Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. — BRANDON — Itinerant songsmith and author David Berkeley went out into the sagebrush and cactus of New Mexico and found his head was similarly ablaze. It is in this location that he writes songs capable of both breaking and mending the heart. Brandon Music will have a superlative evening of music when Berkeley performs on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Berkeley’s doleful baritone and vulnerable falsetto, called “lustrous and melancholy” by the New York Times showcase his profoundly elegiac lyrics. Berkeley cites Yeats and Melville among his greatest influences. For his unique way with words, the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed Berkeley a “musical poet.” David is an American literary songwriter, a poster child, and not simply because he graduated from Harvard.
A New Jersey native, Berkeley has lived in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Berkeley and Corsica. Santa Fe is now home where he lives with his wife and two sons. He has written a memoir, “140 Goats and a Guitar” and is working on a second book.
The Houston Chronicle sums up Berkeley’s style: “There’s an understated quality about Berkeley’s songwriting and music… he has a gift for metaphor and turning a phrase, but his songs tend to be fairly relatable. Musically they start as what you’d call folk – though not earnest, wide-eyed hippie folk. The songs Berkeley sings have a light lush and layered sound.”
Berkeley’s hit song “Fire Sign” originally appeared in the CBS-TV show “Without a Trace”. Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author, asked Berkeley to write a song based on his new novel. Berkeley is the recipient of the ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award. He maintains a near-constant touring schedule both in the states and abroad. He has opened for Adele, Mumford & Sons, Don Mclean, Billy Bragg and many more. Berkeley has performed on Mountain Stage, the World Café and numerous other venues.
Concert tickets are $15. Venue is BYOB. Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon.
For more info, visit www.brandon-music.net.
