I’m building a new band in Milwaukee — Dave Purcell & The Contradictions — and I’m looking for collaborators. I’ve led successful bands for three decades, released records that earned positive reviews in national and international outlets, and toured and played festivals. You can read more about that here.
✪ I have a great bassist, so I’m looking for…
- Lead guitarist
- Keyboard player OR a multi-instrumentalist (violin, accordion, mandolin?)
- Backing vocals are a big plus
- You’ll hear strong guitar or keyboard solos in some of my songs below, but I’m equally interested in arrangements that rely on texture, melodies, and group playing instead of traditional solos.
Some favorites are:
- Guitar: Mike Campbell, David Hidalgo, Jay Bennett, Greg Leisz, Peter Buck, Buddy Miller, Robbie Robertson, Mark Ribot, Bill Frisell, Daniel Lanois, Britt Daniel, the guitarists on Kathleen Edwards’ records
- Keys: Benmont Tench, Jon Brion, Richard Manuel/Garth Hudson, Steve Nieve, Mitchell Froom, Rami Jaffee, Patrick Warren
✪ About The Music
Think smart, emotionally honest songs that live somewhere between Wilco, Calexico, R.E.M., Elvis Costello, Alejandro Escovedo, and Tom Petty. About 25% are instrumentals.
I want to be upfront that I’m not interested in sharing the songwriting role. We’ll focus on my songs with the occasional cover thrown in for fun. I welcome your input on arrangements and textures, and look forward to your coming up with cool parts.
You can hear a 10-song sampler at Soundcloud to get a feel for my songs. If that doesn’t work, I’m happy to send a download link. The last song is a demo, which I included so you can hear what I share with bandmates. My guitars, bass, and keys are generally placeholders unless integral to the song.
✪ You Are Probably A Good Fit If You Are…
- Experienced with original music, both live and in the studio
- Prepared, communicative, kind, and committed to making a cool project together
- 35+, or at least musically fluent in the kinds of roots-adjacent artists mentioned above
- More interested in tone and textures than shredding
✪ Gigging, Rehearsing, & Recording
- My goal is to build something special with good people
- Aim to gig 6-10 times a year, with the occasional regional show
- Record in 2026
- Rehearsals: likely weekly to start, shifting to biweekly/ad hoc as needed. My space is on the east side of West Allis near Jackson Park.
- Initial ask: a 2-3 gig commitment to see how it feels
🚀 Interested?
Please email me at dave@davepurcell.com and describe your interests and experience with original music, and include links to recordings or videos that give a clear sense of your playing.
Thanks for your time — I look forward to connecting.