Roots rock sideman Rawlings steps into spotlight

[Refugee 7]

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Singer/guitarist Dave Rawlings has spent the past decade establishing himself as one of the most prominent sidemen in roots music, working in the studio and on the road with the likes of Old Crow Medicine Show, Bright Eyes and his longtime partner Gillian Welch. But this month Rawlings makes a move toward center stage with the release of "A Friend of a Friend," the debut album by the Dave Rawlings Machine.

The set finds the musician leading an all-star ensemble that includes Welch, members of OCMS, Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench and Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes. The nine-track set hits stores November 17 on Welch and Rawlings' Ryko-distributed Acony Records.

Given the authority with which Rawlings sings and strums on "A Friend of a Friend," one might wonder if the desire to make an album with his name on the cover has been burning inside him while he toiled for others.

"In a word, no," Rawlings says with a laugh. "If it had, I suppose I would have done it a lot sooner. I just didn't think there was much of a point in putting out something unless it was of a particular level of quality. And maybe I didn't feel like I could achieve that until recently."

According to Welch, "Dave never really liked the sound of his voice as a lead singer until a couple of years ago, when it kind of got fatter and bigger. Now he's got this really great, reedy rock 'n' roll tenor."

The tunes on "A Friend of a Friend" -- seven originals plus versions of Ryan Adams' "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)" and "Method Acting" by Bright Eyes -- swing much harder than those on Welch's more austere recordings. "Not to make a joke on the title of the album, but these songs seemed a lot friendlier," Welch says. That different quality, she adds, required a different approach.

Despite Rawlings' extensive resume, Acony general manager Lori Condon acknowledges that the challenge in selling a record by the Dave Rawlings Machine is getting listeners to recognize the frontman's name. Condon says the label is using Welch's Web site and her e-mail list as a way to bring "A Friend of a Friend" to the attention of those who may not realize they're already fans of Rawlings' work.

During his upcoming tour (which kicks off November 28 in Athens, Georgia), Rawlings will make daytime in-store appearances at Nashville's Grimey's and Austin's Waterloo, among others.

"Talking someone into buying a record that they don't like" is tricky business, Rawlings says, speaking as both artist and label owner. "All you can do is put it out there and let the people who have a good chance of liking it know about it."

[SingsInFrench 262]

Cool! That sounds great!!

They will be in Minneapolis. Maybe I'll check it out.