critically acclaimed "The Long Way Home" - a CD which received international airplay and charted on the National College Radio Album Charts at WBNY 91.3 FM, peaking at 25 out of 40. In December 2011, Davey will begin work on his 6th release - "Testing For Rust" with longtime collaborator and co-producer Jeffrey Mikulski



Awards:

7 time ASCAPlus Award Recipient
5 time Buffalo Music Award Nominee
2004 Winner, WNY People's Choice Award, (Best Original Solo Acoustic)



Major touring regions:

Boston, MA, Buffalo, NY (and many of it's surrounding suburbs), Cincinnati & Cleveland, OH, Corning, NY, Edinboro & Erie, PA, Indianapolis, IN, LaGrange & Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN, New Haven, CT, New York, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, ME, Rochester, NY, Troy, NY

Notable venues and festivals:

All Asia Cafe, Boston, MA
Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Bull Run Restaurant Concert Series, Shirley, MA
Caffe Lena, Saratoga, Springs, NY
Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD
Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
Niagara University, Lewiston, NY
Perch Cafe, New York, NY, (featured performer, Catharsis Music Series)
Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, Amherst, NY
Villa Maria College of Buffalo Recital Hall, Buffalo, NY
ARTVOICE Streetfest, (2005)
Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, Buffalo, NY (2003, 2004, 2007)
Music is Art Festival, (2006)
Official Performance Alley Showcase Selection - 2011 International Fok Alliance Conference, Memphis, TN
Selected to showcase for Access Film Music at 2011 Folk Alliance Conference
Selected to showcase for Concerts In Your Home at 2011 Folk Alliance Conference

Notable support slots:

Kelly Joe Phelps, 2005, Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
Will Hoge, 2006, Showplace Theatre, Buffalo, NY
Gov't Mule, Medeski, Martin & Wood, 2005 ARTVOICE Streetfest, (acoustic stage)
Tracy Grammer, 2007, Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
Elizabeth Cook, 2007, Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY
The Roys, 2008, Club Infinity, Buffalo, NY
Brennen Leigh, 2008, Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY
Kelley Hunt, 2008, Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
Bob Martin, 2008, Bull Run Concert Series, Shirley, MA
Eric Sardinas, 2009, Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
Paul Thorn, 2009, Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY.
The Ginn Sisters, House Concert, Buffalo, NY, 2009,
Poco, Labatt Blue Saturday Night Concerts, Gateway Park, Tonawanda, NY, 2009
Eilen Jewell, Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY, 2010
Eric Andersen, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2010
The Kennedys, Cellar Stage, Baltimore, MD, 2010

Instrumentation

Jeffrey Mikulski - mandolin, Electric Guitar

Discography

All releases on h3o records.

Reflect (2000) (available at CD Baby only)

the bare sessions (2002) (available at CD Baby only)

The Emotional Shelter (2003)

thirtyninedollarview (4 song EP) (2005)

The Long Way Home (2009)

Within one week of it's April 2009 release, songs from Davey's new CD "The Long Way Home" have been added to the playlists of and are receiving airplay on WPKN (Bridgeport, CT), WPKM (Montauk, LI), WLKK, 107.7 The Lake (Buffalo, NY) and on the internationally syndicated program, "AmericanaOK", which broadcasts from Scotland to New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, the UK and to San Francisco, Nashville, North and South Carolina in the United States.

"Transformation Road" from the thirtyninedollarview EP has been added to regular rotation on WLKK, 107.7 The Lake FM in Buffalo, NY, and on the online Americana/Country channel of Houston, TX station Outbound Music. "Transformation Road" is also a featured track on The Lake Local Music CD Vol. 3 (2006), and "No Use" is featured on the 2006 Music Is Art Compilation (Good Charamel Records). Tracks from "thirtyninedollarview" have also been added to the playlist of Scotland's Americana OK Program on Leith FM and it's sister station, New Zealand's Gold Rush 1440.

Songs from other releases have received airplay on various stations regionally, including:

WBNY, 91.3 FM, Buffalo, NY
WGRF, 96.9 FM, Buffalo, NY
WRUW, 91.1 FM, Cleveland, OH
WCEB, 91.9 FM, Corning, NY
WFSE, 89.9 FM, Edinboro, PA
WXCS, 92.9 FM, Edinboro, PA
WCVF, 89.9 FM, Fredonia, NY
WTTS, 92.3 FM, Indianapolis, IN
WFPK, 91.9 FM, Louisville, KY
WRPI, 91.5 Troy, NY

Audio

• The Ballad of Hurricane Elijah
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• Along For The Ride
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• Niagara
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• The Long Way Home
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• You Won't Believe
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Lyrics

• The Ballad of Hurricane Elijah
• Along For The Ride
• Niagara
• The Long Way Home
• You Won't Believe

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Davey O. - The Long Way Home [+ Show ]
  

  After over a decade of writing, touring and performing, it’s no surprise that Davey O’s latest relea...After over a decade of writing, touring and performing, it’s no surprise that Davey O’s latest release, THE LONG WAY HOME,is a powerful collection of songs that stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of such writers as John Hiatt, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.Davey is a true American singer/songwriter, his lyrics tell poignant tales of reflection and wonder. There is a fierce yet tender yearning driving his music. His many years of being an artist have refined his style to an exquisite rawness. Davey’s songs are something tangible, something real that you can hold in your hands and draw close to your heart. He wrings meaning from the quiet moments and turns it into lasting memories, sometimes changing the way you might look at life. “The Ballad of Hurricane Elijah” is as quietly stirring as experiencing an Appalachian sunset in autumn.

