Davey O.

"Thirty nine dollar view" from 2005, "The Long Way Home" from 2009 and "Testing For Rust" from 2012 was the three previous occasions through reviews for "Roots Time 'to become acquainted with the music of folk and Americana singer-songwriter Davey O. of Buffalo, New York.

Early this year he took his acoustic 'Gibson' guitar in the recording studio for a new album "No Passengers", a composite EP of seven songs. Six of these new songs are original compositions and the only cover song is the song "Long Black Veil" for the first time as a saga-telling country ballad was sung in 1959 by Lefty Frizzell. and then quite often were covered by major artists.

"No Passengers" is a simple, acoustic record with Davey O. on guitar. So you can indeed usually see him live at work, as evidenced by the attached video where he's song "Ask Yourself The Question" brings live out this EP in The Hillside Cafe 'in Washington. Davey O. sings the main characters in his songs mostly from the perspective of an observer of social and emotional behavior with a keen eye for all details.

This EP starts with the beautiful song "The Song I Wrote" you maybe someone like Ryan Adams reminds us, most of all when singing an acoustic ballad. The case does say that Davey O. has anticipated all the instruments himself, but many out there that still have not been outside since the acoustic guitar and harmonica here and a touch there we hear other acoustic instruments on this album.

Thus we definitely do not affect the quality of the songs that wrote Davey O. for this record. "The Walk", "Standing In These Shoes" and "Man In Motion" are best covered songs in the taste, but the honesty still commands us to say we are the most fallen for his cover version of "Long Black Veil". But that is a very good song, witness the numerous covers that in the past fifty years, this song made by the greatest artists like Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, 'The Band', Nick Cave, "Iron & Wine 'and David Gray - Rootstime - Belgium

Davey O. from Buffalo, New York has a new seven-song EP release named "No Passengers" that includes six songs all performed as well as penned by him. He’s an Americana, roots, folk singer-songwriter with twang enough to cover the classic song “Long Black Veil” in spades. He tells it like it is with his heart on his sleeve and empty pockets walking on a main street in any rust filled factory town.
His lyrics from “The Song I Wrote”; “…I’ll get behind the wheel/Drive every mile with hope/To tell you how my heart feels/In the words of a song I wrote” and “The Walk” takes him from a first date to a marriage proposal; “…I am wondering/If you’d care to be my wife/Sometimes steady, sometimes stumbling/Will you walk with me through this life?” Such sentiments disclose Davey O.’s obvious love of sharing his most intimate feelings with his music.

No fear of cliché, no matter the grammar is demonstrated in his song “The Main Street” with the lyrics “There’s no more workers in the factory/They took my job and my social security/My country ‘tis overseas/Now that Main Street ain’t the main street anymore” and a haunting familiar chorus “We’ve been forgotten for so long/That we’ve forgotten for how long…”

His finger seems happy to take the pulse of many folks from small cities and towns all over this country. - Music In Review - Trish Lewis

Buffalo has always had stories to tell, whether via its most introspective poets or expressive playwrights. But other times, it’s been the characters and scenes evoked through the city’s musicians that paint the most vivid picture.

At 8 p.m. Friday, Babeville’s 9th Ward (344 Delaware Ave.) will host a pair of the Nickel City’s most evocative balladeers – Americana artist Davey O and indie singer/songwriter Sara Elizabeth. The stripped-down, gritty dealings of Davey O have reverberated on past releases like “Testing for Rust” and have now flourished on 2014’s critically acclaimed “No Passengers,” an emotive seven-song walk that starts with the raw admissions of “The Song I Wrote” and ends with the musician’s heartfelt take on the folk classic “Long Black Veil.”

His appearance against the 9th Ward’s basement brick would be a welcome acoustic occasion all by itself. But when joined by the gleeful tenderness of University at Buffalo Department of Music-trained multi-instrumentalist Elizabeth – she of Edie Brickell echoes and gliding tracks off last year’s “Be Well” – it makes it a night to celebrate two more neighborhood storytellers, performing their locally crafted cuts on one of downtown’s most intimate stages. - The Buffalo News - Michael Farrell

Acoustic Harvest had the pleasure of having Davey O grace our stage, giving a wonderful opening set for Linda McRae. He is an astute artist, with a insightful and thought provoking sensibility; a strong voice and songs which immerse his audiences in the stories of everyday life, hardship, history and love. And in all my years of presenting, I don't think I've ever quite heard such important, beautiful and heartfelt words of gratitude to the audience for supporting live music and all the working artists of the world.
- Acoustic Harvest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"a rare voice for the actual struggling everyday people of this world--not filtered through legend or tradition, but as actually and personally experienced" - Sarah Craig, Manager, Caffe Lena
- none

“”Rootstime” colleague and critic (RON) reviewed the two previous releases by Davey O. – the 2005 EP “thirtyninedollarview ” and “The Long Way Home”, released in 2009. The latest and sixth CD from this Buffalo, New York born singer-songwriter called “Testing For Rust” has now landed on my desk for listening and review.

Eight original songs were given a place on this new CD with one bonus track – “I Sleep Well When It Rains”, recorded live in Cleveland, Ohio. Davey O. sings love songs which bring forth the emotional aspect repeatedly reflected in his songs. His hoarse, vibrating voice lends itself perfectly to these intimate songs.

An initial highlight on this album for me is the folk blues song “No Money Down” and the laid back “Carnival” which is presented in an easy listening style. The heart of any listener can only weaken upon hearing Joe Rozler on accordion on “The Miner’s Waltz”.

His story about flood-affected families who have lost their homes and loved ones in the song “High Water Days” can leave anyone emotional. The emotive song “I Once Knew” with an excellent job on fiddle by Maggie Zindle connects in a quality manner.

The video in this review presents this artist for 14 minutes live at work with some songs from his extensive repertoire. “Testing For Rust” is a perfect record by Davey O. and it certainly will not be his last, for stories and writing songs is in his blood and because he did so in such a fine way, may he long continue to do so.” - Rootstime - Belgium - Valère Sampermans

“Who?: Rust-belt troubadour, observer of life’s trials, travails and triumphs, and crafter of songs that, according to the man himself, strive to “contain at least a kernel of the truth.”

What?: 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, Davey O. finds the universal in the particular, turning day-to-day minutiae into dusty paeans to the indomitability of the human spirit.

Why?: Buffalonians should find familiar signposts in the stirring folk-blues “No Money Down.” The touchingly titled “The Absence of Madaline” will resonate with anyone who’s endured a broken heart. Which means pretty much everyone everywhere. - The Buffalo News

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. - Songwriter's Monthy, Feasterville, PA

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. - Buffalo Rising - Matt Biddle

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. - Rootstime (Belgium) - Ron Bervoets

"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 - Rootstime, Belgium, March, 2008