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Veteran actor and director David Carradine puts his musical talents on display when he and Soul Dogs take the stage.
Though known primarily for his film and television roles, Carradine’s musical background is extensive and diverse. In addition to majoring in music at San Francisco State College, he’s fronted numerous bands and written scores for movies. He has applied this experience to his acting, most notably in his portrayal of Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby’s classic Bound for Glory.
Soul Dogs’ sound is pure Americana; a rhythmic synthesis of different flavors from Country-Rockin’-Blues to spacious ballads, spiced with classical overtones and psychedelic implications. The post-Dylan singer/songwriter lineage is well represented in this mix; songs like "And Then She Smiles" and "I Got No Right To Sing The Blues" use an easy bluesy style to present a reluctant optimism in the face of life’s adversity. But "Wanderer" and "Now’s The Time To Tell" just carry you away with their sophisticated harmonies and apocalyptic lyrics. Carradine’s self-proclaimed "inspired doggerel" approach to song writing is frequently autobiographical. His stories strike a common chord in all of us. As he says in one of his lyrics, he’s "been around the block and back more than a couple of times." He has a lot to say: sometimes angry, mostly romantic, a lot of it very funny, always insightful. By looking inward, he reaches out to touch the primordial unconscious, the common human experience in all of us.
Previous incarnations of the band have featured a slew of musicians and exotic instruments. This show however, will offer a more standard lineup, with Carradine’s soulful vocals backed up by his guitars, piano, harmonica, and a thrilling interlude with the bamboo flute, which he grew, harvested, cured and made himself. The band includes Sharon Benson on electric violin, guitar and vocals, Clynell Jackson III on bass, and Leslie Daniel on drums. This combination creates a sound reminiscent of a more intimate period when musicians played wrap-around porches and underground saloons, and then surprises you by exploding into serious full-on Rock & Roll. This is American music. You can dance to it, trance to it, or just kick back and enjoy the ride.
David uses Dean Markley Blue Steel Electric REG, Nickel Steel LTHB, FlatWound Electric REG, and Electric 12-String CL; Sharon uses the FlatWound Electric REG, Vintage Bronze Acoustic 12-String LT, Alchemy CL, and PhosBronze Bass LT; Chris is using Vintage Bronze Acoustic LT; Clynell uses Blue Steel Bass ML, NPS RoundCore MED, PhosBronze Bass, and FlatWound Bass ML.
Be sure to visit the David Carridine and Soul Dogs website at:
www.SoulDogs.com.
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