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Reviews
Maverick Magazine Review
July 2010
http://www.maverick-country.com/
Stompin’ Dave
ONE FOOT ACROSS THE POND
Self released OFATP001
***** (5 stars out of 5)
Awe-inspiring album from one of the world’s great performers
I simply do not know how he does it, but Stompin’ Dave has the remarkable
ability of being able to play the guitar, banjo or fiddle whilst tap dancing and
singing at the same time. This nineteen-track collection is outrageously
brilliant and doesn’t it let its guard down at any time.
Astonishingly all instruments are played by Stompin’ Dave; the dancing and
fiddling is just too good to be believed. Every note is hit in tune and
percussive shuffles made to time which demonstrates what an excellent act he is
to see live. His multi-skills are highly evident on songs like Double File.
The concluding tune, My Own Home Waltz is an incredible way to end this
album. It possesses some expert fiddling and is a tune which I hope to see
performed live in the not too distant future.
This is an album that I have listened to time after time and is something I
suspect many others will do as well. With appearances coming up at the Maverick
Festival in July, Glastonbury and the Southsea Folk & Roots Festival in August
along with performing at the National Banjo & Guitar Championships at the Walnut
Valley Festival in Kansas in to several UK gigs every month, I cannot recommend
Stompin’ Dave too highly. RH
www.stompindave.com
Blues Matters! Review Spring
2010
issue 53
http://www.bluesmatters.com
STOMPIN' DAVE ALLEN
Fake American Accent
From 1999 until 2006 Dave was known as
Doctor Stomp, but he then adopted his present soubriquet. “Fake American Accent”
gives a wonderful idea of one area of the man's talents. It contains 27 tracks,
all solo efforts recorded with no overdubs. The material includes plenty of
bluegrass, old-timey sounds, hoedowns, deep folk tunes, old minstrel numbers and
of course Blues, played on fiddle, banjo or guitar. The set is split fairly
evenly between instrumentals and vocal tracks, and even though Dave may be using
a fake American accent, his high, slightly nasal singing does sound very
authentic. Stompin'? “Tap dancing” as the sleeve calls it, though that does not
convey the sometimes quite crazy 'foot breaks' that can be heard. Dave is an
energetic performer and this CD successfully captures that plus his skill and
his sense of fun.
STOMPIN' DAVE'S ELECTRIC BAND
Live At The R.P.A.
Dave started his
electric band in 2007, and here he plays rack harp and electric guitar backed by
drums and bass “in front of a very small audience at the Royal Portland Arms,
Dorset” in 2009. Hearing the weak sounding harp on the opener I wondered if Dave
would let me down. No! It may be a warts-and-all CD but it is a delight to hear
him working his way into the set, gaining in confidence as it progresses. Dave
is less individual in electric mode but there are still numbers among the
Chicago styled outings that don't really sound like anyone else – and he can
range from T-Bone Walker to Hendrix, even within the same song. A little
rockabilly and boogie really do enhance a CD that will please Dave's existing
fans and hopefully bring him some new ones.
Norman Darwen
Maverick Magazine. Review of Fake
American Accent, Oct/ Nov 09
Rating 5 (out of 5)
Outrageous banjo picking and sublime
fiddling by an artist who has the talent
of being able to play these
difficult-enough instruments whilst tap
dancing and singing at the same time.
Based in Dorset and responsible for
what can only be described as a
remarkable talent of being able to tap
dance whilst playing either the banjo or
fiddle as well as singing as though he’s
come straight from 1930’s Louisiana,
Stompin’ Dave Allen is one guy whose
skill is best demonstrated, if not seen
at one of his many gigs, in this
twenty-seven release which is actually
his third album.
Some downright classic tracks are
attempted on this album and by all means
he doesn’t diminish his credentials as a
top-class performer with his own
renditions of them. The Wabash
Cannonball is certainly a perfect
example of this. Attempted here on banjo
with his dancing more than evident, I
can vouch for his dancing talents as
having personally seen him live
countless times which is quite a sight
to see. This particular version has a
most genuine and authentic sound which
I’m sure The Carter Family wouldn’t
object to listening all the way through
with the concluding few seconds most
awesome. Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down
has been interpreted in countless
versions, with some done to more success
than others, but here Stompin’ Dave can
count himself in the former due to his
version being recorded in such a
euphoric style that it makes you want to
see this artist live. A track I haven’t
heard for some time appears on this
album, and boy how it was a complete
surprise and delight to hear. The track
being Charlie Monroe’s It’s Only A
Phonograph and played on acoustic
guitar, Stompin’ Dave’s version is one
which tries to keep true to the original
version and hits the spot in many ways.
