David Caines is a seasoned guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from Newfoundland, Canada, with over four decades of experience in the music scene.
Since the age of 15, David has performed live with numerous artists, progressing to professional gigs across Canada and beyond. Read the full story of David’s personal musical journey, his songwriting philosophy, and his earliest influences here.“
He was a founding member of Mean Streak, one of Newfoundland’s premier bands of the late ’80s and early ’90s. During their run, the band released the album In Your Face, was featured in an interview on MuchMusic, and performed a showcase at the East Coast Music Awards.
The core album lineup featured Jim Kieley, Rich Haigh, Shawn Basha, David Caines, and Ken Walsh, with later iterations of the live band including Jason Campbell and Mark Reccord.
Read the full history, view archived lineup photos, and see the original gig posters on the Mean Streak Archive Page.
He later co-founded The Tequila Rockingbirds (2007–2017), a hard-working original and cover act that played hundreds of high-energy shows across the region. The band also released the critically acclaimed album, Drowning in a Moment of Enlightenment.
The core album lineup featured Chris Davis, Percy McDonald, David Caines, and Sonny Hogan, with later iterations of the live band including Keith Jackman and Tony Hollett.
Read the full history, view archived lineup photos, and see the original gig posters on the TTR Archive Page.
He played lead guitar in Jason Campbell‘s 12-piece rock orchestra for a high-profile album release show at the Casino Schooner Room in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The powerhouse band featured some of the finest musicians in Atlantic Canada.
The lineup included the Blue Engine String Quartet, Chris Mitchell (saxophones, flute), Rick Waychesko (trumpet, flugelhorn), Danny Martin (trombone), Kim Dunn (Hammond B3), David Caines (lead guitar), Jason Meadus (bass), and Richard Spurrell (drums).
He played lead guitar and provided backing vocals for Signal Hill (2019–2024), performing over 600 shows during a busy five-year tenure. This included headlining major events across the Maritimes, such as the George Street Festival, the Shediac Lobster Festival, and the PEI Shellfish Festival.
The lineup featured Terry Chaplin (drums, vocals), David Caines (lead guitar, vocals), Jason Campbell (acoustic guitar, vocals), and Jay Meadus (bass, vocals).
Read the full history from my period with SH, view archived lineup photos, and see the original gig posters on the Signal Hill Archive Page.
A passionate songwriter, David has contributed to seven albums over his career—from the early rock days of Mean Streak to his latest release, Doyle’s Road Sessions Vol. 1. Today, he is focused on crafting new music that seamlessly blends his deep rock roots with acoustic folk and singer-songwriter influences. His performances remain defined by his signature feel-based guitar work, commanding vocals, and raw authenticity.
While his immediate focus is on songwriting and expanding his digital footprint through music and guitar videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, David anticipates returning to the stage in the future—both as a solo performer and a collaborative guitarist.