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Your chance to see Last Truck documentary for FREE

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Last Truck Dayton ShowsFor months local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar filmed, interviewed and lived the last days of the Moraine Assembly Plant to create an emotionally raw and poignant look at the employees on their final weeks at work. In August HBO came to Dayton to debut the documentary to a full house of GM employees at the Schuster Center. Then on Labor Day the story played nationwide on HBO.

Now HBO has gone even further to celebrate the town that provided the story for The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant. On Saturday Oct 24 there will be three screenings at the Neon Movies and Little Art Theater. HBO has generously rented the theaters so the shows can be free and open to the public.

Some of the former GM workers featured in the film will be at each screening for Q & A afterwards.

Just last week The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the field of Documentary Short Subject contenders for the 82nd Academy Awards has been narrowed to eight films, of which three to five will earn Oscar nominations and Last Truck has made that list.

Showtimes:

Neon Movies
5th & St. Clair, Downtown Dayton
12:00pm and 1:30pm

Little Art Theater
247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs
4:00pm

Horrorama is Friday – Get the Inside Scoop from the Organizers and Dr. Creep on WYSO

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horrorama 09It’s been over 20 years since Shock Theatre graced the TV sets of Dayton residents, but as Halloween approaches the Miami Valley, you can still catch Dr. Creep at many area events.  One event that’s been a become a seasonal tradition for fans of scary movies is Horrorama, a charity horror film marathon that’s been in the area since 1997.  Dr. Creep will be on hand to host this year’s festivities this Friday, October 23 starting at 7pm at the Englewood Theater.

Dr. Creep and two of the organizers of Horrorama will be guests on WYSO’s Kaleidoscope this Wednesday night, October 21 around 9pm.  Tune into WYSO at 91.3Fm or listen online at wyso.org.

Joanne Dugan: On Seeing What’s Right in Front of You

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According to Joanne Dugan, art is all around us. The key to discovering it is careful observation.

As a photographer, artist, designer, and writer based out of New York City, Joanne has taken this philosophy to heart and incorporated it into every aspect of her diverse career. And now, Dugan is going to share her experiences and collection of work to the community this month.

“The exhibit is thought-provoking and challenges the viewer to stop and look closely at what’s in front of you,” said Jayne Matlack-Whitaker, the curator of Joanne Dugan’s exhibit for the Rike Center. “I’ve been familiar with the transformation of her work for awhile and I think her exhibit will be beneficial to the Visual Arts Department. It’s going to be a different show than what we’ve had in awhile.”

Joanne Dugan Exhibit 1Joanne Dugan’s exhibit, On Seeing What’s Right in Front of You: ABCs, 123s and New York City, will be on display in the Rike Center gallery from October 1–29. The collection of photographs reflects Joanne Dugan’s experiences of seeing art everywhere in Manhattan and also encourages others to do the same throughout their daily lives.

Her images of New York City have also appeared in six award-winning books, including her own photographic children’s book ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City and its sequel 123 NYC: A Counting Book of New York City.

“She blurs the lines of distinction that may exist between a designer, photographer, artist, and writer,” Jayne said.

On Wednesday, October 28th, Joanne Dugan will be leading ArtStreet’s Wednesday Workshop session, which runs from 7-9 PM in Studio E. For more information about ArtStreet’s Wednesday Workshops, go to http://artstreet.udayton.edu.

“The fact is that her work does present a real mixture of ways to use ones eyes and photography. She’s doing the workshop to help people understand that her images are inspired from New York, but that anyone can do that anywhere.

The end of the exhibit will conclude with a closing reception on Thursday, October 29 from 5-7 PM in the Rike Center. This will be an amazing opportunity to not only see On Seeing What’s Right in Front of You one last time, but to also speak with Joanne Dugan herself.

“She is encouraging people to look at their surroundings,” Jayne said, “and to see the potential of making images possible. All you need is wonder, interest, and a keen observation for what’s right in front of you.”

Be sure to check out Joanne Dugan’s exhibit throughout the month of October. For more information about the On Seeing What’s Right in Front of You exhibit, contact Todd Hall, the Rike Center gallery coordinator, at 937-229-3261 or [email protected].

