David Vest
Rockin’ and Shoutin’ The Blues Since 1957
“Blues is like bread. You can find real bread if you look for it, but you have to know where to shop. I have a song that goes like this: "Give me real cream in my coffee, real butter on my bread, real music on my radio, and a real woman in my bed." I don't want any artificial coffee whitener, oleomargarine, machine-made music, or plastic fantastic lover, if you get my drift.”
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The above quote is courtesy of David Vest and stands as living proof that they don’t make them as real as David Vest anymore. The son of a sharecropper, the Huntsville Alabama born, Victoria B.C. resident is still going strong with no stop sign in sight some 50 plus years since he first stepped on stage with the likes of Roy Orbison and Big Joe Turner. Long revered as one of the great Boogie-Woogie piano players, the 72 year old Vest is much more than that. With deep roots in Blues based music that originated and flourished in the American South on the cusp of the 1950’s, Vest presents unpretentious down home juke joint jumping music that knows no boundaries.
Vest is a master of all the piano styles and can adeptly cover all the bases, be it Boogie-Woogie, Jump Blues, Blues, R&B, no holds barred Rock & Roll, Country, you name it.And he does it with the conviction of someone who’s been there as evidenced by the metaphorical skills, grit, and humour in his songwriting, singing, and playing.
Vest has 6 releases to his credit, with the last two Canadian releases, East Meets Vest and Roadhouse Revelation receiving universal acclaim. Along the way, voters / fans in his adopted home have recognized him with Maple Blues Awards for “Piano Player of The Year” (2012, 2014) in addition to a 2013 “Best CD” nomination for East Meets Vest. On both CD’s, David is backed by his working band, The Willing Victims: Gary Kendall (bass) and Mike Fitzpatrick (drums) of Downchild, and Teddy Leonard (guitar).
If genuine foot stompin,’ feel-good Rock & Roll and Blues is what you’re looking for get on down to Violet’s Venue and catch one of the masters – David Vest!
