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Arts & Entertainment

Dane Drewis to Serenade Hermosa Beach

Take a look back at the musician's talents in this archived article from his hometown in the Sacramento area. He is set to perform at Saint Rocke.

Editor's Note: A version of this article originally published on sister site . With Dane Drewis set to perform at Saint Rocke on Wednesday, we decided to share his story with Hermosa Beach readers.

Dane Drewis, a Sacramento-area musician known for his time spent at his family’s restaurant and in the Top 40 in American Idol auditions, is now bringing his talents to in Hermosa Beach, where he’ll perform during Wednesday happy hours in February, according to the venue's website.

Drewis received the Idol's thumbs-up in Sacramento in 2010 and, at the time, waited 12 hours the following day to audition in San Francisco. But there he got only a simple "thanks."

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"I gained a lot of perspective on how many hungry, talented people are out there," he said of his Idol experience. "Seeing that many talented people in a concentrated area and seeing how hungry the people are, is a big wake-up call."

Back at his family’s restaurant, with bare hands, Dane gently strummed his acoustic guitar, setting a warm tone. With eyes shut, he plucked the strings while simultaneously knocking against the instrument, creating his own beats.

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His vocals pack soul, prevalent in his cover of the Stevie Wonder hit "Sir Duke." He growls the lyrics, tapping his foot to the beat of his guitar solo.

"I've always been really into music from the beginning," Dane said. "I just didn't realize how to channel it until I got a guitar. But once I got a guitar, it was game on. Music is my main focus now."

Dane's father and mother, Janet Drewis, were both full-time musicians—Dale as a guitarist and Janet as a traditional jazz singer with a liking for anything bossa nova.

The two exposed their children to everything from opera and classical music to jazz and R&B. Dane also has a full band that includes his father on bass and friend, Jason Weed, on drums.

"A lot of guys, when they get to their mid-life crisis, go buy a Harley," Dale Drewis said. "Some of them get a young girlfriend. I joined a rock band with my son. I'm having the time of my life."

Dane's latest album, Rock & Soul, stays true to its title, Dale said, explaining that it captures his son's love of rock 'n' roll, yet remains grounded to his musical roots of soul and R&B.

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