Getting to Know. . . DAVID OLNEY
 by Kathy S-B  ·  14 August 2007

David Olney is one cool dude. I've been enjoying his latest recording, "One Tough Town," since I first placed it in my CD player. Olney is a real veteran on the road and in the studio having been involved with the music business for four decades already. As is evidenced from this video Olney is captivating on stage. He raises the bar and puts a lot of young rockers to shame. His passion for his music is definitely intact and his touring schedule takes him all over the country. I, for one, will be waiting anxiously to catch him then next time he swings through town.

You’ve been described as a “musical outlaw.” Would you say that is an accurate description?

As far as being termed an “outlaw,” I don’t think that has much meaning anymore. Being labeled as anything is a pain. I don’t want to remind people of anyone else other than myself. I love to play for people who have never heard me before. There are no preconceived notions about what I am or what I’m supposed to sound like.

I love the quote in your biography that says that you are part-Baptist preacher, part caustic comedian, and part existential bluesman. It sounds like your shows are something to behold and witness. Do you find that audiences react to you differently in various parts of the country?

People react differently from gig to gig. It doesn’t seem to have much to do with geography. I think there is a moment during a show when folks go, “He’s not kidding about this stuff.” I try to do songs with as wide an emotional range as I can. To do a serious song, then a funny song, a rocker, then a ballad. Rather than portray life as happy or sad or exciting or meaningful, I just want to present the idea that life is interesting.

You’ve had a long and interesting career in the business — running the gamut from touring with Elvis Costello to playing small solo gigs. Do you have any vivid highlights you’d like to share?

The chance to go to Europe and play really jazzes me. To realize that these songs that I sing have taken me so far is humbling. In general, it’s not a specific gig that stands out. It’s the little moments. I was playing a song, “If My Eyes Were Blind,” when I noticed a guy near the stage who was obviously blind (as if there were another way to be blind). I was suddenly worried that I may have offended him. But he had the happiest expression on his face and I thought, This song must be okay if he likes it. All the while I’m trying to remember words and play the guitar. That kind of stuff really gets me. In a good way.

Your newest CD “One Tough Town” took a while for you to formulate and you refer to it as a “retrospective of one hundred years of American music.” What were some of the influences you chose to emulate on this disc?

On “One Tough Town” I tried to get the spirit of songs from other periods and other genres of American music. The Tin Pan Alley sound of “Sweet Potato”; Chicago Blues on “Whistle Blow”; Gospel on “See How The Mighty Have Fallen”; Rockabilly on “Sweet Poison.” I’ve been influenced by every song I ever listened to. Some more than others. But all in some way or another.

What’s your favorite part of the music business: writing, recording, or performing?

At this stage of what I laughingly refer to as my career, performing is the most satisfying. When Sergio and I started playing together it added so much energy to the show. There’s a kind of shamelessness, an unembarrassed use of showmanship that is fun in the extreme for me.

One of the most entertaining videos I’ve seen in a long time is the one of you, Sergio Webb and Freek de Jonge and a full band dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. How did that pairing come about? You have a great evil laugh, by the way. (Unfortunately, the video is not currently available online.)

I met Freek De Jong about five years ago. He’s a huge star in Holland. He’s a comedian, but in Holland that means more than just being funny and telling jokes. There’s a lot of irony involved in Freek’s performances. To me, it’s Chaplinesque. Anyhow, he incorporated a song of mine, “Jerusalem Tomorrow,” into his act. We met and tried different songs and it was decided to do some shows together. The Evil Twin video came about after a show in Amsterdam. Freek said, try these on, and the rest is history. I work on my evil laugh assiduously every day. And sometimes at night.