The Turkish Delights Win the 2009 Dayton Band Playoffs

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TurksWinIt was a packed house at Canal Street Tavern on Saturday, September 26 as the final round of the 2009 Dayton Band Playoffs began.  Oxymoronatron and the Turkish Delights each performed high energy sets for the crowd.  At the end of the night, the count began on the over 300 votes cast.  It came down to 4 votes to determine the Turkish Delights were this year’s winner.  You can catch both of the finalists live October 3rd at Dayton Music Fest.

Benefit Screening of Fresh, The Movie

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fresh_poster_new-500x646As part of Miami Valley Grown’s first ever Local Food Week, a screening of Fresh will take place on Thurs, October 8th at 8pm at the 2nd Street Market.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

Miami Valley Grown is a local group of volunteers working to connect local growers, farmers & producers with local buyers, striving to educate our community of the benefits of buying locally.

For more info on MVGrown & Local Food Week, please visit MiamiValleyGrown.org

Queen of Southern Sass returns

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There aren’t many women who can make polyester pants, a paisley shirt, cat eye glasses and a kerchief look sexy, but Etta May does it.
She’s even got a fan club of “Etta Heads” that show up at her gigs dressed like her. A 17 year veteran of the comedy clubs, she did all the comedy tv shows- Comedy Central, Comic Strip Live and more, appeared on Oprah and won the American Comedy Awards Stand Up Comic of the Year Award. She was always a crowd favorite in my old Jokers days, for those of you who remember!

She’s a story teller and frequently pokes fun at her husband and four children in her routines. “I’m not necessarily a writer, just more of a tattletale,” said May. She says “I named my kids after my favorite TV show, ‘My Three Sons.’ Rob, Chip, Ernie, and Tramp.” “My teenage daughter thinks wearing a three-hook bra is playing hard get.” “Her whole vocabulary consists of one word ‘WHATEVER!!” “My kids are little monsters…lucky for me the doctor gave me Valium. What a wonderful drug! Then I realized the prescription was for me and not the kids!”

Etta May has teamed up with 2 other comedians to form the Southern Fried Chicks, often touted as the female equivalent of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. They’ll be at the Victoria Theatre on Fri, Oct 9th and I highly suggest you check out this show. And unlike at the comedy clubs, this one is guaranteed to be tame and clean enough to bring your mom!

Southern Fried Chicks official site

From Water to ABC’s: Art Exhibits Abound at University of Dayton

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33181_betsydamon_thumbWhat do rivers, a tribute to a deceased pet, and the alphabet have in common? All are part of the visual art exhibits on display at the University of Dayton this fall:

Water: Source and Resource
Eco-artist Betsy Damon just completed a week-long residency at the University of Dayton, where she shared her experiences as an artist deeply engaged with the importance of water in our lives, a relevant topic for the Miami Valley. As founder of the organization Keepers of the Waters, she works to transform communities’ relationship to water; her “living water” projects can be found throughout the U.S. and in China. By the time Damon left campus on Friday, faculty, students and community members alike were abuzz with ideas for Dayton’s own watershed. An exhibit of Damon’s work is on display through October 23 at UD’s ArtStreet, located on the 300 block of Kiefaber Street. ArtStreet is open 8 am – midnight Monday through Friday, noon – midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Shelf: Department of Visual Arts Faculty and Staff Exploration
The Department of Visual Arts’ annual faculty exhibition concludes this week with a closing reception, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, from 5-7 pm. The exhibit is located in the Rike Center Gallery on the UD campus. And while you are there, be sure to stop by Roesch Library, located just a few steps away from the Rike Center. Adam Alonzo’s Five for Five photography exhibit is located in the first floor gallery (now through September 30, http://www.adamalonzo.com), and Tom Watson’s Stem/ReAssemblage screen print/mixed media series can be found on the ground floor and second floor mezzanine (now through September 25, http://www.myspace.com/lemonadehead).

On Seeing What’s Right in Front of You: ABCs, 123s and New York City
Manhattan-based photographer Joanne Dugan will share her ongoing experiences of “Seeing What’s Right in Front of Me,” October 1 – 29 in the Rike Center Gallery. Check out a sample of Dugan’s work at http://www.joannedugan.com. A closing reception with the artist is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, from 5 – 7 pm.

For more information about the arts at the University of Dayton, visit http://arts.udayton.edu.

