Produced by Samantha Fish for her Wild Heart Records, Yesterday’s Gone finds third place finisher on The Voice, Nicholas David, capitalizing on recent notoriety by releasing an excellent collection built on the sizable catalogue David has developed over the last 15 years. David met Samantha Fish while he working as a touring keyboard player with Devon Allman Project. Fish invited David to New Orleans to expand on his blues and southern soul influences; Yesterday’s Gone is the product of this collaboration.
Although he’s a Minnesota native, on Yesterday’s Gone David sound like a NOLA lifer evoking Dr. John’s vocal styling blended with fellow Midwest native Michael McDonald’s pop-soul sensibilities. The collection opens with “Hole in the Bottom,” a keys driven soul rev-up centered on David’s baritone. A good time groove with a hint of the Funky Meters on the break, “Hole in the Bottom” demands movement of its listeners.
“Heavy Heart” leans into a slow soul groove replete with clean clear guitar solos and Wurlitzer piano. “With or Without” flips the script in favor of crisp Randy Newman piano stylings while “I’m Interested” embraces a bass funk driven groove dripping with lust. Other album highlights include the easy going Caribbean influence romp “Okay,” the easy listening piano driven pop of “Times Turning,” and the late night bounce and wisdom of “Little by Little.”
Looking for your fix of white soul pop? Scoop a copy of Nicholas David’s Yesterday’s Gone today. https://www.thefeelin.com