Well-known for his pedal steel guitar playing, Hawaii-born, Louisiana-based Dave Easley is an equally fine singer-songwriter with a strong penchant for guitar-centric rock in the spirit of the Grateful Dead, especially some of Jerry Garcia’s guitar and vocal mannerisms. That comparison is particularly evident on Dave’s 2020 album Easley Rider as well as his 2011 album A Time Of The Signs. Released at the start of 2020, the 13-cut Easley Rider CD was tragically overlooked as the devastating pandemic of 2020 rocked the music world.

As far as adventurous pop-rock with an avant-garde lyrical twist, Easley Rider has it in spades and as such is a supreme listening experience. Dave’s best rock-pop solo album so far, the 13-track, 53-minute Easley Rider presents a treasure of captivating musical ideas. Dave’s electric and pedal steel guitar work is stellar throughout, while his song lyrics and vocals are also quite profound. Clearly, when it comes to taking on quasi-political ramifications of the new century, Dave is no shrinking violet. Songs such as “Momma Was A Jailbird” (with references to Joan of Arc, John Sinclair and Martin King) and the tragically funny “Billionaires” scrutinize the injustices of life in the 2020’s. Armed with his knack for writing catchy protest music mixed with social satire and Zappa-esque lyrics, Dave is right on the money exposing the complications of life in our modern world.

Featuring Dave’s words and music backed up by female harmony vocalist Kass Krebs, along with Alfred Uganda Roberts (frame drums, congas, auxiliary percussion), Doug Garrison (drums) and Rene Coman (bass), Easley Rider is the optimal showcase for Dave’s vocals, steel guitar, bass, frame drum and more. The album also features a cool instrumental called “Weed Eater Wars” that features Dave cutting loose on steel guitar, steel sitar and an instrument he calls ‘weed eaters’. For those that like their electric pop-rock a little left of center, Easley Rider is a solid introduction to the art and craft of pop-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire Dave Easley.

Compared with the rock sound on his 2020 Easley Rider album, Dave Easley’s 2021 LP release of Byways Of The Moon is another kettle of fish altogether. An all-instrumental vehicle for Dave’s pedal steel guitar, and produced by Chris Schlarb for his Big Ego Records label, Byways Of The Moon is essentially a jazz album with Dave’s pedal steel guitar backed up by a tight band including Cathlene Pineda (Wurlitzer electric piano), Chad Taylor (drums) and Dave Tranchina (double bass). Recorded on January 7, 2016, Byways Of The Moon was finally released on black vinyl record and digital download at the end of 2021. The 6-cut album clocks in at 43-minutes and takes the listener through a range of musical moods including jazz, rock, fusion and more. Covers of Miles Davis, Brian Wilson, Jimmy Page, John Coltrane and more, mix things up in an instrumental soundscape where Dave’s pedal steel guitar is king.

From the rocky, folky sound of Easley Rider and A Time Of The Signs to the all-instrumental pedal steel fusion of Byways Of The Moon, New Orleans-based Dave Easley covers a whole lotta musical ground with his unique and exciting approach to modern music.