Shakespeare in South Park Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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Midsummer Night's DreamFairies and Athenians are enjoying the late summer weather in South Park Green, a cozy hillside park with an impressive vista of the Dayton skyline at dusk. These Shakespearean characters are diligently rehearsing A Midsummer Night’s Dream, opening Friday, September 18 at 8PM. The play is sponsored by Historic South Park. Last year they staged Much Ado About Nothing.

The delightful romantic comedy of mismatched lovers, enchanted forests and Puck, the famously mischievous sprite, will play out against the natural background of lush trees strung with twinkling lights at sunset, a perfect stage for the magic-comic misadventures of the king and queen of the fairies, human lovers and bumbling rustic folk.

First-time play producers Phyllis Tonne and Galen Wilson cannot believe their good fortune in director, cast and crew. And of the 22 players, 11 are from their own neighborhood of South Park. Director Daniel Wilson, a resident of Riverside, is an experienced director and founder of Wichita’s Shakespeare in the Park program. His wife Jennifer Wilson, a military professional working at Wright Patterson Airforce Base, is also an actress and costume designer of long experience. Two alums of Dayton’s renowned Muse Machine, Michael Wadam and Natalie Houliston bring talent and leadership to the troupe, which is a healthy mix of accomplished and neophyte actors.

The University of Dayton contributed some of its alumni to the cast, including Paul Browning, now working at the Airforce Base and Alexandra Robinson of The Kettering Foundation. Chris Rowley, ex-military currently at Woolpert, takes the stage for the first time since seventh grade.

Shakespeare requires men and in the need to cast more of them, the producers walked through the neighborhood in search of good-looking fellows of a certain age, just like talent scouts of old. They found Nick Moye, who’s turning out to be something of a natural. The South Park neighborhood offered up another crucial talent, the all-important stage manager, in the form of Elizabeth Blackwell, a Wright State theatre graduate. Alex Pitcairn joined the cast having recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati theatre program.

Rounding out the stage with young people are Kaitlyn Paeg, 15, of Trotwood and Lydia Diabate-Tonne, a fifth grader at Valley Forge in Huber Heights. The director is highly pleased with his actors. Even after many years of professional directing and the founding of other theater companies, Daniel Wilson gently mocked himself saying, “I have a better cast than I deserve.”

The troupe is in high spirits and rising to the play’s challenge, which bodes well for a lively engaging performance. “Dream” includes a lot of physicality, fighting, chases and dances as well as delicate moments and broad humor, even a song or two. It promises to be great family fare. Audiences are asked to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are free but donations will be accepted to defray the play’s production costs.

“There is a surprisingly strong affinity for the work of William Shakespeare that has drawn us together again this year, and has us looking forward to the next,” says Tonne. Indeed, the Bard of Avon seems to have found a home in South Park.

Check it out on the DMM Event Calendar!

Corpus Christi @ The Dayton Playhouse

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03-CorpusThe most controversial and talked about play of 1998 begins: “We are going to tell you an old and familiar story.” It parallels the New Testament. Its subject; the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. But McNally’s Christ is the character Joshua, a young man born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. Joshua is homosexual and grows up in isolation and torment, an object of scorn. He flees Corpus Christi in search of a more accepting environment, gathering a group of disciples who are bound to him by his message of love and tolerance. Will his plea, that we look upon all souls as equal, fall unattended?

Casting Call for-

Joshua
John-a writer, younger brother to James
James- a high school teacher
Peter- a young man who sells fish
Andrew- a masseur
Philip-a hustler (early 30’s)
Bartholomew- a doctor and James’ lover
Judas Iscariot- a restauranteur
Matthew- a lawyer ( 30’s)
Thomas- an actor (25)
James The Less- an architect
Simon- a singer* preferably actually can sing
Thaddeus- a hairdresser
*one actor who plays the violin or fiddle is called for.
We are looking for 13 Men around the ages of 18-35
Auditions have been set for the last week of September Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th, with times TBA.
The show runs November 13-22 and is through the Dayton Playhouse.

Director -Michael Boyd
Assistant Director- Nicklaus Moberg

Feel free to contact either Michael or Nicklaus for more information.
Michael Boyd- [email protected]
Nicklaus Moberg- [email protected]
or see The Dayton Playhouse page at http://www.daytonplayhouse.org/shows09-10/03Cor.html

Feel free to invite others and we hope to see you come out and audition!

