Daniel Conti and Drawing Back

AUSTIN - The young Daniel Conti is about to go onstage and perform his first ever South by Southwest show, and he doesn't seem a bit nervous. The parking lot at Waterloo Icehouse is packed with limousines, news cameras and music fans from all over the world, and there's not a bead of sweat on Daniel's forehead.

In one hour, these people that have traveled from Europe, Australia and other foreign countries will be crowded around the stage with their eyes fixated on this Marble Falls' teenager's every move, and he's sitting calmly with his hands folded in front of him and a child-like grin on his face.

When Drawing Back's set is over, he probably won't remember any of their faces or ever learn their names, but everyone in that club will remember Daniel Conti, who with two Marble Falls High School friends started the group, which has had a number of changes in its brief history.

As the countdown to showtime draws near, Daniel will have a short 45 minutes to show the crowd why his name is quickly garnering a big reputation. Daniel has bright gaze in his youthful blue eyes like a 7-year-old on their first trip to Disneyland.

"I've played bigger shows than this before," said Daniel. "I went on a cruise and played in front of about 3,000 people."

For performers, half of a good show relies on self-confidence. Having a positive frame of mind while on the stage can carry any guitarist through the mistakes, without them hardly being noticed by the audience. But to have this clear conscience, you have to know you're good, and Daniel knows. For a 17-year-old highschooler to have this much confidence before such a pivotal performance, shows that Daniel knows that he is really good.

The people that know Daniel also know that he's good.

"I've seen a lot of talent in my years as a music teacher," said Drawing Back's bass player Mark D'Asto, who with Marble Falls High's Dave Sims (drums) now makes up the band. "I had a student like Daniel that was prodigy material, but he couldn't touch Daniel right now. Daniel can play whatever he wants to play."

Mark owned a music school in Chicago called D'Asto Music. The first time he listened to Drawing Back and heard that they needed a bass player, he joined the band almost instantly.

"We played here before on March 2 for a tryout. Afterwards the manager called me up and asked if we could do the SXSW show. She told me that we're a billion times better than the band they had for this slot," said Tracy Conti, Daniel's mother and band manager.

What makes Daniel so good is his connection to his instrument. A self-taught musician that's only been playing for three years, this guitar player can conjure up a version of "Voodoo Chile" like he's summoning Jimi Hendrix from the grave.

"My dad taught me a couple of things, then I went back and taught myself the right way to play them," said Daniel.

For a beginner, The Drawing Back lead singer and guitarist's fingers travel flawlessly over the fret board like he's been playing for decades. With shows in Austin filling up, the Marble Falls miracle boy is quickly building a resume in the live music capitol of the world.

"O'Neill's offered us a house band slot. We have a couple of dates coming up at the 311 Club on 6th street. Loris Lowe's Local Licks said they are going to give us a spin Tuesday night," Tracy said.

Its 8 p.m., the sun is almost gone, the sky is thick, blue haze and its showtime for Drawing Back. When Daniel drifts off into his solo, his eyes close as his hands move across his Fender Stratocaster in a predetermined manner. The flashing stage lights, the crowd on the floor and the city noise outside seem to disappear. Everything is peripheral except for the music now.

Daniel whips his guitar behind his neck and blasts into some searing guitar frenzy, then yanks it back around and pulls the strings with his teeth. The small town teenager is just as confident in music skills as he is with his agility. As Daniel regains consciousness from his mind bending fret play and steps up to the microphone, the crowd watches in a hypnotic trance.

"We're drawing back into the spirit of music, the spirit that's been gone," said Daniel.

The next few weeks are important for Drawing Back. Aside from the SXSW show, the 311 club dates and the Local Licks breakthrough, the band is also playing the Bluebonnet Blues Festival on Sunday April 1 at 11:30 a.m.

As his band climbs up the popularity ladder, Daniel's intense guitar skills are improving by the hour, and Drawing is there to back him up every step of the way. They say that people with Daniel's talent is a gift, whether it's a gift to Daniel or from Daniel to his fans, we may never know. - The HIghlander Newspaper

