Hi Friends,
Thanks for stopping by.
A few years ago I was fortunate to see Pat Conroy speak in Nashville. As a big fan I had seen him speak previously and had the chance to talk with him on occasion as well. I enjoy all his novels, with Prince of Tides being my favorite but it’s his non-fiction work that really resonates for me. Perhaps that is due to our shared of love of basketball and also growing Catholic but My Losing Season and On Reading are two keeper books for me. It was On Reading that I asked him to sign that evening after his talk. Given the long line, there was a limited window to chat but he asked me about my music and what I’d been reading. As before, I found him polite, gracious and particularly appreciative that I was fan of On Reading as I think most in line were waiting to get one his long list of best selling books autographed. With that in mind, he signed my copy, closed it, looked me straight in the eye and said thank you. I knew he meant it.
When I got back to my car I opened the book, expecting to just see his signature but instead he wrote, To Zobe, For the Love of Words, Pat Conroy. Now, maybe he signed many of his books that way but I like to think it was just mine with that particular salutation. Regardless, that simple little phrase instantly took me back to being a little boy racing to The Bookmobile in Cedar Rapids to stock up on as many books as I could carry, or being a teenager, dissecting every lyric of the countless albums I loved growing up, or now, as an adult, who anticipates a new Ken Burns documentary with the vigor of a hoops fan on Selection Sunday. Though most of my writing has been done via song, my love of words, be them written, spoken or sung has been a gift that has filled my days with a joy, that in a fitting piece of irony, words could never do proper justice.
For the Love of Words, yes indeed. Thank you Mr. Conroy.
DZ
“Dave Zobl writes the kind of songs so comfortable, so immediately accessible, you’ll swear you heard them before. What Zobl actually does is craft simple-sounding songs that remain with you—a man possessed of admirable songwriting chops while traveling well-worn paths, with an elegance impossible to shake, his approach is organic enough to appeal to the casual listener, but those who take the time to get to know the man and his music will discover timeless kernels of wisdom from a skilled craftsman. Like the hardware store up the road, Zobl is remarkably proficient and utterly reliable, a hidden gem in a big box world. My only gripe is he’s not from Texas as I’d sure enjoy covering him in our magazine.”
This Polaroid (ya gotta love a Polaroid) was taken in 1980 with my dad and two brothers in our childhoodhome of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If you look real close you can see I’m wearing a Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers t-shirt. I bought that t-shirt a few weeks earlier when I saw Jimmy for the first time, opening for The Eagles, in Kansas City. That was an epochal evening and over the past 40 years, be it on vinyl, cassette, compact disc and now back to vinyl, Buffett’s music has always provided a welcome respite along the way. That’s why I’m beyond honored to have co-written "Slow Lane", which is the 4th track on his new album, Life on the Flip Side, recorded in Key West and available anywhere you get your music.
Fittingly, Slow Lane was hatched on the autumn rural roads outside of Cedar Rapids when I was home spending time with my mom. It was the same autumn The Cubs won the World Series btw, just sayin.’ From there, it made it’s way back to Nashville where I connected with my dear friend and musical brother of soul, Will Kimbrough, and our mutual brother, Johnny Duke. We tweaked it a bit and from there, thanks to Will, it landed in the hands of Mr. Buffett. Jimmy proceeded to work his magic as only he can, becoming a co-writer in the process. The result is a song, that again, I’m beyond honored and grateful to be a part of. Thank you Will, Johnny and Jimmy!
It’s a long way from Cedar Rapids to Key West but it’s a beautiful ride, especially if you take The Slow Lane. “Half the fun is getting there” after all.
Thanks and I’ll see ya on the flip side.
Zobe
https://www.facebook.com/jimmybuffett/videos/2546828945546772/
“I’ve always felt good music was from the soul and soul music is a little bit of holding on and a whole lotta letting go. Just like life. Dave found that sweet spot on Simplify.”
Store
Simplify. - CD
$10
And So It Goes - CD
$10
CD Bundle - And So It Goes + Simplify.
$15
The Album
Colorado Girl
You can take the boy out of Colorado...started this in Denver and finished it with my good pals Josh Martin and Kyndon Oakes in Nashville.
Don't Miss Out On Love
Easy to forget the basics sometimes. Love the horns on this. Thank you Jim Hoke and Steve Hermann.
Isn't It Something
It sure is.
Hillsboro Hardware Store
Classic old school hardware store that I try to support whenever I need something. These stores are the soul of a community.
Someplace Warm Without a Memory
Love me some Shawshank Redemption. “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin'.” Thank you Andy Dufresne.
Simplify
Thank you Dick Proenneke.
Harps of Heaven
For my Mom and Dad. Wrote this with my pals Johnny Duke and Will Kimbrough.
PBR and Wings
Met this couple visiting from Chicago at the Turnip Truck in Nashville who were celebrating their 50th Anniversary. They were trying to decide what to do. He wanted to go somewhere fancy, she wanted PBR and wings and country music. They've been married for 50 years, which one do you think they chose?
Isabelle
Love Will and Spooner’s interplay on this one. One take.
Everything Changes
Everything does indeed change when somebody breaks your heart. It may not feel like it at the time, but often for the better in the long run. Wrote this with my mega-talented pals Blair Bodine and John Mason.
John Prine Sunday Morning
Never tire of Mr. Prine.
Cheers To You
Love never really ends.
Star
Wrote this one very starry night in San Diego. Recorded it in Will’s awesome garage studio. Just me and a guitar. Keeping it simple.
