From Mellencamp to Montgomery County

It doesn't matter to Dane Clark if he is playing drums on stage with John Mellencamp or playing the guitar and singing vocals at Rumors Bar and Grill in Crawfordsville. It's all the same.

"It's doesn't really matter where I am playing at," Clark said. "If people are there to hear what you are doing then that is all that really matters. It doesn't matter if there is a crowd of 150 or 15,000. If they are there, they want to hear you do your thing."

Clark, an Anderson native, has toured with Mellencamp since 1996 and he will bring his own band to Rumors Bar and Grill Saturday night. And he promises a great show.

"People can expect a high-energy, meat-and-potato style of rock-n-roll," Clark said Thursday before heading into the studio to work on a new Mellencamp album.

This will not be the first time Clark has played in Crawfordsville.

"It's been a little while since we were there and it was fun," he said.

In fact, Clark has also been tabbed as the entertainment for the July 14 Doc's Run event at Rumors as well. That concert will be outside as the bar will be having a block party on Green Street that night.

This will be the biggest name who has visited Rumors since it opened last Oct. 21 and is just the beginning of things to come.

"We just want to bring in some top-quality entertainment to the Crawfordsville area," Rumor's co-owner Scott Ferretti said. "Why should you have to go Indy or Chicago or someplace like that to see good quality entertainment? We are committed to helping revitalize downtown Crawfordsville and bringing someone like this should show that commitment."

"We are trying to bring the crowd back downtown," Co-owner Jason Roche said. "We want to bring the energy downtown."

Joining Clark in the Dane Clark Band are Jon E. Gee (bass, vocals), Erik Scull (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Steve Prince (drums). The foursome have been together for a little more than two years now and tour throughout Indiana. Gee, like Clark, has been a mainstay on several Mellencamp albums.

Clark enjoys playing around sites in Indiana with his band.

"When I tour with Mellencamp we go everywhere, so I try to stay close to home with my band since I have a family," Clark said. Clark and his wife Teena, have three daughters - Emily, Taylor, and Abigail.

That's another reason he enjoys playing with Mellencamp.

"When he makes an album it's an hour-and-half from my home," he said. "If it was someone else it could be anywhere in the United States or even in London."

Clark has branched out throughout his career. He is not just a performer, but is now a songwriter, musician and producer.

"I enjoy doing it all," he said. "I really enjoy the song writing and producing. I can't really see myself pounding the drum on tour in 15 years so the producing and writing is nice."

The Dane Clark band has two CDs out - Dane Clark and Sad Goodbye to Mr. Sunshine. In addition, they have a third CD "about 75 percent complete."

The best piece of advice he was given about music?

"I was told 'What the hell are you thinking?'," Clark said. "My parents were both teachers and told me I could get my degree in whatever I wanted and I got it in music performance. They really wanted me to have something else to fall back on and now I see that, but at the time I didn't take their advice - but it was good advice."

So what is Clark's best advice to young aspiring artists?

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket, have something to fall back on," he said. "Other than that, follow your dreams."

And Clark's appearance is helping Rumors' owners Ferretti, Roche and Brian Pedro follow their dreams.

"This is a big night for us," Pedro said. "It's Yager Night and the Yager Girls will be here and we have great entertainment. There is no need to go anyplace else."