By Chris Crews
Highland Lakes Newspapers


There has been one enduring truth in American popular culture. Being in a band is cool. Forming your own band in high school stretches the
coolness scale to the Nth degree, and that exactly what three Marble Falls High School students have done.
The group, playing under the name Drawing Back, should not be quickly dismissed as a bunch of kids goofing off in the garage. Though young in
years, their musical tastes are far from the punk, new wave and hip-hop that dominate today¹s teen music scene. Listing influences such as Jimi
Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Howlin¹ Wolf, the group¹s appeal is cross-generational.
Drummer Eric Cardenas said he grew up on what is now called Classic Rock.
"My Dad told me about Stevie Ray Vaughan, because he had seen him in
concert," Cardenas said. "I remember getting my first Stevie Ray CD and playing it over and over, non-stop for about two months, I was hooked."
The process would repeat itself with Hendrix, Zeppelin and others. Though the band has only been around for a couple of years, they have built a
loyal local following and have already done a gig on Austin¹s famous Sixth Street. Playing the semi-historic Maggie Mae¹s as the opening act for
Barnhill was a heady experience for the group, whose members just received drivers¹ licenses and don¹t turn 21 for another six years. "The
atmosphere was unbelievable," Cardenas said. "They set up a camera
and a big screen and the people on all across the street could see us. We got the vibe from the crowd and we weren¹t tired. We couldn¹t feel
anything at all.".
For a young band, they have experienced enough changes to give them a certain maturity. Gone are four previous members, and, according to
the group¹s website, www.drawingback.com
<http://www.drawingback.com> ,
the band disbanded in the spring of 2005. The current incarnation of the band, which "re-membered" in the summer of 2005, includes founding
member, lead guitar and vocalist Daniel Conti, drummer Eric Cardenas and bassist Harris Stedman.
Cardenas said the groups name was self-explanatory; they are drawing back to the music of the "old days".
"Our goal is to bring back Classic Rock and Blues," Cardenas said.
Drawing Back will be playing at the Marble Falls Lakefest this weekend, opening for another local band, Blind Carbon Copy. Drawing Back takes
the stage in Lakeside Park right after the drag boats finish up for the day (about 7:30). Come out for the show. If and their careers take off, you¹ll
be able to say, "Hey, I saw those guys back in Marble Falls way when!" - HIGHLANDER

Drawing Back to the blues

By Catherine Austin

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Under normal circumstances, Daniel Conti and Dave Sims Jr., would not even be admitted to most places they frequent on weekend nights. The Marble Falls teens hang out regularly at Nuno's and Maggie Mae's on Sixth St. in Austin. But the two aren't flashing fake IDs to sneak a cold one. They're tearing up the stage at these and other area hotspots as the band Drawing Back.
Having recently returned from the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., Conti, Sims and their bass player, Doctor D (who played with Johnny Winter), are taking a month off to submit to festivals and make some more recordings. they will make their next local appearance at the Bluebonnet Blues and Arts Festival in Marble Falls March.
"Dave is real busy with school right now," Conti said as Sims joined him for an interview at a local coffee shop. Conti finished at Marble Falls High School in December, but he and his longtime friend will graduate together in May.
Sims plays drums in the Marble Falls High School band and jazz band. When Drawing Back played the old favorite, "Leap Frog," at the Temple Jazz Fest, Sims was named Outstanding Musician.
Conti said he learned to play from his dad, Ronald, who played Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix licks, but after playing for a while, "I kinda had to show my dad how to do it right," the young musician laughed adding that his dad, Ronald Conti, runs his own business and his mom, Tracy, is that band's promoter.
He said the band's name came from the type of music they play "It's drawing back on the old guitar favorites...so I decided to call the band Drawing Back."
They've been playing for about four years and last year played more than 100 shows.
On Aug. 7, 2007, they went to Arkansas where they won the Ozark Blues Challenge. So, the Ozark Blues Society sponsored them to go to Memphis Jan. 30. One of the sponsors got them an interview with Sonny Payne of King Biscuit Time, the longest running radio show, based in Helena, Ark., part of the "delta blues belt." They then drove back to Memphis where Drawing Back competed as one of 100 bands in 10 venues.
"The band that won overall was in our venue," Sims noted. "The competition was stiff."
They've been talking with some representatives about possibly touring with an Austin band, but no matter what the future holds for these talented teens, they plan to concentrate on their music and play around as much as they can. - Lake Country Life,an insert to The Highlander.March 2007

