For an area that doesn’t see much seasonal change, it feels like the fall is finally settling in. No, the leaves aren’t changing colors (or falling), but the temperature has dropped down to the high 60s, and as South Floridians usually react to a slight changes in weather, they have made exaggerated scarves, snow boots and fur coats all the rage. Though the line formed outside Ft. Lauderdale, Florida’s Culture Room is for the very poppy Hellogoodbye and even poppier opener nevershoutnever!, you’d think the crowd gathered was here to see a much gloomier band such as Bright Eyes or maybe even Wild Sweet Orange. A poppy summer-esque band could never play to a crowd adorned in winter apparel, right? Well, considering the fact that none of the extra layers and thermal underwear are needed, then yes, a pop show to Floridians in snow boots is definitely fair game!

Opening for Hellogoodbye was the much-talked-about 17-year-old Christopher Drew. Like many of the indie scene’s most prominent players (Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine and Pedro the Lion to name a few), Drew goes under the moniker of nevershoutnever! — though he’s the single permanent member of the band. Hailing from Joplin, Missouri, tonight he’s joined by an acoustic guitarist, and plays through songs off his recently self-released Yippee EP, and a few others that have helped garner his 60,000 MySpace plays per day.

Though songs like the cheerful “bigcitydreams” and stripped-down “yourbiggestfan” were easily the most popular of his set, Drew commanded the voices of his fans like those reminiscent to the acoustic days of Dashboard Confessional’s eye-opening MTV “Unplugged” set. Almost everyone in the room new every word to every song, and sung with a passion not seen in today’s electronic-infested music scene.
Dressed simply in a T-shirt, jeans and vest, Christopher Drew could be mistaken for any other teenage boy in the room. Maybe it’s his average looks, maybe it’s his honesty, but one thing’s for sure: Christoper Drew of nevershoutnever! has a bright future ahead of him, not only for his catchy pop sounds, but personable attitude to back it up.

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