Review:

(musician)

David Brown

by John Frame for QP Magazine’s “SoundOUT” column (16^nd August 2002 edition).

David Brown www.davidbrownmusic.com David Brown lives with his partner Mike in Manhattan, New York. He’s been a resident for 8 years and says the city is inspiring by nature and that moving there brought his music to realization. He joined a local LGBT Musicians performance collective called OutMusic and has released two superb independent CD’s “Splendid Wings” (1996) and “Storm In A Teacup” (1999). David gets excited about his new work, but always loves performing his older songs that are explicitly out about his identity as a gay man. A particularly joyful number “Lisa” celebrates his friendships with gay-positive women who somehow chose to date homophobic men. So there’s a level of sarcasm and lots of real life to his work. He is a politically aware and pro-feminist activist, saying he is particularly annoyed by the entrenched cultural attitudes that perpetuate both homophobia and the abuse of women. When you visit David’s site you’re offered a free mp3 of “Embraced by The Mob (The Holy Mob)” which is his anthem rallying against religious bigots: “Christ, it’s so hard to love your enemies when they all act like such thugs”. David’s not referring to S11 here, but on that day David and Mike both witnessed the buildings collapse: “The sight of it, the shock of all of us in the streets was a moment I doubt I will ever forget. Today I feel very very sad and quite powerless and quite angry. From a birds eye historical perspective I feel this: U.S. foreign policy (not to mention our domestic policies/"pogroms") have been so hideous, something like this was coming for a long time. But up close, like you and the rest of the world, such an act is, in the end, despicable and fruitless.” Over the last 2 years I have found David Brown’s extraordinary depth of subject matter a real asset for presenting Queer Radio. “Every Kiss Is A Revolution” and “Privilege” were ideal songs to accompany last year’s “Kiss Off” rally for public affection at Southbank Parklands. He writes that we’re taught from a young age that there’s danger in even the slightest gesture of same sex affection, and yet most heterosexuals are oblivious to fairly explicit hetero affection and they undervalue its social significance.  David sings of joy in being the donor dad for his lesbian flatmates (Cathie & Claire), of embracing even fleeting moments of love and pleasure (Mr Right), of teen angst (Teen Freak) and of emerging sexual and emotional awareness (To Love And Be Loved). His lyrics are intriguing and very detailed. David’s clear and naturally high voice is layered in beautiful harmonies and his arrangements, especially on “Storm In A Teacup”, will keep your head busy and your heart flying. David Brown is a particularly valuable out gay musician.