Workingman's Life

A roots musician overlooked—except by his peers

avid Johnston isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. His voice is an agile instrument that scratches its way to the top of the mix, which can vary anywhere from fuzzed-out delta swing to snare-driven, factory-style rock (there’s even a great reggae song in there). His steel guitar is a powerful voice, too, clawing along like a roughed-up southern cousin to Lindsey Buckingham or Mark Knopfler. And the subject matter is as raw and real as it gets, making you wonder where Johnston draws the line between music and life, or if he does at all. You can see him living life every Tuesday at Bull McCabe’s in Union Square. The residency is a great secret to many, but some of the best local musicians are regulars, both in the crowd and onstage. Wallace

"Ten Miles of Bad Road," David Johnston