Episode #28 Mike Davis (Pudwak)

Jams for Man

Mike Davis learned guitar from his neighbor Steve Niles, who went on to play in Gray Matter, and formed his first band, Pudwak, with Sean Philpotts and Dave Allen, who later played in Branch Manager. They recorded one cassette album with Mike Clayberg from Malefice. They then added Davis White, also of Malefice and later Repercussion, on drums, renamed themselves Foundation, and recorded two albums with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios. Mike went on to work at Inner Ear himself as an engineer and producer and helped record albums by Dismemberment Plan and the Goons among many others. Along the way, he helped connect Dag Nasty with their first vocalist and played with other members of the band in Los Vampiros. He also played in the eclectic NOVA band The Iceboxers and on albums by the Blood Bats, featuring Charles Bennington of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra. Suffice it to say, Mike helped establish what would come to be known as the Reston Hardcore scene and had a Zelig-like ability to cross over with virtually everybody making great music in Northern Virginia at that time. His guitar sound is an indelible part of numerous stellar records from the 80s and 90s as well as his recording techniques.