Crafting tunes that have him flipping through a catalogue of influences from past eras filed under classic vinyl, Calgary-based singer/songwriter Dave McCann will be the Jan. 18 feature ‘Live at Legacy’ performer.
With his band ‘the Firehearts’ in tow, the five-piece is firing up for a spring release with his next full-length album, closing the gap since his 2010 release, Dixiebluebird, recorded in Nashville, under the direction of well-known producer, Will Kimbrough (Emmylou Harris, Todd Snider, Mavis Staples).
Reflecting fondly on early memories of his mother working out Johnny Cash tunes on acoustic guitar, McCann attributes his edgy country sound to being an AM country-radio kid meets rock and roll.
“I remember as a kid the adrenaline rush from buying AC/DC’s Back in Black. I would throw on the headphones and listen over and over again. It’s probably the first recording that hit me like that. Loud melody,” said McCann.
“I guess I kinda play loud country-tinged songs for people who grew up on AC/DC?”
Country-rock, minus the pop. Coined as Americana, McCann’s music falls under the umbrella of roots.
“In my teens, the popular music of the times creeped me out,” said McCann, referring to pop icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie.
“But stuff like that forced me to start digging backwards. Searching the old stuff I’d missed. I discovered the standard singer-songwriter influences like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Band, old Springsteen and that just led further back…What were they influenced by?”
“Roots music traces its origins from the original creation of rock and roll and its influences — blues, country, folk music…I’ve always tried to honour that source with my songs,” said McCann.
“It’s the stuff I really love. It just feels good — building a future from what the past has given us.”
It’s a past filled with write, record, tour and repeat. One band highlight includes contributions to the award-winning soundtrack to the flick Hank Williams First Nations (also the television series) that earned the ‘Best Music in a Motion Picture Award’ at the 2005 Nashville Film Festival. The songs were drawn from McCann’s earlier albums, Country Medicine (2004) and Woodland Tea (2000).
The Firebirds have changed over the years, but the current line-up of musicians includes multi-instrumentalist Dave Bauer (guitar), Charlie Hase (pedal steel), Peter Loughlin (bass) and Tim Williams (drums).
Toting his Gibson Hummingbird, “pre-cracked and repaired from the Montana shop”, McCann will be making a rare, solo appearance at Legacy.
For tickets, visit legacyguitarhouse.com. To learn more about Dave McCann and the Firehearts, visit davemccann.com.
