“Nobody’s ever heard of him but he’s one of the best songwriters in the world,” says Steve Earle in a popular YouTube video circa 1991 of him covering a David Olney song. Longtime touring and recording artist David Olney has become well-known for his songwriting and live performances – especially those accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Sergio Webb — packed with such intensity it leaves listeners with an experience to remember and has other prominent artists from all genres jockeying to perform his songs.
Townes Van Zandt is often quoted as placing Mr. Olney on his list of top three music writers, alongside of Mozart and Lightnin’ Hopkins.
Having cut and continuing to perform many of Mr. Olney’s songs, Emmylou Harris says, “David Olney tells marvellous stories, with characters who cling to the hope of enduring love, all the while crossing the deep divide into that long dark night of the soul.”
David Olney is one of the early pioneers of what has become known as Americana Music. With comparisons to Tom Waits, Johnny Cash and Randy Newman, he has released more than 20 albums over four decades, including six live recordings. His intelligent compositions have been recorded by Emmylou Harris (“Deeper Well”; “Jerusalem Tomorrow”; “1917”), Linda Ronstadt (“Women Across The River”), Del McCoury (“Queen Anne’s Lace”), Kane/Welch/Kaplin (“Postcard From Mexico”; “Don’t Try To Fight It”), Tim O’Brien (“In The Garden”), Slaid Cleaves (“Millionaire”), Ann Rabson (“The Blues Don’t Care”) and many others.
Mr. Olney and accomplice Sergio Webb are at their very best on stage in front of a live audience. The Herald in Scotland wrote Olney & Webb give, “A performance that borders at times on the orchestral…a show PACKED WITH INCIDENT, AMUSEMENT, CONTRAST and fine, fine songsmithery.”
The duo creates a live experience that is beyond description and at the same time tremendously memorable.
Two men on stage, one looking like a 1950s private eye and the other like he just stepped off a spaghetti western movie set. One a master story teller and the other an ace guitar picker.
Their highly theatrical performances have taken them to stages across America and around the world. “My idea of a good time is getting in front of an audience and giving them more than they expected,” says Mr. Olney.
Mr. Olney is currently touring in support of his new Body Of Evidence 3-CD thematic mini-album box set (Deadbeet Records). In addition to always being on tour in the US or overseas, David broadcasts every Tuesday on his website via YouTube with his “You Never Know” video shorts where he plays a song and talks about the process behind it.
Several of the Australian tour dates include special guests and good friends Bill Jackson with award-winning Pete Fidler and Ruth Hazleton opening for Olney & Webb.
Albury-born, Gippsland-reared singer/songwriter Bill Jackson earned the “Radio Presenters Album of the Year” (2008) award from Folk Alliance Australia with his music, which hints at Country/Folk-fringe roots with spare arrangements, darkly-drawn images and lyrics that cast deep impressions.
Mr. Jackson has recently completed three U.S. tours and continues to perform at festivals and other venues in support of his current “Jerilderie” album on Laughing Outlaw Records.
David Olney 2013 Australian Tour
March 21, 2013
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick Music Festival
April 6, 2013
Oakleigh, Victoria
Caravan Music Club
