DRH in ATL Journal-Constitution, 2003

IN THE DRESSING ROOM

WITH DAVID RYAN HARRIS at Smith's Olde Bar. Talk about low maintenance.

by Sonia Murray

All the man required for his amazing set was bottled water ("Gotta stay hydrated!"), Sweetwater 420 ("Had to have it because I can't find it in Los Angeles") and a bottle of Camelot merlot (well, just because).

Privacy wasn't even a must. Opener Teitur shared the sole seat in the room -- actually a bench -- with Harris, who didn't seem to mind as the burgeoning singer-songwriter did a Catwomanlike growl to warm up. People just casually floated past the opened door as Harris tuned his new Martin acoustic guitar. That kind of thing.

"This is home," sighed Harris, who after stints as a member of Atlanta rock band Follow for Now, Dionne Farris's guitarist, a solo moment and more time as a member of Brand New Immortals, decided to leave Atlanta last year for California.

Since then, a busy Web site (www.davidryanharris.com), a song on the "Biker Boys" soundtrack -- plus more songs in the movie -- and some studio work with John Mayer have kept the bills paid. "But what's been priceless is the freedom to move at my pace," he says. "Not to knock major label deals, because I've had three -- and they have given some people a great platform for their work -- but this kind of creative space and time has been amazing."

Oh, and before he left to play, it was hard not to notice the "window advisory" behind his bald head, which read: "If your band sticker ends up on our window, you will be asked to pay for a new window along with jeopardizing any chance to ever again grace the stage here at Smith's Olde Bar.

"Thank you in advance for your professionalism and courtesy."


***Thanks to Furious Rose for submitting this interview.