I n t e r v i e w
Riff Magazine
By:Jay Pawoski
Singer-songwriter Dave Zobl happily admits he's led a rather simple life. "Have you ever seen the show The Wonder Years?'' he asks with a smile over a cup of coffee. "I am Kevin Arnold incarnate. That is absolutely how I grew up."
Born in 1960, Zobl's roots lie in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "It was a great time to grow up," he says, noting that his musical roots are strongly tied to his childhood. "My siblings were all into music-not playing, but albums. You had the classic bands like the Beatles and Stones, but it was also such a great time for singer-songwriters. My brothers and sisters would have parties and I would hang out and listen. So I think through osmosis I absorbed a lot."
With a healthy diet of James Taylor, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, and Van Morrison, Zobl developed a love for music that would remain with him throughout his life-eventually bringing him to record his first album, Best Day Yet, in 1998. Two years later, Zobl released Chapters and he is currently working on a third disc to be released in about a year. "I didn't have a lot of confidence," Zobl says of the years before he finally set out to record Best Day Yet, "and I always had other things going on. It wasn't my main focus."
Meeting Bob Tyler, however, helped inspire Zobl's musical strength and confidence.” I watched him play a lot, and we became good friends," Zobl says. "Then I think just by hard work I moved forward. I'd get up every morning to write and try to get better. I'm still doing that. One day I played some songs for Bob, and he said, "Hey that's not bad." That was the little boost that I needed, and that really helped my confidence. So I started saving a little money and decided to do a CD.'' Tyler has since produced both of Zobl's albums. "Without him, Zobl says, "none of this would have happened."
Through its cover art and lyrics, Best Day Yet harkens back to simpler times-days of relaxing on the porch or tossing the ball around. Songs like "Iowa Boy" and "Baby Boomer Blues" attest to Zobl's unpretentious authentic approach to songwriting. "I put it back toward myself," Zobl says, " we all have different reactions to different types of music. I just try when I'm writing to be true, to be authentic to myself to myself, to be as real as I can be and not get caught up in fitting some type of formula. If it resonates with me, then I'm OK with it and hopefully it will resonate with someone else."
On Chapters, Zobl's brand of country and folk diversifies to include horns and a wider array of jazz and blues influences. Yet he continues to appreciate the simplicities of life through tracks like "Road Trip" and a cover of Louie Armstrong's "Wonderful World." "My songs are pretty simple, which is just a by-product of the way I was raised," Zobl says. "And I hope they have a positive slant on people, and maybe make people appreciate a little bit more the simplicity of life." Citing a special need for this given current events, he continues, "I mean how great is it to have a beautiful day like today, look at the mountains, have a cup of coffee and talk about music. Not to mention having your health, friends and family. I think all of us are going through that now-talk about a massive perspective check. It really makes you realize that life is fragile. I guess for me that's why I like to write, because it's a way for me to express those things."
Even after releasing two albums, Zobl still finds himself humble when it comes to playing live. "I'm starting to play a bit more because I'm getting more comfortable." he says. "It can be a little nerve-racking at times, but now I'm getting to the point where I'm playing more consistently. It helps because I'm starting to build up more of a following and it's easier to get shows. I'm really in the beginning stages but it's getting there."
And make no bones about it-Zobl doesn't entertain dreams of becoming a superstar. "I've been in the radio business for over fourteen years," he says. I know the reality of the music business pretty well. This is truly a labor of love, because I see how many CD's pass over a programmer's desk. I do this because I love it, I hope it shows." Zobl has found that doing things his own way and at his own pace has made his songwriting and recording career all the more enjoyable. "That's the beauty of doing it yourself." Zobl says. "Granted, for a major record label, signing a forty year old singer-songwriter doesn't make much sense, but doing it yourself you can do what you want and maintain your own sense of artistic integrity. I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes out on the 3rd release. Anything that happens after now feels like a bonus. I get to play with people I respect and enjoy. It's a good release for me and it's a good outlet for my creative side."
