On a blustery December morning, Drew Hickum kept 1800 runners and walkers warm, happy and entertained... Drew Hickum could not have been more of a pleasure. The Hot Chocolate Run was a better, more entertaining and fun event thanks to Drew Hickum.
Drew Hickum...sounded like maybe how Damien Jurado sounded when he was young...I was tapping my feet for sure.
Thank you so, so much, from the bottom of my big heart, for lending
your talent and gifts to benefit Safe Passage. It was a wonderful
night and I know everyone enjoyed your performance. Plus, we raised
XXXXXX to support our services for women, children & families who
have experienced domestic violence. Thank you!
I signed your guestbook on your website so maybe someone else can see
how appreciative we are.
I thought you sounded great and look forward to hearing you all out
and about soon. Please send my sincere appreciation to Lisa and the
band. You were all marvelous, and so generous. Thanks again!
Marian
STRUM, HICKUM, STRUM
Considering that Drew Hickum claims to have listened to Live At Folsom Prison until the grooves wore out, your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler was expecting to hear some parallels to the late, great man in black and the line he so famously walked. As the West Virginia-born Valley transplant details his foray into folk music, it seems a more appropriate backdrop for his life could be Forrest Gump. After all, this is a guy who says at the age of 12 he carried a "beater guitar" around as his family moved from state to state, yet never played it. Then one day in March of 2006, for no particular reason, he started strumming.
"Well, there was a small reason, but it certainly wasn't monumental—even a little embarrassing," he says. "I was listening to Natalie Portman, and it occurred to me that here was a person my age becoming part of the cultural discourse& maybe it's time I enter the discussion?"
And—much like Gump's post-epiphany trek across the country—it turns out that Hickum (www.drewhickum.com) had a lot to say. In fact, the prolific six-stringer says he has inked one tune a week since that fateful career decision. While he balks at the mere notion of chronicling his personal life in his lyrics ("Goodness, how dull would that be?" he asks), he adds that he finds ample fodder in the tales of others—which he gets from magazines, television and his day-to-day. And luckily, the current city planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission says his workplace seems supportive of his tune quota.
"By that, I mean that no one seems to mind me walking around West Springfield singing to myself," he explains. "But I do think I look like a weirdo sometimes."
The Drew Hickum Band pulls double duty this Saturday, July 14, performing at Bishop's Lounge at 6 p.m., then high-tailing it over to The Elevens for a 9 p.m. nightcap. In addition to Hickum on guitar and vocals, the band includes fellow six-stringer/singer Lisa Marie, Adam Sweeney on banjo, and bassist Matt Silberstein.