Paul Curreri (US)

Folk / Americana / Roots Music

1976

Born Michael Paul Curreri, Jr, January 28, 1976 in Seattle, WA.

1977

Still no walking. Brother Matt in California.

1978

Still no talking. Only says the sound merdaloy.

1979

Talking, but drooling. South Bend, Indiana. Sleds on the back hill and watches the snow mobiles go by. Father builds snow tunnels for Casey the dog.

1980

Stares at the cover of Santana’s Greatest Hits. Sister Maria in Virginia Beach. Learns to ride a bike, but retains big-wheel gang. Santa Claus steals his shoe and a leak in Papa’s roof makes the bed wet.

1981

Writes stories about rock chicks, chickens who rock and make livings. In love with Heidi down the street. Pictures her when hearing “Hello” by Lionel Richie. Begins break-dancing till the break of dawn on cardboard. Only boy in dance class. Stops going to dance class.

1982

In love with Debi who plays Cinderella in the school’s production. Paul plays a worm. Lies about “naked ladies” in girls’ restroom, so sent to the office by lunch lady. Made to stand in corner during music class for insisting, “Mrs. Williams, I am the best musician here, and if I want to play the xylophone, I think I should be allowed to.”

1983

Moves to Reston, VA. Falls out of love with Sara when she won’t lend him a pencil. Dalloune from Laos gives Paul sharks teeth for his birthday, says, “rocks from my country.” Sylvester steals his break-dancing book, but his mother sews him Jams shorts.

1984

First job: trailblazing the bike paths round the neighborhood pool. Learns to do a one-and-a-half off the diving board. Eats Spree candy till his eyes shake. Hands a drawing of a puppy to his father who is driving, then no more maroon Volvo. Gets 1984 for Christmas despite smoking baby on cover.

1985

One of only three students in the school to spell the shit out of all the Super Stellar Speller words. Asteroid. Mathematics. In love with Cara. A.J. explains how to tell her in a note with flowers drawn in the corners. Cara reads it and runs away crying.

1986

Paper route on skateboard. Begins playing cello because Mrs. Edwards says “too small for string bass.” Desperately collects string bracelets from the girls, but forgets to be in love with them. Even Cara, who plays violin.

1987

Second Vice President of Hunters Woods Elementary, though Mrs. McLean tells his mother Paul is a “glass half empty.” Physically forced by Troy to ask Ginger Bennett to “go with.” Later, the “couple” wins kissing contest at Nicole’s hot tub party (nine straight seconds). The report: “Paul Curreri kisses soft and gentle.” Punches Leroy for making fun of that.

1988

President of Hunters Woods. “Vote Little Man for Big Office.” Dresses up like Principal Foreman for Halloween. Punches Michael for spitting on Ginger. Punches Chris for making fun of cello vibrato. Writes first song, “Girl, Come With Me.” Mr. Clark says, “Not bad. Don’t stop when you move to Richmond.” Ginger, saying goodbye: “Don’t be sad. Be glad. That rhymes,” walks away with beach ball under her arm.

1989

Moves to Richmond, VA. Eyes water in new middle school. Doesn’t make the soccer team. Armpits sweat while trying to roll pants after gym. Punches Louis and Lindsay for making fun of his teeth. Wins Best Artist Award from Mr. Gotzchalk.

1990

No love from Beth, and Dwight takes her to the dance. Picks Alicia flowers out’ve the front yard and hands them to her. Punches Will for making fun of his mother. Accidentally erases two years of keyboard compositions from crap computer. Beth can’t find the cassette, the only other copy of the music. First band: The End.

1991

Begins new group with Drew Gibson, P.A. Loyalties. Watches U2 videos and writes of the world “turning and burning.” Puts show posters on upper-classmen’s cars, & moms drive the boys to the gigs. Ping-pong champion at the pool. Traci dodges kiss and leaves the movie. Takes Hillary to the dance.

1992

No more braces. Starts terrible band, Cross-eyed Grandma. Girls leave his surprise 16th birthday party to go drink round the corner. Boys leave to “go yell at them.” Senior Anna Witt shows up out’ve nowhere and kisses his cheek. Gets license, crashes six days later.

1993

Finally beats Andy Nguyen in regional wrestling. Takes Shannon to the dance. New band 21 Sun storms the Jewish Community Center and rocks. Principal decrees “no more dressing like a lady at pep rallies, Paul,” and then later, “no more dance-humping the floor at pep rallies, Paul.” Spends summer in Hobie’s Suzuki Samurai, the river, the best summer of his life.

1994

Quits wrestling and grows hair and a tree morphs into Jesus. Takes Molly to the dance. Aunt Jacki accidentally leaves a guitar at the house, one string missing. Six months later, gets a new string. Following a horrible mistake, Talent Show board takes back 1st place prize from his brother, Matt, and hands it to Paul.

1995

Enters Rhode Island School of Design and begins shooting “famous photos” with Andy Friedman. Becky says dreadlocks look good. Gets acne, cuts dreadlocks. Loses Talent Show to a juggler and a dancer in a diaper. Jumps from 4th story window across alleyway during boring class and enjoys short burst of popularity.

1996

Leaves painting behind, & registers as a film major. Hates film within minutes. Poetry professor Tom says, “Start small and go big.” Drinks worm and hears a roar, falls asleep in snow.

1997

“Sock Puppets of Generation X” final video. That summer, counts how many cars go by and gets paid by Henrico County. Beats sister in a race despite cigarettes. Parents gift a Martin guitar from Fredericksburg’s Picker’s Supply.

