John Davey, “Lower Tiers,” // GemsOnVHS™
John Davey is a songwriter’s songwriter. He writes poetry set to music, paints pictures with his words and is modest all the while. No easy feat when folks like me have your lyrics tattoo’d on their body. He was one of the first artists on GemsOnVHS, the videos still in those dusty corners of the internet.
It’d been years since John and I worked together. He moved to Marquette, Michigan, a remote and cold a place as one can imagine, to start a life with a wonderful woman, now his wife, Mary. The music stopped coming for awhile. As soon as I heard the first notes coming back into the world, I knew we had to meet up again, to record whatever he’d been working on in that cold corner of the continent, nestled between the Great Lakes.
Mike Potts, a general contractor whose workshop is in the same building as John’s apartment in Marquette, invited us in to play a song. Afterwards he showed us around the cozy, cluttered, living space he works in. He was especially excited about the community boat build they’re working on; a 22ft traditional Scottish skiff they work on every Monday. Like that skiff, we are a community driven project, and we don’t know what we’re doing half the time, but are somehow still afloat. Thank you all.
You can download this song here,
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lower-tiers-single/1332445634
Hear more of John here,
https://johndavey.bandcamp.com/music
Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
https://www.patreon.com/gemsonvhs
GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
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@GemsOnVHS
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
@johnisaacdavey is John's instagram. give him a follow, and you'll be supplied good musical inspiration forever.
@musicfan8253
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Chord changes on this are so good. I hope you aren’t offended by comparisons, (because you are extremely talented on your own merits) – but, I’m hearing a little Eef Barzelay here (and that’s not a bad thing at all).
@soloblue01
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
I'm glad to have found this. Thank you GemsonVHS for this gem.
@sethcox3872
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Lookin like hank green…good song👍
@Slackbheep89
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Goodbye lover. You will always be my girl. Till we meet again. Good evening, love you 4 ever peakpuck
@jfacedoesstuff4455
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Love John Davey!
@rudyfknv
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Played some shows with John a long time ago and still just think he’s one of the most beautifully talented characters I had ever met. Brilliant to see him on here I could only imagine being at that rank
@mattsallows5896
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Great track I've always loved gemsonvhs but lately it's been 🔥
@kevlarkid928
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Talented dude. Definitely going on heavy rotation.
@BsideArchive
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Wow. I remember watching the first video you all did with him for "Spent". Can't believe how long ago that was.
@corytaylorcox
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Love this dude. And his music
@Bombalombadil
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Great song
@AxeMoose
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
A master of words and a golden voice. This is very enjoyable.
@derekbushman5129
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Wow thats beautiful
@holyvacant1427
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Anthony, have a hard a chance to pick the winners for Casper Allen/ Matt Heckler tickets? I haven't seen any recent replies in the thread
@holyvacant1427
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Recently signed up for 5$ a month contribution through patreon, hoping to double the donation soon!
@MatthewFowlerMusic
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
John Davey is a master songwriter. Always blown away and humbled by his music.
@TheFIREFLAME53
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Great story
@johnisaacdavey
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Hey guys! Thanks for the eyes and earballs. You can read some background here to get some more context for the song: http://johndaveysings.com/new-blog/john-davey-lower-tiers-gemsonvhs
@calmfulspider
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
I like how when he sings settle down the camera goes to his hand with his wedding ring.
@ferociousmeat
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Really likin this one!
@Z0Z99
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Thanks for posting this when it's raining outside.
@sergeyskala1584
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Please record Zach Bryan
@kain8588
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Lovely videography, and the music is amazing
@brendonleary
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
John blows my mind every time.
The floating melody, and chords that create such interesting harmonic structures.
I find it is not unlike the way piano player can move through chords.
He is an absolute master of this, and that is even before critiquing or even mentioning the authority he possesses with the poetic word.
@cent-kz2ti
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Love the playing style on this song
@sarahsutter44
March 17, 2026 at 11:53 am
Gems never fails to impress
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