Beautiful Intoxication: Stuart Davis Waxes Philosophical

Sensuality, spirituality, music—three concepts universal to the human species. The first two are often touchy subjects, and the third has been known to spark an argument now and then, but Stuart Davis isn’t afraid to talk about any of them.

Davis, who is perhaps best known as a musician, has been performing and recording his music for years. He suspects he played upwards of 1000 shows in his first 12 or 13 years on the road. He’s also released 14 albums. Now, Davis—whose style could never be crammed into a genre—is bringing his music to Television.

Davis’ music is philosophical, spiritual, often humorous and sometimes controversial, in a very ‘indie’ way. This off-the-beaten-path approach has earned Davis the nicknames “Punk Monk” and “Twisted Mystic.”

The “Punk Monk” is taking it a step further, combining the music with news, sketch and stand-up comedy with a live studio audience. His new series, Sex, God, Rock ‘n Roll with Stuart Davis, airs Sundays on HDNet. It’s also available online. Anyone can check out clips at http://www.sexgodrocknroll.com, but only members have access to full episodes and extra footage. Membership is $5/month.

“I’m excited to get to share [the show] with the world,” Davis said. “It’s new to me to get to share a television show. I’ve been doing albums for a long time, but this is my first time in TV.”

SGR’nR is Davis’ take on the clever comedy news program. “I’m a big fan of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Bill Maher,” said Davis. The show is written, directed and hosted by Davis. He said he wants to combine the things he loves to create the show.

Davis, a practitioner of Buddhism with respect for all religious and spiritual beliefs, said that the show doesn’t back away the title subjects, but celebrates them. “I love the spiritual tradition,” he said. “I love rock’n roll. I want to celebrate sex.”

Although Davis has branched into television, he is still actively touring. The latest tour, promoting the TV series and his latest Album, Something Simple, includes a stop in Fargo Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. The show is at Ecce Art + Yoga, 216 N. Broadway. Ecce might be the perfect venue Davis, who relentlessly blends art and spirituality.

Davis, who grew up in Minnesota but is now based in Boulder, Colo. where SGR’nR is filmed, said there is a big difference between performing live and filming in front of a studio audience.

“The room is subject to nuances in ways it doesn’t when the cameras aren’t rolling,” he said. “You’re very conscious of the fact that you’re creating a permanent record of the performance.”

The audience witnessing Davis’ Fargo performance will get to take a peek at one of those “permanent records” during a screening of SGR’nR . Davis also plans to perform music and spoken word comedy.

“There’s no getting around the big high—the mysterious, beautiful intoxication of that big laugh that fills the room when something is funny,” said Davis. So, plan for the May 5 show to rival the clips available on the SGR’nR website and line-up a designated driver in case of laugh intoxication.

Who: Stuart Davis
Where: Ecce Art + Yoga, 216 N. Broadway
When: Tuesday, May 5 @ 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $10, all ages
Info: http://www.ecce216.com, http://www.sexgodrocknroll.com

And don’t forget to tune in to 1100 AM The FLAG April 30, 8-9pm, to hear Stuart Davis chat with HPR!