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David Wheeler

Each song presents unique, original musical ideas and goes in musical directions different than the others. At the same time, the music is melodic, the harmonies are rich and rhythms are strong and consistent and IT’S ALL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME!

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Hometown	San Jose, NM
Genres	Indie Rock
Band Members	I wrote all the music. I also perform all vocals and... » more
Achievements
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Artist / Band Member David Wheeler dtedfordwheeler@hotmail.com 575 421 2903
# Years Experience Performing Live:	30
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	6
Venue History:	CBGBs - New York, NY Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ Penn State - State College, PA College of Santa Fe - Santa Fe, NM Boston Common - Boston, MA Moonlight Lounge - Albuquerque, NM The Underground - Santa Fe, NM Louie's Corner Cafe - Santa Fe, NM The Court Tavern - New Brunswick, NJ
Similar Artists:	Dave Matthews; Green Day; John Mayer; Black Crowes; Michael Franti
Performing Rights Society:	ASCAP
Discography:	There's a Rhythm LP—2011

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About the Artist

Original Indie Rock as heard at CBGB's, The Boston Commons, the Paris Metro, the Roundhouse, Rutgers, Penn State, College of Santa Fe, KBAC, WPRB, WRSU, WVHP, and NM Comcast TV Channel 27, to name just a few. Founding member of the now defunct bands...

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June 2009 Judging Excellence

April 2009 Judging Excellence

March 2009 Judging Excellence

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Press Coverage

Featured Artist on musicnation.com by http://musicnation.com/
MUSIC NATION Newsletter, June 23rd, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MUSIC NATION...

Santa Fe Reporter Article by Santa Fe Reporter
THIS WEEK : CULTURE : MUSIC ________________________________________ Last Updated: November 28, 2007 - 12:04 PM Ruckus: Free Wheelin’ By Gabe Gomez Published: November 21, 2007 Email this article Printer friendly page Back in August, the end of summer meant one thing to David Wheeler: returning to his job as a music teacher at Gonzales Elementary School. The possibility of signing a development deal with Epic Records, garnering a gig at David Wheeler works out songs not for an album, but for the Internet. the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and engaging in a subsequent tour that would tear him away from his quiet life in San Jose, NM, weren’t exactly on his radar. Nevertheless, these improbable scenarios are quickly becoming reality. Wheeler’s journey as a singer-songwriter reflects an increasingly viable trend among indie musicians searching for notoriety. He uploaded songs onto the Internet and entered online music contests that promised recording contracts and other goodies to the winners. What Wheeler is doing is part of a larger phenomenon in modern music and the record label industry. Simply Google “music + contests” and the results are somewhere north of 16,000 entries. Online music competitions aren’t new, but what makes Wheeler’s story remarkable is that it exemplifies how the Internet has created new ways for musicians to self-promote their work and repave the road to rock stardom. After opening an account on MySpace in August, Wheeler uploaded some songs and began connecting with old friends and former bandmates. Eventually, he stumbled upon a Web site called MusicNation.com, which bills itself as an “online music community” where artists, critics and music fans interact. It also hosts music competitions that range from guitar-playing challenges to a category called “Spin Hot Pursuit,” a rock competition sponsored by Spin Magazine. The latter is the category Wheeler entered. Any musician can join the competition by opening an account, which is similar to those on MySpace or Facebook. According to the site, two bands advance weekly. One artist is chosen by listener votes (“Nation’s Choice”) and the other by a panel of judges (“Geek’s Choice”). Eventually the judges cut the herd from 16 to eight, then from eight to two and then declare a winner. Judges for “Spin Hot Pursuit” include former Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros’ frontman Perry Farrell, Spin Magazine editor Doug Brod and indie rock hero Tim Kasher of the band Cursive. “I wasn’t expecting this,” Wheeler says. “I was really only looking to maybe publish some songs.” Instead, Wheeler finds himself ranked No. 18 among the hundreds of other bands and musicians, many of whom have names like Stalking Connie, Friday Night Kills and Lugosi’s Morphine. According to Wheeler, the closer he gets to the Top 10, the more likely he will advance to the next level. “I stay away from formulas,” Wheeler says about his sound. “My situation is different from other bands in the contest. They gig regularly, tour nationally and music is their main source of income. I can’t do that while I have my job. As a solo act, I wouldn’t all of a sudden up and leave.” The multi-instrumentalist plays and records all of his instruments (guitar, drums, bass, keyboards) at home on a Fostex MR8 digital recorder. His song, “You Say,” which leans toward a Neil Young country rock delivery and could potentially get him a record deal, has home studio written all over it: The vocals are above the music, a definite hiss fills the track and the instrumentation doesn’t exactly blend. Still, the song resonates with listeners and is steadily climbing. “Stumbling upon this contest works out really well for me in this situation as it is,” Wheeler muses. “This is one way that I don’t have to quit my job and tour the country. You can do that and still not get recognized. The whole music industry is changing because of the Internet and MP3s, and nowadays it may be a much more realistic way of getting the recognition. Not the fan base certainly, but the recognition from the people that matter.” Typically, the road to fame is littered with romanticized clichés about paying dues, playing empty bars on Tuesday nights and endless couch surfing. Although Wheeler has played in bands throughout his life—most recently in a local rock band called Big Rock—being a professional musician has never been at the forefront of his life. He probably won’t act the part of a road-weary troubadour, but just knowing that a mild mannered and convivial person with a 9-to-5 job can go toe-to-toe with seasoned rock animals desperate for a record deal speaks volumes about the egalitarian nature of online music contests and what may be in store for the future of music. If it’s a matter of a live music experience, with all its sweat and imperfections, online music contests will probably never be able to adequately convey the hunger of an indie band playing for crickets on any day of the week. © Copyright 2000–2007 by the Santa Fe Reporter Save This Page to del.icio.us

