Missoula News

Local Music Sound Off

David Boone’s ‘Hard Enough to Bend’ Hard Not to Like

By Courtney Lowery, 2-02-06

Photo courtesy of Joel G. Afonte.

Since I first met him five or six years ago, I've been running into David Boone every couple of weeks.

We never seem to have too much time to catch up, but with David, there's no such thing as small talk, so we always get right to the good stuff. The encounters may be short, but when you're chatting with David, it's always meaningful. He feels like an old friend -- even though the two of us probably haven't spent more than an hour at a time together.

That's just who David is. When he asks how you are, something in his countenance tells you it's OK to respond with more than the run-of-the-mill "fine" you would give someone else. And when you ask him how he is, he responds in kind -- giving you some honest tidbit or insight into his life. It's not gratuitous, it's not self-indulgent. It's just plain honest and totally transparent. It's refreshing -- both in David and in his music.

As one of Missoula's most prolific and talented musicians, it's David's honesty, his transparency, that makes his work shine. In his latest, Hard Enough to Bend, it is more and more present in his voice as he sings about poverty, love, war and loss. He blends styles in Hard Enough to Bend showcasing his progression while maintaining his acoustic roots. Reminiscent of Ryan Adams on this album, he uses his signature lyrical prowess and adaptability to take a traditional folk-like feel and turn it into something modern and vibrant -- distancing himself from the run-of-the-mill coffee shop singer-songwriter.

David continues to amaze with his ability to stay open and raw while simultaneously challenging new sounds and styles -- song after song, album after album.

David has offered up a sample of his latest work for New West readers. The title track, Hard Enough to Bend, is a beautifully done classic. Click here for the mp3.

The release show for Hard Enough to Bend is Friday, February 10 at 7 at the Crystal Theater. Ryan Bundy opens and tickets are $8 or $10 at the door -- available at Rockin' Rudy's and Worden's Market. The show is sponsored by the Missoula Folklore Society.

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