By GARY DEMUTH
Salina Journal
KANOPOLIS -- Anyone walking into the Dry Dock Tavern near Kanopolis Lake on a Friday or Saturday night will hear a multi-instrument rock band filling the room with the sound of classic rock tunes.
But if they go to the back of the tavern, they'll be greeted by an unusual sight: one man sitting alone on the tiny stage keeping a beat with his feet, strumming a six-string guitar on his lap, blowing into a harmonica hooked around his neck and singing into a microphone that splits his voice into three parts.
People are apt to look around the room and say, "Where's the rest of the band?"
As they soon discover, Dave Pickering doesn't have bandmates -- he's the entire band.
For the past two years, Pickering, 47, has performed his one-man band act each Friday and Saturday night at the Dry Dock Tavern, owned by his parents, Jerry and Barbara Pickering.
He boasts a 200-song repertoire that includes classic tunes by Tom Petty, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, The Eagles, Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett and even Elvis Presley.
"I judge what I'm going to play by the make-up of the audience," he said. "I get a lot of requests."
Pickering keeps the beat by stepping on a series of four pedals that recreate the reverberating sound of bass, trap and snare drums without the burden of having to haul around a real set.
"It's a drum sampler module like they have in recording studios," Pickering said. "It's like electronic drums, only I have it set up so it's not preprogrammed and I can play it live."
The harmonic microphone let's him "... do songs with great harmonies, like the Eagles and Crosby, Stills & Nash."
Pickering's musical prowess has attracted big crowds to the tiny Kanopolis tavern on Kansas Highway 141. Patrons come from surrounding towns such as Salina, Minneapolis, Smolan, Abilene, Hutchinson, McPherson and Ellsworth on a regular basis, said mom Barbara.
"When people come in, they think there's a whole band in here," she said. "They get on their cell phones and say, 'You've got to come out here and see this one-man band!' "
He joins the Navy
Growing up, Pickering demonstrated little musical prowess. It was only after joining the Navy 27 years ago that he first picked up a guitar.
"I bought a guitar to give me something to do," he said. "I just taught myself how to play, and then I hooked up with other guys that played when we'd go out to sea."
In 2000, Pickering and several of his Navy buddies formed a band in San Diego, The Blue Water Rhythm Band. They played four years on different ships and in ports, both in the U.S. and overseas, performing original music and cover tunes.
While performing with this band, Pickering began to experiment with percussion, using just his feet.
"We'd all be on guitar, and I'd also be doing percussion," he said, using prerecorded drum tracks he'd play with foot pedals.
"It took a lot of trial and error to get it right," Pickering said. "When I first started doing the pedals, it was kind of monotonous. I had two pedals, a bass and snare. I added two more pedals later."
It wasn't that easy coordinating hands and feet, he said.
"The feet are trying to follow your hands, and your hands are trying to follow your feet," he said.
Presenting, our son!
After retiring from the Navy in 2004 as a senior chief, Pickering moved back to Kansas, where his parents lived.
In 2006, Pickering's parents bought the Dry Dock Tavern in Kanopolis and renovated it into a family-friendly establishment that offered pool tables and chicken fried steaks.
They also wanted to offer live music and asked their son if he'd like to perform there.
At first, Pickering intended to just sit on stage, play guitar and sing. But then he thought, why not incorporate his foot-pedals into the act?
"I never really intended to be a one-man band, but it just worked out that way," he said. "At first I missed having bandmates, but after I started playing a while here, I got more comfortable."
It didn't take long for Pickering to develop a devoted fan base.
"About two-thirds of the business we get here is my son," said dad Jerry.
Left 'em awestruck
Kanopolis resident Burt Stevenson, owner of Stevenson Construction, said he was awestruck the first time he heard Pickering perform.
"I've been around a few years and heard a few bands, but there ain't nobody got the ability Dave has," Stevenson said. "I've never seen anything like what he does."
Another fan is Mike Haug, president and CEO of KASA, a custom metal fabricator in Salina. He and his wife have made a habit of driving to the Dry Dock Tavern nearly every other week for the last year, often with friends in tow.
"I'll bet we've taken 30 people over there," he said. "Dave's what makes that place go. He's a real likable guy and plays a variety of music. If he was in Salina on a Friday or Saturday, he'd pack the place."
Kanopolis isn't the only place Pickering performs. He's played private birthday and anniversary parties, rodeos and several charity events, as well as free concerts in Kanopolis during Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Pension and a day job
"It's easy to transport my equipment," he said. "I just load it in the back of my pickup."
For now, Kanopolis remains Pickering's home base. He performs from 8:30 p.m. to midnight each Friday and Saturday for little more than tips.
When he's not performing, Pickering lives on his Navy pension and does house construction and repair work in the area.
Even after two years, there are still people who walk in the tavern and give Pickering a surprised and often skeptical look when they see his one-man band set-up. But it doesn't take him long to get them clapping, requesting songs and hitting the dance floor.
"When I look out and can't see through the dance floor, when I see all those smiles, then I'm happy, too," he said.
nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.
©Salina Journal