David Rawlings is a monster

[Geoff738]

Nobody else sounds like him. Or, put another way, he sounds totally unique to me.

But, I only know him through Gillian Welch. I know nothing of the stuff he’s put out under his own name or the Machine. So please post some of that stuff.

A couple of my recent to me favourites Under Gillian’s name:





Cheers,
Geoff

 

[_MementoMori_]

My favorite guitarist of all time, hands down. The guy from Milk Carton Kids does a good job of copying his sound, but it's just that: copying.

 

[Geoff738]

My favorite guitarist of all time, hands down. The guy from Milk Carton Kids does a good job of copying his sound, but it's just that: copying.

Yeah, definitely Rawlinsesque. Vert nice though. A new band for me to explore.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[highgreenchilly]

Time the Revelator is easily in my top 10 albums of all time. I can’t find words to say how much I love their music. Amazing live too. Great story on his guitar.

 

[lil scotty]

My favorite guitarist of all time, hands down. The guy from Milk Carton Kids does a good job of copying his sound, but it's just that: copying.

I had never heard this band. But a friend sent me this very song yesterday! And I thought he sounds like Rawlings! Weird coincidence.

 

[TokyoPortrait]

Hi.

Yeah, he’s mind blowingly good.

I hardly ever read those ‘most underrated ~’ threads, but I feel like he would feature on a ‘guitarist’ one.

I’m out and about now, so can’t find the link, but there’s a great live performance video of Welch & him at some hall in England.

Oh, wait. Getting a better signal now. Here:





Pax/
Dean

 

[Geoff738]

Dave was blazing on Miss Ohio.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Geoff738]

And the song after!

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[elihu]

Dave does so many things well and he makes it sound easy-the sign of a true Jedi master. His right hand cross picking is great but it's his use of intervals that blows me away. Rather than take up sonic space with bends or power chords he uses intervals-especially close ones like a minor second on adjacent strings that I haven't heard anyone else use to that extent. His solos are mini compositions that really show an understanding of the instrument. Like on Acony Bell, the head/solo is all out of a D chord shape with a descending line in the middle surrounded by sympathetic notes-clever and effective.

I too am a huge fan.

Here's an interview.

 

[Dave Hicks]

Not a great video, but plenty of picking - he looks quite electrified!

 

[RomanS]

One of my favorite Dylan songs, covered by one of my favorite guitar players:

 

[wacolo]

Not enough great things to say about Dave.

 

[Harry Styron]

His harmony singing is as inventive and exquisite as his guitar playing.

 

[RomanS]

 

[MilwMark]

His harmony singing is as inventive and exquisite as his guitar playing.

Yes! Totally different genre and inflection. But the close/weird harmonies remind me of Xene and John Doe.

 

[ndcaster]

One of the heroes for sure. He opened up more ears.

Gillian looks like she just got off the wagon in the Dust Bowl. Rawlings is a walking Marlboro ad.

I mean that in a good way.

For Xers, they're icons.

 

[Greenmachine]

Heroes certainly.

 

[Jupiter]

I really wanted one of those Epiphone small body archtops until I realized it's really the way he PLAYS it that makes it sound like that, and I can't play one that way...

 

[_MementoMori_]

I really wanted one of those Epiphone small body archtops until I realized it's really the way he PLAYS it that makes it sound like that, and I can't play one that way...

They're still cool though. Epiphone re-issued them a few years ago since Dave has driven the value of vintage models through the roof, haha.

 

[RomanS]

They're still cool though. Epiphone re-issued them a few years ago since Dave has driven the value of vintage models through the roof, haha.

Yeah, seems like Epi tried to cash in on his success - unfortunately, those Epi Masterbuilt "archtops" must be some of the worst guitars of this millennium - they look nice from a distance (that matte finish looks extremely plastic-y up close...), but sound like they are made from wet cardboard - which is no wonder, since there is almost no arch to the pressed top.
Also, piezo pickups (like on these Epis) sound even worse in archtops than in flattops.

I was really excited when those were released - and really disappointed when I got to try a couple... My cheapo Loar LH300 sounds sooo much better it isn't even funny.

I must not have been the only one who felt like this - Epi discontinued them after a really short production run, and you can still find plenty of those in stores, usually heavily discounted - seems like almost nobody wanted to buy one...