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.
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PAUL CURRERI TICKETS
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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]
Performance and recordings
In April 2002, independent
Brooklyn-based label 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, 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."
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 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 . 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.
Throat injury
In July of 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
(2008) to support 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."
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
"ref">[2]
—9x Magazine
In addition to the music, he's an original humorist known for telling engaging comic stories between songs.
Discography
- From Long Gones to Hawkmoth
(2002) — ASIN: B000CAFYYK
- Songs for Devon Sproule
(2003) / — ASIN: B0015HQGLE
- The Spirit Of The Staircase
(2004) — ASIN: B000CAGHZK
- Are You Going To Paul Curreri
(2006) — ASIN: B000FTB30C
- The Velvet Rut
(2007) / — ASIN: B000RPCEBG
Compilations
- King of My Living Room
(2003) recorded at , University of Virginia, Charlottesville, September 5, 2003; performed "Don't Chew Me Up"—ASIN: (unknown)
-
(2008) , arranged and performed an instrumental version of "We Three Kings"
Distinctions and awards
BEST LOCAL SOLO MUSICIAN 2001 -- In the words of the second of his two self-titled CD
—discs, the intended daydream has hit the street. Curreri can be just as elusive and charismatic as a 1962 Bob Dylan, Dylan ... and full of himself, in a self-celebrating, fun, Whitmanesque kind of way. Plus, the well-traveled Richmond, Virginia
- His fifth album, The Velvet Rut
(2007), received five stars from Mojo and Uncut Magazine gave it four stars.
References
- Official Website
- http://www.plan9music.com/Magazine 9x Magazine
- http://www.c-ville.com/ C-Ville Weekly