I hate writing bios. So here is one, that may be fact, and may be fiction. I was birthed by a pair of redwood trees in the forest. The redwoods decided that they would not be best to raise me, so they sent me to live with their aunt, Liza Minelli. Aunt Liza was good to me, she tought me to crochet during the day, and taught me scuba diving etiquette at night. She believed that sleeping was a sign of weakness. I started writing songs when I reached my teens and penned hits by Celine Dion, including "The Power of Love", and the Titanic song. I can't remember what I named it right now. I became proficient with slide whistle, and soon decided to branch off to other instruments. However, my singing voice was forever changed one day when I had a horrific accident incolving my slide whistle, an exercise bike, and some Pop Rocks. Thus, I developed a voice as sweet as honeydew. Recently, I feel that my life will not be complete until I have a pet penguin named Randall.OK, so I made all of that up, but it is more entertaining than my press release bio:September 18, 2004, 2:00 PM, Zilker Park, Austin, Texas. That was the exact time and place that Dave Simpson found his calling. He had spent much of the previous twenty one years of his life struggling with personal demons and a substance abuse problem that eventually landed him in rehab at age 20. Dave walked out on his 21st birthday, having regained his life, and has not touched alcohol or drugs since.Dave took a trip to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September of 2004, and on the aforementioned day and time, he saw a relative unkown singer/songwriter named Ray Lamontagne. Dave had always been a passionate music lover, and had played guitar for several years, but never as a performer. In Ray's performance, Dave saw a man that was telling stories of his experiences in a manner that made him feel the emotions that Ray likely felt when he was writing his songs. Dave was inspired to do the same.Based out of Calgary, Alberta, Dave has built a loyal following of fans, and continues to make more with every performance. His debut album, "So, Sober", chronicles his experiences while jumping between musical genres, and has garnered praise from critics and fans alike. Drawing comparisons to artists including Damien Rice, David Gray, Joseph Arthur, Joe Cocker, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and many others, the album is an intimate look at life through the eyes of a young man with nothing to hide. Fast Forward magazine described the songs as "simple, powerful tunes that lay out his story with lyrical jabs that lead to a knockout", and the Calgary Sun added that the overall product is a "sublimely modest and impassioned disc".Dave's live show features his smoky, impassioned vocals, honest songwriting, and his ability to have a crowd laughing and hanging on every word spoken. Because of Dave's eclectic musical style, he has been able to share musical bills with blues artists such as Guy Davis and Kyle Riabko, folk mainstays like John Wort Hannam and Lorrie Matheson, soul artists, as well as many others.Having only been performing for one year, Dave keeps everything he has accomplished in perspective, "The best compliment that I have received was from someone who told me that watching my show was proof that I'm doing what I am supposed to be doing. And I'm loving every minute of it."