Weekly Solo Artist Spotlight: Curtis Jr.
For this Week's Solo Artist Spotlight, I'm focusing on Tom Curtis, Jr. It's no secret that I am a huge Curtis Jr. fan, and I think you will be too. I've had the pleasure of watching Tom perform for a few years now, I've seen him grow as a person and a songwriter.
A 2007 Graduate of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Tom began teaching himself to play guitar when he was fourteen years old. His father, Tom Sr., is himself a well known Delco Bar veteran. Sr. has been playing gigs in Springfield for decades. Tom grew watching and hearing his Dad play, later in life, he would count his father as his biggest influence.
To be a Rock Star has been Tom's dream as long as he can remember. He recounted a story to me, that shows me he has never considered anything else. When he was very young, maybe 8 or 9 years old, he received his first guitar for Christmas. He had no idea what he was doing, but that didn't stop Tom.
He would plug his head phones into his tape player, crank the volume, and strum along to his favorite bands. He didn't know a single chord, he isn't even sure if he tried to form any, "It must have been an awful racket," says Tom. All he remembers is the fact that he has been rocking out since the first time he touched a guitar.
He has come a long way from strumming along with the Beatles. Now-a-days Tom knows a chord or two, and he is creating smiles on the faces of people all over Delco and the surrounding area daily. If you have not had an opportunity to attend a Curtis Jr. gig, I highly recommend you check him out at The HeadHouse in Philly next month (details below.)
Tom's music is something special. I would have difficulty putting any of it into a specific genre and that is why I am so impressed with him. It's not often that a 21 year-old kid from Springfield finds a way to push the envelope, but he's doing it. If there was a gun to my head, I guess I would call it electronic-infused-alt-rock-dance music.
His voice is melodic and strong. It brings to mind a mixture of Issac Slade of the Fray and Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon. He has great stage presence, imagine Thom Yorke of Radiohead dancing in the video for Lotus Flower. He proves a very capable musician as well, he often plays every instrument himself when he records in the studio.
I count myself lucky that one day, when he is famous, I'll be able to tell people, I saw him long before he was on TV. It is not a matter of if, but when Tom will get signed and leave Delco behind, so go see him while you can.
He's got a couple gigs coming up, here's where you can see him live:
Curtis, Jr. @ Dukes in Springfield 2/4/12
144 Saxer Ave, Springfield PA 19064
Curtis, Jr. @ The HeadHouse, Philly Song Writer's Circe 2/7/12
122 Lombard Street, Philadelphia PA 19147
http://www.facebook.com/Curtisjrofficial
http://www.twitter.com/tcjrmusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/curtisjr
Photo Credit: EMCN Photography
