Born in 1967, Surly Dave grew up listening to a diverse mix of classical, folk, pop, and rock music, especially The Beatles, The Who, Styx, Eagles, Rush, Toto, Journey, and Yes. A classically trained cellist and pianist in grammar school, Surly Dave once dreamed of joining Electric Light Orchestra.
Music has always been an outlet for Surly Dave's emotions, especially coping with the pain and anger of loss. Surly Dave wrote his first song on piano ("Remembering Amy") after his younger sister lost her long battle with cancer shortly before his eleventh birthday.
At nineteen, Surly Dave saw Eric Clapton for the first time in concert and his true love for the blues began as he tried to absorb as much Clapton, Cream, Buddy Guy, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as possible.
After a musical hiatus in high school, Surly Dave bought a beat-up acoustic guitar in his junior year of college and began to teach himself to play. He again was drawn to the emotional and socially active musicians of the late 80s and early 90s (U2, David & David, Living Colour, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, dada), along with Clapton, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, and a trio of young blues guitarists and songwriters (Ian Moore, Todd Park Mohr, and Doyle Bramhall II).
Surly Dave followed his career aspirations of working with animals (a killer whale research intern in Friday Harbor, WA) and becoming a high school science teacher (Biology and Zoology) but he never lost his love of music. Music regularly plays in his classroom, car, and home, and he and his family regularly attend concerts. He also began to write songs at home (usually after a tragic event) and gathered enough courage to perform at a few school events over the years. In the late summer of 2013, Surly Dave reconnected with one of his former students (Frankie M., who is a junior high science teacher) and they began playing on Monday nights that Fall. A symbiotic relationship quickly developed as Frankie would teach Surly Dave various techniques and theory and Surly Dave would share his diverse taste in music with Frankie. Soon, Surly Dave began sharing songs he had written previously and partial lyrics and melodies for new songs and quickly an album's worth of material grew. Recording began in early summer of 2014 and was finished the next summer. Our debut album ("UNBREAKABLE") was released in October 2015!
THE WALLABIES are an all-star group of performers, including two former students on lead guitar (Frankie and Jason), an incredibly talented neighbor (Fast Eddie S., also on lead guitar), and Surly Dave's own two teenagers: Aaron (16) on drums and Alyssa (freshly 14) on saxophone.
Music has always been an outlet for Surly Dave's emotions, especially coping with the pain and anger of loss. Surly Dave wrote his first song on piano ("Remembering Amy") after his younger sister lost her long battle with cancer shortly before his eleventh birthday.
At nineteen, Surly Dave saw Eric Clapton for the first time in concert and his true love for the blues began as he tried to absorb as much Clapton, Cream, Buddy Guy, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as possible.
After a musical hiatus in high school, Surly Dave bought a beat-up acoustic guitar in his junior year of college and began to teach himself to play. He again was drawn to the emotional and socially active musicians of the late 80s and early 90s (U2, David & David, Living Colour, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, dada), along with Clapton, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, and a trio of young blues guitarists and songwriters (Ian Moore, Todd Park Mohr, and Doyle Bramhall II).
Surly Dave followed his career aspirations of working with animals (a killer whale research intern in Friday Harbor, WA) and becoming a high school science teacher (Biology and Zoology) but he never lost his love of music. Music regularly plays in his classroom, car, and home, and he and his family regularly attend concerts. He also began to write songs at home (usually after a tragic event) and gathered enough courage to perform at a few school events over the years. In the late summer of 2013, Surly Dave reconnected with one of his former students (Frankie M., who is a junior high science teacher) and they began playing on Monday nights that Fall. A symbiotic relationship quickly developed as Frankie would teach Surly Dave various techniques and theory and Surly Dave would share his diverse taste in music with Frankie. Soon, Surly Dave began sharing songs he had written previously and partial lyrics and melodies for new songs and quickly an album's worth of material grew. Recording began in early summer of 2014 and was finished the next summer. Our debut album ("UNBREAKABLE") was released in October 2015!
THE WALLABIES are an all-star group of performers, including two former students on lead guitar (Frankie and Jason), an incredibly talented neighbor (Fast Eddie S., also on lead guitar), and Surly Dave's own two teenagers: Aaron (16) on drums and Alyssa (freshly 14) on saxophone.
As for the crazy name (Surly Dave & the Wallabies)? Here's the story...
Many years ago, Dave came home from school in a foul mood. His wonderful wife asked if he had eaten lunch (which he hadn't) and when he answered no, she told him to quit being so surly.
Dave responded, "I'll be surly if I want to be." She replied, "A surly wallaby?" and it became an inside joke for many years (Dave the Surly Wallaby). However, since wallabies are peaceful animals, he changed his name to Surly Dave (which makes more sense as he's the moody one) and the Wallabies (a peaceful group of all-star musicians).
Funny, right? Hope you enjoy our debut CD!!!
Many years ago, Dave came home from school in a foul mood. His wonderful wife asked if he had eaten lunch (which he hadn't) and when he answered no, she told him to quit being so surly.
Dave responded, "I'll be surly if I want to be." She replied, "A surly wallaby?" and it became an inside joke for many years (Dave the Surly Wallaby). However, since wallabies are peaceful animals, he changed his name to Surly Dave (which makes more sense as he's the moody one) and the Wallabies (a peaceful group of all-star musicians).
Funny, right? Hope you enjoy our debut CD!!!
Living Colour guitarist extraordinaire, Vernon Reid, with Surly Dave - Sept. 2014
Toto guitar virtuoso, Steve Lukather, with Surly Dave and Family - Aug. 2014
Surly Dave, his lovely wife, & Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket - Sept. 2015
The amazing Ian Moore with Surly Dave - June 2018
Record Producer/Sound Engineer EXTRAORDINAIRE Terry Brown (Rush, Cutting Crew, The Who, et. al) and Surly Dave, Toronto, June 2018 - WHOA!!!!!
Ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro, with Wallaby drummer (and fellow uke player) Aaron - Feb. 2016