There’s a long history of social activism by folk musicians dating back at least 100 years and most probably a lot longer than that. In many cases the participation is in events organized by others. With Iowan David G. Smith, however, he puts the active in activism. He schedules about 20% of his gigs in senior communities where they often don’t have much access to the arts. Many of his shows are in cooperation with charity organizations like Habitat For Humanity, local food pantries, and St. Judes (one of his favorites). He also worked alongside Mary Gauthier in the Songwriting With Soldiers project. That’s of particular note because of how it ties into his soon-to-be-released 12th album, Hero Street.
The title song is in reference to Second Street, a block-and-a-half long community in tiny Silvis, Illinois, where 8 young men have lost their lives in war and over 100 have served, virtually all from the Mexican-American immigrant population. There’s a PBS documentary series highlighting the story if you want to know more. The song itself is somewhere between folk and a rock ballad, and is the record’s introduction to Smith’s blues-tinged vocal style. Walking Each Other Home and My Finger Talkin’ both have a little more syncopation to the beat, with the latter having a piano that gives it a bit of Randy Newman feel. Angelina is more acoustic as is In the Back Row, where the hero street concept is expanded to the premise that there’s a little hero in all of us.
In an album filled with humanity and emotion, I found Green Fire to be the most moving number. It’s inspired by the tale of an early American naturalist out surveying for what was to become the first dedicated wilderness area in America. He shot a wolf and got to the body in time to “watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes.” It changed him and his philosophy, that this wasn’t just about one wild predator but that “it’s the light of the living and we should pray it never dies.” The musical accompaniment is a piano ballad, with subtle touches of pedal steel and B-3 organ that lend a spiritual note. Smith’s sincere vocals cap the notion that all of the world’s creatures are connected. We’re extremely pleased to be premiering the song, so here is Green Fire.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.