Garrick Davis/The Fabulous FunkyBand
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Garrick Davis/The Fabulous FunkyBand

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"Fan Response"

...There was also a musician from San Francisco there named Garrick Davis. He had a gig the next night at Fredrick's and was looking for extra work. We let him play a couple of his own songs and then he played the whole third set with us. He rocked. If you ever cross paths with him check him out, you'll be glad ya did.
-The Bottom’s Up Blues Gang/ St. Louis

My husband and I saw you at the fox last night. Thank you sooooo much. We connected with your whole idea of the joy and struggles that accompany the search for personal meaning. You're fabulous, best of luck to you. We hope to enjoy your music again very soon.
Shelley Mitchell-Hancock

We came into One Twenty Four Restaurant last Friday evening and listened to you play. Anyway, just wanted you to know we enjoyed your music and especially the stories you shared with us about your son. It is often the unplanned adventures that reap the most special memories. Thank you for making our weekend special. We are enjoying your CD and want to wish you continued success with your passion of music (and life!)
- Elizabeth and Les Higgins

I had such a great time last night listening to you as well as watching you. You feel your music and that is such a pleasure to watch . You were amazing, I'm very inspired by your gift. You have a great spirit as well as your talents and I really loved the energy I was feeling from you. Thank you for that!!! -Suzie

For a few months now we have been getting your cyberspace communications. As a recording studio I have often been tempted to have our address removed as we seldom have the opportunity to attend a lot of live shows. There has been something refreshing about your spirit that is hard to dismiss. I want to acknowledge your way of being, your trust of life and your intent to connect. These values are certainly shared by me and my companies. Walking the way you are walking is an achievement in itself.
Best wishes as you continue to reach out to people and touch them with your music and your being. Your pathmate, Warren

Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed meeting you, hearing you sing & play live…I loved hearing your music in person. I almost like your music better live, with just you & your guitars, rather than as produced in a studio with other musicians for a CD. High points for me were your acoustic interp of Jimi (Redhouse), "Not Fade Away," & "Trust" - the latter was the first song I heard you do on the radio, prompting me to respond, "Who IS this”. I hadn't realized what a terrific guitarist you are (that fact also comes across better live than on your CD - have you considered doing a live CD -Julie, a fan

Well, if you weren’t there, you missed some excellent musicianship, great solos, hot arrangements, the inventive drummer and conga in sync with the music’s needs… a variety of music: funk, smoking soulful blues—one that was even a country waltz tempo—even a rumba. And I was only there for a set and a half! Garrick, I’ll be watching for your shows. Thanks. Gary Marquart

Hi Garrick- Caught you for the first time on the Bruce Latimer Show last night. I was blown away. Had to get your CD @ iTunes. I’m a Redwood City native and don’t know how I’ve missed your numerous gigs in the area…let me know if you’ll be playing again soon. Will spread the word. Cheers- Craig
- Various Sources


"Off-The-Chart Cool"

I discovered Garrick entirely by accident, and I'm glad I did. This CD/DVD is WAY COOL... the Jimi cover will knock your socks off. GD's Blues is awesome. And I love Big Imagination. My only regret is that Chemical Reaction is not included! On the DVD, Garrick seems likeable and real... the sort of guy you'd love to talk to over a cold one. Well done, Garrick. Please make more! - Brian M from KC


"Indie-music.com"

CD: Glass Half Full

Quote: Songs of wisdom, songs of dues-paying, songs of experience, and ultimately, songs of winning the struggle.
If I was having a problem and needed to talk to someone, I'd call Garrick Davis. The reason why is that Davis has been through a transformation-he's been inside his head a lot over the last few years, thinking through all the weighty issues of life. And thankfully, when he was through thinking, he decided to see the glass as half full, rather than half empty, hence the title of his latest CD. I think he would give really reasonable advice when I cried on his shoulder. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would be right back in business after a short pep talk from Davis.

