Dave Isaacs performs at WKU's Java City

I first met Dave Isaacs at Java City when he came to perform at our Noontime Concert Series on February 21st. Dave was recommended to me by local music promoter Franne Jennings of Normal Street Booking.  As Dave began to play,  I was immediately struck with the level of his guitar mastery, his vocal talent and his pure showmanship.  I thought that folks in Southern Kentucky would benefit from getting to know this unique performer.

Dave, I recently read somewhere that you are originally from New York but now live in Nashville; can you tell us a bit about what brought you to Nash-Vegas and a bit about your personal and musical history?

I came to Nashville for a fresh start in a creative community that I already felt at home in. I had been visiting Nashville on a regular basis for several years as part of my regional tours, and knew that it was a place I could call home. Oddly enough, while I had played country music in New York fronting a regionally successful band called Jackalope Junction, when I came here I had shifted into a more blues- and groove-rock oriented sound. To complicate things further, my formal training in music was in classical and jazz. So I’ve always had a very wide range of musical interests and enjoy playing multiple styles.

 When you were starting in music, who inspired you and who were your musical idols?

My first guitar teacher gave me a cassette with Jimi Hendrix on one side and Eric Clapton on the other, and I was hooked. I grew up on folk music, though – my parents were fans of the 60’s folk revival and I have early memories of listening to Doc Watson, Johnny Hartford, and Jean Ritchie. Then in college I discovered jazz, improvisation, and bands like the Grateful Dead, Little Feat, the Band, and the Allman Brothers. I’ve also always been a huge fan of harmony singing and bands like CSN and the Eagles.

Listening to your music, it seemed to me to be Americana/country-rock oriented but, how would you describe your music and your style?

I think the Americana label works well for what I do, since it brings together the folk, blues, rock, and country elements. It’s become kind of a catch-all term for many artists that don’t seem to fit anywhere else, but in my case I think it’s completely on-target.

I know you also write a lot of your music?  Where did you learn the songwriting craft?

I started writing because I had started a band and we needed music! At first I was just emulating my heroes and trying to create something that was gratifying to play and sing. I always liked the storytelling aspect of writing as well as the craftsmanship of writers like Lennon & McCartney, Billy Joel, and Elton John, but loved the poetry and ambiguous mystery of Bob Dylan’s writing. Then in college I discovered the Texas style – from Willie and Waylon to Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Butch Hancock, Lyle Lovett….I think most of my favorite writers in the country and Americana realm are Texans! But the way the Dead and Led Zeppelin incorporated folk elements into their music was also an inspiration.

Nashville has had an impact in my writing in that I think my level of songcraft has gotten stronger, and I’ve learned to raise my game and not settle for filler. It’s also made me hone in more on my own personal “voice”…there’s so many great writers here and you can learn from them all, but it’s most important to find yourself.

I see you have some CDs like Old King Crow that are awesome but are you currently working on a new recording project?  

I play in a trio called DI3 that released a new disc this past fall, and am collecting material for an acoustic-oriented solo project that I should have out by summer.

I notice you have both  Facebook and Reverbnation pages.  How does the Internet help you as a musician? What other marketing vehicles do you use to get your music out there?

The internet is a priceless resource, it makes it possible to reach people anywhere! It’s practically a full-time job in itself to promote yourself on the web, but it also allows people to find you easily on their own. There are thousands of artists out there, but when the music is compelling I think it attracts its audience. YouTube has been a great resource too, for both my performing and teaching.

I know that you work at Tennessee State University, the Art Institute of Tennessee in Nashville and have your own teaching studio on Music row.   How do you manage all of this and tell us about how you reach out to young music professionals?

Fortunately, there’s overlap between all the educational work. I see my role as a teacher and mentor, and whether I’m serving in that capacity in a guitar lesson or teaching an audio class I’m still sharing what I’ve picked up on my own journey. It’s also very gratifying work, which helps keep me going when things get a little crazy!

Ok, here is the standard interview question: Where do you want go with your music?

I want to continue to grow as an artist, writer, and performer….as long as what I’m doing feels right in my gut and has something to say, I feel like I’m on the right path. How that fits into the contemporary music industry is another question, but my work as an educator helps allow me to stay focused on the art and integrity of what I’m doing creatively.

Thanks for taking time to talk to us Dave!  Anything you would like to add?

OK, a last word from the teacher in me. I don’t live in a musical box, and the artists I love most don’t either. Staying open to new ideas and new possibilities keeps us fresh and energized. If you can maintain that drive and passion by staying open and creative, you win….no matter what happens with your career. I’ll never retire and I don’t expect I’ll ever want to, because I do what I love.

About the author: Jack Montgomery is a librarian, author and Professor at Western Kentucky University where he handles bookings for musical acts in University Libraries, Java City coffeehouse. Jack has also been a professional musician since 1969 and performs with a celtic quartet called Watersprite. Visit him at MySpace/shadowdancerjack or on Facebook.