David Dondero# Zero with a Bullet
Team Love Records
No one could say David Dondero doesn’t wear a heart on his sleeve, or bears a habit of pointing out what he sees all around him. The singer-songwriter has spent a career of nearly two decades writing and recording about his travels and the people he’s come across. He doesn’t bear the moniker of social commentator or is burdened by the responsibility of doing so – one of the gifts of not being terribly famous. He writes what he knows, paints pictures through words and melody with seemingly little effort, as though songs poured out of his mouth and fingers like a sudden conversation about the day.
# Zero With a Bullet finds Dondero singing songs about people and things you and I know and can relate to, of bosses, money troubles, strippers and good eating. Dondero’s voice is more beautiful, richer now with age. There’s ache in his timbre, sounding perfectly imperfect. He crafts songs with firm command of an energetic acoustic and electric guitar, playing with twinges of folk and country - from the Marshall Tucker Band flavored title track or the crash and boom of “Jesus from 12 to 6”. There’s a bit of tomfoolery on “Don’t Be Eyeballin’ My Po’Boy, Boy” where the guitar playing stumbles up and down and Dondero sings of the Crescent City. On “Job Boss” the music has a stuttered, manic construction – fitting given the story’s tale of a work crew taking the boss hostage. “All These Fishes Swimmin’ Through My Head” is a driving song with smooth vocals and a gospel church feel, a loud and triumphant finish to the album.
Dondero may well be one of many unsung heroes in our American catalog of singer-songwriters. Given his body of work, and especially this new album, it’s probable that the music’s timeless quality will lead to constant rediscovery.
*new album out August 3rd through Team Love Records or on Amazon, iTunes. Released in cd, mp3 and vinyl formats – vinyl comes with cd/mp3 code. Vinyl on Team Love’s site is $13 – a steal given you get a cd/mp3.
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