The songs on this CD are songs of wisdom, songs of dues-paying, songs of experience, and ultimately, songs of winning the struggle. Davis has a basic rock sound, spotted with other influences like blues and gospel. He contributes acoustic & electric guitars (both very well done) and vocals, along with writing all the songs. He was joined in the studio by a fine crop of session players who have formerly played with Santana, David Grisman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Primus, The Turtle Island String Quartet, Guns N' Roses, and more. The vocals are quite versatile on this CD, showcasing all kinds of pitches, tones, and intensities. I especially love his voice in the verses of the songs Wastin' Time and Chemical Reaction-a mid-pitched, out front sound that offers excellent intimacy for the listener.

The well-structured songs range from mid-tempo rockers to rock ballads to acoustic instrumentals. The lyrics are strong throughout, focusing only on what the song needs, and leaving out the weak, contrived phrases occasionally written by lesser writers. Song Picks: Z.E.D., Wastin' Time, and Chemical Reaction.

- Suzanne Glass


"The Palo Alto Weekly"

The Palo Alto Weekly Mark Burkhardt
Local musician shows potential on debut CD

Glass Half Full has its share of pleasures and demonstrates a positive potential for growth. Musically, guitarist/vocalist Garrick Davis combines rock, soul, jazz and folk in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the Dave Matthews Band. The propulsive grooves are punctuated by Davis' unique voice, an interesting combination of Darius Rucker (you know, the Hootie and the Blowfish guy) and Shaft maestro Isaac Hayes. Delivered in a range falling somewhere between speaking and singing, the lyrics emphasize positive themes of self-belief and empowerment.

His style is not the stuff of Top 40 radio, and Davis is to be commended for pursuing his individual vision. Davis doesn't write any stinkers and, at times, can be downright affecting. Wastin' Time, for example, is an effective look at the fear lurking underneath procrastination, while Breakin' Down gently states Davis' determination to succeed.

Davis' guitar playing, which has a surprisingly raw edge, is memorable, which may explain why the instrumental Another Day is one of the more graceful songs on the album.

The album does possess enough depth and skillful musicianship to suggest, at this point in his career, that Davis' songs are stronger live than in the studio. The weaknesses that mar Glass Half Full could easily be covered up by a bit of amplification, and Davis' strong passion probably comes across more strongly in front of a live audience.

So, Davis isn't a legend after his first album. More relevant are Davis' potential and his ambition to make a difference in people's lives.
- Mark Burkhardt


"From YouTube..."

Hello Garrick...I am 21 years old and have been playing guitar for about 9 years. I really just wanted to say that I have been watching your videos and you have truly become an inspiration to me. Every one of your videos that I watch I just feel the passion and love you have for what you do and I greatly respect and admire that. I have really become a big fan of yours and I hope that we will be able to keep in touch.

Sincerely, Scott Norris

- YouTube .com


"From YouTube..."

From A NEW FAN !
Wanted to THANK YOU again for the invite you sent ! I am in love with your voice ! LOL The song "Love In Vain" I had never heard that before and I love it ! I sent it by e-mail to alot of my friends ! Drop by my channel and lat me know your around from time to time, my Yahoo 360 blog and e-mail is cherokeedonna83 also.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE BEAUTY OF YOUR SONG AND VOICE !

-Cherokeedonna - YouTube .com


Discography

Expose Your Self/ To be released April 2010

THE SHOW/Live DVD/CD with The Fabulous FunkyBand-Released in October 2005 this package, which displays a fully mature artist fronting his talented band includes an 11-track CD and 35 minute DVD. This release is receiving airplay on major San Francisco radio stations as well as on the nationally syndicated "House Of Blues Break which reaches 180 U.S. and international music markets. Available on CD BABY, iTunes, etc.

GLASS HALF FULL/full band production(2001)-Full tracks from this CD can be found at
http://www.garrickdavis.com/samples.htm,
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garrickdavis
and Apple iTunes.

BROWN PAPER SACK- Garrick Davis bare bones and raw in this intimate guitar lover's delight. Displaying why his solo career has been so fruitful a listen to Brown Paper Sack is akin to inviting a vibrant and brilliant artist into your living room or car to set the stage to having a great day.

SESSIONS AT 617(2008)
Demos of new material deemed for a new album and recorded on a Macbook laptop using Garageband software at Garrick's apartment (617). Garrick's son Zach played keyboards and the drums are realtime midi-generated. Tracks include "I Give You Trouble", "Lines Of Grace", Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain", "Consternation"(currently instrumental), and a new version of "Everything" which was inspired by a piano line Zach created. All of these can be heard on this EPK and Garrick's MySpace page (see below).

