Dave Anderson - Great Live Music

By Courtney Mixon  

         I don't know about you, but I love going to see bands and musicians play. Drinking cold beer and listening to great music is my idea of a fun night out. Most people in Huntsville don't realize the quality of local musicians who perform around town. Take Dave Anderson, who plays at several valley bars like The Corner, Crossroads, and Kaffeeklatsh; his acoustic/electric rock set is one you should not miss. Armed with a guitar and a loop, Dave Anderson plays both original songs and covers a variety of songs from bands and artists like U2, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Elliot Smith, and Counting Crows just to name a few.

I've seen Dave Anderson play several times, and each time I always hear great music. I most recently saw Anderson play about a week ago; while pausing between songs and tuning his guitar, a woman called out to him "Why aren't you famous, why don't you have a record contract!?" I wondered the same thing. Later that night, I sat down with him to ask him, among other things, if he did in fact have a CD or a record contract. 

Dave Anderson grew up in Huntsville listening to his dad play drums to Elvis records. Anderson's first concert experience was a "dream realized" when he was able to see Elvis, who performed in Huntsville at the VBCC (during his fat years). He soon taught himself to play drums, guitar, piano and keyboard. While at Grissom High School, Anderson knew he wanted to be a musician when the crowd went wild while he performing a Van Halen guitar solo at a pep rally. 

In the years following high school, Dave Anderson was a member of two notable bands - Brother Cane and Dragmatic. Anderson joined Brother Cane, a Birmingham-based quartet, and soon the band released their 1995 album Seeds, followed by 1998's Wishpool. The band's single "I Lie in the Bed I Make" received much attention and landed Brother Cane tours with Green Day and Foo Fighters. Dave Anderson also played with Dragmatic. Their singles "If" and "Coming Around Again" were featured on the Dawson's Creek soundtrack. Anderson describes both bands as being "faceless" because although their music received a lot of airtime, no one knew the name of who was performing. After releasing his solo project Children of the Mist, Anderson now helps develop younger artists such as Nick LaSalle and Lacey Atchison, as well as play in several area establishments.

If you go see Dave Anderson perform, you won't be disappointed. Although he loves to perform his original songs, he will play what the crowd wants to hear. Audience members shout requests and slip notes with songs they want to hear. My favorite is "Black Betty." You can see Dave Anderson perform Mondays and Fridays at The Corner Grill and Pub, Wednesdays at Crossroads, and Fridays at Kaffeeklatsh - sets start around 9:30 p.m. Ahh, cold beer and great live music - what could be better?