Today I received a press release about country singer Dave Wilbert. While the name sounded familiar to me, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I had no idea who he was. Possibly I posted an article about him years ago. If I did, he was one of nearly 2,000 articles that were lost when Country’s Chatter had a serious problem. Those lost articles could not be reposted on to this site. I hate that happened. Especially when I listened to his music my first thought was – ‘I know this voice’.
The release referred to him as a ‘country traditionalist singer…’ I went directly to the audio video for “Live From America (It’s Saturday Night)”, which premiered earlier today on Nashville.com. (There is a link in the press release below which will take you directly to that article and video). I liked it. And there was definitely a classic country sound there. To me, it sounded more like just the right blend of classic/traditional country, and what we now refer to as today’s country.
Even the 15-minute instrumental beginning of the song was perfect. The drums, the guitars…when something works, it works. And we can’t forget that we are talking about someone who could add the adjective ‘storyteller’ to the front of his name. As I talk more about his music, you will realize that this man is definitely a storyteller. I think we’ve all heard music that we can close our eyes and see the song come to life. Every one of his songs did that for me.
What I discovered, or perhaps (unknowingly) rediscovered, is that back in 2024, he was the most played independent country artist on the Music Row Breakout and DCX True Indie charts. I listened to a lot of his music when I went to YouTube. Everything I heard on YouTube I should have been hearing on our local radio stations over the past few years. I’m quite sure Dave is all over Texas radio, and he should be all over ours. I hope you will all go there and listen to songs that are going to not only grab your attention but bring back so many memories.
I thought “Close Your Eyes” was going to be my favorite. But I learned after listening to the next one, that a favorite sone is probably not going to happen. I loved them all. I posted his “If You Ever Feel Like Lovin’ Me Again” video at the end of this post. I stopped everything I was doing and just listened when I heard “Christian County Homecoming Queen”.
Below is the press release, and I’ve added a list of his social media links as well. I just put him on my Spotify playlist. You guys are probably going to want to do the same thing. Check out Dave Wilbert. And talk to local radio folks about getting “Live From America (It’s Saturday Night)”.
[Press Release] Country traditionalist, singer and independent recording artist Dave Wilbert celebrates the nostalgia of farm life on his vibrant 90’s style country rocking single “Live From America (It’s Saturday Night),” available everywhere digitally [stream/buy] now by Willbilly Records. Nashville.com [click to read/watch] has exclusively premiered the song’s official lyric video, which is also available on Wilbert’s YouTube channel.
“This is one of those songs when you first hear it you feel like you’ve heard it before and can sing right along to every word,” Wilbert said. “It’s my own little country anthem straight from the heartland of America, which is where I grew up.”
The song is also the title track from Wilbert’s forthcoming debut album Live From America (It’s Saturday Night), due out everywhere digitally on Friday, June 20. Songwriters on the twelve track album include Dave Wilbert, Kerry Kurt Phillips (George Strait, Tim McGraw, Craig Morgan), Phil O’Donnell (George Strait, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry), Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Trace Adkins) Doug Supernaw, and others. It was produced by Eddy Blount, Dave Wilbert, Julian King and recorded at Black River Studios and Ridge High Studios in Nashville.
Wilbert first emerged on Music Row as a promising independent recording artist and has released more than ten singles since first emerging in 2020, immediately solidifying himself as an unapologetic country traditionalist, sonically. However, it was 2024’s “Take It Outside” which landed Wilbert in the #1 spot on the CDX Radio Charts for four weeks. 2023’s “Tractors and Trucks” also became one of the most played songs from an independent artist at country radio.
“If you’ve ever spent any time at a bonfire or a barbecue or anything like that, ‘Live From America (It’s Saturday Night)’ will certainly pull those memories back to the front of your mind,” Wilbert continued on the track. “I’ve been musically influenced by iconic artists like George Strait, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Alabama, and my all time favorite Merle Haggard. So I think fans of those artists will dig the songs I’ve recorded and put on this album!”
Tracklist & Songwriters:
- “Take It Outside” (Adam Wood, Bill Troy)
- “If You Ever Feel Like Lovin’ Me Again” (Jeff Stevens, Jerry Kilgore, Steve Bogard)
- “Footprints On The Moon” (Kevin Barton, Ryan Bizarri, Dee Briggs)
- “Live From America (It’s Saturday Night)” (Kerry Kurt Phillips, Jason Matthews)
- “Wasn’t It You” (Kerry Kurt Phillips, Andy Spooner)
- “Close Your Eyes” (Kerry Kurt Phillips, Andy Spooner, Doug Supernaw) *Produced by Kerry Kurt Phillips
- “World’s Gone Crazy”(Dave Wilbert, Jason Matthews)
- “Christian County Homecomin’ Queen”(Galen Griffin, Kerry Kurt Phillips, Phil O’Donnell)
- “Route 5 Box 109”(Galen Griffin, Kerry Kurt Phillips)
- “Tractors and Trucks” (Ben Gallagher, Jim Collins, Wade Kirby)
- “My One And Only”(Dave Wilbert, Jason Matthews)
- “The Cabin Song”(Dave Wilbert)
Photo: S. Kerrigan Photography | Download JPG]
About Dave Wilbert:
Blending relatable storytelling with a smooth country vocal, Dave Wilbert’s musical style strikes a balance between timeless familiarity and fresh authenticity. In 2024, Dave Wilbert was one of the most played independent country artists on the Music Row Breakout and CDX True Indie charts. Building upon that success, Wilbert will be releasing his new single, “Live from America (It’s Saturday Night)”. Rooted in his personal journey and life on the family farm just west of Nashville, the single embodies Wilbert’s dedication to good, honest music. Whether you’re from the countryside and bonfires or big city lights, “Live from America (It’s Saturday Night)” is an anthem for the heartland of America. Dave Wilbert’s true-to-self approach continues to carve out a unique space in country music, bridging the genre’s rich history with its modern evolution.
Socials:
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