Hey guys! Thanks for stopping by my music page. Please add me to your friends.
I'm Andyman Hopkins (sometimes spelled "&Eman"). I love to sing, play guitar, and entertain. Recently, I've also been mixing live sound and working in the studio as a producer. I play originals (check 'em out in the player above!) and/or covers by Ben Harper, Steve Miller, John Mayer, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Sublime, James Taylor, The Band, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alan Jackson, B.B. King, Robert Johnson, or whoever else, etc etc...
THE BIO:
I'm the first born son of a bluegrass musician and a clown, and so jammin and jokin is what I know best. I spent my formative years bouncin around small towns in southern Ohio. I remember watchin Dad's bands play and following mom to her singing telegram gigs. By age 4, mom had me in the act, and I was earning money at birthday parties in an E.T. costume. In elementary and middle school, I sang in choir and played recorder, clarinet, sax, upright bass. At night in the garage, I played my electric bass; rockin some Beatles, Sabbath, and Cream with my little brother and some of our buddies.
When I was 15, my mom and I moved to Cincinnati, OH. I enrolled into The School for Creative and Performing Arts (think "Fame," the musical). I played electric bass and alto saxophone in several jazz and classical ensembles there, while holding down a second major in technical theater (I obviously didn't get to date much in high school, but I gigged a lot). I even took a couple of dramatic roles when I could. Meanwhile at night, I played electric guitar with an ecclectic rock band called Soulstice. We played at a lot of parties, and recorded some great stuff that most people will never hear. Ha!
For college, I attended The College Conservatory of Music (@ the University of Cincinnati). I earned a BFA in Electronic Media with a focus on studio recording. During this time, I played in a bluesy hip hop jam band called 60 Cycle Hum. We played festivals, bars and parties within a 100 mile radius. Our screwy band of brothers lived together in The Hum House, a rock n roll castle that was full of salty macaroni, cigarettes, and loud music. We self-released 2 studio albums ("Bottoms Up!" and "Bootleg Blooze") and countless live bootlegs, which we enjoyed throwing offstage to our buddies. What a ride!
After college, I started gigging full-time at bars and private parties. I mostly performed with Dos Locos, a powerfully entertaining acoustic duo, with my pal Michael "Paco" Robinson, who was the singer of 60 Cycle Hum. We made a lot of people laugh and sing. At the end of our 4 year run, we had expanded to a 4 piece band (The Dos Locos All Stars). Paco and I had played hundreds of gigs at colleges, weddings, conventions, etc, and we had self-released a Live Album ("Bigger Than Cornhole: LIVE @ The Blue Note"). I miss my old buddy very very much.
I met my next partner through an ad in the paper. Kara Michele and I formed a band called The Fine Lines, which later became The Sock Monkeys. We were a 4-piece rock cover band, who always had too much fun: we ran through the audience on wireless units, we brought presents and pinatas for special occasions, and ALWAYS paused for the cause. Kara and The Sock Monkeys still play in many Cincinnati bars with an ever rotating lineup. Check 'em out sometime. You'll enjoy it.
In late 2006, my wife and I moved to South Bend, IN, to be near her family for a while. As a musician, I've lately been in gigging cahoots with The Acoustikittens, Jetstream, The Sharon Scott Band, and Money & Fame. I haven't been playing out as much as I'm used to, but it allows me record music at home more. Lately, I've spent most of my time working on acoustic solo material, running sound at a local pub, and producing a studio album with Kennedy's Kitchen (a neo-traditional irish band from the heartland of Notre Dame). Things seem to be cookin right along.
ANYHOW:
I'm getting a new line up together for The Andyman Band, so things might look slightly disorganized on this page for a while. I need to find an inspired bass player. In the meantime, please come check me out at a gig if you get a chance. I promise to reciprocate your love with interest.
Every THIRD THURSDAY of the month, I can be found at Fiddlers Hearth (127 N. Main St., SOuth Bend, IN) for a star studded show, featuring me and my musical chums in action. We call it ANDYMAN'S ALL STAR JAM. Each month, I'll feature 4-8 of my favorite local artists and bands, and maybe I'll get to sit in with them. To sweeten the deal, Fid's will feature Bell's 2 Hearted Ale for $3.50/pint (my favorite ale). Please come check it out!
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