Thursday night at The Blue Chair was awesome. It started out with an early sound check and the set up of way too much gear (laptop, Mainstage, midi keyboard, banjo, guitar, electric guitar, glockenspiel, etc.) After that marathon setup, I enjoyed Pad Thai for dinner with TJ and Cora McLachlan. Over the next couple of relaxed hours, friends and family arrived until the place was packed with familiar faces.

A very big thanks to all who came out to the show. It was great to have support and feel like we were playing to a room of people we have meaningful relationship with. Because we were. Cora’s songs were beautiful as always and it was a pleasure to accompany her. I also enjoyed the vocals she brought to my tunes. I’m getting a (bit) more confident on keyboard so I suspect you’ll see more of that on stage when you come to a Dave Von Bieker show.

Overall, the night was a confirmation that I love playing in community – much more than the ‘hey, look at me and my music’ aspect. I love collaborating, singing alongs, clapping and foot stomping. There was plenty of that Thursday night, so it’s all good.

A special thanks to Darrell Muth and TJ McLachlan for shooting these photos from the  show …

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If you didn’t already know, be forewarned.

Tonight, I’m playing my first full show in a while, at the Carrot. Almost half of the songs will be new, and I’m bring back my laptop for some interesting sound experiments.

Oh, and did I mention the new banjo?

Show starts at 7:30 and I’d love to have your listening ears. Cover is $5.

Well, I’m getting around to a lot of unique places these days!

This past weekend I was at The Velvet Underground for a LATE, great show with David Barnhoorn and Allosaurus. Good times indeed. Allosaurus helped me to learn that “if your mom says “do it” … DO IT!

Anyways, this Thursday night I’m back at the Carrot, but this time as a sidedish to an evening of Dog Sonnets. Yes. Dog Sonnets by Catherin Owen to be exact. I’m looking forward to experiencing something different, and I hope you’ll come and do the same!

pregnant women giving birth

My first show in over a month is at Cafè LEVA this Friday night (May 23rd) at 7:30 PM.

There is no cover, the cappucino is AMAZING and so is the Gelato. It’s also a great family friendly venue with the coolest Muppet Show book I’ve ever seen.

I finally went out and bought a looper pedal this week as well, so my repertoire will be slightly enhanced! Let’s hear it for the Glockenspeil!

More details on the tour page.

You can also check out the Facebook event page here.

With a new arsenal of gear (well, a harmonica, a Glockenspeil and a computer program I’m not yet sure how to work), I’m looking forward to playing some new and revamped material this year.

My first booked show of 2008 is March 14 at The Carrot. See you there?

Thursday, December 6: Vanguard College

This show is part of the book release for Chad Verity’s “Where Grace and Mercy Collide”. Come out and support both local music and a local author at once! Admission to the show is free and it all starts at 7 PM.

Vanguard College is located at 12140 103rd Street and the show will take place in the Chapel (top floor).

Friday, December 7: The Carrot

A show at The Carrot is always a special time for me. It means great coffee, great art, cozy atmosphere and great friends. It also means a $5 cover charge for you, which goes to keep this great venue open. In a time of staff crunches, the Carrot has remained 100% volunteer run for nearly 6 months so far, making it a genuine Christmas miracle. So, I may just pull a Christmas cover or two for the occasion. This will be my most in depth set of the three, so you are going to hear plenty of stuff here that you won’t here at any other show on the weekend, including many songs from my new “Backup” release.

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The Carrot is located at 9351 118th Ave. Show starts at 7:15 PM and there is a $5 cover.

Saturday, December 8: Papercastle Art Show at The Orange Hall

Sisters Julie Rice and Marci Rohr always put on a great event, as any who attended last year’s Orange Hall show will attest to. This year’s show marks the release of their new art-book project from their adventures in Peru. The book and the show include art created by impoverished children of Peru, in collaboration with Julie and Marci. The event is free, but donations will be taken towards the cause. A portion of the sales of books, art and my own CD will also help support the cause.

Another thing that truly excites me about this night is that two other musicians will play as well – Kenton Jeske and Cora McLachlan. You are in for a real treat if you take this one in.

The Orange Hall is located at 10335 84 Ave (tucked in by the Arts Barns) and the event runs from 7-11 PM.

You can find out more about Papercastle here.

I will be hosting this Open Mic, as I do every second Saturday night. It is always a lot of fun, and always brings some surprises.

from The Carrot website …

Homegrown talent takes the stage Saturday nights at the Carrot. Come down at 8 PM for original music, poetry, comedy and more at Edmonton’s newest open mic experience.

Want to play? Just bring your guitar, your poems, your jokes, your self and show up early to get on the list. Sets should be no more than 15 minutes for music and 10 minutes for spoken word, poetry, comedy, monologue, etc.

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

I’ll be playing at The Carrot this Friday night. I plan on bringing my friend Danny Tanner (my MacBook) with me, and perhaps even my wife’s ironing board. Why stop a good thing?

artery neck surgery

I am looking forward to a great show in a great venue. When I last played at AXIS Cafe I was overwhelmingly blessed to see a ton of friendly faces in the crowd. I am hoping to see the same this Friday night.

See you at The Carrot (9351 118th Ave).

Well, a few days have passed since my show at AXIS on Friday night and I am ready to say a few words about it tonight. (it may just be because my wife is out at a party and my kids are asleep – I am in need of a way to waste – er, I mean spend – time).

The show itself was great (if I do say so myself). I was able to pull off what I set out to. I did a full 90 minutes of material – over half of it my own. I played some relatively new songs and developed some covers I am really proud of (namely Clark Gable by Postal Service, Green Eyes by Coldplay, I’m So Glad by Royal Wood, No Surprises by Radiohead, Chicago by Sufjan Stevens and a combo of No Cars Go by Arcade Fire with Where the Streets Have No Name by U2). I was able to remix a lot of those covers – speed them up or slow them down. Some were stripped raw and others were dressed to the nines in GarageBand goodness by my MacBook, Danny Tanner (not sure if that moniker will stick).

So yes, good show. Except of course for my raw voice by the end. Note to self, you don’t have to sing that hard when you practice all week. And you probably don’t have to practice all week either.

Above all of the musical fun I had though, I was really touched by my friends. Many new and some old friends came out to see me play, and I felt a little bit like the little boy playing for mommy and daddy that night. It made me very proud of my friends – and very blessed to have them.

There was the Bridge Songs crew – out in full force. What a great group to have at a show! There was my wife and both of my kids. That made the night really special for me. It’s always easier to sing a love song with your wife right in front of you. And Jack told a killer joke! Then there were just all these people – a few dozen I would say – who have bumped in and out of my life. It was like a photo album as I looked out into the crowd and saw so many faces that I generally cared about.

To all of ya’ll who came to the show that night, you gave me a genuine gift and it touched me deeply. Hopefully I was able to give a bit back as well.

See you at the next show.

Perhaps I should title this the 8/8 show. June 8th at 8 PM I’ll take the stage at AXIS Cafe downtown. If you haven’t been there yet, I encouage you to check it out. This Friday Jacob and Lily AND Rik Leaf will be on the bill, so perhaps I should STRONGLY encourage you!

My show on the 8th will be the longest I’ve ever performed (in front of people anyways) and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. There is no cover, which means you get in for free. Of course, you can have some amazing drinks and food while you are there (and that will not be free).

I’d love to see any and all fans and friends front and centre.