Drawing us in with a brief drum riff and a cinematic, dark-Americana guitar soundscape, David Omlor opens The American Boys (The Ballad of Frank Gusenberg and the St Valentine’s Day Massacre) with the vivid lyrics, “You American boy have put us against the wall, the American boys they shot and killed us all…”
We immediately connect with the concept of the song and the narrative-driven storytelling that David Omlor delivers, reminiscent of Bob Dylan‘s Hurricane. The instrumentation, particularly the guitar work from Shane Blank, is sublime and manifests with a high emotional quotient.
David Omlor shares poetic prowess and takes us on a journey that feels highly zeitgeist in the face of current world issues. Speaking on the narrative of the song, David says, “[It’s] the story of the man that survived the event (for a short time) but refused to tell the cops who did the shooting.” He adds, “It is catchy and fun to listen to, with a bit of true crime history shown in as well.”
There’s also something haunting about the way David Omlor tells the story without glamourising it. The American Boys feels less like a history lesson, and more like a raw reflection on loyalty, silence and consequence.
We learn that David Omlor is a seasoned singer-songwriter and performer with over three decades in the music industry. He is known for his honest storytelling, sharp wit, and deeply personal approach to songwriting. This certainly comes to life on The American Boys (The Ballad of Frank Gusenberg and the St Valentine’s Day Massacre).
He started his journey in the Philadelphia music scene of the 1980s and 90s with cult favourite bands Somebody Else’s Problem and The Thangs. Dave built a loyal following before leaving the city in unforgettable fashion. He says, ” I ended up leaving Philly in 1996 after an on stage incident involving a nail gun, a 1978 Les Paul, and a large stuffed llama.”
There is no doubt that Dave’s charisma oozes out as much through his music as how he communicates with us as he shares his story. He later became a driving force behind Florida-based band Benjamin Road, whose 2016 debut album Naked Sunday and inventive themed live shows earned them a strong reputation across the state.
In 2015, alongside songwriting partner Jerry Buckley, he formed Bucklore and released the critically acclaimed acoustic EP For The Sirens. During the upheaval of 2020, Dave turned inward and created his solo album Entropy, collaborating remotely with musicians across the U.S. to craft nine reflective songs born from chaos, resilience and hope.
We are grateful that David Omlor continues to channel his energy into intentional songs like The American Boys (The Ballad of Frank Gusenberg and the St Valentine’s Day Massacre), and we have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the entirety of Entropy.