Once a relatively unknown rural city, Joplin, Mo. was placed on the global radar after a tornado hit on May 22, 2011. It just so happens that Joplin is also the birthplace of the indie pop rock sensation Never Shout Never.
Never Shout Never has evolved over time from the solo project of Christofer Drew to a now-permanent band, formed in the group’s hometown in 2007. Drew launched a career by posting his acoustic music online, mostly on MySpace, and said that he received such fantastic feedback from the fans that he decided to further his pursuits.
Since then, Never Shout Never has released three live albums and 16 singles, including their latest album “Time Travel,” released in September of 2011. Never Shout Never is currently on “The Time Travel Tour” for their latest album, with a scheduled stop at The Pageant in St. Louis on Nov. 6 for the tour’s final night.
Never Shout Never’s sophomore album, “Harmony,” debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart at No. 14. The band has also had the opportunity to tour with Hellogoodbye, The Scene Aesthetic, Forever The Sickest Kids and Plain White T’s, among others.
Drew, lead singer-songwriter, said he grew up with music.
“I learned to play guitar from a friend when I was a teenager,” Drew said. “Then, my parents bought me a computer for Christmas, and I was able to begin working with sound editing software. I started messing around with different types and styles of music, and was able to recognize a passion for what I was doing.”
Drew said he is planning to switch from the acoustic music Never Shout Never has recently been recording, to a more “feel good, rock-n-roll vibe.”
“That particular genre of music has not been represented well in a while, and I would like to bring its popularity back once more,” Drew said.
Never Shout Never has demonstrated an interest in philanthropy for years and has been involved with countless projects to help people in need. When “Harmony” was released, the group included flower seeds with the CDs so people could “get involved and make the world a more beautiful place,” Drew said. When Never Shout Never first heard about the destruction of their hometown in May, they decided they needed to help the recovery efforts and joined in a campaign with United Way, with a goal of raising $1 million for Joplin.
According to Drew, most of the inspiration for Never Shout Never’s music comes from “jamming with each other.”
“Our newest songs are more cut and dry than in the past,” he said.
Drew said he enjoys being on tour. He said that, even though being on the road is hard because he is away from family, it helped that he was with his best friends, having fun and doing what he loved.
Tickets are still available for Never Shout Never’s Nov. 6 performance at The Pageant with A Rocket to the Moon, Carter Hulsey and Fake Problems. To purchase tickets, visit thepageant.com.
