THE DAVID NELSON BAND

    7/25 / DAYTON, OHIO

When "psychedelia" was winding down,selected musicians of the day were mulling

over the possibility of introducing "country/rock"as their newest for mof expression.  This genre would serve as a foil to the more aggressive, social oriented lyrics of the day and amidst the backdrop of political dispersions from the Woodstock Generation.  From decadence to surreal, David Nelson, i.e., New Riders Of The Purple Sage, John Dawson, Spencer Dryden and Dave Tolbert would forever change the accpetable norm of AOR music. 

Buddy Cage, Bill Laymon & Skip Battin would also become integral members of this seminal band that would open for The Grateful Dead during the embryonic days of their first release, that would be inclusive of Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart & Phil Lesh.  Panama Red, Glendale Train, songs that conjured images of honky tonk bars and the elusive-back demeanor of Nashville and the country genre would elevate David Nelson & NRPS to instant success and recognition, both in airplay and touring with The Grateful Dead.

Legendary musicians with a legacy that varies from a prodigious life on the road, to the vitality that would become instrumental in the few years of their existence.  Sex, drugs & rock n' roll" were indeed a few key ingredients that would indicate the forboding demise of the band long ago.  Various members would go on to other bands and subsequent success, i.e., David & The Acoustic Garcia Band, Skip Battin would enter into The Flying Burrito Brothers and John Dawson would occasionally appear with a trio calling itself NRPS.  By this time all the

luster of 1970 had evolved into a more laconic, and journeyman musician band without the appeal that had spurned them into instant stardom as a hybrid of the

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 GDM stable.  All these years later, "Lifetime Achievement Award", and sporadic gigs at Sweetwater in Marin and BB King's in NYC

with Dawson, Nelson, Laymon & Cage are the only links to one of the most exciting, diverse and innovative bands to ever represent the musical genre.

Although this specific performance at The Canal Street Bar in Dayton was The David Nelson Band, the inclusion of Laymon & Nelson would culminate into selected tunes from the NRPS catalogue.  With the youthful energy that mirrored the band "back in the day", the succinct and distinctive vocals of David Nelson, the extraordinary skills of bass virtuose Bill Laymon and the multi-dimensional work of Barry Sless and Mookie Siegel & time keeping by Charlie........., this is the avatar of the NRPS, the songs of the heartland.  It's a sad commentary in terms of music appreciation when the abrasive tunes of today make millions while bands of this ilk linger in virtual obscurity.  "Time" has always been the barometer of choice in the determination of greatness and the music of NRPS & DNB seem to transcend from year to year, leaving little doubt that ignorance may run rampant within the radio play of 2003 but, this is and will always be, "A band for the ages".  They are what all great artitsts strive to be and.......they are my friends.  It's tragic that any band of this calibre is relegated to small venues instead of the international exposure  that is dictated by their collective skills.  There is noexplanation for poor taste & ignorance, so play on David, Billy, Barry, Mookie and Charlie.................as a audience, we are smaller but as long as you play, we will listen.

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As always

Peace

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Don Aters - Haight Street Music News