Praise For Wallflower.com | Indie Music Blog

Considering this is my first piece as a member of the Praise For Wallflower staff, I feel that writing my first post about anyone besides Dave Kolker would be nothing short of blasphemy, as well as a foolish disservice to you, the reader.

After having countless interactions with Dave through attending his performances, spending hours listening to his albums, and carefully heeding his sage advice, I have become completely enamored with what Dave has created. You can say the same for the myriad of people who packed The Baggot Inn during his weekly residency at the humble West 3rd Street bar until its closing in late 2008.

Dave's sound is littered with the riffs and licks of those he grew up gathering inspiration from. Hearing a tint of Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Albert King and other guitar pioneers is a common theme throughout his music. Dave uses that inspiration to craft an identity that is entirely his own. It is a sound deeply rooted in blues and traditional bitter rock and roll, but Dave infuses those familiar sounds with a blistering brand of efficiency on his instrument. The effortlessness in which he glides up and down the fretboard of his '50s Fender Strat is both intimidating and awe-inspiring. His devastatingly dynamic solos prompt you to gaze in a state of disbelief as your eyes constantly fail to keep up with his fingers. It is evident to even the most arbitrary of music enthusiasts that he has a certain command of the instrument, which is exemplified through every second of any of his songs. His music professes about life's harsher realities and the routine vexations of love and work. He vouches for the weekend warrior and the broken hearted alike.

Dave has assembled a body of work that needs no cute praise from a moron like myself, but I will give it said praise regardless. He has recorded three full-length albums, which includes his latest release, "Antennas." His older albums consisted of more epic jams and traditional blues anthems, but in "Antennas" Dave compresses his tracks to a cohesive and fluid style which provides an onslaught of bitter blues rock tunes that you will be humming for weeks after listening.

THE SKINNY: An aggressive, passionate and soulful blues rock artist whose guitar skills are unparalleled
FAVORITE TRACK: "The Positive" off of his third release "Antennas."
APPROPRIATE FOR: Anyone who loathes their job, girlfriend or mother-in-law.
FOR FANS OF: Eric Clapton, Albert King, Luther Allison, Led Zeppelin

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