1998

Graduates from RISD, moves to Brooklyn. Telemarkets for Rent for four days. Temps at British Telecom for eight months. In mailroom, punches Peter in face for asking “famous yet?” in front of visiting Brits. Breaks toe kicking a taxi. Loses shoe in subway door. Open-mic scene till sick, then joins The Holy Childhood on piano.

1999

First sees the beauty of NYC in the rearview, and moves to Knoxville, Tennessee. Wood floors and cheap rent. Fifteen jobs in eight months. Blows clutch on Chuck Brodsky’s mountain driveway, and he says, “Go to Kerrville.” Grows a beard and general dislike for bluegrass, but starts feeling good again. Writes article for paper saying, “Knoxville, you don’t care about your gun-slinging past.”

2000

Moves to Charlottesville, starts writing children’s poems for work. Jumps on Devon Sproule’s stage, sings Johnny Cash backing vocals with her. Later shakes hands and seeks forgiveness. Decides to sit when playing, like Danny Schmidt. Writes “Senseless as a Cuckoo” and loves himself.

2001

Flies to play with Kelly Joe Phelps trio. Turns out San Fran and Portland are far from one another, so finds out which plane Kelly’s on, locates him at baggage claim, spends three days at his house recording Water Monkey LP. Such a hero.

2002

From Long Gones to Hawkmoth. Over-pressured, completely blows sold-out hometown release concert, two people write asking for money back. Tours with slideshow poet Andy Friedman and “The Make A Living Tour.” Meet some more heroes.

2003

Songs for Devon Sproule. Kelly Joe Phelps produces. Shakes hands with Spider John after opening in Minnesota, watches his feet beneath the curtain as he takes the stage, and promises to never forget a lick of the light. Records the sounds of bumble bees in the Mississippi brush before Thacker Mountain, and promises to never forget a lick of the light.

2004

The Spirit of the Staircase. First UK tour. Buys Devon Sproule a ring in Waynesboro, and she says yes. Buys lawn mower and exercise bike. Wins the Park City Film Music Festival jury prize for best soundtrack for his work on Clean.

2005

Marries Devon Sproule. Laughs with Devon Sproule. Makes love to Devon Sproule. Loves Devon Sproule. Still, starts taking anxiety medicine.

2006

Are You Going to Paul Curreri. Produces records for Andy Friedman, Danny Schmidt, and the Birmingham, England trio Don’t Move. New York City steals $8,000 worth of gear from Paul and Devon, including their Martin guitars.

2007

The Velvet Rut. Buys new Martin guitar.

“Exquisite… brings a renewed eloquence to the medium.”  – The New Yorker

“My favorite living musician.  If I weren’t me, I’d want to be him.” – Kelly Joe Phelps, Rykodisc Recording Artist

“Original imagery… dynamic finger-style guitar work.” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“Engaging and honest… sparkling originals.” – Relix Magazine

“One of the very finest records I’ve heard in awhile. And, I don’t mean just in this genre. I mean, any genre.  As interesting as anything out there.” – Vintage Guitar Magazine

“Furrowing a sonic field which few musicians would be admitted to at this time. Dexterous guitar work and hushed insight, full of soul and (at last) originality. ” – Americana-UK

“An energizing force, stunning lyricism.” – Metro (UK)

“Curreri plays the guitar like a man possessed.  You half expect tears to appear on the face of his instrument.  [His voice] ranges from distant howl and somber wail, to full-throttle growl and moan, more than ably covering a spectrum of emotions. As for lyrics, there’s a rhythm and force that brings to mind a boxer on a speed bag; fast, furious, and somehow efficient.” – Oxford Town

“Spontaneous and poetic, twisting guitar parts, and shuffling rhythmic patterns.  His routines thankfully haven’t been hammered into regular shape.” – The Independent (UK)

“Such a fluent fingerpicker that he’s free of all convention or blues device, grooving and improvising all over the place. …And truth be told,  there’s hardly a stanza not worth quoting.” – Puremusic.com

“To relay that he’s a guitar virtuoso, elegant singer and master storyteller would miss the point somewhat, for this is a man who truly transcends any number of descriptions.  Utterly, utterly captivating.” – Manchester Sounds of the City

“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.” –9x Magazine

“Curreri sounds like the sum of the best folk musicians from across the country, ground up into pulp, and deposited into one hip vessel.” –The Hook

“Marvelous,  nimble picking and compositions of uncommon grace.  Timeless.” – Albany Times-Union

“Embroiders beautiful melody from a six-string while singing songs that would send the best of America’s songwriters busking into the woods.” – Good Times (Santa Cruz, CA)

“A ruffled gypsy gutter cowboy – his songs paint images that wake the brain -  a true life adventure – a bright new voice.” – Aer Stephen 91.1 FM, WTJU, Charlottesville

“This work is loaded with subtle genius in its delicate music and impressive words …engaging, literate, and charming.” – Blues Revue Magazine

“His songs dance around the blues, kick around the country and end up laughing, sometimes joyfully in the ditch.” – Style Weekly

“Like Peter Case, Paul Curreri sings like he’s having a conversation with himself — a conversation on which his guitar may have views as well.” – Pittsburgh Pulp

“So powerful that it awoke me from a slumber. I still marvel at this Virginian’s gift with words and a guitar.”Style, Arkansas Democrat Gazette

“Paul Curreri – forget it… just amazing finger-style guitar. It’s funny because folks think of jazz as the most technically advanced work.  I thought of myself that way before I heard Paul doing a solo show.  Thankfully, he relieved me of that notion.” – Keith Ganz, gifted NYC guitarist & composer, one of Paul’s heroes, in an interview w/ allaboutjazz.com

http://www.myspace.com/paulcurreri

http://www.paulcurreri.com/