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 If you live in New York City, you probably know David Ippolito. For nine years, the native New Yorker has performed on a hill overlooking the boating lake on Central Park’s West Side. Just about any and every local person has passed him on at least one summer day, and undoubtedly, stopped for a while to listen. For many of us, David’s music and presence have become as essential to a perfect stroll through the park as the surrounding foliage. Unfortunately, thanks to city officials, his music and that of all others has been eliminated. No more jazz by the Bethesda fountain, or the sounds of a violin wafting from under a bridge, no etudes by the miniature boat pond. Thankfully though, David’s music has moved on. This winter, “That Guitar Man” brought his sounds indoors and began to fill concert halls throughout the city.... | |||
| NYROCK: | This is the ninth year you've performed in New York City. There are other local bands that have played here equally as long, but some of them can't fill a bar no less a concert hall. What's your secret? | |||
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DAVID: |
I've always said that it has to do with perspective. This may sound lofty but when people come out to listen to music – when people leave their apartments, basically, for anything – I think essentially they're leaving to, one, find love, happiness and peace of mind, two, find fun or release and, three, for you. You're always number three on the list as a musician. Especially in bars. When people come out, they're looking to fall in love or to meet somebody. If they already have somebody, they're looking to have a good time – and to get drunk and laugh in the meantime. I don't care if it's a leather bar, a gay bar, a straight bar, a college bar. Whatever it is, that's essentially it. If you're going to a sports bar, to watch games on television, basically you're going out to fall in love, to get drunk or have fun, and the third reason is the game – always. It's the same thing with musicians. As long as I know that that's where I am on the list, once I realize that the artist is never bigger than the gift, then I just happen to be the guy with the guitar. And I think people get that. They're drawn to it. It's like checking your ego at the door. The three most important words, when I put a guitar on, are, "It's just us." I say it all the time, but it's the truth. This is not the cure for AIDS. This is just music. It's just us. I got the guitar. Let me steer the boat for a little while, but let's all go for the ride. That's basically it. I think that's why people are drawn to this so much. That's why I like it. I'm not the greatest guitar player in the world. I don't have a great voice. There's something else. And that's got to be it. | |||
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NYROCK: |
What are your thoughts on the music industry and its future? | |||
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DAVID: |
I'm very new at this. I've put out three CDs and they cost me a buck and change to manufacture. If you think about the millions [of CDs] that the record industry puts out every year and they're charging $17, $18 for a piece of plastic with the same information on it; who needs it? I understand it is intellectual artistic property, but who needs the middle man when the artist can go directly to whoever wants to buy their music. Right now, it's still not completely possible because it's anarchy. No one knows what's happening on the Internet. Anyone who says they do is lying. But it is the future. There is no way to stop it – as far as I can see. So, if someone said, "Hey, listen, I'd like to give you a record deal," it would be a really tough call because I'm not sure how long that is going to mean anything. | |||
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NYROCK: |
Your CDs mirror your live act. They are straight acoustic numbers, for the most part, just you and your guitar. What was behind the decision not to put a whole band behind you when you recorded? | |||
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DAVID: |
I'm lazy.... No, some musicians sat in. We put a violin on one and John Miceli from Meat Loaf played drums on "Thank God for My Guitar." But pretty much it's because that's the way I hear the music. For me, the simpler is almost always the better. If it's there, it's there. Like "Wedding in Danville," you could probably put entire string sections behind it and Disney-fy the thing. It would sound great but I don't think it would be as true as just a single guitar and a single voice. | |||
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NYROCK: |
Where do you want to take your music? | |||
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DAVID: |
Truthfully, I'm a very lucky man for another reason. Years ago, I made some of my living as an actor. And I still do. And as a musician. And I still do. But I'm a writer as well. I'm a playwright. | |||
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NYROCK: |
And that's your true love right now? | |||
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DAVID: |
Actually, it's more than that. Some people are performers. That's how I make my living. But first and foremost, I'm a creator. I wouldn't take an acting role in a play out of town to perform, to be acting in front of people. I wouldn't want to do a concert tour, doing the same songs every night in every city. I don't enjoy performing as much as I enjoy writing the song, writing the play. When I've done shows in the past, even musicals, I enjoy the rehearsal process, I enjoy creating the character, and I enjoy working on the thing. Opening night comes, and I enjoy putting this on and sharing it with people. And then I'm ready to move on. I don't enjoy doing it for six weeks. I mean, I do, but not as much as I want to create something new. I'd really like other people to be doing my songs. I'd love to be known as a songwriter, rather than a performer. I'd rather be sitting in the dark with you guys watching someone else do my play. And, truthfully, I'm not a big fan of the anxiety. I get nervous before going on stage. Who needs that? I'd rather write the song and let somebody else go up there and get nervous. | |||
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NYROCK: |
Any other thoughts? | |||
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DAVID: |
I've been saying for years that I don't want to be in the music business. And that is really a bunch of horse shit. I'm in it and I've always been in it. A lot of my friends are musicians. How can I describe it? ... I love artists, fellow artists. I do not love show-business people. I love doing it and I love being around it. It's kind of ego in reverse and it's probably fear. Artists so often have the fear of failure. I achieved that years ago. [I used to say] I really don't want it. But you know what, that's crap. If that's what's gonna happen, let's do it. | |||
| May 2000
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