Here’s Johnny to Take Weed Stage Nov. 17

The rock band Here’s Johnny will perform at Keuka College Friday, Nov. 17.

The show, free and open to the public, begins at 9 p.m. in the Weed Physical Arts Center.

Influenced by such acts as The Police, U2, Green Day, The Cars, Prince, and The Beatles, Here’s Johnny combines the talents of Damien Fahey (drums), Kenli Mattus (guitar and vocals), and Matty Amendola (bass and vocals).

Formed in an attic in Longmeadow, Mass., each member of the trio has found success before joining the band.

Mattus began his musical career as the guitarist of Soul Coughing. After being involved in numerous band projects, he decided to record a solo album, Blue Dot. The album features four songs that earned prizes in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Though Amendola performs on bass for Here’s Johnny, he also plays drums. He has been the drummer for Paul Gilbert, Dave Matos, Tinker Barfield, Dunn Pearson, Richie Cannata, PyroMyth, and Maybe Yesterday.

As a video jockey (VJ) on Music Television (MTV)’s Total Request Live (TRL), Fahey has interviewed some of the country’s biggest celebrities, including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and Ashton Kutcher. He also hosts TRL Weekend Countdown, a radio show syndicated to some 135 stations across the country.

Teen People magazine’s Readers’ Choice awards ranked Fahey as Best VJ, and Gotham magazine proclaimed him one of its 100 most eligible bachelors.

The group has played at such venues as Stereo and The Canal Room in New York City and plans to release its first album at the end of November.

Rochester Roots

Comedian Jamie Lissow Here Nov. 16

Rochester native and comedian Jamie Lissow will perform at Keuka College Thursday, Nov. 16.

The performance, free and open to the public, begins at 9 p.m. in the Terrace Café of the Dahlstrom Student Center.

After performing at several college shows, Lissow was invited to audition for the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. His appearance at the festival was a huge success, garnering him a mention in the Hollywood Reporter and Variety magazine.

Lissow has been seen on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Late Friday, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Star Search.

Lissow has performed at such venues as the Improv, Caroline’s, The Comic Strip, Dangerfield’s, New York Comedy Club, Catch a Rising Star, and The Riviera.

From The Garden to Space

Singer-Songwriter Jen Shankman Comes to Campus Nov. 11

Singer-songwriter Jen Shankman will perform at Keuka College Saturday, Nov. 11.

The show, free and open to the public, begins at 10 p.m. in the Space Hall Lounge.

Shankman has released three CDs, including Under the Blue Umbrella, Jenny in a Dress and Tell It Like It Is. She has played such venues as the

Madison Square Garden and the MCI Center, and is a regular performer at the Bitter End in New York City.

A finalist in the Lilith Fair Talent Search and a recipient of a Musician’s Guide Independent Music Award, Shankman has performed with Ellis Paul, Joan Osborne, Ani DiFranco, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. She also appeared with her band on the Oxygen network.

Here's the Skinny

"Dorks" to Bring Acoustic Pop Sounds to Campus Nov. 18

The acoustic pop duo Two Skinny Dorks will perform at Keuka College Saturday, Nov. 18.

The performance, free and open to the public, begins at 10 p.m. in the Space Hall lounge.

The group has opened for Dave Matthews Band, Blessid Union of Souls, The Roots, O.A.R, George Clinton and the PFunk Allstars, Average White Band, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Formed in 1999, the duo has been heard on college and national radio stations, and has performed on regional and national television. Two Skinny Dorks was ranked the No. 1 unsigned band by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.