• Davey O. - The Long Way Home [+ Show ]
  

  It has been interesting to say the least to see Davey O grow into one of the areas most consistent a...It has been interesting to say the least to see Davey O grow into one of the areas most consistent and outstanding artists. His growth can be charted over the course of his first four albums from simple folksinger to well rounded artist versed in many forms of music. His songwriting has taken him to the top of the field in this regard and he regularly plays with some of the areas other top talents many who help him on his newest release The Long Way Home. He still retains those folksinger roots but shows influence from groups such as Wilco, The Band and Blue Rodeo. His earlier work often featured just him and a guitar along with help from frequent collaborator Jeffery Mikulski. On The Long Way Home Davey O gets help from Jim Palys on drums along with Mikulski on guitar, mandolin, dobro and E-Bow. Guests include Buffalo Music Hall of Fame members Geoff Perry and Joe Rozler who add fiddle and keyboards to the tracks "Niagara" and "You Won't Believe" respectively. Dee Adams and Noa Bursie stop by to add sweet harmony vocals to a couple of tracks and Bruce Wojick adds some fine banjo and guitar to the track "You Won't Believe". Outstanding cuts on The Long Way Home include the a fore mentioned "You Won't Believe", "The Deed is Done" the laid back "No Use" and the title cut. Go to www.myspace.com/daveyomusic for more information about the very talented Davey O.

• CD Review - The Long Way Home [+ Show ]
  

  Before diving into this album review, let's be clear about one thing: I am not a fan of country musi...Before diving into this album review, let's be clear about one thing: I am not a fan of country music or folk music. Sure, I like my Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts, but when it comes to true folk or twangy country music, I've just never been a big fan. With that said, I really enjoyed the latest album by local singer-songwriter Davey O.
  
  "The Long Way Home" is Davey's fifth record. Over the last decade, Davey O. has steadily grown his fanbase with his winning lyrics and Americana sound. He's also been recognized with several local music awards, including seven ASCAPlus Awards, the 2004 WNY People's Choice Award and five nominations for the Buffalo Music Award. Davey's toured all throughout the northeast and midwest and is currently playing shows throughout the region. Check his MySpace page for dates and other information.
  
  The title track on "The Long Way Home" is easily my favorite song on the record. "No matter which way I go/It's the long way home," he says on the emotional track. Another standout is the album's first tune, "You Won't Believe." On the track, Davey promises to sing a lost girl "a love song til you come around. You're gonna smile, smile, smile like you won't believe." Other personal favorite tracks include "Niagara" and "The Ballad of Hurricane Elijah."
  
  For this record, Davey also gets a little help from two Buffalo Hall of Fame inductees, Geoff Perry and Joe Rozler, who contribute fiddle and keyboard to "Niagara" and "You Won't Believe," respectively. Overall, the songs on this record are pleasant to listen to and contain a lyrical depth not present on even some of the biggest artist's records.
  
  If I had one criticism for this talented musician, however, it'd be that a few tracks sound very similar to each other; therefore, they begin to run together and each isn't memorable in their own right. Overall though, the album is very strong and I'd recommend it to any fan of Americana or folk music. Check Davey's MySpace site for local playing dates and CD sales.

• CD Review- Davey O. - The Long Way Home [+ Show ]
  

  For ten years, Davey O. has built slowly on his career. With four CD’s under his belt, he has learne...For ten years, Davey O. has built slowly on his career. With four CD’s under his belt, he has learned to eliminate what is cliché or unnecessary and leaves only what is pure. In a review of Davey’s previous CD, “thirtyninedollarview”, we suggested and hoped that a new CD would quickly come, and now “The Long Way Home“ has arrived.
  
  Of the four songs written for “thirtyninedollarview“, Davey revisits "No Use", with a full band arrangement of a song on which it was clearly noticeable that the folky Americana that Davey brings in the first place are of well telling texts (lyrics), of a depth typically found on the records of much larger name artists.
  
  Producer/guitarist J. Winston Mikulski, while on the previous CD was Davey’s only companion, now gets a lot of help to create a diverse, fuller sound. That help comes from Geoff Perry and Joe Rozler, respectively on violin and keyboards on single numbers, “Niagara“ and “You Won‘t Believe“.
  
