Brewer and Shipley concert Saturday in Nevada

Thursday, April 15, 2010

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Dangerous Doug Harper has been busy, getting ready for the Brewer and Shipley concert Saturday at Shooter's. Harper said he was proud that such a well-known act would come to a small venue like Nevada but Michael Brewer, who now lives outside of Branson, said the phenomenon is growing.

"It's really hard to find the right kind of venues that used to exist because they just don't anymore," Brewer said. "In fact, house concerts have become really a happening. Even though they are intimate audiences people get to see performers they would never get to see because otherwise they would never come to your town because there is no venue for them to play. It actually reminds me of the old coffeehouse days of the '60s."

Brewer said the duo isn't a bar band and the appearance at Shooter's is unusual because of that. It was Harper's promise to close down the pool tables and other distractions that sealed the deal.

"We stopped playing bars many years ago because we're not a loud band, we're not a copy band, we're a concert act," Brewer said. "But Doug assured our management that he would shut down the pool tables and make it concert seating and listening audience oriented."

The duo split up for nearly a decade but they remained in fairly close proximity, Tom Shipley lives in Rolla where he is on the staff of the Missouri University of Science & Technology.

"We've both lived in the Ozarks for decades now, we love it," Brewer said. "We're hillbillies now."

The two have released two albums, "Shanghai" and "Heartland," since a reunion in Kansas City in 1989 and Brewer is also solo recording, his latest release 'It Is What It Is," as well as the duo's albums, is available for purchase on the Web site, www.brewerandshipley.com.

Brewer credited the growth of the Internet and the popularity of sites such as iTunes, where individual songs can be purchased, and Facebook, where bands can post their music for the availability of songs by new talent.

"With the Internet groups can get their music out there where it can be heard," Brewer said. "The Internet is a great thing for musicians."

Brewer and Shipley will be performing at 7 p.m. in Shooter's but there is a lot planned for the whole day.

"This is the pre-show, we're going to have all these performers outside," Harper said.

The pre-show will start with the

"Star Spangled Banner," sung by Brenda Hyder. From then until 11:45 a.m. it will be an acoustic performance by Worba; noon to 12:45 p.m. Aubrey Robinson and friends; 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Vice Eye featuring Dave Byerly; 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Fraught with Peril; from 3 p.m. to 3:45 Scott from the Half a Mind band; 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Can and Lorrie Devine; 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Jennifer Herdliska and friends; 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Matthew Harper.

The show will start with an opening act, Lathrop and Jamison, composed of Jason Lathrop and Anthony Jamison. After the opening act Brewer and Shipley will take the stage.

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