On a summer’s night in 1980 Van Morrison delivered a mesmerising set of Celtic soul classics at Macroom Mountain Dew Festival. Watching intently from the hill was Dave Keary, a young guitar player at the outset of his musical journey. The festival was also Dave’s first date with his girlfriend Geraldine. This weekend Geraldine and Dave’s own family will join the 15-strong Keary clan for a charity concert at Lime Tree Theatre in aid of Aware. The following week Dave will be back on stage performing with Van Morrison on his US tour.
IN 2010 when Van Morrison was looking for a new guitar player, Van’s bass player Paul Moore recommended Dave for the audition.
“I got to meet Van Morrison and play the songs. He didn’t say anything. But the fact he didn’t say no was affirmation enough. It is certainly the most musically rewarding thing that I have ever done to date,” Dave told Limerick Post this week.
Dave Keary is the youngest of his family, brought up in a house filled with music. His father Liam was a gifted musician. Dave and his three siblings now enjoy busy careers in music.
Dave is one of the country’s foremost musicians, session guitarists and producers. In the 80’s he played and toured with Limerick band Tuesday Blue. Their single ‘Tunnel Vision’ was released on U2’s Mother label and followed by the ‘Shibumi’ album on EMI.
Members of Tuesday Blue lent their talents to country singer Joe Brown for what was a long series of “must see” gigs in the city at the time. Dave will play whatever excites him as a musician. Bill Whelan, Katherine Jenkins, Englbert Humperdinck, Emma Bunton of Spice Girls, Will Young, Sharon Shannon and rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis are just some of the names he has worked with.
“It is the secret for any musician to remain open minded. All these artists have informed me as a player and as a person,” he says
He toured with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance show as musical director and at his recording studio, Red Door Studios, he composed and scored music for television, film and advertising, including Ireland’s biggest selling single of 2006, Pat Shortt’s ‘Jumbo Breakfast Roll’. Dave has just finished an album with Whitebeam featuring Donal Fean (brother of Johnny Fean, Horslips and Ray Fean, Tuesday Blue).
Playing in Van Morrison’s band has set him a whole new set of challenges. Van is up there in the pantheon of artists amongst Dylan, Paul Simon and Neil Young. The catalogue of songs in his career is huge and Van does not work off a setlist live; he’ll just pick a song and go with it. “I have learned nearly 300 songs of Van’s. And I have another 200 to learn,” says Dave.
Keary played on Van’s recent album ‘Born to Sing – No Plan B’. There is a public misconception about Van being difficult to work with as a musician. Dave describes the soul legend as a generous band leader. “He gives latitude and scope to the players to bring something to the table. He is very open to that, not dogmatic at all. It is a very inclusive arrangement, a lot more than people would think.”
‘Born to Sing – No Plan B’ was recorded in just one week. Morrison looks to capture that live feel of a great band playing together for his recordings.
“He works so quickly and he has a clear and focused vision of the way he wants things to sound and how to achieve that. He comes from an era greatly influenced by Ray Charles and all these jazz and blues greats. The pace is incredible and he goes for an ensemble recording. The essence for Van is capturing that soul and energy from a performance. It keeps you on your toes as a musician.”
In 1980 Dave knew music was all he wanted to do full time, such was his passion for playing and producing. Playing guitar for one of rock music’s most respected artists is a career highlight so far for Dave. The Keary Family Concert this weekend is dedicated to Dave’s mother Nancy who passed away in 2012. Getting on stage with the Keary clan to put on this family concert for a cause very close to their hearts will be another special highlight.
The Keary Family Concert happens this Friday November 8 at The Lime Tree Theatre. Van Morrison plays Belfast on November 15, San Francisco on November 22 and 23, Madison Square Gardens, New York on November 25.
