Dan McCarville

Dan McCarville is a singer/guitar player who has performed in Metro Detroit bars and pubs for over 25 years. Dan got his start playing in high school in his father Roger’s “Wakes and Weddings” band, an Irish music group that played regularly for many years. Other members of this group included accordion player Walter Walsh and Brian Francis, who started on drums and then added the banjo to his repertoire.

While in this group, Dan started his own Irish band called “Shanachie” (Gaelic for storyteller) with Brian Francis and Steve Daly. This group started getting some acclaim before Dan relocated to South Carolina for two years.

After moving back to Michigan in 1997, Dan started playing with “Pat McDunn and the Gaels”, a well-known group around the Detroit area. Dan was with them as they played stints at three different pubs on Friday nights. These included Duke Humphries in Rochester, Mary Donnelly’s Pub in Keego Harbor, and Gus O’Connor’s in Rochester. Other members of this group that Dan shared the stage with include Geno Zwolak (fiddle), Dennis Pinarz (guitar) and Chris Buryta (accordion).

Throughout this past decade, Dan has worked on collaborative music shows with a wide variety of performers, including some of his former students at Brother Rice, Alex Wand and Dave Ranney. Another constant through all his years has been his brother Roger, who he has teamed up with to play many gigs. Dan also enjoys sharing a stage with Dennis Mulqueen, who plays the Irish boudhrain.

In addition, Dan has been primarily working as a duo or solo artist for the last couple years. Chris Buryta is someone that Dan plays with regularly, and this combination seems to strike a positive note with all types of audiences.

While the Irish music genre is something that Dan has a great appreciation for, and enjoys playing immensely, his musical appetite is quite extensive. What makes his repertoire unique is that he plays songs from so many different “categories” including country, pop, rock bluegrass, Spanish, and his famous “all ‘80s” and “all ‘90s” sets that he performs. Furthermore, he continually has songs from today that he plays, and is always adding new songs. He enjoys all these styles equally, and it shows in his performance.

As evidence of this “not knowing what type of song is coming next” experience, one can hear Dan play a heart-wrenching Irish ballad, and then follow it up with a Madonna song and then some Led Zeppelin or Neil Young, and then the U of M/MSU fight songs, topped off with some Shania Twain, Brooks and Dunn or Carrie Underwood. And what night is not complete without Semisonic’s “Closing Time”?

Interestingly enough, although Dan plays the acoustic guitar, he got his start on the bass guitar. Moreover, Dan plays the bass guitar right handed, and the acoustic guitar left handed. He also plays harmonica and the Irish tin whistle.

As part of helping others with his talents, Dan performs at hospitals, nursing homes, benefits, and really at any event that is trying to do something good for the community. This included Beaumont Hospital, Waltonwood Nursing Home, St. Pat’s Senior Center, Capuchin Soup Kitchen “Souper Bowl”, Colombiere Jesuit Center, and for politicians like Governor Granholm, Senator Stabenow, Macomb County Commissioner Ken Lampar, and Judge Jim Sheehy.

 

 

 

 

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