News
Review: David Orrick. UK
July 23
Two years in its writing, recording and production, The Despair of Summer marks the debut album from Pittsburgh’s Danny Gochnour. Since 2006 the lead guitar player in the Houserockers, the band of Pittsburgh’s favourite son, Joe Grushecky, Danny wrote 10 of the album’s 11 tracks (the exception being a primarily instrumental cover of the Eagles’ I Can’t Tell You Why) and has created a body of work that is, by turns, introspective yet expressive, self deprecating yet proud and angry yet subtly apologetic.
An album of contrasts, then, but one far advanced from the ‘another guitar album’ tag that could so easily have been applied to the work of a respected guitar virtuoso. There’s more, much more.
The guitar work is magnetic and, by turns, it can bite like an enraged rattler or envelop the ears like a warm comforter. Where there is indeed ‘despair’ for lost love there is also both protest (The American Dream) and, on The B-Side of Me, with its throwback nod to Bob Dylan’s transformation from an acoustic to an electric performer back in 1966 with his Highway 61 Revisited album, an affirmation of better values too. What is inescapable is the depth of the album’s music collaborations, Joe Munro’s accordion and swirling keyboards, Mark Pollara’s incisive drums and the haunting violin of Bon Banerjee on The Sound Of Us Breaking.
Danny admits, shyly, that, prior to The Despair of Summer, he had never sung in public nor recorded any original material, but the depth of emotions that are evident in his vocals demonstrate so eloquently that a great divide has now been crossed. The Despair of Summer delivers what is a stunning debut as a recording artist, waiting only for the ultimate acid test of live performance to set the seal on a work of value, quality and great skill: delivered in a wrapping of new found self belief ... and a lot of love.
David Orrick. UK
Off To Print
June 22
The Despair of Summer is going to press at this very moment.
This is exciting. After almost 2 complete years in the making I'm finally making plans for a release of my first single , a correspondencing video, and a few CD release shows.
You can pre-order a signed copy now and get yours before the general release. Thank you.
Despair of Summer Update
May 7
It's been a busy couple weeks. I'm happy to say that the Despair of Summer, after over a year and a half of recording and mixing, is finally complete. Soon it's off to mastering and then printing.
You can pre-order through Paypal at dgochnour@verizon.net.
https://www.paypal.me/DannyGochnour
Stay tuned for an announcement on a fun CD release party.
In other news, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers will be doing a special live on-air show from The World Cafe in Philadelphia on July 6. 12:00 pm. Details on how to tune in to come.
Thank you for your support.
