American Journey Leads Back to Christchurch

For Immediate Release

1 July, 2013

American Journey Leads Back to Christchurch

One Man Guy: Dirty American Decade is heading to Christchurch for one night only in mid-July.

Written, directed and performed by Christchurch-born Jon Pheloung, One Man Guy: Dirty American Decade has been described by critics as “compelling, witty, and perceptive” following recent successful Auckland and Wellington seasons.

Pheloung armed only with an acoustic guitar performs fourteen original songs which are the basis of the show. Between songs, he tells a musician’s tale of ten years on the road in the USA.

For almost twenty years the former Shirley Boys High student (referenced in the name “Shirley Gentlemen Productions”) has enjoyed a second career in the States where his work as a songwriter and bandleader inspired the songs and story of One Man Guy: Dirty American Decade.

In the 1990s he formed The Bludgers, a Chicago-based band which was part of the popular alt-country scene that included Wilco. The Bludgers’ three albums (available on iTunes) will soon be joined by a fourth (‘Cathedral of Bad Decisions’), already recorded and due at the end of the year. A new single, “Wherever She Stays” is featured in the just-released film ‘Bottled Up,’ starring Oscar winner Melissa Leo.

“The One Man Guy stage show brings different aspects of live performing together. It’s something that I personally would love to see: live music, stand-up comedy and theatre rolled into one. The solo music is fun; songs can really breathe when you play them alone. The theatre setting gives the character and humour in the lyrics much more emphasis. And the comedy… well, if you can’t find laughs in being a struggling musician, you’ve done it wrong.”

An early version of One Man Guy debuted at BATS Theatre in Wellington in the 1990s.

“I don’t think those early songs were very good,” Pheloung says.

One of them - ‘3 Minute 3 Chord Pop Song’ - is the sole survivor from the early days and features prominently in the new show.

“The main thing I have in common with the “One Man Guy” character is we both would love to write the perfect pop song one day.”

Show details:

ONE MAN GUY: DIRTY AMERICAN DECADE

Where:                       At Rangi Ruru’s Helen Kitson Centre, 59 Hewitts Road, Merivale

Dates:                         Monday, 15th July

Show time:                7pm   

Running time:            65 minutes

Door sales:                $20/$15 student. Cash sales (EFTPOS not available)

Bookings:                  No bookings, door sales only – just rock on up!

More show details, video and images:

https://www.facebook.com/events/459627164132322/

Click for big version.

ENDS

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