Will Dailey is a Boston-based recording and performing artist and two time winner of the Boston Music Award for Best Male Singer-Songwriter. Dailey has released three full-length albums since 2004, and his most recent project, Torrent, involves the artist digitally releasing a burst of new music approximately every 3 months, and then compiling that material, along with bonus material, as a physical and digital audio package twice a year.
Dailey performed at the annual Farmaid benefit concert on September 20, 2008 at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts on a bill that included Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews along with Kenny Chesney, The Pretenders, Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels and others. Dailey made his second appearance at Farmaid on October 4, 2009, along with his band The Rivals, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis, Missouri, joining headliners Nelson, Young, Mellencamp, and Matthews, as well as Wilco, Jason Mraz and others on the bill. Glide’s Melissa Brodeuer recently met up with Dailey.
You have come along way since I first saw you play as a solo musician in Chicago of ’04, Rolling Stone, People, The Late Late show, etc. What is next for Will Dailey?
I have a song coming out on the 90210 soundtrack called "You’re So Cold". I just did a project with T Bone Burnett that is coming out in 2010 and I am tracking a full length album that will come out in 2010 as well. I have a bunch of new tunes that the band and I are over joyed about and we’re just working on all of them now. Hopefully
You are played Farm Aid this year, which is amazing. It is such an important event to so many people for all different reasons, why is what Farm Aid stands for so important to you?
This is my second Farm Aid and one thing I keep mentioning when talking about this year is that this is the 24th anniversary of Farm Aid which means for 24 years they have been successful, helping family farmers, getting the word out to people who eat food about the importance of where it comes from and the qualities of what you ingest. Without responsible agriculture a society fails.
What are some things you do or don’t do on the road to stay motivated, strong and feeling good?
Run laps around gas stations and lift lots of equipment. Eat good food. Don’t eat fast food even if you are starving.
You have played in bands and as a solo musician, what are some likes and dislikes of doing both?
It is obvious that when I play out as Will Dailey and even Will Dailey & The Rivals it is all on me good or bad. But I always play with a band and play rock and roll and I prefer to be on the road with my band. Occasionally there is a show or a radio or TV thing where it is just myself. Those are lonely times. However, they can be nice especially when we are doing acoustic versions of songs like "How Can I Make You Happy" or "Down The Drain" to an audience that is used to them rocking, but I prefer the first impression to be Will Dailey & The Rivals.
If anybody was going to do a cover of one of your songs, what would the song be and who would you want to cover it?
Actually I just found a band covering "How Can I make You Happy" on YouTube. My mind was blown. It was pretty exciting to see. Anybody choosing to cover my song is flattering and fascinating enough. It’s difficult to imagine someone else doing it until they do it.
What is one of your earliest music business mistakes that you will never make again?
HMMMM….. Just because someone is your friend and a nice person doesn’t mean they can make decisions that are best for you career wise.
If you could share the stage and do a duet with any other musician still working today, who would it be?
I would love to sing a Cat Stevens song with Eddie Vedder acoustic opening up for Pearl Jam.
What is your favorite city to play in and why?
Boston and Los Angeles because they have the most die hard fans and they make the best back up singers.
The one album I could not live without through high school was…..
Mighty Joe Moon by Grant Lee Buffalo
The wierdest food I ever ate was…..
Fish Eye Balls. Because I was dared by a 6 year old. Never again.
Glide contributor Melissa Brodeur writes and works within her three passions: alternative health, music and bees by providing off-beat, creative healing methods to musicians and artist and creative minds alike. Check her out at beewellmassage.com.
