Steve Dawson: I Will Miss The Trumpets and the Drums

Steve Dawson is the main songwriter for Chicago band Dolly Varden, an underground favorite that never made it big. He is a folk-rocker who uses his solo output for slower, softer songs. He teaches songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and his new album I Will Miss The Trumpets and the Drums is a 101 for making his musical intentions clear: creating melodic pop songs with memorable lyrics.

Dawson mainly sings about love gone bad, a subject as old as the hills, but he finds new angles with ease. Recorded in his home studio I Will Miss The Trumpets and the Drums is as relaxed as a glorious Sunday afternoon. The drums sound dry and crisp, Dawson's fingers dance over the frets with the barest of touches at times and there unexpected surprises such as using clarinet and bass clarinet (courtesy of Keefe Jackson) on the title track. Dawson may sing about grief, but he has made an album that puts a smile on the face of the listener. Recommended for fans of Neil Finn, Roger McGuinn and Alex Chilton.

I Will Miss The Trumpets and the Drums is a self-released album. Buy it from the band's website.

Tracks:

1. Obsidian
2. Long Overdue
3. A Conversation With No One
4. Mastadons
5. Today She Found The Way (To Break My Heart)
6. Preaching To The Choir
7. Worry, Worry, Worry
8. I Wish That I Could Believe In You Again
9. Know Now
10. I Will Miss The Trumpets & The Drums
11. Waiting
12. Goodbye
13. It’s Not What You Think

Live dates:

• 04/11 Chicago, IL @ Simon’s
• 04/25 Evanston, IL @ S.P.A.C.E
• 05/16 Chicago, IL @t Old Town School of Folk Music

» stevedawsonmusic.com
» myspace.com/stevedawsonmusic