With the advent of Dave Rawlings Machine, Dave Rawlings stepped out on his own in a big way, not that he was ever really 'obscured' as Gillian Welch's longtime collaborator. A Friend of a Friend, his first record, came out in 2009 and showcased him wearing the hats of guitarist, producer, singer, and songwriter. The idea of recording as Dave Rawlings Machine was planted in 2007. Says Dave, “I had a few older songs that I had written with other artists that I wanted to record myself. Then the last year or so Gillian and I spent a good deal of time in Los Angeles, hanging out with a new group of musicians and songwriters. This inspired a number of songs that seemed to complete the picture. So we started recording. It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to anybody.” What's different from the titles they record under Gillian Welch's name is the density in the arrangements. They are more rocking, more spirited; but of course, they continue to honor the same influences and roots.
We are so playing catch up here, literally and figuratively. At home after the road trip, I went to make dinner, and wound up with spaghetti all over the floor. A clumsy solo game of Pick Up Sticks ensued. Maybe I should stay out of the kitchen for a while! Does anybody deliver? Well hell yes, that would be a positive. I can make a long list. Actually which is what I have been doing as the miles flew by on the return from Steamboat. There are so many Americana luminaries we have not had the pleasure of recording yet. Collect 'em all, is what I say. Dave Rawlings surely is one of them. Gillian Welch of course being another! One of these days! But on a web hunt, I found a marvelous video of them from that fine radio station KEXP, Seattle. Dave Rawlings Machine, with a version of the tune he wrote with Ryan Adams, "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)."
- Jessie Scott
