David Elliott is the drummer who plays with Drumstrings Casey, and the manager of the two-person band. He is a serious young man, who thinks about making progress and moving up in the world in contrast to Drum, whose dreams of musical success seem to be mostly centered around getting out of town. David sells life insurance as a day job, which suits his hustling efforts to create publicity and get work for the band. He firmly believes that Drum is a talented musician, although he also is scornful of Drum's lackadaisical attitude, and knows that he will not make progress in his career without being led. Drum is sometimes irritated by David's playing, which he says is behind the beat and drags him down, which is symbolic of David's earthbound, practical nature. He is a good-looking young man, tall and slender with blonde hair, but girls generally show little interest in him, apparently because they are warded off by his serious appearance and attitude. David is the first person to back Evie's plan to turn her self-mutilation into a publicity stunt for the band. He displays creativity and flair in organizing the way Evie dresses for the concerts, positioning her where everyone can see her, and putting a candle at her table. He also goes along with Evie's later publicity plans, and develops a friendship with her, even though his first loyalty remains with Drum and the band. David is the only one of the four main teenaged characters who objects to the wedding between Drum and Evie, recognizing the folly of it. Even so, he participates in the ceremony, and remains friendly with the couple after the marriage. Increasingly, he comes to rely on Evie's ability to control and manipulate her husband. Together, he and Evie are like surrogate parents of Drum.
