The last year has been rough, David Huckfelt has been in a unique position as his life as a touring musician obviously changed, his job at the coop is no longer there, he created a beautiful new community-focused album and is raising a new son. He spoke honestly to us of the ups and downs of the last year.
The new album, Room Enough, Time Enough, is a collective work. David has brought in some amazing artists, which I will name because David takes pride in the album and in the collection of artists he was able to bring together and part of bringing them together is sharing the names. As he describes them, the artists include:
Ojibwe ambassador of Native Americana music Keith Secola, Tucson’s own living songwriting legend Billy Sedlmayr, Giant Sand founder and head purveyor of the southwestern electric-fuzz border sound Howe Gelb; former Bob Dylan drummer Winston Watson, Arizona Blues Hall of Fame harmonica player Tom Walbank, and Calexico hired guns Connor Gallaher on pedal steel and Jon Villa on trumpet. Together with the unmatched vocal chants of John Trudell’s constant collaborator & Warm Springs Nation Native singer Quiltman, these songs found their people and vice versa in a perfect storm of generosity, fierceness and compassion.
Fun to hear his excitement in the lineup. He asked himself who he would want if he could get anyone and then he was able to get them. He features them on his songs and features their songs. The album explores community, folks songs, introspection and restoring balance.
Fun also to hear excitement about his son, who just turned one. Excitement and pride and everything a new parent experiences but also with the bitter pill that the pandemic brings. The pandemic has made it possible for David to spend every day, every night with his son, unusual for a touring musician. But the pandemic has also removed financial stability, which is unnerving for a new parent. The pandemic has built a barrier between the family and their community. Not only does his son miss being a part of that community but David misses sharing his son with that community.
David was honest about his need for community, his difficulty with the business of music and the impact of late stage pandemic despair. His honestly is disarming but not surprising given the honestly and integrity of his music. In the end, we talked about taking pride in the fact that we have made it through an unbelievably hard year and we have not fallen apart and yearned for a day we’d be in the same room again.
He did hint at a few gigs that might happen this summer and he’s looking for House Concert opportunities – if you’re missing live music and have the room!
Mostly Minnesota 