South Shore fave plays Reno's Brew HaHa
Lucky No. 13 Brew HaHa features dance party with Shane Dwight
“The majority of blues music is music that gets rid of your blues,” says Shane Dwight. And if his life is anything to judge by, he’s absolutely right.
The young singer/guitarist from the coast is just about the hottest thing going in blues bands, and he couldn’t be happier. But he’s found that people can be misled by the genre’s label, and wants to spread the word that you don’t have to be blue to enjoy the blues.
Take Shane, for example. Oh, he’s put in his time, he’s toted those barges and lifted those bales. “There’s been a lot of labor jobs, a lot of years of hard work.”
But right now, his music career is on fire. From the Monterey Blues Festival and San Francisco Jazz Festival to B.B. King’s in Los Angeles and the House of Blues radio show, Dwight is taking his interpretation of the blues to the people.
“I’ve always been heavily influenced by rock, country… I studied Beethoven and classical music for four years.” And the Shane Dwight Blues Band eventually trimmed its name down to the Shane Dwight Band, to keep people from bringing too many preconceptions to group’s music.
This all makes Dwight and his band a perfect fit for Sierra Arts’ annual Brew HaHa dance party at John Ascuaga’s Nugget, in Reno, on Jan. 26, where the attendees enjoy good music, good beer and a good time.
And Reno is a great match for Dwight and his band. They’ve got a large following among the blues fans such as the members of the Reno Blues Society— be sure to check out that group’s upcoming Mardi Gras Dance, details on page 13. Dwight is also a favorite at intimate area venues such as William’s Back Door Blues Club on Tahoe’s South Shore, where he sells out the room every time he plays.
But, to his credit, Shane Dwight doesn’t coast along solely on his past successes. “We’ve been lucky, but you’ve got to stay out there, stay busy. We’ve got a lot of performances scheduled.” The band even postponed a previously arranged gig on the coast in order to play for the Brew HaHa.
So order your tickets now. The phone has already been ringing off the hook at the Sierra Arts offices, and as of press time, the tickets haven’t even been printed yet. People are finding that admission to the Brew HaHa, and the perks that come with it, such as the Shane Dwight Band music and all of the great brew that you can responsibly drink, make for a great gift. And why not up the ante with a VIP pass?
Remember, this party is a sure-fire sell-out, so call for tickets right now— Sierra Arts at 329-ARTS or John Ascuaga’s Nugget at 356-3300, or online at www.sierra-arts.org.
