These days, a grown-up Dave clings to that heritage. It defines and heals him.

Whether he’s strumming solo in a coffeehouse or harmonizing with musical kinfolk Kevin O’Reilly and Edward Howe in the studio, Dave listens closely when the music fades and he hears Tom Rowe’s voice. Sees his bearded smile. Draws strength.

“Dad always said this beats working for a living,” Dave said.

Tom knew. He spent most of his adult life writing songs, making friends and etching memories as part of the Maine folk trio Schooner Fare.

The Auburn musician died suddenly in January at 53, heart weakened by his fight with throat cancer, leaving behind a legion of listeners, a wife and five children.

Dave, now 31, lost both his best friend and creative compass. He was Tom’s only son, the first child to catch his fever for the stage.

Reminders from fans

And the show goes on, even as audiences take pains to remind him he’s not the original.

“Right after he died,” Rowe said, “people kept saying, Boy, you have big shoes to fill.’ And I knew that.”

Born with his father’s eyes, welcoming smile and wry sense of humor, Dave delivers two clever jabs with his current project, a mix of traditional tunes Tom loved to play.

It’s aptly titled “Big Shoes.” Decorating the album cover are two exaggerated clown boots that might be big enough for one of Dave’s two young children to crawl into.

“One of the greatest things about my dad was his sense of humor,” said Dave. “He’d enjoy that.”

Surely he’d love the music dedicated to him.

This isn’t a hurried tribute album. Two years ago, Dave’s developing fan base requested a disc of the traditional favorites he played in pubs.

He obliged, slowly, never far from Tom’s seasoned ear.

Their styles are different. Tom’s booming bass drove such classics as “John Cook.” Dave belts out a heart-tugging tenor.

An inevitable path

But Tom was always first to hear the demo tapes, and Dave soaked up the advice.

“I sort of rededicated myself after he died. I felt a desire to get this out there. Suddenly I had his memory to fuel it,” he said.

Dave didn’t grow up wanting to be a musician. A nuclear physicist, maybe.

“When I was a kid,” he said, “whatever I saw on TV that day was what I wanted to be.”

Alas, Tom was a music teacher for eight years. He knew people who knew people. Poor kid was a sitting duck.

One of Dad’s many friends cornered, prodded and persuaded Dave to play tuba in the Auburn Middle School band. He learned in a week.

Piano lessons followed. Tom taught Dave electric bass, and the teen taught himself acoustic guitar, banjo and mandolin.

They toured together for years as one of Tom’s side projects, first as the duo Rowe by Rowe, then with Lewiston’s Denny Breau as Turkey Hollow.

Now, the spotlight’s on Dave, who wears three hats. In addition to flying solo, Rowe still plays with Breau as Turkey Hollow and recently formed the Dave Rowe Trio with Howe and O’Reilly.

He estimates that he’ll play 150 gigs this year, including nearby stops at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Brewers’ Festival in Casco on Sept. 25 and the Fryeburg Fair on Oct. 4. He and Denny opened this summer’s L/A Arts Music in the Parks concert series.

A few fans recognize him by his last name and his musical roots. They stay after recognizing his own gift.

“We just went to Maryland for a CD release show down there. A lot of the people there were obviously Schooner Fare and Tom Rowe fans,” said Dave.

“Some of them told me they felt that an appropriate way to honor him was to come out and support me. But then they said, Next time, we’re coming back to see you.’ “

He smiled. As Dad would have.

The shoes fit just fine.

Kalle Oakes is staff columnist. He may be reached by e-mail at koakes@sunjournal.com.
Dad always said this beats working for a living.
Musician Dave Rowe