Dave Santos

I was born and raised in the West Coast of Africa, in a place called Canary Islands. Always liked music, but it wasn't until my teen years that I really got into it. I started out wanting to be a Rock singer, Steven Tyler from Aerosmith being my biggest idol. Years went by, I sang lead in a couple bands around my hometown, but nothing really happened. At some point, I turn to my acoustic guitar and started to sing Bob Dylan, Springsteen, The Band, etc. That's how I got to my turning point. Late at night in December 2009, I clicked on a suggested video on Youtube. It was Old Crow Medicine Show, and the song was 'Wagon Wheel'. That was it, I had arrived home. Cut my hair, pulled out my checkered shirts from my wardrobe, learned to play guitar properly, made a 2-week trip to Nashville -where I met Berklee College of Music proffesor Pat Pattison and that would change my songwriting forever-. After that, I spent some time studying Music Theory and Modern Harmony in the Canaries. I was ready, time for a big move: London, UK. After around a year in the city, my music suffered an evolution, it was time to look for a band. So I gathered a few guys and named them 'The Odds 'n Ends' (a tribute to the opener song on Dylan's Basement Tapes). After a few changes, I finally got my definite line-up: James Gable on guitar and banjo, Pierre Luc Lalonde on drums, and Chris Crooks on bass. Together we're 'Dave Santos & The Odds n' Ends'. With their help, I've put together my first real EP, called 'Heartaches & Whatnot'. What do I sound like? I don't really know, but you sure can throw me in the bag you'd throw Hayes Carll, Hannah Aldridge, Holly Williams, Todd Snider, Corb Lund, Lucinda Williams, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Blackberry Smoke, Cory Brannan, Brennen Leigh, and so on and so forth. I mostly write about heartache, booze, bars, women and roads. I just wanna make you tap your feet, have a drink and maybe even dance. All under the great umbrella of Americana music. I finished 2014 kinda like in a high point for me. Other than recording my EP, I had the honor and pleasure to open for Austin-based established Americana act Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay in Camden, London, as well as being in the same bill as underground Rock legend Joe Jammer. Can't wait to see what 2015 hides behind the corner...

London, UK