DAYTON’S NOT DEPRESSED—WE’RE ALIVE & KICKIN’

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Mykee FowlinJoin Victoria Theatre Association and the National Conference on Community and Justice of Greater Dayton as they present actor, psychologist and poet, Mykee Fowlin in a seriously fun presentation that takes a look a what Dayton is and can be,.

With a dangerous combination of professional acting ability and psychological training, Mykee Fowlin has made it his mission to “shake things up” while creating an atmosphere of inclusion, not just tolerance, for all people.

In a gripping, fast-paced performance, Dr. Fowlin slips in and out of multiple characters who share their stories in a way that can change the audiences perspective.

The result? Dayton business people will leave this event with a renewed optimism for Dayton’s future—and a keen sense of the way Daytonians are the same and the ways we are different.

HOW TO GO:

Thurs, Sept 25th @ The Schuster Center

5:00pm networking, including a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres

5:45pm  Dr. Fowlin’s performance begins

FREE, seating is by reservation only and is limited. Reserve your seats by Spetember 21, 2009

Call  228-7591 x 3018 or email  ryan.pasco@victoriatheatre.com

Media That Matters Film Festival

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film_fest_09Come out and support local media and your first amendment rights as DATV presents the “Media That Matters Short Film Festival” on September 17th at 7:30pm, at the Neon Movies in Downtown Dayton. I went to this event last year and it was a really good time, the short films were very well done and really made you think.. well worth the price of admission to see these amazing short films.

The “Media That Matters Short Film Festival” is the premier national showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. “Media That Matters” engages diverse audiences and inspires them to take action.

The festival features 12 jury selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues with humor, humanity and honesty in 12 minutes or less. Topics range from gun violence and media censorship to urban development and climate change.

“By presenting this showcase DATV hopes to inspire Dayton area residents to use media to help make a difference in our community,” said Dan Suffoletto, Marketing Director.

Tickets to the festival are only $15 and I’ll deliver them myself to your house… or they can be purchased online at www.datv.org, at the Neon Movies box office, or at DATV’s Public Access Center located at 280 Leo St. in Dayton.

The event includes light refreshments and door prizes, with drinks available for purchase. Attendees will also receive a “Take Action Guide” that gives information about how they can take the messages of the films and make a difference in their daily lives.

Proceeds from the event will benefit DATV. DATV’s mission is to be a community forum that empowers all citizens to learn, create and express their ideas through electronic media. To accomplish its mission DATV provides the training equipment and facilities for local residents to make a difference in their communities by creating their very own noncommercial cable TV programs.

20something – Dayton’s First Rooftop Musical Theater Production

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20something Poster“20something:  The Songs of Kerrigan & Lowdermilk,” a new experiment in musical theater by Dayton, Ohio’s Encore Theater Company will make it’s American premiere on the roof of The Firefly Building in downtown Dayton, Ohio, September 10-12, 2009.

Facebook. Blogs. YouTube. Text Messages. This is the language of a new generation and no one captures what it means to be twenty-something in 2009 quite like exciting songwriters Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk. In 20something, Kait and Brian’s powerful, edgy, funny, and honest songs are performed raw and uncut by some of the Dayton area’s most talented twenty-somethings.

The show is personal and dynamic.  Don’t expect to see the same show twice if you catch multiple performances.  The cast has no script to memorize, each performance is their own, and each performer has their own story, centered on insightful songs such as “Run Away With Me,” “Pretty Girl Blues,” and “How to Return Home.”

“It’s fascinating to me,” says director Corinne Derusha, “the cast has figured out a way to relate to everyone…whether you’re in your twenty-somethings, or just remembering them.”

Beth Ann Wipprecht, who portrays “27” (cast members refer to themselves by the age of their on-stage alter-ego) has described the creative process of 20something as “…one of the most artistically gratifying productions I’ve been a part of.”  Brandon Michael Fleming, “28”, states “I’ve been a fan of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk for four years and getting the opportunity to perform their work is very rewarding.  I hope the audience appreciates this new form of musical theater that’s being produced.”

Don’t miss this “reality” musical experience where every performance tells a whole new story and every song explores a new truth.

