Dave Dersham

"Marine” -- a particular descriptor of Dave Dersham's work, according to anti-folk artist, and occasional improv-slam poet, James O’Brien (NYC). Murky, cautionary tales of submerging archipelagos, the unfolding eco-dystopia, Samoan pigskin heroes, work-whimsy of grunt afternoons among the Western Massachusetts lowlands, where Dave spent his formative years and has remained, despite generally poor ski-quality snowpack and ever-increasing flood plain humidity, bound by the Holyoke Range and her seven sisters. Dave completed “The Burn of Summer” (2003) in Somerville, MA, with the engineering assist of Jabe Beyer, Tim Kelly, and Tom Eaton. They, and a generous crew of remarkable talent, somehow got it all together, enabling the album to enjoy regular airtime on Folk Radio’s WUMB (UMASS/Boston) WERS (Emerson College), and a finalist selection for Mountain Stage's Emerging Artist competition. “Gilding the Lilies” came out in 2011, recorded and accompanied by Lloyd Thayer and Jared Fiske. The 10 tunes were colored with lap steel, electric guitar, percussion, and keyboard. The work was distributed internationally. Dave Dersham is a sly humorist, cultural critic, and melancholy optimist. A groover of uncanny rhythm, muted chords, and open-hearted tenderness.