Drawn to Dive Bars

Singer/guitarist Kyle Phelan was honing his rock chops while still in high school, crafting his first album at the age of 17. After graduation he kept busy appearing in concerts, on the radio, and on television. He performed three years in a row for KPRI’s Concerts on the Square in Horton Plaza. He’s played on seven different stages at various Del Mar Fairs, and he’s been featured on KPRI’s Homegrown Hour. Last summer he was able to promote his self-titled third record (sometimes called “the White Album”) by performing several cuts on a KUSI-TV morning program. All this, and he only recently turned 21.

“I know I’m new at this whole drinking legally thing,” he says, “but I’m very drawn to the dive bars. Not gonna lie. Something about ordering a Jack and Coke and not dressing up is just cool as hell to me.”

At about the same time that Phelan was learning to appreciate happy hour, he found himself nominated for a 2007 San Diego Music Award for Best Acoustic. “I’m finally at a place in my life where I can wake up every day and know that all I have to do is play music,” he says. “It’s a good feeling.”

Kyle Phelan appears tonight, January 17, at UTC’s Miami Grill and on Tuesday, January 22, at the Brigantine in Poway.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

1. Maroon 5, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long: “They have a great group of songs on this disc that you just don’t get sick of.”

2. The Best of Stevie Wonder: “It’s an awesome collection of all his hits from the ’70s to now. Stevie has to be one of my top three favorite artists.”

3. John Mayer, Continuum: “This album is what you’d call perfection.”

4. “Other CDs in my car that I will pop in at least once a week are Marc Broussard’s Carencro, David Ryan Harris’s Soulstice, and Musiq’s Luvanmusiq.”

DESERT-ISLAND DVDs?

“If I could only bring a couple DVDs, I’d have to say any season of Entourage or Nip/Tuck would make me content and happy. I just love the HBO specials. Other essential movies would be Old School, Wedding Crashers, and any Dane Cook stand-up.”

DREAM LUNCH DATE?

“I would love to have lunch with record company executive Clive Davis. I think the reasoning is pretty obvious on that one. Ha!”

WHERE DO YOU HANG OUT?

“I love going to the Brigantine to eat and play music. They just recently started live music on Tuesday nights in Poway.”

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?

“The best was from my dad when he told me I shouldn’t date girls until I’m ready to have a serious relationship. I didn’t really listen to him, and now I’ve written three CDs about my messed-up experiences that I really wish I could have avoided. The advice was genius.”

WILDEST DRUNK STORY?

“Wow, I could write a book on this topic. I’d have to say waking up in places that don’t look familiar have to be some of the best, worst, most fun, craziest experiences I’ve gotten into.”