Maybe it’s the style of the picking or
the tone of his own vocals is neither
here or there, but when tracks by the
greats are recorded with such love and,
most importantly, talent to pull it off
than artists like Charlie Monroe can be
continually celebrated for years to
come.
Never have I seen or heard an artist
quite like Stompin’ Dave Allen. How the
heck he had the idea to start playing
bluegrass music whilst tap dancing is
beyond me but does that matter when his
music is as good as this? Russell
Hill
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The Bridport News & The Dorset
Echo August 2009
Blues Matters! Review of Stompin'
Dave On DVD, June/ July 09:
This is a down home type production
from a down home type of guy, and as a showcase for a huge talent, it succeeds
dramatically. In recent years, acts like Son Of Dave and Seasick Steve have
shown us that a one-man Blues act, where all your physical extremities are put
to dazzling rhythmic use, can be just as exciting as a band. Stomp boxes and
sampling machines have opened up so many possibilities, but Dave Allen is ahead
of the game for various reasons. One is his sheer versatility. He’s a terrific
banjo player, a remarkable fiddle player and plays a mean national steel guitar.
But that’s just the beginning. The DVD opens with a series of still photos,
wherein we see the steel soles and heels of Dave’s shoes. So, when he plays, he
doesn’t just keep rhythm like Seasick Steve - this man tap dances so brilliantly
on his ‘dancing board’ (well, that’s what I call it) that you don’t know where
to look - his feet, face or fingers?! The man’s a musical, rhythmical
revelation. You get seventeen tracks on this DVD, five of which Dave composed
himself, plus some reliable traditional pieces, such as ‘Wabash Cannonball’ and
‘Bonapartes Retreat’. His style is mesmerising and infectious and he ought to be
booked at every festival going.
Roy Bainton
Nov 08
STOMPIN’ DAVE ALLEN + SUPPORT, Exmouth Folk Club, Manor Hotel, Exmouth.
By Ian McKenzie
It is far too common to go to a concert type gig, where the audience are
expecting to listen and do, to find that the main act gives a foreshortened
performance of little more than 45 minutes or so. Well not so here.
The evening commenced with a set by a local, blues, country, roots
music band, Trailer Trash. These guys did close to an hour and did a good job
warming up an audience consisting, in the main, of ‘old greys’ Not the easiest
to satisfy.
Then after a short break for the mandatory raffle, came Stompin’ Dave. Recently
returned from the National Bluegrass Banjo Competition 2008, held in Winfield,
Kansas, Dave opened his set with some wonderful examples of his bluegrass banjo
stuff, giving the audience a selection of immaculately picked numbers, but you
could hear the audience take a deep breath of amazement when Dave started his
dancing.
For those of you who may not have seen him, Dave sets up with a sturdy
4 inch high wooden box placed on the floor. About 3 feet square, Dave stands on
the box which then serves as an amplifying sound-source for his quite amazing,
rhythmic tap, flat-foot and clog dancing. The energy he expends is phenomenal;
leaping in the air, twisting around and providing a multi-faceted rhythmic
backing to his, all the time exemplary picking and excellent singing. The
audience loved it, coming as near to a standing ovation as old grey’s ever do.
But, of course, Dave was not finished. Some numbers with excellent
country fiddle playing (and dancing too) followed as Dave pulled the audience
with him, into his high-energy ‘pickin, dancin’ & grinnin’ world. Then came
some excellent guitar playing including some fast slide stuff, performed with
accuracy and panache. It was back to the banjo for a couple of numbers, after
which he slyly told us that, in the Kansas banjo comp he did not even get into
the finals. (Cue serous boos from the audience.) But Dave’s take on that is
that, as there were five placed-winners, he could have come sixth. Nice spin,
eh!
Then to my surprise, Dave pulled an up-right piano into to the
performing area and delighted me and the audience with some well executed piano
blues and boogie including a super version of Big Bill’s '(It Was) Just A Dream’
The set ended with a return to some (flat-picked) guitar and banjo
pieces, including, of course the tapping and clogging, all of which had the
audience calling for more. By this time Dave was soaked in sweat having done
close to 90 minutes but agreed to do just one number, a stunning banjo based
closer, that finished off the evening with a bang. It included behind the head
playing!
