Loy Foundation books comedy acts for May 2 at Bottling Works

For the Cumberland Times-News

April 28, 2008 03:00 pm

— ROMNEY, W.Va. - In response to a audience requests to bring some comedy to The Bottling Works, The Loy Foundation is presenting two decidedly different groups on May 2 at 8 p.m. - Richmond, Va.-based Special Ed and the Shortbus, with the New York-based Two Man Gentlemen Band opening the show.
Advance tickets are available online at www.TheBottlingWorks.com or at the Visitor Center in The Bottling Works, 426 E. Main St., Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Audience members 12 years old and under will be admitted free of charge.
According to Graffiti Magazine reviewer Allison Hughes-Randall, "Special Ed and the Shortbus is all about having fun. They play silly, ridiculous songs, make fun of each other and tell jokes on stage ... But, before you blow them off as a bunch of unqualified, goofy guys who just came up with an interesting name and threw a band together for something to do, think again. They are masters of their instruments, playing music based in bluegrass with a blend of old-time, jug band, punk, Klezmer, funk and anything else they've ever heard."
The group - Ed Brogan, lead guitar and vocals, Bryan "Cupcake" Walthall, tenor banjo, bass and vocals; Ben Belcher, 5-string banjo, mandolin, bass and vocals; Danny Plotnik, rhythm guitar, vocals, kazoo, vocals and armpit; Josh Bearman, mandolin, bass, vocals, kazoo and clawhammer banjo; Aaron Lewis, fiddle and vocals; and Jake Sellers, percussion and battery - is a bubbling fountain of "virtuosic insanity."
Playing together since 2002, they have gained a reputation for high energy and sometimes bizarre live acts, stream of consciousness stage banter and a tight looseness that only comes from years of performing and practice.
"The name," said award-winning fiddler, Aaron Lewis, "came from a friend who told Ed, our lead guitarist, that 'if you guys ever have a band, you have to call it Special Ed and the Shortbus.' At the time, we felt like the name was perfect for us as far as our being special, different and exceptional. 'Special Music for Special People' is still one of our mottos. We recognize, unfortunately, the name is offensive to many people but we really do not intend to single out anyone in particular or make fun of anyone.
"Most people can take the joke and we sincerely apologize to those who can't. Our music is not about making fun of people with special needs. It's about making fun of everyone, especially ourselves."
Opening act, The Two Man Gentlemen Band, combines hot jazz, old-time country, tin pan alley, and vaudevillian swing to create a joyous two-man sound that is all their own.
Beginning with the ritual distribution of free kazoos (provided by their sponsor, Kazoos.com) and ending with a camp-revival-like shout-along, thir performance is a non-stop festival of interactive, old-fashioned entertainment.
The music provides a perfect foundation for The Gentlemen's wry, idiosyncratic lyrics, which vary in subject from the historical, to the romantic, to the bawdy, to the inane.
The Loy Foundation welcomes people with disabilities at all of its events. To request accessibility services to participate, call (304) 496-8201 or info@TheBottlingWorks.com at least five days in advance.

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