“For in this darkness, love can show the way”

Singer/songwriter David Wilcox (not to be confused with the Canadian rocker) has been a longtime favorite of mine. I first came across his music in 1991, and was captured by his CD titled Home Again, which had the subtext title of “for the first time.” In 2007, I came to really appreciate the meaning of being “home again for the first time.” It’s really a beautiful feeling, and something that I plan to expand on, a post or two from now.

I was thinking of David’s music, as I pulled out David’s song “Top of the Roller Coaster” for a friend that is celebrating her 30th birthday. Top of the Roller Coaster addresses the scary event of “saying goodbye to your 20s,” and the events that come after you get past that milestone.

David’s songs mix stories of life, love, faith, and the struggles that we face in daily living. In the live setting, David presents a unique live shows that weaves together seamlessly the stories of inspiration behind the music that blend into the songs that they inspired. And, as it happens for me, being here in Cleveland – Wilcox has a local connection, having been born in the Cleveland suburb of Mentor. It was in Mentor that I had an opportunity to see a homecoming performance from Wilcox about 10 years ago, and to date, it’s the only show that I’ve seen, but what a magical night it was. It is that magic that I imagine is captured in David’s new live DVD, Live at the Workplay Theater, which I haven’t seen yet, but the setlist looks great.

David also has a new CD out called Airstream, and this is where I’ve really been a bad fan, because I haven’t heard the new CD yet either, but I love the concept behind it. The album, as the title suggests, was entirely conceived, written, and recorded in David’s Airstream trailer while traveling. One of the things that inspires me in life, is the new and different ways that we continue to find to inspire each other as we try to figure out this thing called life.

David offers up a track by track guided tour of each song on Airstream that is really a fascinating and inspiring read.

Here’s an excerpt for your reading pleasure from the complete notes which are linked below:

Welcome to AIRSTREAM. Please keep hands and feet inside the vehicle until it has come to a complete stop. These are travel songs, but hopefully they’re not just postcards of what I’ve seen. Each of these songs has a particular vantage point, but together they outline an inside journey that shows not just what I’ve been looking at, but rather how our travels have changed the way I see. You might want to wait until you’ve made up your own mind about these songs before you read this, but if you’re curious, here’s how I think they fit together. In these days of random playback, I see a sequence to these songs, and this is how it goes:

Right On Time
Forever Now
Perfect Storm
Three Brothers
Plain View
The Reason
Reaper Sweepstakes
Falling For It – download the full track via songs:illinois
To Love
Little White Lie
This Old Car
Never Change
No Telling
The Crossings

After reading his notes, I can’t wait to hear it. Perhaps it will be the same for you – click here to check out David’s notes on Airstream. You can listen to each song on Airstream via that link as well.

ADDITIONAL HOMEWORK:

David Wilcox – Good Together (live)

A song that celebrates the “good.” I think you know that feeling, when you find that relationship with that special someone that’s just awesome! This song celebrates how great that can be.

David Wilcox – Start With The Ending

‘Nuff said!

David Wilcox – Show The Way (live in Portland, OR)

Three words that are so often inspiring for me personally.

David Wilcox – The Long Road (by Cliff Eberhardt)

I’m not familiar with this song, but came across it as I was putting together my video links, and I like it a lot.

Visit David’s official website right here.