DeGraw wants wider audience

By John Benson

The alt-pop singer has gone through a couple of tough years.

Two out of three ain’t bad.

That’s what singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw said regarding his recently released sophomore self-titled album, which includes Hot AC top 10 hit “I’m In Love With a Girl.”

It was only two years ago during a phone interview to promote a 2006 show at Cleveland’s House of Blues that the New York-based artist talked about spreading his creative wings with then-unreleased tracks for his new album that were specifically written in the same vein as Maroon 5, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.

“Well, new song ‘Young Love’ is my homage to Dylan, and I think there’s a couple of songs in there that dabble in the funk and rock realm,” said DeGraw, calling from Minneapolis, Minn. “As for the Tom Waits thing, that never happened. But I hope to, man. I’m just trying to put in as much variety as I can, as long as it makes sense.”

Considering his past few years, you have to cut DeGraw some slack. Not only did the adult-alternative pop rock singer have an iPod filled with new song ideas stolen, but he also faced the impossible task of following up his platinum 2003 debut album, “Chariot,” which included No. 1 hit single “I Don’t Want to Be.”

More so, his overall success was directly tied to the fact the song was pegged as the theme song to WB Network show “One Tree Hill.” DeGraw said he’s grateful for his achievement and though he can’t control who listens to his album, he’s targeting a broader demographic than teenage girls.

“This album was really a step out of one particular space into a more broad space,” DeGraw said. “I think that this album will help keep my audience guessing what I will do next versus just being expected to do one thing over and over again. You don’t want to make your first album a second time or a third time.

“Part of making the second album is building off what the live show was on the first album, because so much of this career is about what you’re doing live and what your touring is like.”

DeGraw said he witnessed the power of live performance from his idols when he took part in the 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s 10th Annual American Music Masters Series “A Change is Gonna Come: The Life and Music of Sam Cooke” tribute concert. Alongside such luminaries as Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, Taj Majal and Solomon Burke, DeGraw said he’ll never forget the magical experience.

“It was amazing,” DeGraw said. “You’re up there with people who you have admired for years. So you’re up on stage and getting the mic passed on to you from one artist and you’re passing the mic to another artist. It’s very exciting, and it’s about as rewarding as it can be for a musician to share the stage with artists that they were influenced by.”

It’s this growth as a musician and a concert performer that DeGraw said defines his target audience for his current live show, which comes through Northeast Ohio tonight at the House of Blues.

“I’m just looking for music lovers, man,” DeGraw said. “I’m not really that particular about my clothes, and I don’t necessarily associate myself with too many of the celebrity clientele.

“I don’t intentionally not do it, I just continue on my own path as much as I can. I’m just looking for music fans. Not image fans. I want people to like the way that it sounds and that’s what I’m looking for, people who like music that sounds good. And hopefully, I’m making it sound good.”