Every song has its story on new album Dave Arcari showcases at Inverness gig
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For Dave Arcari, his new album and latest set of dates – including a return to Inverness on Thursday (November 17) – is a sign that, finally, his musical life is back on track after the pandemic.
Devil May Care, his latest studio album, is released on CD and all digital services on Friday (November 18).
And the night before, Dave starts his tour at the Tooth & Claw in Inverness.
“It’s a great little venue,” Dave said. “The perfect place for a solo musician, where the audience really listens.”
It follows October’s release of a digital single from the album – Dave’s version of Junior Kimbrough’s hill country classic Meet Me In The City.
Dave’s seventh full-length album showcases a set of original songs written over the last few years, plus two covers, Meet Me In The City and the traditional Nine Pound Hammer.
Other than his 2013 album Whisky In My Blood (Blue North Records, Finland), where Dave was joined by the Hellsinki Hellraisers, the new album is the first time he has featured guest performers on his recordings.
Dave said: “That was made possible with support from Help Musicians, the independent charity for professional musicians in the UK.”
Title track Devil May Care features drums from Chris McMullan of Northen Ireland’s Bonnevilles, Stick To Your Guns has blues harp from Dave’s old Radiotones’ bandmate Jim Harcus and Dave’s re-write of the Scottish classic Loch Lomond – Loch Lomond (Home) – has violin from Jamie Wilson.
That track Loch Lomond (Home) is also something a little bit different, as it features the ‘voices of the loch’ on its choruses – a collection of local friends from east Loch Lomond where Dave lives, plus some visitors from America!
Talking about the album – where every song has a story behind it – Dave says: “There are a few curve balls on this album and some things people might be surprised at!”
“And it’s been great to have support from Help Musicians without whom the collaborations and extra studio time couldn’t have happened.
“The support went way beyond financials, and includes things like mentoring and business advice sessions which are invaluable for musicians, helping them to thrive with the knowledge and skills they need to build a sustainable career.”
This isn’t the first time Dave has benefited from the charity’s support.
He reveals: “I was fortunate enough to be part of a Help Musicians coaching programme a few years ago and also accessed support via Music Minds Matter when I was going through a particularly difficult period just before the pandemic hit.”
Devil May Care, the album’s title track was the last one Dave wrote before recording the album, he revealed. And having sent Chris of the Bonvilles a demo of the song, word soon came back – Chris loved it.”
“After that he did a proper recording and a couple of days later, it was back,” Dave laughs.
Finding out about the song behind the title Walking On Water, the story couldn’t be simpler, in a way.
“I had been getting into paddle-boarding at home at Loch Lomond.
“I was coming into the bay and this woman from the next village had been watching me.
She said when she saw me “It looked as if you were walking on water!”
"I didn’t think I could call the song that!" Dave said. "I didn’t want people thinking I thought I could walk on water!”
Special guest at Dave's Inverness gig is JonZip from the legendary Glasgow punk band The Zips from 1977.
"I would have been about 12 or 13 then," Dave said. "And I wasn't into punk. But in the last 20 years I've got to know him. And there is a common link between punk and my approach to blues and being doggedly independent. To be punk is not just about a style of music, but doing things your own way, regardless!"
Dave will play the Tooth & Claw, Inverness on Thursday (November 17). Special guest will be JonZip, frontman of original 70s Glasgow punk band The Zips.