Featured Artist on musicnation.com by http://musicnation.com/
MUSIC NATION Newsletter, June 23rd, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MUSIC NATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE WAY I AM" COMPETITION MOVES TO HEAD 2 HEAD VOTING We've moved on to the voting phase of our newest contest: "The Way I Am." This online battle pits your own version of the Ingrid Michaelson hit against those by other Nation citizens. But take note, Michaelson fans. You can still get in the game. It's not too late to submit your own take on "The Way I Am" and get it added to the head-2-head portion of the competition. One grand prize winner will take home a Gibson guitar autographed by Michaelson herself. ENTER "THE WAY I AM" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STIPE: VIDEO A THING OF THE PAST R.E.M. singer says that the Internet has ended the era of traditional music clips. LIZ PHAIR ENJOYS PROFANITY Erstwhile indie darling rips music industry execs, drops F bomb. A lot. DYLAN JOINS CHORUS Also takes music industry to task, but prefers words like “undignified” and “rubbish.” GENE SIMMONS, TOO Only the KISS bassist blames fans -- and Radiohead -- for the collapse of the music industry. MOTLEY CRUE BREAKS WITH MTV The sleaze rockers, out with a new album this week, are trying to end their deal with MTV Films to make a movie based on band bio “The Dirt.” TOBY KEITH BACK ON SILVER SCREEN T.K. will co-star with Willie Nelson and Ted Nugent in road-trip comedy “Beer For My Horses,” based on Keith’s duet with Nelson of the same name. EMINEM COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT Marshall Mathers, last heard from in 2004, is prepping a new album. KID ROCK SAYS IT’S OK TO STEAL! And not just illegal downloads. Gas, too! Probably even sandwiches. JUGGS THE DOG SAYS: First he steals my heart, now this. I still love you, Kid! (Text me.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MUSIC NATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPIN HOT PURSUIT HEATS UP! Our Spin Hot Pursuit contest just ticked up a notch. Head-2-Head voting is now underway. Only the top 500 vote-getters from round one made it to the head-2-head round, so if that's you, nice freaking work! Only 24 semifinalists will survive from that group to make it to our final round and our special judges panel of industry insiders. Get excited. And go vote today in our head-2-head player! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PICTURE OF THE WEEK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIL WAYNE HAS HUGE FIRST WEEK Such a great album cover deserves a big success. Wipe those tears, kid! You’re rich! Lil Wayne’s new LP Tha Carter III moved 1 million units right out of the gate. Read it and weep, Kanye. JUGGS THE DOG SAYS: You know, once, just once, it would be nice if "Lil Juggs" was Pic of the Week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURED ARTISTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAVID WHEELER One-man indie band Wheeler hails from New Mexico, and brings an evocative Southwestern feel to his material. HAVE A LISTEN. GREY REVELL This “Spin Hot Pursuit” semifinalist has great production instincts. Spooky and original. HAVE A LISTEN. DONNY SAWYER Super-solid country singer and writer is a contender for “The Next GAC Star.” HAVE A LISTEN. JUGGS THE DOG SAYS: I'm just a country song waiting to happen.

www.indiemusicreviews.net by
Right on the ground floor of the grassroots indie rock n’ roll movement is David Wheeler, a singer-songwriter who isn’t afraid to perform his music exactly the way he wants it. Driven by plenty of distorted guitars and Wheeler’s unmistakable vocal tone, each song delivers a delicious slice of toe-tapping indie rock, sans the pretentious attitude and faux experimental noise. Flying high on his 13-track debut, There’s a Rhythm, Wheeler remains on the cutting edge of underground music, penning rocking thumpers such as “You Say,” as well as more adventurous tunes like “Fundamental Truth,” which utilizes fiddle, piano, and funkified walking bass lines. True rock n’ roll fans be advised – this is the next “must have” for your iPod’s playlist.

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