If you have not seen Stompin’ Dave, let me urge you to do so. His is a
prodigious talent that seems to know no bounds in his chosen field. His
presentation is a delight and his stage presence electrifying. Goforit!!!
Blues In The South. Review
Of Fake American Accent, April 08:
Dave Allen’s spectacular talent leaves us
less talented people open mouthed in amazement. These two CDs show the
multifaceted aspects of his work in all their glory. Fake American
Accent is Dave in his (solo) bluegrass/ American roots music mode, with
examples of his guitar, banjo and fiddle playing which, while they may
sometimes come with a vocal in that bogus accent, (he hails from
Bridport) loose absolutely nothing for that. Most of the music here is
19th and occasional 20th Century or older, stuff. The playing is
exemplary and of course often comes with Dave’s skilled tap / flat-foot
dancing/ clogging as part of the package. Once there was a show
involving a ventriloquist on the radio (bet you can’t see my lips move!)
and you might think that dancing on a CD is in the same category. But
trust me, this really works adding a rhythmic dimension that is nothing
short of magical.
Bluegrass & More. Review of
performance at The Cornish
Bluegrass Festival, Apr 08:
Stompin’ Dave Allen proved quite a hit at last year’s Cornish Bluegrass
Festival - and whilst not exactly a ‘traditional’ bluegrass artiste
Stompin’ Dave certainly is a uniquely entertaining performer, enjoyed by
many….as his gig list for the summer certainly indicates, Dave
incorporates his voice, banjo, fiddle, guitar, slide guitar, harmonica,
percussion & tap dancing into American roots music: old-time, bluegrass,
blues, country blues, folk, vintage country & hillbilly - plus
traditional songs & tunes, originals & covers. Do check out
www.stompindave.com and consider buying Dave’s brand new CD.
Blues In Britain. Review of Like A Lotus
Flower Growing In Muddy Waters, July 08:
Not to be confused with
either an Irish comedian or a Californian surf guitarist, this Dave
Allen hails from Bridport in Dorset and purveys Blues and other American
roots musics, in both acoustic and electric formats. He does it well
too; both of the sets under review are blues recordings, missing out on
the bluegrass and other material that Dave performs maybe, but I doubt
too many readers will mourn their absence – especially since this CDs is
very fine indeed.
The acoustic set, dating
from November 2006, features Stompin’ Dave on guitars, harmonica,
percussion and tap-dancing (that’s right!), in addition to vocals – with
no overdubs. Stylistically the tracks span a range from delicately
finger-picked, nicely melodic material (all numbers are Allen
originals) and items with the tap-dancing (or stomping, if you prefer) a
significant and valid contribution through to raw, Mississippi styled
one man band efforts in a Joe Hill Louis or Doctor Ross vein, or
slightly more gently, perhaps recalling Jesse Fuller. Judging from
the tap dancing, I would guess that Dave's gigs are visual spectaculars
too. Well worth investigating. Rating: 8 - Norman
Darwen
Suited and Booted. Review of Westwood
Bound, December 06:
Anyone who has been out and about listening to live music in South Somerset and
West Dorset over the last few years is likely at some time to have heard Dave
Allen play.
In previous incarnations he was known as Dr Stomp and played alongside Professor
Oz. Well now Dr Stomp and Professor Oz are no more. So ladies and gentlemen
please allow me to present Stompin’ Dave Allen!
Stompin’ Dave continues to belt out his mix of one man folk, blues and roots
music. He is truly a one man band; this is not meant pejoratively, this man can
really play!
Dave manages to play banjo, stomp on a wooden board (to provide percussion
accompaniment ) and sing all at the same time. He also manages to play guitar,
fiddle and harmonica although not always at the same time!
If you have not seen him play live then do check out one of his performances,
dynamic hardly begins to describe the energy this man brings to the creation of
music. He is quite simply a bluesy, rootsy folky dynamo of musical creativity!
Dave has released a new CD of both traditional and self penned tunes (along with
one by Henry C. Work). The CD is titled Westwood Bound and has twenty eight
tracks with, as he puts it in the sleeve note, “no overdubs!” There is a great
mix of both traditional tunes and new works the longest of which (My
Grandfathers Clock) is still only just over four minutes in length. You won’t
get bored with this disc. If you like blues and roots this disc is a treat it
will have you smiling and toe tappin’ in no time!
For more details about Dave or his latest CD check out the web site
www.stompindave.com
or see and hear him at The Beach & Barnicott in Bridport on 6th
December at 9pm
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