shinyheadmusic.com - The Music of Dave Martin - THE MUSIC OF DAVE MARTIN

Sometimes/Surrender: A New Live Song

2/22/2016

Performed live at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church on Sunday, February 21, 2016, here's my latest composition. Featuring Derek Bolton, Jason Cassell, Mike Karoub, Godfrey Porter, and Doug Scott. Give it a listen and share it if you love it!

Sometimes/Surrender
By Dave Martin
Sometimes, late at night,
While my children rest their heads
And my wife sleeps in my bed,
I lie awake.
My mind it plays
A list of all my failures and regrets,
A catalog of all my shame.
Sometimes, sometimes.
In my past, too many chapters
Written before I knew
The pages weren't just mine.
Sometimes, sometimes.
I must keep reminding myself I'm a work in progress.
I can start over again and I know unless I
Surrender my past to the Lord,
Surrender my illusion of control,
Surrender all I wish I could have done,
Surrender and accept his loving arms.
But sometimes I hang on too tight
To what I was or what I think I might have been.
Sometimes I hang on way too tight,
Trying to be the man I thought I was supposed to be.
Not His plan for me.
Sometimes, sometimes.
I must keep reminding myself I'm a work in progress
I can start over again and I know unless I
Surrender my past to the Lord,
Surrender my illusion of control,
Surrender all I wish I could have done,
Surrender and accept his loving arms.
Sometimes I surrender.

The Last New Song of Summer - "No Favorite Child"

9/23/2015

On Sunday, September 20, the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Band performed my latest composition, a song titled "No Favorite Child." This song fit the sermon and liturgy of the day, and pastor Phillip Reed's request for a "poignant melody that sticks with you." Take a listen and see how we did!

No Favorite Child by Dave Martin

Show me a young boy, foreign in race
And I will show you your brother.
A woman who was not born near this place:
Look into the eyes of your mother.
Clearly, I tell you we are all the children who
Can seek and find and know Him too.

But there is no favorite child.
A place set for you and for me.
There is no favored tribe.
One circle of humanity.
There is no favorite child.
One circle of humanity.

Are we the lucky ones with plenty and peace
Or do our earthly ties bind us?
Do we see children of God everyplace
Or do all our close comforts blind us?
We may be favored and we may be blessed
But if we keep ours will we later be last?

There is no favorite child.
A place set for you and for me.
There is no favored tribe.
One circle of humanity.
There is no favorite child.
One circle of humanity.

"The Task" premieres at GIPC

4/25/2015

My latest song, "The Task" premiered with the GIPC Band in worship last Sunday. Featuring the always amazing musicianship of Doug Scott, Jason Cassell, Godfrey Porter, Michael Karoub, and Derek Bolton, the congregation got in on the act also. If you listen closely during the choruses, you can hear the entire church singing "This I pray, this I ask, set my hands and my heart to your task." Before playing, I taught the refrain, and the result was an amazing moment of live music in praise of God. I hope you enjoy it also.

"The Task:" A New Song Demo (with coffee)

4/10/2015

Working on a new song with my morning coffee... What do you think?

"The Task" by Dave Martin

Oh, my Father, oh my God
No matter how far from You I go
you know my heart

And my spirit longs for you
into your hands,
i place my faith
inside your truth

For thine is the glory
My voice will be Yours
My lips tell the story
My fingers play Your chords

This I pray
This I ask
Set my hands and my heart
To your task

Take my talents and help me work
Inspire the strength I require
to put you first
When I am weak,
and vision fails
Grant me the gift of sight
To gaze beyond my walls

Remind me that the task is love.

Michigan Winter (TC-Helicon Play Acoustic Looper Demo)

7/29/2014

I recently picked up a TC-Helicon Play Acoustic pedal, capable of processing my guitar and vocals, adding effects and harmonies generated real-time from my live performance.

I've recorded two videos using the pedal now, both featuring an original song and highlighting features of the pedal. This video, featuring my song "Michigan Winter," shows the looper function of the pedal, as I record vocal percussion and a rhythm track to accompany guitar solos.

I'm busily creating new sounds for dozens of songs, and I look forward to showing them off live. Check back to find out when!

Two more Simon & Garfunkel Classics

11/20/2013

On Sunday, November 17, the 8:14 Band played 6 songs by Paul Simon in the worship service at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church. With the theme "Jesus loves you more than you will know," songs were presented with the special addition of our new Line 6 "Dream Stage" sound system, including an MD20 digital mixer, two L2M monitors and 2 L2T mains.

Here are two more performances: Sound of Silence and Homeward.

Enjoy the performances. The GIPC 8:14 Band is:

Derek Bolton, Vocals
Jason Cassell, Drums
Mike Karoub, Cello
Dave Martin, Guitar and vocals
Godfrey Porter, Bass
Doug Scott, Piano

Simon and Garfunkel Songs from GIPC Service

11/18/2013

On Sunday, November 17, the 8:14 Band played 6 songs by Paul Simon in the worship service at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church. With the theme "Jesus loves you more than you will know," songs were presented with the special addition of our new Line 6 "Dream Stage" sound system, including an MD20 digital mixer, two L2M monitors and 2 L2T mains.

The song "Blessed" is one I'd never heard before learning it for this service. It's from "Bridge Over Troubled Water," but I'm re-creating the live performance from the "Old Friends" box set, where Paul Simon plays in DADGAD tuning. It's a cool "deep track" from the Simon and Garfunkel catalog.

Enjoy the performances. The GIPC 8:14 Band is:

Derek Bolton, Vocals
Jason Cassell, Drums
Mike Karoub, Cello
Dave Martin, Guitar and vocals
Godfrey Porter, Bass
Doug Scott, Piano

Vote for "20 Beautiful Children" in Guitar Center's American Songwriter Contest

9/3/2013

During the weeks of September 1-15, Guitar Center will be accepting votes for videos of original songs posted under the theme "tell us a story." 20 Beautiful Children is a reaction to the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, written on that very day. Please take a moment to vote for the video each day between now and then by clicking on the video to the left of this paragraph. Please share the contest entry by clicking on the icon that looks like a sideways "V" in the top right of the video window.

Of course, donations are still being accepted for Newtown charities. Thanks for your support!

Dave Sings With The Rhythm Kings

8/20/2013

Here's a couple of videos of me performing with The Rhythm Kings at Weber's Habitat Lounge. We had fun, the people danced, it was a little slice of heaven! And now, through the magic of the Internet, you can be there too. Enjoy!

GIPC 8:14 Band Performs Music of "Les Miserables"

4/22/2013

At The End Of The Day

I Dreamed A Dream

Castle On A Cloud

On My Own

Bring Him Home

Finale

On Sunday, April 21st, 2013, the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church 8:14 Band performed music from the musical and movie "Les Miserables." The Rev. Phil Reed used Victor Hugo's story to illustrate a man who is redeemed and the ripples that affect everyone around him. Here, the six songs we performed throughout the service are shown.

The 8:14 Band is:

Jason Cassell, Drums
Dave Martin, Guitar
Godfrey Porter, Bass
Doug Scott, Piano

The singing ensemble is listed with their solos:

Tracey Alford, "I Dreamed A Dream" and "Finale"
Derek Bolton, "Bring Him Home"
Michele Lepidi, "On My Own"
Dave Martin, "Finale"
Mia Martin, "Castle On A Cloud"
Lara Semetko, "Bring Him Home"

The 8:14 band will accompany worship again at GIPC on Sunday, May 19th.