Busker of the Day; St. Louis Based, Brian Curran

St. Louis based street performer, Brian Curran wasn't even born when the Blues and Roots were alive and strong, when people watched music through plumes of cigarette smoke instead of through phones. But his love and understanding of the culture is evidenced in the 12 track CD, Live at Off Broadway. In it, he demonstrates sophistication beyond his years and an ability to hear beyond the edges, delivering his own interpretations to tunes from Son House to John Prine. Making an album that is primarily covers can be problematic. An artist has to honor the song, while doing something new with it; otherwise, it’s just added noise. Brian Curran is not “just adding noise”. He gives us the push and pull of fragile and forceful, and delivers an exceedingly like-able Bluesy, Folksy collection, that will be a sure hit for those who dig that genre.

Curran has performed at noted St. Louis venues such as, Off Broadway, The Pageant, B.B.'s Jazz Blues and Soups, but, he also performs on the street corners across the country. To Curran, St. Louis is home. “I could not imagine being a musician in a better town,” he writes on his CD. Street performance, or busking, is music that is devoid of marquee radio name sorcerers; those folks who lend off beat art house dance sounds and synth twinkles, to chase the ever elusive and disappearing mainstream marketing dollar. In street performance, when the magic happens, it happens in the raw. And when it does, the experience is nothing less than authentic, the interaction 100% genuine. What Curran does masterfully, is fuse the unbridled energy of the street with just enough production finesse to appeal to all his fans, without alienating anyone, and make some new ones along the way.

The title track, 'Key to the Highway', is a sumptuous immersion in harmonica laden, old timey Americana. It is immediately charming. Curran writes, “Some say this is an overdone blues tune, but Adam really wails on the harp.” It’s not overdone, if it’s done well, and this one is.

Live at Off Broadway, is exactly that; a live album and Curran, is a storyteller at heart; hence, he tells stories about each of the songs; why he chose to record this one, why that one is special, etc…Like gathering around the campfire of days past, to share stories and songs, it feels as if Curran is an old friend, sitting with you in your living room, reminiscing, sharing and connecting. The music and the musician, elicit a sense of nostalgia, nudging us to hear with our hearts and listen with our souls. Nowhere on the album is this sentiment more clearly expressed than in a song his dad wrote, Some Days and Memories.

"Death Letter Blues", which appears as the fifth track on the album, is the signature song of the Delta blues musician Son House. The song itself is heavy, lyrically tough; and it was a surprise to see it here. Curran’s take is softer, stripping it down to the delicate bones; and it works.

Curran and Adams are at their most magnetic on the John Lee Hooker cover of "Blue Bird". The guitar zips across a spry, sun drunk groove, encouraging the listener to turn it up, up and up.

Ultimately, this record sounds like a deep Blues breath, that’s also a stirring and restrained work of art. When young people are still engaged with music of the past to bring it to the present, it gives a reason enough to celebrate. Live at Off Broadway, feels like that sort of celebration.

#buskers #Turntable