Influences:	Ani Difranco, Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, Damien Rice, Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, Jewel, John Lennon, Joy Division, Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, The Frames, U2
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Artist Bio:

DOG DAYS, the much-anticipated first full-length album from Northeast Ohio singer/songwriter David Ullman, finally reached an eager audience in 2008. Most often cited for his poignant use of vocal dynamics and intimate portraits of love lost and (occasionally) found, Ullman delivered a debut that FREE TIMES music editor Jeff Niesel calls “exquisitely beautiful” and COOL CLEVELAND'S Peter Chakerian describes as “deep, dark and intensely rich.”

The 29-year-old Clevelander’s initial creative outlet was filmmaking, though pre-adolescent re-makes of biopics like LA BAMBA and THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY sparked his interest in music as well. “I started playing guitar at age eight by learning Buddy Holly songs—most of which are the same four chords,” he recalls. “Buddy Holly for me was what punk rock seems to have been for a lot of other musicians. You don’t have to be Eric Clapton to play along with The Ramones. That’s the way it was with me and Buddy Holly’s music. My dad taught me to play his songs, and I used to make tapes in my bathroom—overdubbing my voice like I’d seen in the movies. I also drew covers for the tapes based on other album sleeves that I’d seen, and gave them to my family for birthday gifts and such.”

In his early twenties, Ullman and a handful of friends formed a short-lived folk-rock quintet called “Steve.” Songs such as “Start Anew” and “Unspoken,” both of which appear on DOG DAYS, were written during this time, and Ullman’s long-time friend, collaborator, and former Steve member Matthew Jackson designed the disc’s cover. Other carryovers from the group include Steve bassist Nick Robinson, who features on the final (unlisted) track of DOG DAYS, key contributors Sean Kammer (piano) and Logan Ramsier (drums), as well as the engineering expertise of (brother) Brian Ullman, who also plays lead and bass guitar on the record.

Ullman’s insistence upon the inclusion of these valued individuals turned the making of DOG DAYS into a three-year-process—during which time he refined the songs on stage, performing over 90 shows in 2007. “Why would I hastily make a plain ol’ voice-and-guitar record when my brother is a terrific producer and electric guitar player? It wouldn’t make any sense,” he explains. “My friends and I may not be the best musicians ever; but for me, we were the right musicians to realize this material. In my mind, it had to be these people. Even down to the name of the label that I established to release the CD—Dreaming Out Loud Records. For ten years now, Dreaming Out Loud ventures have involved these people. It’s about making dreams reality, and I was committed to waiting for these people and what they could contribute to these songs.”

Not only do the tracks on DOG DAYS invite listeners into Ullman’s life and relationships, but also into the homes of his family and friends through intimate recording sessions that took place in bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements. Or perhaps, we as listeners invite him into our living rooms and lives—to play his guitar on our couches and hang out in our kitchens.

Hearing Ullman’s music feels less like listening to a recording or attending a concert and more like sitting down with an old friend on a Friday night to rehash the rough day at work or the latest lovers’ quarrel. His honest and confessional style brings him a special kind of rapport with his audience. He gives voice to those universal fears that most of us prefer not to examine—fears that our relationships may not be the safe haven we once believed them to be.

Still, the music of DOG DAYS goes beyond the traditional break-up record. A hopeful message persists and shines through the adversity, and there’s a struggle to maintain and repair the relationship that hangs in the balance. Ullman’s shift from smooth and gentle—at times pleading—lyrics, to the explosive and emotionally charged heights that characterize both his songwriting and live performances draw us into the conversation, assuring us all that we have friends with whom to share our everyday struggles, ambitions and disappointments.


Currently maintaining a consistent concert schedule in and around Northeastern Ohio, Ullman is eager to travel to new cities. In the months ahead, look for him to branch out into new territories in support of his debut album and its forthcoming second single, a radio remix of “Secondhand,” which will be released along side several outtakes from DOG DAYS.

