Paul Curreri

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Paul Curreri

London Roundhouse, March 06, 2008
Image by David Jones
Background information
Birth name Paul Curreri
Born 1976
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Folk, Blues
Occupations vocalist, Guitarist, Musician
Years active 2000 - Present
Labels City Salvage Records
Associated acts Matt Curreri, Devon Sproule, Kelly Joe Phelps,

Paul Curreri is an American musician and songwriter born in Seattle, WA in 1976. He married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and currently resides with her in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Contents

[edit] History

Raised in Richmond, Virginia, Paul now makes his home in Charlottesville with songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule; the two were married in May 2005. Though he grew up playing music, he ended up enrolling at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to pursue painting and film. While his experiences at art school helped develop his ability to observe and record the visual world, his true passion again rose to the surface. By the time Paul graduated from RISD, he'd composed over 200 songs on guitar and piano. Turning down a job at MTV, he set to work carving out a life as a musician.

Following a spot at New York's Knitting Factory in 2001, Curreri received several tour invites from Kelly Joe Phelps. Over the next four years, the two would play over 100 concerts together.[1]

[edit] Performance and recordings

In April 2002, independent Brooklyn-based label City Salvage Records released Curreri's first album, From Long Gones to Hawkmoth. A strong debut record for many, some pined for the barer, stripped down sound of two semi-legendary demos, referred to simply as "the red one" and "the blue one," which contain early versions of well-known songs like "Bees" and "Senseless As A Cuckoo," as well as unreleased ballads.

In June 2003, City Salvage Records released Curreri's second album, Songs for Devon Sproule dedicated to his future wife. Recorded by Kelly Joe Phelps, in the same studio he had recorded his own Roll Away The Stone and Shine Eyed Mister Zen albums, over the space of just two evenings, Songs for Devon Sproule captured Curreri at his simplest, and proved to be his most popular record to date.

The album found Curreri accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, creating a sound similar to his concert performances. However, Phelps did play guitar on "Beneath A Crozet Trestle Bridge."

"I was having a bit of trouble come recording, with this and that . . . doohickies, details and tempo. Well, Kelly Joe disappears in the back of the studio, and then comes skipping on back with a big wooden plank slung over his shoulder. He leans it against the wall, all grunting, and says to me, 'Play like that. Play like a post, Paul.' It only took one more take.”
—Paul Curreri commenting on Fishbowl

The resulting effort was an album of primarily original material nourished by, but not slavish to, the country blues and folk traditions which lie at the heart of Curreri's musical influence.

The Spirit Of The Staircase, Curreri's 2004 release saw the return of Jeff Romano, who produced and performed on 2002's From Long Gones To Hawkmoth. The album presents the music of Paul Curreri via a new variety of musical accompaniment, and with a highly romantic and earthly room tone. The title of the record comes from a French expression l'esprit d'escalier, the things you think to say after you're already out the door.

2006 saw the release of his first live album, Are You Going To Paul Curreri. Recorded at Charlottesville's (now-defunct) Gravity Lounge in late January, backed by two Charlottesville, Virginia musicians – Randall Pharr (bass), and Spencer Lathrop (drums). Gravity Lounge had been something of a home venue for Curreri, who claims to have given the first official concert there, and his wife, Devon Sproule. Many times over the years they had performed together there, receiving particular acclaim for their Valentine's Day duets.

Curreri's fifth album, The Velvet Rut, was released in the UK on Tin Angel Records in June 2007. It was released in the States in October 2007, again on Brooklyn's City Salvage Records. It is a decidedly darker record than many of Paul's others (though some call it his funniest). Uncut Magazine gave it four stars, and called it a "riveting trip." Mojo gave it five stars. "The Velvet Rut" features a mass of sound surrounding eloquent guitar work. Curreri played all the accompanying instruments himself.

[edit] Throat injury

In July 2008, Curreri suffered a major throat injury, which caused him to cancel the majority of his remaining concerts for the year. In the duration, he produced records for the English trio Don't Move!, and also for his wife, Devon Sproule. Additionally, he slowly assembled his sixth album, California, which will be released in August 2009 in the UK, and January 2010 in the US. He also arranged and performed an instrumental version of "We Three Kings" for Our Christmas Present (2008) to support Our Community Place in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Curreri has recently been touring in Europe as Devon Sproule's guitar player. Reports from Charlottesville are that he's quietly teaching guitar lessons and possibly looking at a role as Hank Williams in a local play. He can be seen riding his vintage Honda CB750 motorcycle through the countryside.

Due to continuing throat problems, immediate future plans (save a collaboration in Africa) remain uncertain. In a recent interview, Curreri called the injury "a gift," saying, "I'm looking to expand my perspective. I'm looking to find what I didn't have time to find before. I'm looking to appreciate."

[edit] Style and sound

Paul Curreri is renowned for his inspired songs, bright voice, and talented finger-style playing. Described by WTJU's Aer Stephen as "A ruffled gypsy gutter cowboy, a true life adventurer, a bright new voice", Paul Curreri has also been compared to Martin Sexton for his reputation for inspired live performances (and more elusive success in the studio). The Velvet Rut features a mass of sound surrounding his eloquent guitarwork. Curreri reportedly played all the accompanying instruments himself.

"He lets his quirks hang out, his funky crazy characters run wild, and his own whims, sometimes silliness, sometimes pain, and always humanness become his Velvet Rut . . Curreri reminds me of guitar master, Rene Lawrence, with a crazy intricate, crashing, dancing fingerpicking that simply makes sense in context with his themes . . The Velvet Rut comes on edgy and dirty, moves into rootsy, bluesy places, feels a little Appalachian at times, and maybe a bit like folk, but it doesn't make a commitment to any of them . . Acoustic, electric, electronica, distorted, fragile, in your face all thrown into the mix for a delightful listen. "
—Christy Claxton , Stave Magazine
"A dark and intimidating sonic assault on the mind...a lyrical master class. Paul is a true avant-garde Americana poet -- a deeper and darker hybrid of John Cooper Clarke and Beck -- and one heckuva guitarist. "
—Maverick Magazine
"Gentle in thought, perceptive in lyric and melodic in finely tuned fretwork . . Curreri's finger-picking style is lilting and fluid, and there's a languid tension throughout that's created by a strong and sure dynamic sense. The flicking and scampering of his fingers weave an aural magic that complements his elusive and playful vocal style perfectly. Lyrically, Curreri is full of taste and truth, poetic jewels."[2]
—9x Magazine

In addition to the music, he's an original humorist known for telling engaging comic stories between songs.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Distinctions and awards

BEST LOCAL SOLO MUSICIAN 2001 -- In the words of the second of his two self-titled discs, the intended daydream has hit the street. Curreri can be just as elusive and charismatic as a 1962 Dylan ... and full of himself, in a self-celebrating, fun, Whitmanesque kind of way. Plus, the well-traveled Richmond native's got rakish good looks, literary chops, and a vision of America chock full o' trains, fair maidens by rivers, and country roads.[3]
—C-Ville Weekly , "BEST OF 2001" issue
  • His fifth album, The Velvet Rut (2007), received five stars from Mojo and Uncut Magazine gave it four stars.

[edit] See also

Guitar portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Official Website
  2. ^ http://www.plan9music.com/Magazine 9x Magazine
  3. ^ http://www.c-ville.com/ C-Ville Weekly

[edit] External links

[edit] Reviews, articles, interviews

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Folk music
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Related articles
Regional scenes
v • d • e
Blues
Subgenres
Fusion genres
Regional scenes
Instruments and singing styles
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