Arkansas Dave, ‘Bad Water’ [Exclusive Premiere]

Texas-based alt-country rocker Arkansas Dave is premiering his song "Bad Water" exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play below to listen.

He may be located in the Lone Star State now, but Arkansas Dave bears the name of his home state. His experiences growing up in "a small, rural South Arkansas town" lend plenty of inspiration to the slightly bluesy, hard-driving "Bad Water."

"I've seen a lot of friends come and go, and even move on to the next life," the artist tells The Boot. "With not many options growing up in a small, conservative Southern town besides getting into trouble or go to church, I participated in both. There's sort of an evil that lingers in the air like buzzards circling in the sky, and if you're not careful, it'll latch onto you like a leech."

Arkansas Dave decided to use the waters of the Ouachita River to tell that story.

"Throughout the tall pines, fields of green grass and cypress trees growing in the bayous, swamps and along the banks of the muddy Ouachita, there is "Bad Water" everywhere," he explains. "A metaphor for the culture of small, rural Southern towns, "Bad Water" reflects my life growing up in a town where death always seems imminent."

"Bad Water" appears on Arkansas Dave's forthcoming self-titled album, set for release on April 20. Fans can pre-order the album via Amazon, and visit ArkansasDave.com for more information.