Zobl also notes that aside from his musical influences, authors like Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, and Edward Abbey have helped shape his songwriting. "Along with music, I enjoy reading a lot," he says. I just have a real fondness for the writing process and a real respect for it. I guess there's something about guys like that-they're strong minded individualists. I've always respected that. They didn't give a shit what the critics said, they just did their own thing. And I think as I've tried to grow and get comfortable in my own shoes as a person and a musician, I've tried to do that myself-just be as true as I can."Live review from Riff magazine:
There is a little place on West Colfax in Denver called Angie's Place. Amid the intimate tables, couches and candles filter a steady stream of some of the best music in Colorado. Tonight it is folk music and die-hard fans pack the stage room and overflow into the cafe' to join the festivities with Dave Zobl and fellow artist Celeste Krenz.
Folk music has become a staple in Colorado, but good folk music is a participatory sport. A good singer-songwriter is one who can get the crowd to sing along with the songs they know, throw in witty remarks amidst the notes and generally make you feel like you are a great conversation with a good friend. Dave Zobl is a master of his craft.
Sensing the mood of the crowd, Dave begins a gentle version of "This Land is Your Land" drawing the audience in until everyone is singing the chorus. At the close of the song he admits to being in the mood for traditional American songs, mentioning that his father had passed away the Saturday before September 11th. "Boy that was a long, long week." Over the course of the next two songs, however, he gradually lightened the pervading mood and set the stage for the rest of the night with a humorous song about self-help books. After a particular line in the song about books on sexual dysfunction, Zobl ad-libs, in a conspirational sing-song voice, "this song is not autobiographical." The crowd dissolves into laughter and happily rides the journey of lively comments, subtle innuendo, good fun and great music.
There is something simple and intriguing about Dave Zobl's music. You find yourself leaning forward in your seat to hear what he will sing next, his easy picking style highlighting every song. His lyrics pull you in, touch you on an everyday level, gently pull you through the moments of a life that echo your own. If you can pull yourself away and be a witness to the crowd, you will see them...laughing or eyes closed swaying to the music.
At one point, Dave pauses in his originals to tell a tale of meeting Nashville songwriter Tony Arata and the letter Tony wrote him after hearing his music. He speaks in almost wide eyed wonder of carrying the letter in his pocket for almost a week, then smoothly transitions into perhaps Arata's most famous piece, "The Dance." You get the impression that no matter where his music may take him, Dave will always be a fan of great music.
It doesn't take long for Dave to swing the atmosphere back to one of fun and play. The no-nonsense bartenderess Summer presses a note into Dave's hand. It said something to the effect of "Play Brown Eyed Girl or I'll kick your butt." Dave shakes his head laughing and says, 'God, how do I explain to my friends that I got my ass kicked by someone named Summer?!" After a good stab at "Brown Eyed Girl" he launches into Best Day Yet a song about having a great day doing nothing at all. Bob Tyler, on lead guitar, takes the opportunity during the musical break in the song to do a plinking version of "Heart and Soul.” It so fit the irreverent mood of the crowd and the song that everyone was consumed for several moments in hearty laughter, while, Bob, completely deadpan, continued to plink at his guitar.
Meanwhile, Dave, taking the cue from the crowd, follows Best Day Yet with other tongue in cheek songs like "God Grades on a Curve." By the end of the song, Dave had everyone singing the refrain. "But all in all I'm a pretty good guy/ Do the right thing... I always try/ There are times I've been schmuck/ But with any kind of luck/ God grades on a curve." With an impish grin Dave says, ' You know...I want to say schmuck one more time." And, smiling broadly, the audience joins in singing the refrain once more, accentuating 'schmuck" for all they are worth.
As the songs wind down and the evening closes, you realize a little ruefully that no matter how unattached you want to be; Dave Zobl has become your friend. He has invited you into living room for one hell of a conversation. He has told you about his life, invited you to sing along...out of key...right next to you. And you leave with the impression that the next time you’re in need of some good company, you are going to give Dave a call.
DAVE ZOBL
