Show News by day Dead by night Brian Jensen Contributing Writer Drop Dead Julio fronted by reporter Its It's midnight on a Friday in Salt Lake City Inside Liquid Joes fans fans' are gathered next to the stage anxious for the music to begin Its It's a busy night at the club People laughing yelling and drinking constitute the background noise Like a starting pistol signaling the show has begun Gene Kennedy yells at the top of his lungs get your hands up The music blasts through the speakers like a shot from a gun and the crowd explodes It is obvious Kennedy has had experience in front of a crowd t Kennedy is not only the front frontman frontman frontman man for the local rock group Drop Dead Julio but is also a news reporter for Reminiscent of the popular movie Superman Kennedy refers to his involvement is the news and lo loyal local al music as hi his s split personality We could be compared t to o I Green Day meets Rise Against said Kennedy Kennedy as a side project t t z f t 9 S FI FIs s iJ I 4 I. I I 4 s Q t r r 1 I Photo by Brian I Jensen Gene Kennedy a news reporter for doubles as the lead singer for Drop Dead Julio a local rock group t I t to keep himself involved with music formed Drop Dead Julio in January 2006 Some of the groups group's accomplishments include winning West Valley City's West Fest Battle of the Bands opening up for national act Unwritten Law News Continued on Drop Dead News Continued from A Al Aland I and receiving play on local radio stations like and as well as in Los Angeles I have literally taken off my work suit said Kennedy and thrown on my Dickie shorts and skater shoes and was on onstage onstage onstage stage performing music an hour later Kennedy has worked as a news reporter for just over eight years and has been with for three years News is my bread and butter music is my hobby said Kennedy News reporting allows me to use a combination of creative skills writing and story storytelling storytelling storytelling telling mixed with live performance which really parallels a lot of aspects in music Kennedy thinks there a areal areal areal real crossover between the two In the news you are performing before Defore the audience with a microphone and you have to be disciplined the same goes for a rock show said Kennedy The rock show can get rowdy and because of that people tend to think it doesn't take focus which is untrue Kennedy struggles to manage both the band and his news career You always have to be aware of your image and time commitments said Kennedy when asked how he juggles both the band and a news career The fact is work has to come first but I am really happy doing both It does not come without a price according to Kennedy 1 I r where Ill I'll hit the work stag stage a at af 10 hit and am and hit the rock stage around midnight and it makes for a long Jong day sometimes said Kennedy With the music its it's the fans that keep me going I do it for the adrenaline With the news I feel keeping people informed is really a public service Kenndey's aspirations for music with the group are to be just the best live local band that we can be not only sounding great but really entertaining the audience Drop Dead Julio willbe will willbe willbe be performing an acoustic show at the in Murray on July 25 at 10 pm p.m. |