Getting Sassy with...Drew Danburry

We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines.  And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere.  It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, "Getting Sassy with...", wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that's both painless and informative.  Ha!  Beat that, FOX News!

This time: Drew Danburry.

Singer-songwriter Drew Danburry will probably never have a gold record or sign to a major label or have his music committed to the collective memory of the citizens of the world, but we're going to tell you a little secret: we don't think he cares much.  His new record, This Could Mean Trouble, You Don't Speak For The Club, is out now and, well, if it sells a lot, it sells a lot.  If not, whatever.  Danburry will continue to write and release music that inspires him, excites us, and, hopefully, charms you to no end.  We sent our questionnaire off to him and got a chance to peer into the mind of a man who's consumed by great writing and literature, minimal spending on luxuries and beards.  Definitely beards.

Name?
Drew Danburry

Hometown?
Huntington Beach, CA

Current place of residence?
Utah Valley, UT

Number of states visited?
I’ve played in 46 of the continental 48. But I’ve been to all 48 of them if you count driving through…I’m actually trying to get to Alaska this May for the World Beard Championships and if I do go I’m gonna try and play a show up there between all the competitive bearding.

Favorite hometown haunt?
I don’t leave the house much anymore unless it’s for work, really, I’m rather boring outside of showtime.

Most recent phone bill total?
58.38

Items found in my day-to-day bag (if applicable)?
Paper, pens, a planner, toothpaste and a toothbrush, chapstick, photo identification and other such wallet fillers, a composition notebook, photocopies of songs to be recorded and the ones I’m currently writing, my work schedule, a copy of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Notes From The Underground and Simon Winchester’s The Professor and the Madman.

First album bought on your own?
I think the first actual purchase would have been Step On It: The Best of the Ska Parade (featuring Tazy Phillips and Albino Brown) BUT most definitely the first album that blew my mind was Weezer’s Blue Album.  I stole it from my brother after he was done listening to “Buddy Holly” on repeat for two weeks.

Favorite song memorized as a child?
Stevie Wonder “I Just Called To Say I Love You” or at least that’s my first memory with a song.  I love that song, every time I hear it I imagine riding in the back of our family’s VW bus driving up Adams into Costa Mesa at night and I get all warm and fuzzy all over.

Last book read?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Favorite book ever?
East Of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Favorite thing you bought this year?
I don’t think I’ve actually spent money on anything in years aside from investments towards music, or money spent on survival purposes (i.e. food, rent, gas).

After the jump, more with Danburry about his likes/dislikes and not having a computer to write his responses with.

Instruments played (chronologically)?
Flute, saxophone, guitar…

Least favorite day job before getting this gig?
What gig?  Do you think I’m getting paid for this?  I’ve worked so many crappy jobs in my life it’s crazy.

Favorite record this year?
TaughtMe, Lady (just so you know it’s not a grammatical error, there’s no space between the “Taught” and “Me”)

Favorite record ever?
Electric Light Orchestra All Over The World – The Best of the Electric Light Orchestra but honestly, who REALLY has a favorite anything?  Favorites are like an admission of ignorance.  I think these favorites I’m giving you are just the first thing that comes to mind that I’ve recently been jazzed on.

The one record you'd save from a house fire?
I wouldn’t think about records in a house fire.

Guilty pleasure record you don’t want us to know about?
Why wouldn’t I want anyone to know about things I like?  Why would I be embarrassed about anything I like?

If you didn't play music, what would you be doing?
Teaching full time, I imagine.  But I’m in the process of deciding whether I’d prefer elementary school or high school. Not sure.

Last illegally downloaded song/album (be honest)?
Patience and Prudence’s version of “Tonight You Belong To Me”.

Latest TV addictions?
I’m too busy to be addicted to TV.  After season three ended of "The Office" I’ve been scared to watch more.  I’m afraid it’s gonna let me down.  And what beats a DVD with the full season anyways?

Favorite music video this year?
I recently saw that old seventies video of “Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine”.  I really liked that one.  I don’t often like music videos, but I like my own. Have you seen any of my videos? They might be pretty good I think.  [Ed. note: after sending us the questionnaire, Danburry quickly sent us a follow-up about this question]  I thought of two music videos worth mentioning, I was having a tough time coming up with some.  SO I was hoping to officially respond with: "Woke Up Alone" by Ryland Bouchard and "What's a Girl to do" by Bat For Lashes and have you seen any of mine?  They're worth checking out, seriously.

Who is in your dream band (must be living musicians)?
Travis Bunn, Elliot Maldonado, Wyatt McKenzie.  It’d be great if our band could afford to be together.  It’d be GREAT! Is Jeff Lynne still alive?  And what’s the name of the singer from Nada Surf?  Jake Bellows would be really cool I think too.

Best concert you attended this year?
It’s a toss up between the Bishop Allen/An Horse show, Seve vs. Evan/Alligators, and Whispertown2000.  I really liked all those bands this last tour…any tour before I just forget about.

Recent song you can't get out of your head?
“Tattoo Song” by Mother McKenzie.

Press play on your iPod/media player and list the first three songs that come up.
I don’t have any of those things.  I’m borrowing this computer till my computer is fixed.

(mp3)    Drew Danburry - Accidents

(mp3)    Drew Danburry - I Thought All The Girl Problems Would Stop When I Turned Gay

Godspeed!