Fort Lauderdale Florida Apartment
Adjacent to a major south Florida coastal resort city but still in contact with some semi-rural natural environment is the kayaking available in this part of south Florida at the Richardson Historic Park in the Wilton Manors area. Here you can easily launch from a small wooden landing on either a single or tandem top-seated ocean or touring kayak and make a long three-hour paddle along the Middle River that circles the community of Wilton Manors.
Making the circle around what actually forms the inland island of Wilton Manors is a kayaking encounter into decades of an evolving mix of nature and suburban growth in this region of the U.S. You pass under the small bridges that link to Wilton Manors, and you pass a wide variety of both private dwellings and business bordering the river – from older single-family houses to new ultra-modern structures to apartment buildings and business locations. But it is not all development and human presence – there are plentiful stretches of still open land, and mangrove, palm, and wide-branched trees along the way One seasonal local resident you may glimpse in the water -- depending on the timing of your own visit -- is the manatee, the strange-looking but friendly mammal also known as the sea cow. Signs posted along the embankment indicate which areas are manatee-favored spots. A more frequent inhabitant is the iguana, which sometimes like to perch way down on the branches of trees overhanging the water.
Other than that, and occasional ducks stopping off for a rest, the Middle River is dark and inky and peaceful, its currents just as gentle as any inland canal with only occasional eddies at some bends that require a minimal extra effort to navigate. The river joins up at one point with the Intracoastal Waterway that leads out to the ocean, but your designated route only takes you in a circular passage around Wilton Manors. Atlantic Coastal Kayak, which is based here for kayak rentals and guided tours, also offers instruction and a number of other kayaking adventures further afield in Fort Lauderdale and around south Florida.
Atlantic Coast Kayak.
Written by Hal Peat.
Speaking via cell phone as he browses through a music store, picking up “doo-hickeys” for his forthcoming tour, Never Scream Never’s Christofer Drew sounds fairly relaxed for a guy who has just made his major label debut and now has booked an extensive tour to try to promote the thing. After a steady string of solo dates, Drew will hook up with the Warped Tour for the summer. “I don’t even know what day it is,” he laughs. “I can’t keep up with time; it’s too fast for me.” Drew, who started recording as Never Shout Never in 2007, self-released a couple of EPs shortly after he dropped out of high school. He spent the next couple of years living out of his car until Warner Bros. Records picked him up and hooked him up with producer Butch Walker for his major label debut, last year’s self-titled EP, which he has followed with the just-released What is Love?, a collection of love tunes that hearken back to an earlier era of pop and rock music despite their emo overtones. Here’s what the singer-songwriter had to say about his burgeoning career.
You began writing and recordings songs in your basement and self-released The Yippee EP on your own label. What got you into songwriting to begin with?
I started out first in this electronica death metal band. I started making electronica beats because I just got a Mac Book. I got really into that and then started making electro beats for my own pleasure. Then, I started doing vocals over the electrobeats. I decided I liked playing acoustic, which was better than the electro beats, which got really lame. It started out as something to do on the side and then I got more into it and wrote a song for a girl I liked a whole bunch which got me A plus points. I started doing that more often. I put them on MySpace and then kept going. It was an awkward chain of events.
Were you inspired by a particular songwriter?
I’d always been a huge Beatles fan, but I’m into all kinds of music. I like the Beatles and the Beach Boys. I like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. I love that vibe, the old acoustic-based love song. I guess those were the ones that kept me rolling and writing goofy, corny, ’50s love songs. I try to capture that innocent, cute kind of feeling.
Is there any kind of music scene in your hometown, Joplin, Missouri?
A metal scene. That’s all I grew up on. I got outcaste because I started making pussy music. It’s terrible. I’m really ashamed.
Your voice is very distinctive. Were you aware of that from early on?
At first, I really stunk at singing. I didn’t know how to sing. I sang in that death metal band, but I kind of screamed. At first, I started using this auto-tuned thing from garage band and worked out of that to not using anything, which was a big step for me. It’s been an intense progression. Touring helped a lot with my singing. I’ve been touring for the past two years and was playing acoustic so I had to focus on the vocals.
For your major label debut, you used all pre-’70s equipment. What inspired that decision?
I dunno. I wanted warm tones. Everyone is running their electrics direct and it’s wearing me out. I wanted to do some different and take a stand.
