NICE >> Twelve-year-old David M’ore stood close to the television yelling, “That’s it. That’s what I want to do,” after watching some of the best guitar shredders of all time perform at Woodstock. Fast forward to 2017, award-winning guitarist and vocalist M’ore promises to bring a shredding performance tonight in Lake County for the first time.
Like most musicians, M’ore was exposed to the art at a very early age.
“I started with music when I was 8,” he said. “ My parents sent me to the National Conservatory of Music in Argentina, where we’re from. There I played flamenco and lots of classical, learning all-things Bach and Beethoven.”
He admitted he never really liked his instructor as he was too stern. It just didn’t match M’ore’s rebellious side, getting scolded for playing ACDC introductions on the piano when he was supposed to perfect Für Elise.
“But it was hard. The moment I was exposed to ACDC, I was infected,” he explained.
Those moments foreshadowed the style this musician would soon develop. M’ore has been dubbed a “craftsman from a bygone era” for his aggressive guitar style and high-energy performances that channel legends like Jimi Hendrix, Alvin Lee, and Johnny Winter. In fact, these three performers are M’ore’s biggest influences.
But it wasn’t an instant style revelation for him. He meandered around genres like soft rock and blues, trying to figure out his voice. What made it extra challenging was when he moved to California in the early 90’s, landing in Hollywood — the den of competitive talent discovery.
“I knew I had to find my own voice. It was especially hard as a foreigner in Hollywood,” the Argentinian-born musician confessed. “I was shy about my accent and my roots but I said, ‘This is who I am and I’m going to use it.’”
At the same time, the rock movement was undergoing a transformation, something M’ore had always kept his eye on. He said, “Nirvana came into the frame and just completely changed the game.” He then moved to Sacramento where he decided to give blues a closer look.
Contemplating all he learned as a child, his influences, and musical explorations, M’ore had finally set a label to himself.
His style: a fusion of blues and rock and roll. But when you think about his hardcore rock-inspired foundation, blues is probably an interesting addition to the mix.
M’ore explained, “When people think of traditional blues, most think of Muddy Waters. I don’t like to put blues in a little box and be a regular blues player. I play blues-rock and that’s where my heart is.”
And it’s evident that his heart is there. As soon as he hits the stage, it is evident M’ore thinks, eats, and breaths guitar. With tireless finger play and hand techniques, implemented since his days at the National Conservatory of Music, M’ore’s guitar shredding is hypnotic. He sings, too. His stinging, raspy voice — think Billy Gibbons meets Louis Armstrong— is the ultimate cherry on top to his high-octane performances.
Confident in his style and faithful to his passion, M’ore scored a Sacramento Music Award in 1993. He has shared the stage with players like Johnny Guitar Knox and Arbess Williams. He was also named an endorser for widely acclaimed Ernie Ball guitar strings, joining names like Jimmy Page and Steve Vai.
The guitarist-vocalist has also headlined for the annual Kern River Rock ‘N Blues Festival.
M’ore has performed in his native land of Argentina, as well as in Chile and France. And in a myriad amount of places in California, except for Lake County — until now, that is.
Starting tonight at 9 p.m., M’ore will bring his electrifying energy to The Lounge at Robinson Rancheria in Nice. He will perform original work, including from his most recent album Passion, Soul & Fire.
For more information on the show, visit www.rrrc.com and for more on M’ore visit davidmore.net.
