Road ghosts, fallen shows and the blur of years built by song, sweat and stage noise. Americana-edged rock and roll tangled with the continuous trail of broken strings, headlights and a hell of a lot of laughter. You’re looking at the guiding force behind Dave McCann and his fourth release “Dixiebluebird.” Produced by guitarist, producer and Nashville alt-icon Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Mavis Staples, Rodney Crowell), “Dixiebluebird” is Dave’s strongest work to date. A wealth of road and heart worn original material that lays a torch to the influence of Bruised Country Soul, Classic Southern Rock and Heartfelt Americana. “Dixiebluebird” also brings transition, with an introduction to Dave McCann and the Firehearts. It’s a new name, but the same superlative line up: long time guitarist Dave Bauer, multi-instrumentalist Pete Loughlin on Bass, Tim Williams on Drums and all the sagacious force of Charlie Hase on the Pedal Steel Guitar. “Dixiebluebird” was recorded at the Toybox Studio-a backyard studio hidden out in the old neighborhoods of East Nashville. Owned and operated by Eli “Lij” Shaw and aptly named after it’s incredible collection of historic and vintage gear. Beautiful compressors, incredible mics, and the analog MCI console that was rescued out of Florida’s Criteria Studios after the Seventies. It’s recorded the luminaries, Neil Young, Steven Stills, Elvin Bishop, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Eagles, the list goes on and you can sense that historic heartfelt rock influence. From the title track “Dixiebluebird” to the high-caliber rockers like “Bloodpines” and “Fireheart” or following through to the pendulant swerve of “Tuscaloosa Blues” and “Unfamiliar Ground” you can hear right off what this band is all about...Heart. From the spine chilling and crunch-tangled crackle of the guitars to the uncommonly high standards of song craft, “Dixiebluebird” is full speed. With it’s consistent and matchless musicianship this recording finds itself the benchmark. Previous releases “Shoot The Horse” (2008), “Country Medicine” (2004) and “Woodland Tea” (2000) garnered Dave international acclaim, brought him great shows across Canada and into the States, and won him the hearts of critics and fans. Songs from “Country Medicine” and “Woodland Tea” were also included in the award-winning sound track to the film “Hank Williams First Nation”, as well as the TV series. The film sound track included songs from Joe Ely, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Williams and others. It ended up taking home “Best music in a motion picture” at the Nashville Film Festival in 2005. In a self-congratulated world marred with clones and contestants it’s refreshing to hear a band so true to their love for the music, building something larger and more satisfying than that influence.