Why was it important to steer clear of autotune and vocal tuning programs?
Yeah, I took it all away. You can hear that I’m flat a couple of times. I’m not a hundred percent good singer, but it’s more real that way. Kids won’t feel bad if they’re singing my song and they’re a little flat.
Did you work directly with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios?
I wish I could have worked direct with them. That was one of my only requests when I signed with Warner Bros. I wanted to work with a huge orchestra that would make it sound crazy. We sampled out strings with midi strings and sent it to them and they improved everything.
Is “Jane Doe” based on a true story?
I was sitting in this little café in Santa Monica when I was recording. I ordered a veggie burger from this one girl and I thought she was insanely cute. I went home and wrote it and brought it to [producer] Butch [Walker] and we recorded it that day. It was a real random.
You’re going to be touring your ass off this year. Are you at all apprehensive about spending that much time on the road?
I’ve been touring non-stop since I started this band. I was living in my car when I was 16. I would play random church events or whatever I could get my hands on to get $50. I feel a lot older than I am because of all the crazy experiences. It’s okay. I’m not dreading it but I’m not looking forward to it. I’d much rather be in the studio writing songs and make three more records.
Would you recommend other singer-songwriters take the same path you have taken?
I don’t know. It has not been a steady course. It’s been up and down. I felt really nervous. For awhile, I had crazy intense acne because my parents kicked me out of the house and were like, “If you think you can do this, go do it.” If you have the integrity and want it really bad and have nothing to lose, then I would say go for it.
Are you on good terms with your parents now?
We’re totally chill now. My mom is divorced and lives in my apartment. We’re best friends. We just drink wine all day. It’s really awesome. It makes life easier when I’m home. I’m not old enough to buy liquor so my mom can buy me as much as I want.
Talk a little about your personal connection with your fans? Are you ever overwhelmed knowing that they follow you on Twitter and through your MySpace site?
Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t be myself. I don’t want to be a bad influence. I like to be open, and it’s kind of scary to be myself because I don’t want to be a bad influence. Usually, they’re open to anything and think whatever I say is funny. I like being able to not be funny but then kids think you’re funny.
You have posted personal stuff, too, like when your grandfather died.
That was sucky. It helped, though, having thoughts and prayers. It made the situation better. I could let my mom know that there were kids thinking about it and that she should hope for the best.Â
Tour Dates
02/13/10
Hot Topic - Mall Of America - Bloomington, MN
03/19/10
House Of Blues - Dallas, TX
03/20/10
Emo’s - Austin, TX
03/21/10
Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
03/23/10
Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
03/24/10
The Marquee - Tempe, AZ
03/25/10
The Dome - Bakersfield, CA
03/26/10
House Of Blues - San Diego, CA
03/27/10
Desert Breeze Skate Park - Las Vegas, NV
03/30/10
House Of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
03/31/10
The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
04/01/10
Senator Theatre - Chico, CA
04/02/10
Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
04/03/10
El Corazon - Seattle, WA
04/05/10
In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
04/06/10
Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
04/08/10
People’s - Des Moines, IA
04/09/10
Station 4 - Saint Paul, MN
04/10/10
House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
04/11/10
The Rave Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
04/13/10
Beaumont Club - Kansas City, MO
04/14/10
Pop’s - Sauget, IL
04/15/10
Rocketown - Nashville, TN
04/16/10
The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
04/17/10
Freebird Live - Jacksonville, FL
04/18/10
House Of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
04/19/10
Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL
04/21/10
Amos’ Southend - Charlotte, NC
04/22/10
NorVa - Norfolk, VA
04/23/10
Theatre Of The Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
04/24/10
Crocodile Rock Cafe - Allentown, PA
04/25/10
9:30 Club - Washington, DC
04/27/10
Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza - New York, NY
04/28/10
Club Infinity - Buffalo, NY
04/29/10
House Of Blues - Boston, MA
04/30/10
Toad’s Place - New Haven, CT
05/01/10
Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY
05/02/10
Meadowlands Sports Complex - East Rutherford, NJ
05/04/10
The Altar Bar - Pittsburgh, PA
05/05/10
Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON
05/06/10
Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
05/07/10
Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
05/08/10
House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH
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Tags: Christofer Drew, Never Shout Never