I have been performing on the Folk/Coffeehouse circuit for a little over a decade now and based on my experience, I am confident that I can provide a show that fits both your music and budgetary needs. I am available in solo or duo format (with accompanist on electric guitar and mandolin), in 2- 45 minutes set as a headliner, a single set for split billing, a 20-30 minute opening set, and available for festivals, colleges and house concerts.... I am booked well in advance - at times 2-4 months out and occasionally with dates up to a year in advance. If you are interested in booking a date, please visit my calendar page and review my tour schedule to see when I will be in your area so that we can work out scheduling that provides the best situation for all involved. I look forward to hearing from you.....
Press release/short bio -
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, 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 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. A multiple ASCAP Plus Award recipient, 2004 WNY People's Choice Award winner and a perennial Buffalo Music Award nominee, Davey latest release, "Testing For Rust" has not only received critical acclaim, but has garnered international airplay, which has resulted in a Top 20 spot on the Folk DJ Charts for August 2012 and consistent Top 25 charting on the Roots Music Reports in NYS. For fans of Americana, Alt-Country and Contemporary Folk, an artist worth listening to, indeed.
"On “Testing For Rust,” Davey O. crafts intimate, folk-and country-based slices of a life examined. With a journalist’s eye for detail and poet’s ear for the well-turned observation, O. finds the universal in the particular, turning day-to-day minutiae into dusty paeans to the indomitability of the human spirit." - Jeff Miers
"Davey O. is a great singer songwriter also, a brilliant and inspired musician....” –Remo Ricaldone, American Roots DJ, Italy
Countrified folk is the general territory navigated by Davey O.’s slow and deliberate manner in conveying his stories via song. But he is capable of revving it up as well, especially in a bonus cut, recorded live. Hearts worn on sleeves, well put together singer songwriter material, etc… There are all the good things here you want, yet I am not sure this is something elevated to higher levels. This is the type of act I would enjoy on stage; as he clearly has something to say and can musically express it well. - David Hintz
"In Testing For Rust, I am impressed with Davey O.'s power to create mental pictures in the listener's mind ...he is a talented songwriter ." - Mike Penard, ISA Radio, France
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. - Allen Foster, Songwriter's Monthly
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. - Ronny Bervoets, Rootstime
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. - Bob Silvestri, Best Of WNY.com
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. - Matt Biddle, Buffalo Rising
