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It was the winter of 1998, Josh Cleveland's freshman year of college. Soccer season had dealt him an ugly blow to the knee and the holidays had seen scalpels and surgeons and now perfectly in tune with an onslaught of central Nebraska snow, a set of crutches to speed around on. Late one evening Josh's stomach called to him in a low, grumbling tone, "Doughnuts... doughnuts...". So, Josh not wanting to offend his good friend and companion, bundled up with scarf and sweaters, hopped on his crutches and headed out the door to the local doughnut junkie haven, Super V. What a hunger, what a desire it must have been to drive a cripple man to the snow and sleet on a set of peg legs, down eight blocks of icy sidewalk, just of a bag of doughnuts! And what a sight it must have been for anyone who may have driven by that late evening (and shame on them, if they drove by and didn't stop to help the young gent out)! Funny, yes. Poignant also. A bit quirky? Most definitely. If you have seen Josh Cleveland play, then you understand his feeling that winter evening. You understand the desire to have again, what you have enjoyed so much before, and though storm or miles or plague beseech you to stay home and stay in, you will not listen, because you must have a listen, another story, another song. And he, like the scene, is funny, yes, and poignant also, and not without a strong scent of quirkiness. He will make you cry whether through laughter at stories of squirrels and CPR, or grief, as in his eulogy to longtime friend Jimmy Jackson. He needs only his fact to tell tales of love and woe and humor, but he will use more that just his face. He will use his rhythm, like the drummer he was for his high school garage band. He will use his rhyme, as his words wrap around your ears and head on through your mind and into your heart. And he will use his voice, that distinct, evocative storyteller, that never fails him, moves higher than it ought and wider than this would should allow an yet stays small enough to fit right in your pocket where you may take it home to keep humming for days to come. Josh Cleveland will move you to get up off your seat, take up your crutches, and conquer the blustery winter ahead; but it will not by your stomach that calls, it will be your heart, yearning for a little more hope, a little more humor, and just one more story before you go. - Luke Hawley Check out the artist's website: http://www.joshcleveland.com Track List: 1. New Start 2. Let it Rain 3. Half Pound Pal (Squirrel Song) 4. Prescription Tragedy 5. Alive in the Stars 6. Fickle Pickle 7. Utah 8. Canvas and Paints 9. Chasing Angels 10. Wig Wam Woman Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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