WANT TO GO?

Andy McKee, with Johnny Dickinson

WHERE: Unity of Kanawha Valley, 804 Myrtle Road

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday

TICKETS: Advance $15, at the door $20

INFO:www.livemixstudio.com or 304-415-2947

For Print

Photog's name: Christine Porusbky<co >(H), Larry Perez (V)

@pcut:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Since his 2006 breakthrough on YouTube with his song "Drifting," fingerstyle acoustic guitarist Andy McKee has dazzled people around the globe -- many of them in the comfort of their own homes.

"Drifting" has now been viewed more than 31 million times on the Internet video site, and the song, as well as a few others, helped propel the soft-spoken 31-year-old Kansan from relative obscurity to cult sensation. It's taken him from Kansas to all kinds of places and even earned him a slot last February on "Mountain Stage," where he shared airtime with Ani Defranco and Trombone Shorty.

McKee returns to Charleston on Sunday for a show at Unity of Kanawha Valley, sponsored by LiveMix Studio.

He isn't what most people might suspect. While his acoustic performances are electrifying, they're not entirely where his heart is -- at least, they weren't in the beginning.

"I guess I got started when I was 13," he said. "I was really into the electric guitar, really in to heavy metal, you know? Bands like Metallica."

Around the time McKee turned 16, he discovered Preston Reed, a fingerstyle guitarist. Reed uses his fingers, thumbs, both hands and even his fists to coax what often sounds like a full band out of a single guitar.

McKee emulated Reed and other fingerstyle guitarists, watched videos and mostly self-taught himself how to play.

"I began writing some songs, incorporating the different techniques I'd learned along the way and even stuff I learned playing the electric guitar." He laughed. "It took a lot of practice."

Becoming a YouTube phenomenon was a complete surprise to him. For years, he was just another working musician, playing shows here and there and teaching guitar lessons in Kansas.

"I'd signed with CandyRat<co > records," he said. "They're a record company that really focuses on acoustic guitar. As part of their alternate marketing, they put a video of me playing 'Drifting' on the Internet."

It was the age-old story retold with a digital twist. A few people saw the performance and they told a few friends. Those friends also told a few friends. People linked the video clip to their websites.

Before long, McKee didn't have to teach guitar lessons to supplement his income. Instead, he was catching flights to Scotland and Germany.

"The fans over there were just insane," he said.

Four years and three albums later, McKee says things are going great, with little sign of it slowing.

"Right now, I'm just focusing on the touring," McKee said. "It's a lot of work, but I'm really enjoying it."

A lot of things have changed, but a lot of things haven't. He still lives in Kansas, but he's never home. He's always working on his technique, but he doesn't listen to a lot of guitar music.

"I listen to all kinds of things," he said, "but still, a lot of metal -- Pantera, Dream Theater --plus the Crash Test Dummies. I'm a big fan."

If all goes according to plan, he expects to stay on the road until 2012. After that, he'd like to work on another album and maybe even try out his singing voice.

He laughed nervously. He's not so sure about that.

"Some people tell me I can sing," he said. "I'm just not really comfortable with it."

It's something he might explore, though.

"If I can get enough courage to do it, and if I can manage to play the guitar and sing at the same time -- well, maybe."

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.