Santa Cruz Fringe Festival Presents DNAs Stand-Up Mash-Up with a special look at Drennon Davis.

I’m happy to be on the heels of finding my stride contributing comedy shows to Santa Cruz—it’s taken me a while to find my way and provide something that nobody else is doing. From booking at The E3 Playhouse to The Blue Lagoon, while putting on shows at The Kuumbwa and The Vets Hall—my goal is to bring the best acts in the region alongside the up and comers. And by “best acts” I mean those amazing comics that are just below the corporate radar.

There’s quite a history of comedy in this town that often gets passed over. the general media  tend to focus on bands, theatre and really just about every art, besides comedy. I find this hilarious. Comedy is so important in our country that even the President of the United States finds it relevant and essential to ratings to tell some jokes and hobnob with the top-line of comedians.

That said, I am very excited about my second year contributing to The Santa Cruz Fringe Festival. Last year I brought 50 comics in 5 days, this year I’m focusing on “themed” shows with more of a punch. Every one of the five shows is a winner and will be at the Center Stage a.k.a Actor’s Theatre a.k.a. Jewel Theatre a.ka. just look it up at www.santacruzfringefestival.com

One show that will probably sell-out (so get your tickets in advance) is with the fantastically creative Drennon Davis. Although doing a truncated version of his full show (which recently seriously rocked The Kuumbwa), Davis will capture your imagination with his Imaginary Radio Program—a whirlwind tapestry of demented radio personalities and musical acts that are at once familiar and yet, uniquely strange.

Drennon Davis has created an entire world, a transmitted universe full of oddball characters, strangely familiar stereotypical celebrities, and a humorous collection of DJs—all with his voice and some magic pedals on the floor. There’s a good chance if you could look inside comedy singer/songwriter Drennon Davis’ head, things would be animated, slightly deranged and full of catchy tunes that you find yourself singing days and weeks after hearing.

So it’s no wonder that Davis is currently in talks with Hollywood about a show featuring the inside of his wonky curlicued head—the lad is honed for prime time. Think Flight of the Concords American cousin and you get a partial insight into Davis, but it’s only live that you can feel the manic brilliance of Davis and crew.

And amazingly enough this up-and-comer who has some stints in MTV and Comedy Central this summer is a Santa Cruzan at heart!

Drennon Davis’ mom has a gypsy spirit and so Davis’ childhood locale drifted from Monterey to Lake Tahoe, but as things turned out, he ended up doing his senior year at Soquel High. According to Davis, “I ended being expelled from school in Tahoe and went to live with my dad for a year in Soquel. I was very rebellious and had problems with authority—I was in a lot of punk bands and didn’t attend school very often.”

Davis was the mouthy kid who got straight A’s, smoked pot and was always in trouble. The kind of kid teachers hate but has undeniable energy and drive and, if able to reach it, a bright future.

At an early age Davis began writing a lot of stories that were populated with strange characters and weird puppets. When the “asshole teenage years” hit Davis  got more into punk rock and prank calling. “I think my first gig was at the High School. It was a punk/ska band. A couple of years later I ended up playing with Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy,” says Davis.

With a background in Improv, Davis’ move to SF when he was 19 years old was like an only child realizing they were part of a huge family. From his first gig at a showcase hosted by Al Madrigal (now with the Daily Show) to securing a job at the famous Cobb’s Comedy Club—it seemed like destiny and inscrutable luck were to have factor in Davis’ rise up the comedy food chain.

At first, hitting the open mics in the Bay Area, Davis started with short bits with odd characters that were more on the musical side. As things progressed in the first couple of years he had a lot of 2-3 minute little bits gathered up. Looking for a format that would allow him to string together all these characters he had created, Davis hit upon the idea of radio. “The radio idea allowed me to introduce comedy, songs and characters and that 3 minutes, became 10 minutes and then a full 15 minute set and the a half hour,” says Davis. “I started getting more people involved and that has become a full 90 minute show.”

Drennon Davis is one of The Fringe Shows this years at DNA’S STAND-UP MASH-UP check out the schedule below.

Friday July 12 9:30pm featuring the Sylvan Crew.

Sylvan Productions is a comedy power house based out of San Francisco, California. Its members are a collection of comedians, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists. Together they produce some of the best comedy to come out of San Francisco in years. After reviving comedy at Ditry Trix, the historic location of the Holy City Zoo, Sylvan has spread far and wide producing and performing comedy up and down the West Coast. With over a dozen comics that live together communally this features their top talent featuring Justin Gomes, Clare O'Kane, Andrew Holgrem and David Gborie.

http://www.sylvanproductions.com/about

Saturday July 13th 6:30pm featuring Joe Klocek

One of the greatest comedy story-tellers in the Bay Area, Joe Klocek makes his first Santa Cruz Fringe Festival appearance. From having appeared on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham to being voted "Best comic in the city" by the SF Weekly, Joe Klocek is a genuine sensation. http://tiny.cc/qu61vw

Also appearing is the Bill Hicks of the Bay, Brendan Lynch, Sacramento superstar Carlos Rodriguez and local Mike Montgomery.

Sunday July 14th 6 pm features a Night with the Funniest Ladies of the Bay

The web mistress of www.hatertuesday.com Lydia Popovich returns for her second year of Fringe. First timer Nina G. the Bay Area's most delightful stuttering comic also joining a trio of Bay Area funny ladies Kate Willett, Iris Benson and Susan Maletta.

Tuesday July 16th 9pm featuring Drennon Davis

From his animated series debuting on MTV this summer The Long Legs to his appearances on the new Comedy Central show Adam Devine's House Party to his spectacular appearances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012---Drennon Davis is on fire. Tonight he will be performing part of Imaginary Radio program----  http://tiny.cc/uw61vw

"If Davis isn't the world's foremost radio impressionist he's definitely tuned somewhere near the top The Imaginary Radio Program may just be the most inspiring show about what you can create when your entire world revolves around radio, and not just your genitals."  Fest Magazine

Also appearing is Big Al Gonzalez http://tiny.cc/fo61vw and special guests. . . 

Saturday July 20th 9:30pm featuring Jokes, Jokes, Jokes

When it comes to comedy, it's all about the jokes and this show features the best joke writers in the area.

Kellen Erskine rocked America's Got Talent last year and is considered to be the finest joke teller in the Bay Area. http://tiny.cc/sn61vw   Joining Kellen at this special show are some other might fine joke craftsmen Jesse Hett, Matt Lieb, Butch Escobar and Chad Obitz.

For more information give me a call at 530-592-5250.