“20something” is directed by Corinne Derusha, with assistance by David Brush.  Musical direction is by Alex Horton. Cast members include Beth Ann Wipprecht, Brandon Michael Fleming, Katelyn Yeager, Madeline Casto, Tim Singleton, Valerie Reaper & Zachary Justus. The production opens September 10th for four performances on the rooftop terrace atop The Firefly Building at 123 Webster Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Tickets ($15, $10 & $5) are available through www.encoretheatercompany.com or by calling 1 (866) 967-8167.  Adult Content.  In conjunction with Dayton’s Urban Night’s event, Friday night’s 10pm performance will feature special $5 pricing for all guests aged 20-29.

Check it out on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!

Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival

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lgbt_filmfestThe Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival (presented by the Downtown Priority Board) provides a space for voices to be heard that aren’t often represented in mainstream media.  The subjects range from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  Generally, the festival highlights films that are made with smaller budgets.  These movies go relatively unnoticed beyond the LGBT community, but they’re strong pieces of work that merit being seen.

The Edge of Heaven, a selection from last year’s festival, went on to be named one of the “Top 10” films of the year by many critics.  Were The World Mine, last year’s opening night film, garnered a large following and won multiple awards around the world.  In 2007’s festival, the short film Freeheld went on to win an Academy Award.  This film was not screened anywhere else in the Dayton Region.

This year’s films include:

Friday September 25

Saturday September 26

Sunday September 27

This has become an annual tradition for both the Downtown Priority Board AND The Neon, and it brings people in from other cities like Cincinnati and Columbus.  As a priority board member I’m proud of our continued support for this film festival.

Check out this event on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!

Warped Comedy Warblings of Tim Wilson

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images-11Don’t let Comedian Tim Wilson’s slow southern drawl fool you, his wit is razor sharp.   Wilson puts a humorous spin on everything from gun control to the government. He ranges from talking about the frustrations of trying to reason with a bank teller to taking on construction workers that never get anything done.  “I don’t do observational comedy. I do kind of opinionated, issue-type stuff,” Wilson says.  “I’m kind of a curmudgeon.”

His humor, and opinions, get a frequent airing on syndicated radio shows -like Bob and Tom, heard locally on WTUE.

Watch Tim sing First Baptist Bar & Grill on Bob & Tom

Wilson is best known for such ditties as “The Jeff Gordon Song,” “Chucky Cheese Hell” and “First Baptist Bar & Grill,” which he refers to as “my Freebird.” Since inking a deal with Capitol Records in 1998, he’s released more than a dozen albums, including “The Real Twang Thang,” “I Should’ve Married My Father-in-Law” and “Hillbilly Homeboy.”  “I’m meaner than the Blue Collar Comedy guys, and I have more opinions,” says Wilson. “I like to find someone in the audience who is young enough to be my kid or my niece and explain to them how America is really supposed to be.”

Somewhere in between comedy gigs, Wilson got serious and co-authored a book with fellow comedian Roger Keiss.   “Happy New Year, – ted: Theodore Bundy and the Columbus Stocking Stranglings.” The book theorizes that Bundy, a notorious serial killer, killed one of the Stocking Stranglings in 1978, after escaping from the Glenwood Springs, Colo., jail. It also theorizes that Bundy, rather than William Hance, killed two prostitutes in Columbus. Georgia, Wilson’s hometown.

So whether it’s laughs or history you’re after, you’ll get both at a Tim Wilson comedy show.  Catch  his latest “philosophies” on the everyday frustrations of the working man to The Dayton Funny Bone Sept 17th -20th at The Greene.

Arts Exhibit to Celebrate Dayton’s Legacy of Creativity

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creativesoulThe Armory building will become the latest exhibition space in the Oregon Arts District, when it hosts Creative Soul of Dayton, starting Friday, Oct 2nd.    “Our goal is for Creative Soul of Dayton to include a wide variety of works representing the many talented artists, including students, in our community,” says Susan Byrnes, director of UD’s ArtStreet and lead exhibit organizer. “We hope all Daytonians with an artistic spirit will participate.  “This project is being designed to display the highest quality of individual artistic achievement in the visual arts.”

Prior to the exhibit opening, prize juror Eva Buttacavoli will select winning works in a variety of categories.  Buttacavoli is an independent curator and art educator who recently moved to Dayton. Previously, she was the director of exhibitions and education at the Austin Museum of Art, where she was recognized for creating art experiences that connect to everyday life and  was awarded museum educator of the year in Texas in 2006.

Three artists will be awarded best of show, and each will receive a solo exhibit of his or her work in Link Gallery in the Oregon Arts District, a sponsor of Creative Soul of Dayton, as well as exhibition and professional development consultation from Buttacavoli.

