2009.05.27
Big week for local drummer: Opening for Robert Randolph, hosting Dave Matthews Band listening party
Drew Lawhorn is a very fine drummer. He can groove like mad in a variety of situations. You can hear him with Jordan Harman Band and Pace Brothers Organ Trio, among other acts.
Turns out, Lawhorn is pretty lucky, too. He recently won the chance to host a listening party at his house. The album: "Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King," the latest from Lawhorn's heroes, Dave Matthews Band.
The record doesn't come out until June 2, so listeners there can get ahead of the latest DMB curve and contribute a donation to the LeRoi Moore Memorial Fund (saxophonist Moore, a founding DMB member, died in August). If you have any recyclable items, please bring them. There will be recycling stations set up.
That shindig is on Saturday. By then, he'll have returned with Jordan Harman Band from Tarrytown, New York, where the band is scheduled to open for Robert Randolph & the Family Band, at Tarrytown Music Hall.
Winning a contest is one thing. But getting an opening slot with Randolph, who rocks the sacred steel guitar in amazing ways? How did that happen?
Lawhorn explained, via facebook.com e-mail: "Well it all started in 2006 when I was at a Robert Randolph show. I was sitting front row and I was drumming on the rail the whole time. He kept eyeing me and finally looked at me and waved at me to come sit in on drums for a song. So of course I did and that led to us talking after the show and he really enjoyed my playing."
Randolph gave his manager's contact information to Lawhorn and told him to get in touch. He and the manager, Chris Sampson of Red Light Management, have been in touch ever since, Lawhorn wrote. Just a few days ago, Lawhorn received an e-mail from Red Light, asking if Jordan Harman Band would open the New York show.
"It still hasn't fully hit me yet!!," he wrote.
As for the party, which Lawhorn won in an online contest: It's set for 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, at Lawhorn's house -- 713 Yorkshire St., Salem. The New Orleans theme will include Big Easy-style food, desserts and a low country boil.
The party is for everyone who wants to hear the album, Lawhorn said. Here's some stuff to know if you're going to go: The front of Lawhorn's place has limited parking, but Riverside Drive runs right behind his house, "and you can park along the grassy area," he wrote. Come and go as you please and feel free to bring drinks and food as well, he wrote.