  Davey's voice resembles that of Don Henley, so that you quickly get what could be described as capturing an "early" Eagles sound. Combined on single numbers with harmonica reminiscent of Neil Young, you get a delicious sound, homogeneous of Folk and Americana numbers.
  
  Davey opens “The Long Way Home” with the immediately strong number, "You Won' t Believe" with harmonica and banjo that stay in your head and only strengthen the simple refrain., "You make me smile, smile, smile, like you won‘t believe". In this, the simplicity is so beautiful. The strong "The Deed Is Done" or the introverted "Along For The Ride" are songs that you will listen to again and again.
  
  This is clearly a robust step forward in the career of Davey O, so much that his name will gradually and sturdily be established in the Americana world. Only with small alternation can these songs yet improve, for my only criticism I can give is that the nine numbers sit a bit in the same place musically at times.

• "thirtyninedollarview" review [+ Show ]
  

  "thirtyninedollarview" is the latest of four releases by Davey O. This 4 song EP brings to the tabl..."thirtyninedollarview" is the latest of four releases by Davey O. This 4 song EP brings to the table four strong, convincing songs of love, hope and loss, with storytelling lyrics that are simple and direct, yet poetic.
  
  Combining a unique blend of folk, blues and country, Davey's voice has a bit of an edge, but remains soft and warm, with a timbre reminiscent of Don Henley. Along with his outstanding longtime accompanist Jeffrey Mikulski (guitar, dobro, mandolin), the instrumentation on these songs remains intimate and warm.
  
  This all too short EP opens with "Indiana Mud", a tale of self doubt after a road trip gone bad, features intricate guitar lines by Mikulski, wrapped in the hypnotic rhythm of Davey's acoustic guitar. The second track, "No Use", a song of denial and heartbreak, features Jeffrey on dobro, and reminds this writer of early Eagles. The third track, and this reviewer's favorite is "Transformation Road", again featuring Jeffrey Mikulski , this time on a wonderful mandolin part. Closing out this disc is "Coming Home", a troubadour's tale of life on the road, and the longing for the familiar comforts of home. This strong composition features Davey on a "Dylan-esque" harmonica solo.
  
  My only complaint is that this disc is much too short. After four songs, it leaves this listener longing for a full length CD of the same quality. Please Davey, be kind and start right away.
  
  Ronny Bervoets, Rootstime
  www.rootstime.be

• Emotional Rescue [+ Show ]
  

  "The Emotional Shelter", the new disc from singer-songwriter Davey O., has been in our boom box all ..."The Emotional Shelter", the new disc from singer-songwriter Davey O., has been in our boom box all week, and looks like it's planning to stay awhile. Raw, rustic, rootsy and melodic, Davey's songs endear themselves to you quickly. It's pretense-free Americana, and worthy of your attention" - Jeff Miers, April, 2004

• CD Review - Davey O. [+ Show ]
  

  Singer songwriter Davey O's latest CD "thirtyninedollarview" was honed while chalking up thousands o...Singer songwriter Davey O's latest CD "thirtyninedollarview" was honed while chalking up thousands of miles playing all over the country. The four song disc is a hold over until his upcoming full length release. It features Davey with his longtime playing partner Jeffrey Mikulski doing some fine guitar interplay between them. Davey's road weary voice fits these tales of life on the road perfectly. You can almost picture him crafting the songs in the hotel room waiting for the evening gig to roll around. Check out "No Use" with some sweet Dobro playing from Mikulski and "Transformation Road" with Mikulski on mandolin duties this time. "Indiana Mud" and "Coming Home" round out the disc." - Bob Silvestri - May, 2005

• See You There [+ Show ]
  

  "Support comes from Buffalo-balladeer Davey O., whose genuine brand of country-folk has made him one..."Support comes from Buffalo-balladeer Davey O., whose genuine brand of country-folk has made him one of WNY favorite singer/songwriters." - Donny Kutzbach, July, 2005

• ARTVOICE (from AV Calendar Listings) [+ Show ]
  

  "Davey O.'s music is full of folksy tunes and gutsy introspection all wrapped up in a unique blend o..."Davey O.'s music is full of folksy tunes and gutsy introspection all wrapped up in a unique blend of blues, rock and country" - Caroline Phelan - February, 2006

Setlist

Davey can provide anything from a 20 - 45 minute support set, to a full night performed in one 90 minute or two 45 minute sets

Technical requirements/board inputs -

If performing solo -

Artist requires a balanced XLR input with 48V phantom power for L.R. Baggs Paracoustic D.I. and a vocal mic, minumum requirement of a Shure SM-58

If performing as a duo -

Please add the following inputs -
Accompanying musician requires one input for Sennheiser E906 microphone (provided by accompanist) and one balanced D.I. for mandolin.

Basic Requirements

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