“The Art of Disassembly” is a new album by David Greco, a resident here in the Outer Richmond. I first encountered Dave when I saw him perform at the Bazaar Cafe’s “Bazaar Stock” festival back in May. So I jumped at the chance to interview him for the blog.
The Art of Disassembly contains just five tracks, but it’s enough for a glimpse into Dave’s self-exploration of past relationships. Three of the songs are about ex-girlfriends and as Dave describes it, “The theme of this album unfolded over time, it gradually became obvious that the songs all spoke of moving toward contentment through deconstruction.”
Deconstructing what went wrong, where he faltered and what he needs to move forward to make his marriage thrive. In “This Won’t Come Up Void”, written for his wife, Dave sings “So here’s my next accomplishment, to be someone you won’t remember, to burn away the rusted chards to see what can emerge from all the smoke and embers”.
I asked him how his wife feels about some of the tracks being about ex-girlfriends. “I think it’s kind of weird to dwell on it but at the same time, it’s all just kind of inspiration. You pull from your own life and that history.”
But Dave gets a little taste of his own medicine too. “My wife is an actor. I get to write songs about past girlfriends and I have to watch her kiss boys on stage.”
Dave grew up in Portland and at age 14, moved to Denver, Colorado. He proudly admits that “Hanging Tough” by the New Kids on the Block was one of his favorite early songs (“I’m a Jordan man”), and in high school, joined a cover band where he sang lead vocals.
But eventually Dave picked up the guitar, wanting to take the band to the next level with their own songwriting. He taught himself with an EZ Beatles guitar book, thinking “I’ll learn how to write from the best.” To this day, he cites the Beatles as his favorite band and greatest influence. He even named one of his dogs Paul McCartney (his wife shot down “Ringo” as a name).
Vascillating between drawing comic books and making music, Dave eventually chose the latter and recorded his first record when he was still a teenager. You won’t find it on any store shelves; Dave refers to it as “not a real record”. But it would set the stage for his future career.
“The Art of Disassembly” comes four years after his first album. Dave says his second effort “is more who I am, me kind of growing up as a writer,” further adding that getting married and moving to California has given him “a whole new perspective on things”.
In true Beatles fashion, Dave got a little help from his friends on the album. While growing up in Denver, he lived across the street from a kid named David Welsh. Fast forward to today and you’ll find Welsh playing guitar for the breakout band, The Fray, who have topped the charts this year after their single “How to Save a Life” was used by the television show Grey’s Anatomy.
When Welsh and Fray drummer Ben Wysocki offered to do what they could to help him with his sophomore effort, Dave took them up on the offer. They recorded Art of Disassembly in Denver where The Fray is based. “We used a bunch of their gear because they’ve got more money than I have. Thank you Grey’s Anatomy!” Dave jokes.
When it comes to The Fray’s story, Dave probably feels a bit like Pete Best, often referred to as the “Fifth Beatle”. Just after moving from Denver to Phoenix for a short time, Dave’s friends joined The Fray and the rest is history.
“It was pretty funny to move away and watch my friends explode,” Dave recalls. But he says “it’s cool to see your friends make it and cheer them on. And cool that they come alongside me and support me on my new album”.
Even without the fame and fortune his friends have found, Dave makes his living as a full-time musician. “I hustle and figure out how to make it work.” Before coming to the Bay Area, he played with other bands but recently, has been working on just his own stuff.
In addition to playing bars, cafes and house shows around the area, Dave gives back by playing shows like November’s Abolitionists (in the round), a benefit for International Justice Mission, a human rights agency.
Like many musicians today, Dave has had to rely on his own ingenuity and independent spirit to get his music heard. Record labels are a dying breed, so Dave relies on his people skills and talent to keep things going. But that’s ok, as it’s more fitting to who he is as a musician and a person.
“I’m so organic in my nature that my tendency is to sell out of my trunk as long as I can,” he says. When asked if he wants his career to explode like his friends in The Fray, he doesn’t outright say no, but adds “I like that I have my roots here and my music is here, it doesn’t have to be all over the place”.
Dave also says that being on a record label is not as glamorous as it sounds. “I have a number of friends who are signed to labels and with the exception of a couple of them, everyone is really unhappy and really underpaid.”
When Dave isn’t making music, you might find him walking his two German short-haired pointers out on Ocean Beach or in Golden Gate Park. His other favorite neighborhood spots include Beach Chalet restaurant (“The burgers are unbelievable”), Pizzetta (“Whenever we want to treat ourselves, we end up there”), and Green Apple Books. “My wife’s a big reader so she loves to look at the books and I like to look at the records.”
Click below to listen to a couple of tracks from Dave’s new album “The Art of Disassembly”. Then head over to his website to download the full album. In keeping with Dave’s independent spirit, you can get it for free by telling five friends about the album, or by naming your own price for the download.
This Won’t Come up Void from The Art of Disassembly | by David Greco
[audio:https://richmondsfblog.com/dloads/wontcomeupvoid.mp3]
Who Loves Ya from The Art of Disassembly | by David Greco
[audio:https://richmondsfblog.com/dloads/wholovesya.mp3]
Dave is taking some time off for the holidays but mark you calendar for February 27 – he’s on the bill for the second Bazaar Stock. You can also follow him on Twitter.
Special thanks to Dave for talking to the blog. We wish you great success (but not too much success). 😉
Sarah B.
Watch part of Dave’s performance at Bazaar Stock in May:
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