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Northern California Bluegrass Society provides this CD review. You can find our most current reviews on our Message Board, where you can comment or query the author directly. Our monthly magazine, Bluegrass By the Bay also publishes them. Return to CD Reviews. |
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| Dave Evans | Bad Moon Shining |
| Review by Brenda Hough | |
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Rebel Records Personnel: |
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Dave Evans has been performing for over thirty years and his solo style is strong and straight forward. Dave spent some time in prison and he learned to play guitar and now uses both the guitar and banjo to accompany his singing. He started as a sideman with Red Allen, Larry Sparks and the Goins Brothers and recorded his first solo record in 1978. He recorded several albums for the Rebel label in the 80s and this new album marks his return to playing and singing. Each of his songs tells a story and some are strongly rooted in his own experiences. The sorrow and trials of prison life are detailed in "C.O. Come and Get Me" with its strong line: "Hey kid, look....you're in prison now, a man." "It's All Up To You" details his trial and sentencing and his philosophical "where do we go now from here, Lord, it's all up to you." He also does a Tom T. Hall song, "Last Public Hanging in West Virginia," the story of John Morgan's last days and Dave's powerful guitar backup accents the sad story of a hurried hanging. Dave had recorded the song earlier, but this version is more basic with just his voice and guitar. Careful listeners will hear a banjo strap creaking like the sound of a gallows rope. Dave's powerful delivery makes bluegrass standards such as "All The Good Times Have Past and Gone", "Satisfied Mind," "Hello Stranger," and "It's Raining Here This Morning" stand as his alone. The album ends with "Somebody's Here For Me," the first song Dave wrote in prison. Dave's past is done and his future looks bright with many new songs yet to be written. |
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