简介：byMattCollar Comin'onlikeascifihybridofTBoneWalker,LittleRichard,andGuitarSlim,guitarist/singerNickCurranisapowerhouseperformerwhoowesastrongdebttobluesandrockabillyartistsofthe'50s.OriginallyfromPortland,ME,Curranbeganperforminginhisearlyteenswithhisfather'sband,MikeCurran&theTremors.At19,whileplayingwithlocalrockabillybandKingMemphis,CurranmetrockabillylegendRonnieDawsonandendeduptouringwithhimforaboutsixmonths.Soonaftercomingofftheroad,hegotacalltodoatourwithTexasrockabillyqueenKimLenzandeventuallyjoinedherbackupband,theJaguars. Subsequently,CurranmovedtoDallaswherehequicklyimmersedhimselfinthecity'svibrantbluestraditionsaswellastherootsmusicsceneinAustin.ItwasduringthistimethatCurrantouredwithretrocountrysensationWayneHancock.CitingsuchinfluencesasWynonieHarris,OtisWest,RoyBrown,andmanyotherpostwarbluesandrock&rollartists,Curranreleasedhissoloalbumdebut,Fixin'YourHead,in2000.Recordinglive,singletakesonvintageequipment,Curranhascultivatedanimpressiveretro'50sjumpbluessoundthatisonlyenhancedbyhispredilectionforvintageclothesandNuNilepomade.NitelifeBoogiefollowedin2001andfurthersolidifiedCurran'sreputationasoneofthemostauthenticandexcitingrootsmusiciansofhisgeneration. Inamovethatgarneredhimaslightlyhigherprofile,CurransignedwithlegitblueslabelBlindPigRecordsin2002andreleasedhisthirdalbumthefollowingyear.FeaturingmoreofCurran'soldschoolbluesandR&B,DoctorVelvetfoundthestilltwentysomethingartistbranchingoutintoDeltablues,reworkingtheSonics'garagerockclassic"ShotDown,"andperformingalongsideoneofhismusicalidols,originalFabulousThunderbirdsguitaristJimmieVaughan.Furtheraccoladesfollowedin2004asCurranreceivedtheW.C.HandyAwardforBestNewArtistDebutandreleasedhisfourthalbum,Player! Oddly,towardthelatterstagesofthetourpromotingPlayer!,CurranpartedwayswithhislongtimeNitelifesrhythmsectionofexFabulousThunderbirdsbassistPrestonHubbardanddrummerDamienLlanes.Ironically,CurranthenjoinedvocalistKimWilson'slastestincarnationofTheFabulousThunderbirdsintimetorecordtheband's2005releasePaintedOn.