Former Star drama critic Nick Crews (2003-05) was included in an article in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle about the funky, garage rock band the Hi-Risers. They're a trio of Rochester, N.Y., guys who've made good on the music scene both here and abroad.

Here is the link:

/www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/ENT0503/802070306/1077/ENT05

Crews, who formerly lived in Rochester, writes songs for the Hi-Risers, and what songs they are: about the lovelorn, the slack-jawed and the trout-mouthed, among other subjects. Says the band's Greg Townson of Crews,

"He's my favorite writer. I have a folder of maybe 500 lyrics he's sent to me over the years."

Crews did not work on the Rochester paper when he lived there from 1998-96, but it wasn't for lack of trying. In a small-world scenario, then-managing editor Barbara Henry, now publisher of the Star, interviewed but did not hire him. Crews went to work for a PR agency in Rochester and also took an after-hours gig as music editor of the city's alternative paper City Newspaper. (Another small-world note: former Star editor Neill Borowski is now exec editor of the Gannett-owned Rochester paper).

As for Crews, he's proven, again, there is life -- and lyrical life it is -- after newspapers. He is now communications director for the National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds, with a Meridian Street office across the park from the Star. And yes, he's still spewing out songs for the Hi-Risers and others.

As for the recent publicity, he said, it left him trout-mouthed.