Fiddletronica. The birth of Fiddletronica...2009, San Francisco, California. Busking violinist meets producer Daniel Durrett on the city bus and become fast friends. Fiddletronica is born! Futuristic beats and ancient tones.

Folktronication

FIDDLETRONICA Cosmic Reset

One More Cup of Coffee for the Road (Valley Below) is one of the first Bob Dylan songs that I really fell in love with performing. I first learned it with the Bob Dylan Ensemble at Old Town School of Folk Music in late 1998. I was invited to be the guest fiddler on a recreation of Dylan's classic as well as a seminal electric violin album, "Desire." Many of those songs have followed me since but none like 1 More Cup. ..this song has fueled me so many times while performing on the violin and lends itself wonderfully to a south of the border inspired, bluegrass and hillbilly baroque hybrid. And clocking in at only 3 verses it is short and sweet to sing as well. This is my first real attempt at knocking down a mandolin version of this tune as I build my solo mandolin and voice repertoire. I recorded it simply here at at Tulip Tree Studios in Eugene, Oregon with just my field recorder in between busking sessions on a record breaking hot summer day on July 6th, 2024. Thank you for listening!

Fiddle Dave sings and picks Bob Dylan!

One More Cup of Coffee for the Road (Valley Below)

Fiddle Dave here! I so much enjoy learning new songs by different people on a daily basis. I just learned this sweet Billy Strings song. One of my approaches is to record the song immediately after learning it...but before polishing it. I like to capture the joy and spontaneity of that moment where I'm singing the song for the first time and really feeling the melody and lyrics firsthand. So while rough around the edges, I hope you can hear the bliss and love that went into a quick demo version of a new favorite song. This is a bare bones style High Lonesome Looping arrangement, using a Line 6 DL-4 to loop the verse progression, which allowed me to have a fun and hopefully dynamic attempt at jamming the song in the moment while accompanying myself. And as a fiddler by trade, my opportunities to play lead guitar are sometimes few and far between and I relish the moment to dig a little deeper and let the guitar pickin' flow. Lastly, I love the lyrical content of this song and the beautiful melody and enjoyed every moment of singing this wonderful song. Grateful to Billy Strings for writing yet another gem of a song and happy I dug into it a couple early mornings ago, gave it a quick loop and a heartfelt go. I hope you enjoy listening and can hear the love. I appreciate every one of you for reading this and listening!! Cheers!! in Music we trust-Fiddle Dave

High Lonesome Looping

Fiddle Dave sings Gild the Lily by Billy Strings

Here's another from my Rough Demo Series! As I mentioned in a recent song release I really enjoy learning new songs on daily basis. I like to record the very first attempt at a song to capture the joy of learning the song and experiencing the song firsthand for the first time. I love to listen to songs but when I play and sing them for myself they come alive and I get to immerse myself in the story of the song for a brief shimmering moment. This was my first attempt at singing and playing Time to Talk to Joseph off of Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien's "Memories and Moments" album, which is full of tasty songs I've been slowly absorbing and learning over repeated listens to the album. It was recorded back in July in between a multitude of busking sessions during an incredibly hot heatwave. Just a rusty stringed guitar and a song. Thank you for listening!! 

I lay awake til morning mind racing through the gloom
I practice shadow puppets on my side of the room
You softly snore beside me as I make those figures dance
Until finally I’m laughing at the random path of chance

It’s time to talk to Joseph
Gonna pack my little sack
There isn’t much I really need
To wander off the track
I’ll be sleeping under ledges
Eating what I find
I’ll read the reaching branches
Strum your heartstrings in my mind

I think I’ll head on up the north bank turn left up Campbell’s creek
There’s an old Greyman that lives up there whose counsel now I seek
Those twisting nooks and crannies, those hollers dark and deep
Are calling to me in my dream whenever I can sleep

It’s time to talk to Joseph
Gonna pack my little sack
There isn’t much I really need
To wander off the track
I’ll be sleeping under ledges
Eating what I find
I’ll read the reaching branches
Strum your heartstrings in my mind

There’s too many threads to follow and it seems the only way
Is to dive into the darkness that leads me into day
Don’t worry bout me darling, I’m comin' back again
My spirit will be stronger from a power deep within

It’s time to talk to Joseph
Gonna pack my little sack
There isn’t much I really need
To wander off the track
I’ll be sleeping under ledges
Eating what I find
I’ll read the reaching branches
Strum your heartstrings in my mind

Fiddle Dave sings Time to Talk to Joseph by Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien (rough demo)

Here's another jamgrass song for the Rough Demo Series! A few weeks ago, in between Grateful Gazebo Grass and bluegrass jams at the rose garden, I decided to learn a new Railroad Earth song and quickly record my first attempt at singin' it. I enjoy the spontaneity and fresh energy of the rough take. Always an exhilarating feeling to learn a new song and experience the lyrics and melody first hand. I hope you enjoy this rendition of RRE's Real Love. Thanks for listening!!

Fiddle Dave sings Real Love by Railroad Earth

We had an epic and cosmic show growing music with my great old friend from our shared home state Wisconsin. This show was actually Denny Vanesky's debut in San Franciso and the Midnite Farmers were totally stoked to back him up on a whirlwind of John Hartford songs and sweet originals, taking us down dirt roads of yesteryear and bringing a dose of my roots to SF like nobody has done in a long time. One thing should also be noted. We lost our dear friend "Bad" Chad Kelly earlier this year. Everyone in this band knew and loved Chad and when you see a "YES!" emblem on one of our instruments, that is in honor of him for Chad wore that tattoo on his arm and also lived and manifested that positive "YES!" vibration throughout his life.
This song "All I Got Left in this World" was written by Denny Vanesky. I recommend throwing up the horns on this one and doing a soulful acoustic head-bang. Thanks for listening friends. YES! 

Fiddle Dave and the Midnite Farmers feat. Denny Vanesky-"All I Got Left in This World"

Stealin'

Here's a 20 minute plus romp through B.B. King's classic with Fairfax, California's very own Thrashgrass rockers, Waldo's Special. A rock solid improvisational quartet featuring Michael Berry on electric guitar, Fiddle Dave Muhlethaler on fiddle and vocals, "Papa" Mark Joseph Heaphy Jr. on drums and Tim Baker on bass. This particular recording may feature an alternate bassist. So the question remains, who is the bassist on this track?

Jam>Thrill Is Gone

Here's a THC song from the new batch! This song was penned by Mark Joseph and is one of my favorite tunes of late. Recorded at The Lighthouse in the Outer Richmond District of San Francisco on June 17th. -fd
Photo-from left to right: Mark Joseph(guitar), Dan Brennan(mandolin), Gabe Shepard(guitar), Fiddle Dave Muhlethaler(fiddle), Rev. Nate Harris(bass), not pictured(Corey Feldman-dobro)

Good Old Days Are Gone by T.H.C. aka(The Human Condition)-Lighthouse Sessions

Here's a live track from late 2011 featuring Denny Vanesky, all the way from the great state of Wisconsin, in San Francisco to play some shows with the Fiddle Dave and the Midnite Farmers. This track also features the upright bass playing of Rev. Nate Harris from SF string band The Human Condition. This is one of our favorite John Hartford songs and we hope you enjoy this optimistic, feel good tune!!

FiddleDave

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