MFalls blues band takes on music world in Memphis

Daniel Conti and Drawing Back working on CD, preparing to tour

By Daniel Clifton

Marble Falls - Daniel Conti and Dave Sims have taken on the world. Now, they're getting ready for some real work - cutting a CD
"It takes a lot of work," said Conti, founding member of the Marble
Falls - based blues-rock band Drawing Back. "that's why we're taking this month off from shows."
"And recording a CD is a big-time commitment," added Sims, who must fit in the recording, rehearsals and touring with his classes at Marble Falls High School, high school band practices and job at H-E-B. He will graduate in May.
Conti finished up his high school coursework in December and has now turned his full attention to the band.
For now, the band members are looking forward to knuckling down in the studio to cut a CD over the next month.
The two have bgun to get international recognition.
In January, Drawing Back competed in the prestigious International Blues Challege in Memphis, Tenn.
The event brings blues bands from around the globe to vie for the title as the best unsigned group in the world.
One hundred bands and 60 solo acts compete in the challenge, which is sponsored by The Blues Foundation.
"Just being there is winning." Sims said.
But it's still nice to be among all the blues bands, music industry professionals and fans, the two said.
Drawing Back earned a spot in the IBC by winning the Ozark Blues Society Annual Blues Challenge in October 2007. Each of the 160 blues societies from around the world affiliated with The Blues Foundation holds competition to determine who they will send to the IBC
Those bands and solo acts descend on Memphis for two nights of competion. Tracy Conti, the band's promoter and Daniel's mother, said the IBC band competition is broken into 10 venues with each hosting 10 bands. The bands play two nights where four judges review them and rank them.
The top band from each venue then moves to the final round where an overall winner is determined.
"The band that placed first was from our venue," Daniel Conti said. "So, at least we were beat by the one that won."
Trampled Under Foot, a band from Kansas City, was the overall winner.
Even though they didn't win, Sims and Conti said the experience was worth it.
"There was a lot of promoting going on,"Sims said. "You were just handing out cards and information. It's just a good place to get your name out."
Conti particularly liked the side trip to Helena, Ark., where they were interviewed by Sonny Payne on King Biscuit Time. The radio program began in 1941 as a showcase for the blues and its musicians. In 1951, Payne began hosting the program. The program and Payne have remained constant to the Delta Blues heritage and have earned a solid reputation among artists and fans.
"That was pretty cool," Conti said. "He interviewed us and played one of our songs off our promo CD."
After the interview, the band went out to lunch with Payne.
The competition also gave Sims and Conti a good look at the other blues bands out there.
"There were so many good bands there, it was scary." Conti said. "But it let us see where we were and what we needed to work on."
Drawing Back is a young band, both in the age of its members and age of the group. Both Sims and Conti are still in their teens. The band began in 2004 as a foursome with Conti and Sims as two of the members. Over the years members have come and gone. Even Sims left for a while before rejoining in February 2007.
Conti and Sims remain the cornerstones of the band but still depend on strong bass performances. With Drawing Back soon to begin a heavy touring schedule, they are on the lookout for a good bassist who doesn't mind hitting the road.
"Our current bassist has done a great job," Conti said. "We've really learned a lot from him. But he's just not in a place in his life where he can tour a lot and that's something we're looking to do this summer."
Tracy Conti said if any bassist who can play solid blues and rock is interested, contact Drawing Back.
While they are from the Marble Falls area, Drawing Back has been performing mostly outside of the Highland Lakes. They have a regular standing gig at Maggie Mae's in Austin Monday at 7 p.m. starting March 24. And they will perform at the Marble falls Bluebonnet Blues Festival March 30.
Both Sims and Daniel Conti would like the opportunity to perform locally more often.
"Yeah, I miss playing in Marble Falls. It's a lot of fun and hopefully we'll be able to play here more often," Sims added.
Their views of the band hve changed over time.
"When we started the band, it was really just for fun," Conti said. "We didn't expect it to get where it is now. But, it's pretty cool." - the Picayune, dated February 13th, 2008

