It's been a while since I've written a song for worship at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church.  It's something I've always loved doing, but as other work, family, and musical pursuits have become important to me, I've stopped my regular songwriting practice.  With nearly everything put on hold by social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, I've chosen to start again.  

This song was inspired by the liturgy of the 3-29-2020 GIPC virtual church service, Matthew 4:1-11. I wrote the lyrics to incorporate the Word and my own feelings of isolation at this time.  I recorded the basic tracks, and created the sheet music in Finale.  I sent them to GIPC pianist/organist Douglas Scott, who wrote the flute part.  He and his wife, flutist Carole Scott, recorded the piano and flute parts in their living room, and sent the parts to be incorporated into the project.  

I hope this song brings you peace in this uncertain time.  

NOTE: This song will premiere during the virtual worship service at GIPC's Facebook page at 10:30am on Sunday, March 29.  The above video will go live at 11:30am on the same day. 

“Be With Me”

I do not live on bread alone
but on the words from your lips
Two score days and nights 
in the wilderness I listen for you in my isolation 

I pray to feel your peace
Hoping in my stillness
You’ll come to me

Be with me, oh God
Be with me, oh my Lord
When I turn off all the noise     
I feel so ill at ease 
The din has become 
A part of me
You sent the enemy away,  
So I shall find my peace
Holding on to You 
With my belief
Be with me, oh God
Be with me, oh my Lord
I’m lost  because I feel closest to You  
When I’m among a crowd
I pray to feel your presence with me now

Be with me, oh God
Be with me, oh my Lord

Among my best received compositions is a sweet song about Mary, holding her newborn baby close to her and softly singing words of comfort.  Inspired by quiet moments with my own newborn children, the song continues to be a favorite among fans.  In fact, after performing it at St. James last month, the choral director there and at GIPC asked for an arrangement for their choirs to perform.  I removed the original orchestrated flute and cello parts, and expanded the choir's role.  I performed the song with the GIPC Chorus on December 8, and the St. James choir performed it with another soloist on December 15.  The arrangement is available for purchase - just contact Dave.  Here's the performance from GIPC. 

It was a beautiful night in a beautiful room with some beautiful people!  After an invitation from my good friend (and fellow hair club for men reject) James Johnson, I was honored to be a part of the St. James Episcopal Church 2019-20 Music Series.  

I played a series of songs I've written for the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Band, as well as songs for my wife (Victimless Crime) and kids (The Sound of Me Ignoring You), and one about the drudge of driving in our great state (Michigan Winter).  I used my guitar, a looper pedal, a harmonica, and the lovely new piano at St. James to accompany myself.  The audience was receptive and really listened to my lyrics and melodies with open hearts.  I'm grateful I was able to present this set of songs written over many years as a cohesive bunch.  I hope to have the opportunity to do it again soon!

The Music of Dave Martin "Thanksgiving and Reflection"
11-2-2019, St. James Episcopal Church, Grosse Ile, MI 

I: Sarah, In Her Wake, Inside The Music, The Connection, Sometimes/Surrender, Victimless Crime, Let It Be, The Sound of Me Ignoring You, Eclipse, So Far Away, Arise and Awake

​II: Michigan Winter, The Task, The Stones (Will Fall), Release, Father's Day, 20 Beautiful Children, A Fool Who Believes, I Call Your Name. 

November 2 will be a rare chance to catch a solo acoustic show featuring Dave's original songs and selected covers in a beautiful and intimate setting: the chapel at Grosse Ile's St. James church.  Selections will include original worship music he’s written for the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Band, as well as other songs about love, loss, belief, connection, joy, and redemption.  The show is 7-8:30pm, and is part of St. James fall concert series. 

See the Facebook event for more information 

What's Dave been up to lately?  LOTS!  My primary focus has been playing in Raising The Dead - a tribute to the Grateful Dead.  For 2 years, we've been climbing the ladder of Detroit Jam Bands and making fans from St. Clair Shores to Gibraltar.  In one weekend early August, we played 4 sets over 2 days at a Hippies at the Village in Lake Orion, and then we played Comerica Park for the Detroit Tiger's Grateful Dead night!  You can see the entire show below. We'll be playing this fall at Otus Supply in Ferndale, The Watermark in St. Clair Shores, and more places to be announced soon.  We are ending the summer by playing the Taylor Botanical Garden and Conservatory on August 28, and the Watermark on August 30.  

The Classics have also had a fun summer playing the classic #1 hits of the 50s and 60s.  You can see a song from our last show in Auburn Hills below also.  

Dave has stepped back from doing solo acoustic shows for the time being, but all it takes is the right opportunity, and I'm back!  In the mean time, give Raising The Dead a Like on Facebook and come out to a show - it's a beautiful time!

Flock of Words is a beautiful song by Phish frontman Trey Anastasio, from his debut solo album.  I've loved this song for years, especially the beautiful vocal harmonies and haunting lyric.  When the theme of worship at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church was announced as "The Power of Words," I knew the time to perform this had come.  Doug Scott and I charted the song, and I rehearsed the harmony with my daughter Mia.  We performed it on September 15, 2018, and here's the resulting video.  The audio is from a camcorder and thus not super high quality, but the performance still shines through.  Check out the original song on YouTube.  

I am a long-time phan of the Vermont-based jam rock band, Phish.  Every Halloween, Phish has a tradition of surprising fans with a "musical costume" for the second of 3 sets of music.  Previous costumes included The Beatle's White Album, The Who's Quadrophenia, Talking Heads' Remain in Light, and even 2 debuts of all-new original Phish material.  This year, they announced they were covering an unknown album called "i Rokk" by the early 80's Swedish prog-rock band Kasvot Vaxt.  Dressed in all-white, on an all-white stage, wielding all-white instruments, they played 10 songs that nobody had ever heard before - because they made it up, faked articles on the internet included.  

Hearing the show, I wondered what the originals might sound like, and decided to take it a step further.  Using the song "Death Don't Hurt Very Long," I recorded the song as I imagined an early 80s European band might have done it. The goal was to create the album Phish was re-creating.  The song features only vocals from me, a little guitar work, and drums and synths from my red Yamaha SHS-10 keytar.  The result went viral among the Phish community on Twitter and Facebook, and racked up over 4,000 views in 48 hours.  I was super excited to share it among other phans, and the greatest thing would be to give a smile to the members of the band who have given me so much enjoyment over the last 25 years.  

UPDATE: Relix Magazine has picked up on the joke, and published this article about my cover and one other. 

 You can hear part of the original as well as my cover here.  

Download a free MP3 of my cover of "Death Don't Hurt Very Long" Here.  

Here's a couple of videos from our July 28 performance at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion to whet your appetite for Raising The Dead's upcoming performance at the Cadieux Cafe.  Hope you can make it out!  More at RaisingTheDeadBand.com

Raising The Dead, a tribute to the Grateful Dead will perform 2 sets along with Hoist: A Tribute to Phish at the legendary Wyandotte bar The Rockery on May 11.  This will be the final gig at the Downriver dive bar, as it has been sold and will cease operations May 12.  Join us for one last show at The Rockery.