Photos

Bio

Really, an AutoBio... When I see people on American Idol, the Olympics or otherwise, I hear them express how they've worked their 'whole life' for this. I am a music artist that decided a long time ago(relatively speaking) that creating and performing music is my calling and I'll die doing it...but first I want to "live" doing it, to the best effect and in my own way!

I was born in Casper Wyoming to Ernest and Marie Davis. My father, now 82, was a 1st call drummer, hired by regional swing bands of the 1940's in his home state and surrounding region. He gave this passion up to raise a family of what would eventually be four children. My mother is the daughter of the pastor of the first black church in Casper, Grace A.M.E.. Incidentally, this is where I performed for the first time in public, barely 3 years old. I never feared singing in front of an audience, apparently. My mother, now 80 years old, is a classically-trained operatic soprano. I believe my innate talent is the result of the merging of their "musical genes" and thus have always felt free to let music percolate through my veins, mind and thoughts. I declared as my first aspiration that I want to be a symphony conductor and lead a great orchestra; Not a fireman, doctor or astronaut like many others. Of course as going to the moon became more and more of a possibility, the astronaut thing was intriguing...

As a child I played piano, string bass, won a spot in a prestigious auditioned Colorado Children Choir where we performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado Springs, CO in 1969 before "U2" and "The Dave Matthews Band". I loved the Beatles ever since sitting between my older brother and sister to watch "A Hard Days Night" in the the movie theater and seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show two months shy of turning six and moving to Denver, Colorado. Like so many others I was effected in a very deep way by that live "make world stand still" performance, but it was five years later that my older brother played Jimi Hendrix live Band Of Gypsys for me for the first time. I was most effected physically and mentally by the track "Machine Gun", in disbelief of the sounds that I understood immediately as emotional release and artistic expression as I had never heard before.

A few months later, by reason of Christmas my dad bought me a $45 Harmony electric and a Gibson amp. The guitar was easy to play, the amp was loud. I listened to how Hendrix tuned his guitar during his in-between banter on live albums. I figured this: If a song is humanly possible to play and I like it enough, I'll teach myself to play it. For years I played that guitar, figuring out all kinds of songs by current bands like Cream, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and others. Hendrix had died one year earlier and my father was transferred to San Francisco by his employer The U.S. Postal Service.

As a teenager I was urged to get an acoustic guitar and once I did, I began writing my own music. What would now be diagnosed as ADD, ADHD, etc., I experienced the distraction of music flowing though my mind. I am now told that this is a gift. I thought I wasn't academically gifted but it was music that brought to my life a true sense of self-expression and pride. It was my involvement and success with high school track that taught me the value of hard work and a stick-to-it attitude that has been valuable in other areas of my life, especially as it is now.
Throughout my years I've lead bands that played my music exclusively. With the exception of the blues trio "Earrush", "Calico", "Orion", "New Red Sand" and now "Garrick Davis and His Fabulous FunkyBand" have been part of my evolution as an artist and bandleader.
I have worked at many jobs that included 21 years as a grocery clerk, closet/storage space designer, fine food restaurant server, I sold meat off the back of a truck and finally evolved into selling my own CD's door to door from Santa Cruz to Marin County. I even attempted to sell to tourists on the Golden Gate Bridge but was asked to vacate by security in the post 9/11 era. My most satisfying income maker has come from teaching guitar which I have done for the past 7 years.

It's not a case of ego as much as it is about doing my best to use my gift. It is up to those who hear what I do that can best judge its value and compare me to other artists perhaps more familiar. As I have aged I have attained a broader outlook of life and some may say wisdom. I have always believed in the power of music to transform lives because I am a living example. I have two CD's to my credit, "Glass Half Full"(2001), "The Show"2005" and this current project "Expose Your Self" which is the culmination of the many years I have worked to become what I am as an artist, man and father, now...all without a previous contract or helpful industry connection to help propel my career.

I would like to think I am actually lucky to still be an up-and-coming or "emerging" artist with