Young bluesman's got the chops

18-year-old guitarist garners attention in more ways than one

By Mike Parker
editor

Ever been table surfing? Daniel Conti could give you some pointers.
The 18-year-old blues guitarist and marble Falls native has seen himself on top of shaky bar tables on more than one occasion. Doing acrobatics in abnormal places is only one of several things Daniel pulls off in his live shows.
Frontman for the recently formed blues rock trio Drawing Back, Daniel says jumping on tables, playing behind his head and using a cigarette lighter to play slide guitar are not staged - it just happens.
"I'm just putting on a show," Daniel says in a shy, quiet tone. "They take it pretty well, most of the time."
Though he speaks softly, Daniel turns up the volume on stage. Drawing Back can dust off covers from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, to Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top. But the trio has a solid cache of blues rock songs reminiscent of blues legends Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix.
Daniel's favorite axe - a sunburst, replica of Stevie Ray Vaughan Fender Stratocaster - fits guitar style and bohemian fashion sense. With his eyes closed and head leaned back toward the sky, Daniel will rip into a guitar solo, emitting a soulful melody mixed with a twangy Texas blues sound much like Stevie himself. Longtime friend and drummer Dave Sims accents Daniel's riffs, and Darryl "Dr. D" Menkin holds the low end on bass.
The band visited Fox 7 News Dec. 5 to play a few tunes on live television. Daniel, not too big on waking up at 4 a.m., said it took some help to stay awake.
"I was half asleep, and they had coffee brewing. I don't know where I got the energy after that," Daniel says, adding that the cavernous news studio helped him with his nervousness.
Though they were more than happy to get a televised gig in the morning, Drawing Back mostly stays nocturnal. The band regularly plays Sixth Street bars like Maggie Mae's, Nuno's and the Thirsty Nickel, and has played several gigs in Marble Falls' burgeoning music scene on main Street.
"It's like a little Sixth Street," Menkin said of Marble Falls' Main Street.
With nearly half the month scheduled with gigs, Darawing Back is road ready, even if they have only shared the stage for half a year. Menkin said the variety of venues the band plays requires a lot of different covers in their setlists.
"It's almost like we need to be two bands in one, because we play Nuno's and blues places, and then we play biker places where they want Lynyrd Skynyrd, Zepplin and ZZ Top," Menkin said. "You have to play to the people."
Regardless of the song, Daniel always grabs the crowd with his slick guitar riffs and theatrics. Menkin says Daniels's tricks only work because he can back it up with guitar.
"He's got a lot of soul, a lot of talent," Menkin said.
Drawing Back will head to Tennessee for the world's biggest blues gathering - the Memphis International Blues Challenge Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 - 2. The event, which will include mroe than a hundred bands from around the world, will fill clubs up and down Beale Street for the weekend. For a few days, Memphis will be the Mecca for hundreds of guitar slingers hoping to make their mark in the blues world. Menkin calls the challenge, "the South by Southwest for blues bands," though he's not too concerned about finding a record label at the festival.
"I don't think a band needs a record label now, as far as what record labels used to offer," Menkin said.
As for daniel, he's not planning ahead much right now. At 18, he's content with going on stage and watching jaws drop. The hardest question right now is if he's single or not.
"Single? Uhhh ... I don't know. Yeah."
- North Lake Travis Log dated thursday december 13,2007

After the Mid American Music Festival!

One of the surprises at this years festival was 18 year old gutiar slinger Daniel Conti. Daniel is from Marble Falls Texas and plays quite a bit on sixth street in Austin Texas. Although daniel is only 18, he plays his guitar as if it were an extension of his soul. We enjoyed his music so much that when an open slot came available as a result of a last minute cancellation, we asked him if he would stay for another night and perform at Mick's. The crowd that was on hand to witness this guitar prodigy was treated to a youngster that could play electric guitar as well as any seasoned veteran including the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaugn and Eric Clapton....

His youthful innocence and passion for music exudes from his fingers and onto the strings causing his guitar to project sound lightyears ahead of his age. Look for this kid to go places.


- The Mamf

Helena, Arkansas, September 5, 2008: The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, recognized as one of the largest free blues festivals in North America announced the artists selected to participate in the festival’s 2008 Emerging Artist Contest. This year over 200 artist, bands and performers applied to participate in the contest. A local favorite, Daniel Conti and Drawing Back was selected by the Festival to take the stage and show the fans their version of blues.

The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival is recognized for its efforts to preserve the traditions of the Delta Blues. Launched in 1986 as the King Biscuit Blues Festival, it attracts over 100,000 blues fans to the banks of the Mississippi River. The festival takes place in Historic Helena, Arkansas home to blues legends Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, and at one time Muddy Waters.

“The festival was started to preserve the traditions of the Delta blues. The organizers have realized the best way to preserve these traditions is to ensure that they are passed on to a new generation of blues artist. Artists are selected to participate in the contest by meeting several requirements like original music, blues traditions, and the festival organizers hope that while these new artist sit around backstage with blues legends they will learn first hand the history of the music”

The Emerging Artist Contest has created excitement in the music world as Blue Revue, and Beale Street Caravan a nationally syndicated radio program, joined as the national media sponsors. “We are proud to have these two music media outlets as partners. It demonstrates that preserving the blues, and building new artists is important to the world of music,”

Daniel Conti and Drawing Back will travel to Helena to perform at the festival October 10, 2008 and compete for the title of 2008 Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival Emerging Artist. Although the recognition of being selected to perform at the festival should provide national recognition for the band they hope this time that having the blues will be a good thing.


www. drawingback. com
www. myspace. com/drawingback
www. sonicbids. com/drawingbackfeaturingdanielconti
- press release by arkansas blues and Heritage society