About four years ago, a young man named Jon Davidson left his native Michigan and traveled west in search of fun, adventure and a chance to get his music heard by more people. Since his move, he has been running forward and not looking back.
Davidson has toured in five countries, including Canada, Sweden and Germany, as well as over 35 states. With the support of his management, publicity and getting his own hands dirty, his singles have been played on stations in 46 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, as well as charting on college radio’s Hot 200 chart. He has shared the stage with such artists as Puddle Of Mudd, Powerman 5000, Saliva and The Exies.
Moving to Portland was an easy choice for Davidson.
“I had a band out [in Michigan] and I was sick of playing the same three venues over and over again,” Davidson said. “I heard about the music scene in Portland, and I had been there on vacation. So, once I finished school in Michigan, I thought about it and made up my mind to head out to the Northwest.”
Once he arrived in the rainy city, he took up with a group of musicians, but discovered that he enjoyed playing solo shows more.
“Now and then I have a five-piece band that I break out for bigger shows, but when I tour, it’s just one acoustic and one vocal,” Davidson said. “I’ve been in hard rock bands for 10 years. I’ve only gone solo a year ago and it has been really easy to make friends with artists, promoters, and venues around Portland. I love how I can communicate more effectively through the raw honesty of having just a vocal and guitar. More of who I am comes through and is portrayed more easily.”
Things began to move quickly for the ambitious troubadour. Through intense self-promoting and a can-do attitude, Davidson was soon playing larger venues and his first release, Perfect Cliché, for which he wrote and performed on every song, began selling so quickly that it sold out within a year of its release.
To celebrate the achievement, Davidson is repackaging the album, adding four remixes and a new song, for release in the coming months. The re-release is currently available at shows and through Music Millennium.
Right now, Davidson is working on a new album at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. The songs are being produced by Jeff Johnson (Jet Black Stare, Adelitas Way), engineered by Chris Holmes (Korn, The Veer Union, Katy Perry) and mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica, U2, Nickelback, Our Lady Peace). As with his other endeavors, he is playing it nice and cool in regards to the release of his next album.
“As far as getting signed…I’m holding out,” Davidson said. “Most of the contact I have received has been from Indie labels that can’t do more for me than I can do for myself. I have played 180 shows last year alone, done all of my own promotion and radio marketing with my team—I am waiting for a label that take me where I want to go.”
In addition to being a marketing and performing machine, Davidson has been extremely active in supporting his community and causes near and dear to him. He has done charity performances for American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, March of Dimes and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“Last summer I canceled a leg of my tour to play a Cancer Society benefit show,” Davidson said. “I feel that if I can’t make some kind of tangible difference with my music, then what’s it for? I have played over 30 shows for the American Cancer Society alone!”
With Davidson’s well-crafted songs, active involvement in the local music scene and social conscious way of doing business, he shouldn’t have any problems continuing to further himself and his music. His strong work ethic and positive attitude have been mainstays of his success.
“When I was back in Michigan, I got the best advice I ever did. A DJ, who was a former musician, had been signed to a big label—it’s great to have people working for you, but they’ll only work as hard as you work for yourself,” Davidson said. “I send out a lot of press kits myself. I have a service that sends out some stuff for me. I spend 60 hours a week on my computer making calls, and thankfully I have a good manager and PR people that work hard for me and I’m thankful. I really think it’s this hard work that has been the reason for my success.”