Creative Soul of Dayton also will include artist talks and other fun, educational activities throughout the month, with details available closer to the exhibit opening. A group of faculty, staff and students from the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Central State University and Sinclair Community College ― along with local artists, gallery owners and community members ― are organizing the exhibition.

It will be on display on the third floor of the Armory Building, 201 E. Sixth St., on the corner of Sixth Street and Patterson Boulevard in downtown Dayton, from Friday, Oct 2, through Friday, Nov 6, 2009.  An opening reception for the exhibit will be held during the free monthly downtown arts hop, First Friday, from 5‐10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, when award winners will be announced. A closing reception will be held from 5‐10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, during that month’s First Friday event.

Creative Soul of Dayton was inspired by the DaytonCREATE effort that began in March 2008, when “creative class” economist Richard Florida and his Creative Communities Leadership Project came to Dayton. DaytonCREATE includes five initiatives. One of them, This is Dayton, is aimed at building civic pride, and Creative Soul of Dayton is part of this initiative. For more on DaytonCREATE, see www.daytoncreate.org.

Droopy Drew Donisi: El Dago Diablo

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“Droopy” Drew Discusses Donnie Baker, Motor Boatin’ And Fun

Hailing from the deep south (somewhere around the Franklin, Ohio area), “Droopy” Drew Donisi takes the stage brandishing a guitar to play his own originally warped southern rock tinged tunes. Drew’s approach to comedy is open, engaging the audience with his sincere bouts of storytelling interspersed with original melodies.

“I don’t want to complain and I don’t want to get on stage and bitch about anything.” Drew said during a recent interview. “I just want to tell a story that I may have made up, but it’s going to be a funny ass story.”

Headlining at Wiley’s brings this local comedian full circle as he had originally started his comedic career performing open mic sessions there.

“I did the open mic thing there on Sunday nights, trying out new material and ideas that I had and that’s where I came up with all my songs.” Drew reflected. “You know those open mic nights were just having fun.”

Fun seems to be the watchword of Drew’s performances. He seems to be more concerned about giving the audience a brief respite from their daily concerns and allow them the just let loose, have fun and possibly sing along to one of his many original songs. Some of his could be seen as purely sophomoric, but again, they are purely just for fun. I asked him about the process of writing the songs, whether the melody comes first and the words are hung upon it or if the tune is written around the words…and where did he come up with the ideas for the songs?

            “Well, like that Motor Boatin’ song.” he said. “I saw somebody with big (globular mounds of flesh found on the chests of females)…I know you can’t write that in the article, but…and I was like, ‘Holy smokes!’ and I just started thinking that there are a lot of things that I like to do, but that is one of the things that I love to do, so I just made the whole song about things that I like to do, but the one thing I love to do is motor boatin’.”

And no, if you don’t know what motor boating is, I’m not going to tell you. That’s what the Internet is for. While this and some of Drew’s other songs are riddled with sexual innuendos, a lot of his material is extremely accessible by all audiences. His humor and prowess with the guitar even caught the eye of the Bob and Tom camp. Drew has opened for Donnie Baker on several occasion (the most recently being in Indianapolis in April) and has appeared on the Bob and Tom Show. I asked Drew to fill in the details on how he came to meet Donnie Baker.

“I featured for Dwight York at Wiley’s last year and Donnie came in and did two shows. Dwight moved down to feature and I moved down to opener.” he related, “which, as you know, when they bring somebody big in, the opener usually gets dropped. So Rob (Haney, owner of Wiley’s) kept me in the rotation. So, I hit it off with the band and Donnie was really easy to work with.”

            Drew’s direct approach and unpretentious acceptance of what he wants his comedy to convey has made him a favorite son of not only Wiley’s, but many other venues around the country. His good natured demeanor reflects in the honest answer that he gave me pertaining to what he wanted audiences to take away from his shows:

“All I’m trying to do when I’m doing my comedy is to give the audience the chance to forget about the crap outside the doors.” he said. “When they come in, it’s just stupid humor. It’s nothing that you have to think about. It’s nothing that you really have to know any politics. It’s just a good time out with your friends and a guy that will make you laugh.”

(Writer’s Note: Sadly, Drew passed away suddenly on March 10th, 2012. You will be missed by many “Droopy.”)

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