About
Dave Zelonka is a singer, songwriter, and guitar picker hailing from central Maryland. His sound is heavily influenced by bluegrass traditions, infused with the spirit of the punk rock he grew up on. Dave’s songs feature lyrics steeped in thoughtful storytelling and rich imagery, harmonies inspired by The Stanley Brothers, and intricate yet melodic guitar breaks. Having previously released albums with The Warren G. Hardings and Ampersand Stringband (winner of Charm City Bluegrass Festival’s 2016 Battle of the Bands), he is excited to share Something, a solo album of all-new original tunes, with the world.
After playing the drums in rock bands throughout high school and college, Dave’s musical journey hit a snag when he moved into a basement apartment that didn’t allow him to bring his kit. This led him to pick up an acoustic guitar and discover that bluegrass music mirrored the same fast tempos and propulsive rhythms as punk. He figured if he couldn’t use loud drums or amps anymore, he’d dive head first into learning an unamplified style that encapsulated the same raw energy he has always been drawn to.
When balancing the commitments of being in a band and becoming a new father proved too challenging, Dave began focusing on a solo album. He recorded “Gray Skies” and “Bar Called All Alone” with Andrew Janosek (banjo), Alex Orr (mandolin), and Andrew Fickley (bass and harmony vocals). But before the album was finished, the pandemic brought progress to a halt. During the months at home he wrote songs influenced by his lockdown experience, such as the aptly titled “Nothing to Look Forward To”. Then, as the world finally began to creep back to normalcy, the desire to “just get something out there” drove Dave back into the studio to finish the remaining tracks - this time playing the majority of the instruments himself. At its completion, Something represents work that spans life before, during, and after quarantine.
Something is streaming now on all major platforms. Sign up for the mailing list to find out about upcoming performances and future projects!