“Well, what year isn’t a bitch?” Curreri laughs when asked about the vocal-cord injury he sustained 15 months back. For the first time since he earnestly began touring in 2002, he was forced off the road. “I bought an old motorcycle. I ignored Facebook. I made California.”
Internationally acclaimed as a songwriter, guitarist, and producer (Curreri helmed five or six albums this year alone, including wife Devon Sproule’s new release ˇDon't Hurry For Heaven!), California finds Curreri back in his Virginia studio, again handling all the instruments himself, as he did on his critically heralded previous effort, 2007’s The Velvet Rut
“A riveting trip. His best yet.” – Uncut
“These songs sparkle like stars on a cold night. 5 STARS" – MOJO).
But a baton has been passed. Atop a circular and unworldly guitar riff, the title cut begins, “Too few folks know how fun it is / To believe in invisible stuff like this.” The Velvet Rut’s joyously pissed snarl has evolved into an undercurrent of something larger, something downright hopeful, unabashedly appreciative to be downstream from some rough stuff. Check the bridge of the opening track, “Now I Can Go On”: “I can not forget deciphering the most horrifying of certainties / Where any illness I was suffering from was a twisted arm behind me. / And there were killers. Real killers! / And I was unaccompanied. / But now I’m leaning toward your finding me / And making new memories.” He repeats that word: “memmmmories,” then hollers, exploding into a breathtakingly eventful solo section.
At 13 tracks, California covers a lot of sonic ground. From the opening track’s pounding piano drive, to the near uncomfortable honesty and simplicity of “I Can Never Return,” Curreri fastballs a lot of sticky ideas at the wall. There’s a fully improvised, fully belted, and fully unintelligible blues bash. Another number, “Off the Street, Onto The Road,” opens with a phone conversation between Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb. On the only track to feature a guest, Devon Sproule shows up for a gorgeous duet take on Michael Hurley’s “Wildegeeses.” Curreri even throat-sings at the tail of “I Can Hear The Future Calling.” It’s a damn blast, and as life-affirming as a Bob Marley album.
“Oh man, here and there, all this forced time off whirlwinded me. I wasn’t sure if I was a musician or a soccer mom or a bed bug,” he admits over the phone, picking his guitar in the background. “But sometimes… it almost felt like a blessing. I realized certain junk isn’t permanently within me, that there’s peace to be found relatively close by, that some degree of – I don’t know – grace is attainable, even if it kinda comes and goes.”
With a deeply rooted guitar style – seemingly flecked by Gary Davis, Frisell, Ali Farka, Ribot – in September, Paul was invited to travel to Kenya to participate in a collaboration between Western and African musicians. “Just got my shots… I was very brave,” he says proudly. Upon his return, in addition to guesting on telecaster for Devon Sproule’s October run, Curreri also toured the UK with his English trio for the first two weeks of November to celebrate California’s release. The tour was wrapped up with 3 nights at London’s Betsey Trotwood.
Last, when asked how he managed to create such a forward-leaning, positive album while dealing with what many would regard as a career and personal crisis, a long moment passes before he replies. “Well,” he says, “we all live with hardship and crisis. But maybe it’s the price paid for being surrounded by and involving oneself with only what feels authentic and important. I get to play music, even if – yeah – on occasion it’s just at home. But I sometimes wonder if fishing for more doesn’t rip something from someone who – for better or worse – wants or needs it more deeply.”
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 Pick and 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.
2008
Quits smoking and promptly injures voice while hollering
Lucinda Williams’ “Fruits of My Labor.” Cancels tour after tour, rides
motorcycle thousands of miles instead.
2009
More time off, more records produced for other people, more happiness
than in a trillion years. Visits Kenya to collaborate with Benga
legends like Joseph Kararu, Ochieng Nelly, and Aketh Oyosi, amongst
others. Devon grows her hair long again. Releases 6th album, California.
