Kid Rock is one of his fans; so is Big Kenny of the country music duo “Big and Rich.” For that reason, comedic country music artist Kip Attaway is the resident comedian at their Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort in South Dakota, where Attaway often performs when he’s not on the road.
“It’s fun to be playing and have Kid Rock sitting there at several of my shows,” said Attaway, who will perform with Dave Rogers in Moab on Friday, Feb. 2.
The duo call themselves “The Laughaholics” and will sing, play guitar and crack jokes at The Blu Pig, 811 S. Main St., starting at 8 p.m.
Moab resident Norm Knapp has traveled all over the region to see Attaway perform – including Phoenix, and, on New Year’s Eve in Evanston, Wyoming, because, well, “he’s a funny guy,” Knapp said.
And a “talented musician, songwriter and great performer,” he added.
Knapp arranged for Attaway’s performance at The Blu Pig. Attaway previously performed in Moab at the now-defunct Frankie D’s Bar and Grill.
“He does his own stuff and a lot of parodies of hit songs,” Knapp said. “It’s a fun act.”
A native of Texas, Attaway is based these days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – although he spends much of his time touring, performing at ski resorts and clubs around the West. While much of his act is humorous, he’s written some serious songs as well, he said.
For example, the tune “Rock Springs to Cheyenne” was recorded by Chris LeDoux’s band Western Underground. The song was also recorded by Micky and the Motorcars and became part of the soundtrack for the movie “Soda Springs.”
Attaway has released more than a dozen CDs.
According to his website, he has performed all over the world, including Hawaii, Bermuda and Australia, and he is a favorite at the renowned Catch A Rising Star comedy club in New York City.
He’s a regular at corporate parties where he performs his parodies and impersonations poking fun at rock ‘n’ roll and country music.
Typically, a solo performer, Attaway said the Moab show is “special” because Rogers is joining him.
The duo perform each year in Cheyenne for Frontier Days; they decided last summer to take their show on the road “for the fun of it,” Attaway said.
“We’re test-driving it to see how we like it,” he said. “We had a blast at recent shows in Nebraska and Wyoming … The two of us play off of each other; it’s spontaneous.”
The Moab performance will take place in the restaurant’s bar area, so it’s a 21-and-over show, The Blu Pig co-owner Jake Tanner said.
Attaway said they’ll play at least for a couple of hours – or “as long as people want (us) around. We enjoy playing.”
That evening also happens to be the repeat grand opening of The Blu Pig since the owners remodeled the bar area.
In February, The Blu Pig will feature live entertainment on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Then, starting in March, the establishment will host live music seven days a week, Tanner said.
“We’re proud of that – having live music every night at no cost,” he said. “We’ve got three or four shows coming up in mid-March – big performances.”
The Laughaholics to perform at The Blu Pig on Feb. 2
What: “The Laughaholics” with Kip Attaway and Dave Rogers
When: Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m.
Where: The Blu Pig, 811 S. Main St.
Cost: No cover charge; 21 and over
Information: www.kipattaway.com
