Surprise Me Mr. Davis
Encyclopedia
Surprise Me Mr. Davis is an electro-folk band consisting of singer-songwriter
Nathan Moore
(of ThaMuseMeant
) and the members of avant-rock band The Slip. They formed in 2003 in Boston
while Moore was visiting The Slip at their apartment and the Blizzard of 2003 hit. When they were snowed in, Moore and The Slip spent the time playing with home recording equipment, the result eventually becoming their self-titled album.
in Philadelphia, Savannah's in Albany, New York
, and Eclipse Theater in Waitsfield, Vermont
. In March and April 2005, they again played a Northeast
tour. Later that year in November, they played a California
tour, hitting clubs such as The Independent
in San Francisco, Sweetwater
in Mill Valley, California
, Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz, and Winston's in San Diego. They have also played High Sierra Music Festival
every year since forming.
At the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 High Sierra Music Festival
, they played surprise late night shows at Camp Harry.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Nathan Moore
Nathan Moore (United States musician)
Nathan Moore is a United States-based folk music guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for being a founding member of both ThaMuseMeant and Surprise Me Mr. Davis. Moore has also released numerous solo albums on Frogville Records, an independent record company he co-owns with John Treadwell...
(of ThaMuseMeant
ThaMuseMeant
ThaMuseMeant is an American folk-rock quartet. The band has had three permanent members since the beginning: Aimee Curl , Nathan Moore , and David Tiller . Prior to 2001 the band contained Jeff Sussman on percussion instead of Enion Pelta-Tiller on violin, who joined in 2003...
) and the members of avant-rock band The Slip. They formed in 2003 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
while Moore was visiting The Slip at their apartment and the Blizzard of 2003 hit. When they were snowed in, Moore and The Slip spent the time playing with home recording equipment, the result eventually becoming their self-titled album.
Etymology
During the period in which they were snowed in, the band members would ask each other what they should play on their instruments. The typical answer soon became "Surprise me". Toward the end of the week, Nathan Moore received a message on his cell phone from the voice of an elderly lady with a rich accent saying, "Mister Davis, you're having fun with that recording!" It was a wrong number, but the band decided to merge "Surprise Me." and "Mister Davis", thus making the official band name Surprise Me Mr. Davis.Touring
In the winter of 2004, the band toured for the first time in the Northeast. The clubs they played included the Tin CupTin Cup
Tin Cup is a 1996 romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Ron Shelton, and starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo with Cheech Marin and Don Johnson in major supporting roles.-Synopsis:...
in Philadelphia, Savannah's in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and Eclipse Theater in Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782...
. In March and April 2005, they again played a Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
tour. Later that year in November, they played a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
tour, hitting clubs such as The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
in San Francisco, Sweetwater
Sweetwater
Sweetwater is a synonym for freshwater. It may also refer to:- Places :* Sweet Water, Alabama* Sweetwater, Duval County, Florida* Sweetwater, Hardee County, Florida* Sweetwater, Miami-Dade County, Florida* Sweet Water, Illinois* Sweetwater, Idaho...
in Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay...
, Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz, and Winston's in San Diego. They have also played High Sierra Music Festival
High Sierra Music Festival
High Sierra Music Festival is a multi-day music festival held in Quincy, California, a mountainous area about 80 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada.The festival is held each year the weekend of July 4...
every year since forming.
At the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 High Sierra Music Festival
High Sierra Music Festival
High Sierra Music Festival is a multi-day music festival held in Quincy, California, a mountainous area about 80 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada.The festival is held each year the weekend of July 4...
, they played surprise late night shows at Camp Harry.
Discography
- Surprise Me Mr. Davis (2004) Frogville RecordsFrogville RecordsFrogville Records is an American independent record label, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The label features bands and artists from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Kentucky and Montreal as well as several significant artists in the jam band circuit, such as ThaMuseMeant, Taarka, and Surprise...
- Only In Montreal EP (2005) Frogville Records
- That man Eats Morning For Breakfast" (2010)