Davide Gideon — Lonesome Desert Strum
It’s not surprising that so many songwriters have an interesting upbringing and an interesting story to tell. David Gideon is a singer-songwriter who, when he was growing up, split his time between Austin, Key West, and a Tennessee commune called The Farm. Eventually, he settled in the home of Billy the Kid – Silver City, New Mexico. In addition to working as a musician, he has worked as a club DJ and a ranch hand.
The album begins with “Southwestern Skies.” The lyrics tell the story of someone who is happy to be on the road back to familiar surroundings. The distorted rhythm guitar gives the song a distinct alt-country feel. The lead guitar carries a high and spacey sound that is perfect for the southwestern setting described in the lyrics. The tone of the lead guitar is similar to Sonny Landreth. You wouldn’t know it by the title, but “Ashes” is a song made for dancing. The beat alone is enough to get your feet moving. Then you hear the banjo and fiddle and you might find yourself looking for a partner to two-step with. What’s interesting is that the theme of the song is fairly somber. The narrator requests that his body not be buried. Instead he wants his remains scattered throughout places dear to him in Tennessee.
Gideon has a way of telling a story that is utterly familiar. In “Nice to Meet You,” he sings about, “layin’ on our backs on that old trampoline, lookin’ at the stars, talkin’ about our dreams and places we’ve never been.” He immediately puts the listener in that situation, perhaps with a memory of doing something similar themselves. The melody is perfect for slow dancing although he throws a little twist in the chorus when he follows “nice to meet you” with “goodbye”.
Throughout the album, Gideon does a good job of mixing up the tempo and tone of the songs. “My Birthday” is a suitably slow-tempo remembrance of the things the narrator used to do with a certain someone. The song is filled with sustained pedal steel that conveys the sadness felt by the narrator. At the other end of the spectrum is the foot-stomping “Moving to the Country” whose beat and pedal steel will get you moving. Toward the end of the album, you hear “Red Boots,” a western swing song in the tradition of Bob Wills. If you haven’t danced at any point during the album (which seems impossible), this one will get you on your feet.
This is an album of 12 really good songs spanning a variety of relatable themes. More than that, it is the perfect counter-argument for those poor, misguided souls that believe real country music is a thing of the past. Gideon has clearly steeped in the storytelling tradition of country music and produced an album of classic country. Lonesome Desert Strum will be available everywhere on January 28. Order your copy here:
http:// gideonmusichouse.com/music/
Check our our video premiere of David Gideon’s song “Lonesome Desert Strum” here: Video Premiere: David Gideon Lonesome Desert Strum