-T.M.Göttl, Summer 2008

Songs Available On IndieHeart Radio:

» Secondhand (Radio Version)
Album:	Dog Days
Label:	Dreaming Out Loud Records
Genre:	Folk Rock
Lyrics:	Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics
i’ve been searching, can’t seem to find my way seems the nights get darker each and every day this time i’ve wandered too far from home friends all around me, but i feel alone i feel lost and broken, bent out of place shall i stay, or do you need some space different means all lead to the same end how can we even try to pretend i need a secondhand heart only slightly ripped apart i need someone who will always be around unrequited from the start feel i was born to play the part give me someone who will never let me down sure i don’t miss what was missing but oh how i miss kissing you (of course i do) i miss your lips, your hips, your thighs miss the sparkle of your eyes i know it’s gone now but i don’t know why how did this become of me how was i too blind to see that the one you loved was no longer me was my heart in your hands just a pawn feelings faded like the night at dawn where was it that we went wrong how am i supposed to heal when i don’t know what it is i feel was it really ever real i know kindness is contagious so come on be courageous give your love away with a secondhand heart only slightly ripped apart gotta somehow get my feet back on the ground unrequited from the start no one’s born to play that part just find someone who will never let you down don’t let me down

» Deja Vu
Album:	Dog Days
Label:	Dreaming Out Loud Records
Genre:	Acoustic
Lyrics:	Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics
i feel i’ve been here before staring calmly at the open door i knew you’d be back this way you spoke softly, said you couldn’t stay you’d hoped to find me a changed man i know i haven’t; please understand it’s in the way you move me running in circles, and i can’t break free i can feel it coming ‘round again love begins just to end again around and around, here we go again love begins just to end again in every path there comes a time when past and present meet and roads divide which way are you gonna go left or right, high or low when did you know that this was the end and how can i go when we were just beginning to end …again i can feel it comin’ down again love begins just to end again against the tide it’s sink or swim again love begins just to end again begins …to end …(here we go) again

» Half-light (Radio Version)
Album:	Dog Days
Label:	Dreaming Out Loud Records
Genre:	Folk Rock
Lyrics:	Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics
what are we to do do you think we’ll make it through all the mileage and misgivings just me and you are we falling too fast into a love that won’t last this beautiful sunset too must pass into the halflight with shining stars, bright dreaming out loud in the moonlight do you wish today do you wish tonight to fall in love before daylight does greasy diner food get you in the mood is your heart already full can you still make room cause in the slow-burn of night this feels so very right as the space between us closes day conquers night but in the halflight we’ll stay all night making love by moonlight i think we may i think we might fall in love before daylight or are you already through with me is this not what you thought it would be are you thinking to hell with it all and to hell with me are you tired are you torn do you feel like you’ve been dying since before you were born have you lost love have you found hope have you given up the guilt you’ve held so close but in the halflight tonight maybe we two wrongs might get it right i think we may i think we might have fallen in love in the halflight two shining stars, bright living out loud in the moonlight i think we may i think we might have fallen in love tonight

» Start Anew
Album:	Dog Days
Label:	Dreaming Out Loud Records
Genre:	Acoustic
Lyrics:	Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics
come on make me feel like i believe a blind man once, but now i see oh you set me free won’t you set me free come on make me feel like i belong to feel like this just can’t be wrong and if you say you want me to i’ll spend my life with you oh to be with you with you i’ll start anew together forever and a day for you i’ll find a way carry on my wayward one from behind the clouds bring forth the sun and with you i’ll start again both my love and my best friend you make me feel like i’m alive and for you i’ll take the dive oh to be with you with you i’ll start anew and if you just say the word sweetest voice i’ve heard it cuts right to my heart we will never part and after all is said and done my dear, my only one come aboard my sweetest friend on this trip that never ends ocean of love strong and true rolling waves brought me to you you make me feel like i believe once a blind man now i see what you’ve done for me and how you’ve set me free now i know where i belong and to you i sing this song how happy we will be come away with me and if you say you want me to i’ll spend my life with you oh to be with you with you i’ll start anew

» Unspoken
Album:	Dog Days
Label:	Dreaming Out Loud Records
Genre:	Acoustic Pop
Lyrics:	Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics
she’s weighed down by the colors of the wind a bird so afraid to fly, regretful of her sins she thinks of what she’s done, all she can’t undo “i can’t say these things (she says), not to you” words… without eyes to illustrate words… nor voice to communicate words… telling a story she’s told a thousand times in silence her fingers are stained with unspoken fears she struggles to see the page through the falling tears unformed thoughts dance upon her tongue the hurt’s not over yet, the healing has just begun in words… without eyes to illustrate words… nor voice to communicate words… telling a story she’s told a thousand times… words… without eyes to illustrate words… why can’t you communicate in words… a story you’ve told a thousand times

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Dog Days "DOG DAYS is deep, dark and intensely rich. Ullman goes straight for the heart [with] a toasty voice, chock full of emotion. The musical arrangements and high-quality production do well to push it front and center. As a result, cuts like "Begin," "Déjà Vu," "Half-Light" and brilliantly silky, heartbroken "Coming To" simply smolder. -COOL CLEVELAND Managing Editor Peter Chakerian