Draden Rush: In it to win it on the island

Humans of Galveston:  Who do I have the honor and privilege of speaking with today?

Draven: My name Draven Rush.

Humans of Galveston:  What brings you to 1877 on the Strand?

Draven: Honestly, the magic of this place. Dude, it's real. It's genuine. It's that old school music vibe. In a world of fake, it's the one thing you can hold on to. The real music is something we're told not to believe in this world of fake.

Humans of Galveston: Are you from Galveston?

Draven: No, sir, I am not. I'm from Huntsville, Missouri. Okay. Shithole town. From there, I learned the dark side of a small town. There's good sides to it, but there's also a bad side that no one ever talks about.

Humans of Galveston: Which side is the biggest?

Draven: Where I come from in my world, there's the dark side.

Humans of Galveston: Did it make you cynical to be from such a negative place?

Draven: I refuse to be that person. It won’t negativity beat me down. I'm gonna come out of my fire holding buckets of water to help everybody else.

Humans of Galveston: What brings you to Galveston?

Draven: The music. I came here the end of August 2021, about a month after my wife passed away. I also lost my son, and when they passed I decided to follow my dream.

Humans of Galveston: What happened to them?

Draven: My son was two days away from his 29th birthday. Coming home from the road for his week off, he was T-boned by a semi that morning. On February 2 – it was Groundhog Day – my wife had a stroke and she was bedridden for the rest of her life. She passed six months later after a heart attack. The rest of the family turned away. I was the only one that stayed there to take care of her. And I'm the bad guy. So I decided to follow my dream. I'm here for that.

Humans of Galveston: You could have picked any place to move. Why here?

Draven: I know that's where the music scene's at. I knew where the music was.

Humans of Galveston: Some will argue that Austin is the music epicenter of Texas.

Draven: Maybe, but I feel like I chose right. Yeah, I just it's a gut thing. It's a gut feeling. I feel like I chose right.

Humans of Galveston: And 1877 on the Strand is the place?

Draven: It’s one of them. I know the owner, Clint Smith. He's genuine. This is his dream. Live music on the weekend. Beer and liquor. Clint is a veteran, first of all, so we owe him a lot for that. We owe every veteran that's ever signed up. We owe everything. I don't give a fuck if they think I'm a crazy but I'll still stop a military vet and I will thank him. They’re the unsung heroes, and they deserve more.

Humans of Galveston: What has the Galveston experience been like for you?

Draven: I made the island my home. People have actually accepted me for me. That's what I'm not used to. And I love that. Okay, dude, I don't care how far I go in music, I just I want to make enough to support my living. But other than that, dude, I don't need much. I need my bike, I need my music and a place to lay my head. And I'm good.

Humans of Galveston: What instrument do you play, or do you sing?

Draven: I’m learning guitar. I'm a front man and a songwriter, poet, and author. I'm actually working on a couple books right now, and I'm working on a lot of poems and songs. I'm doing open mic night.

Humans of Galveston: So, what’s next?

Draven: Honestly, I don't know. I'm right now between jobs. I've got my feelers out. I've got 25 years plus of experience with construction. I was here for the first year after Hurricane Ike to rebuild. I know my knowledge.

Humans of Galveston: What closing thoughts would you like to share?

Draven: Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever, ever. Fuck what the world says. Don't give up on your dreams. That's what I got to say.