Musician visits classroom, to play State Theatre Friday

By Heather Ewer
Western Herald

Singer-songwriter Shannon Curfman entertained Paul Solomon’s Direct Encounter with the Arts Class last Wednesday. She played her acoustic guitar, which was glittered with bright stickers, and belted out “Malted Milk,” the first song she ever learned.

The song was written by Robert Johnson, who is considered one of the most influential blues artists of all time.

She was invited by Solomon, an associate professor of art at WMU, to come and perform for his class and discuss her career with his students.

As part of her time spent in Kalamazoo, she will perform at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo at 8 p.m. Friday, April 16.

Curfman, a blues and rock singer and guitarist, is originally from North Dakota, but is now based out of Minneapolis. She has been in the public eye since the debut of her first album in 1999 at the age of 14.

She recorded her first CD at 12 years old.

“I love recording with Johnny Lang,” Curfman said. “He’s so brilliant in so many ways. When you are jamming with people who are better then you, it makes your whole level of playing rise.”

Curfman’s third album, “What You’re Getting Into” was released on Feb. 9, 2010.

It was recorded by her own record label, Purdy Records, which she launched in 2006. The album is complied of songs she wrote between the ages of 15 and 21, and includes three cover songs by Eric Clapton, Queen, and Fleetwood Mac.

Curfman said that her new record is very representative of their sound when playing live.

“A lot of our songs are like good old rock and roll,” she said.

Curfman tours all over the country with her band throughout the summer months. She enjoys the rush of performing live.

“I’m kind of an instant gratification junky,” she said. “I love hearing, seeing, and feeling the responses from the audience immediately.”

As it has been two months since the release of her album, Curfman said that this is the time of year when audience members know all of the lyrics.

Curfman has toured with musicians like Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, and the Indigo Girls.

“I loved touring with the Indigo Girls,” she said. “For me, that whole tour just felt like a bunch of music loving kids went to camp together.”

This upcoming summer, she will be at the Bowlfull of Blues Festival in Newton, Ill., the Lilac Festival in Rochester, N.Y., and many more.

One of Curfman’s fellow band mates is Justin Kesterson. He has been touring with her for about a year. He plays guitar as well, trading lead and rhythm with Curfman when they play shows.

“We love to play,” Kesterson said. “Anytime in between us playing is working to play more gigs.”

Solomon’s Direct Encounter with the Arts is a four credit class that explores the cultural world in a very hands-on experience. It fulfills the general education requirement for area one, the fine arts, at WMU.

Solomon brings in guest artists to discuss a variety of topics with his students. This year, the class covered a wide variety of topics, from viewing the architecture over at East Campus, to discussing graphic novels and comics.

Solomon, also the director for the Direct Encounter with the Arts Program, saw Curfman play at the State Theatre in 1999.

“She blew my mind because she sounded like Janis [Joplin] and wailed at the guitar,” Solomon said. “I bought her CD and I was really impressed.”

Last summer, Solomon heard her at a brewery in Lawton, Mich. and asked her to visit his class as a guest artist.

After playing some songs for Solomon’s class, they discussed Curfman’s life and her career. Students learned about writing songs, what it was like to be 11-years-old and living an “unusual” lifestyle, and the affects of downloading music illegally.

“It’s really special for students to be in a class where they can hear her playing one-on-one, and be able to ask any questions they want,” Solomon said.

One of the students in the class asked Curfman what she plans to do when she retires.

“I’d probably take more liberties,” Curfman said. “I’d like to at some point release an album that’s far more rootsy and dirty blues.”

Solomon believes that the concepts taught in his class can translate over to any major, and help students lead successful lives upon graduation.

“When you learn the skills of cultural thinking and visual literacy, you can put those skills toward the rest of your life, both personal and professional,” he said.

“You have your cultural and artistic horizons exploded.”

Curfman and her band will play at State Theatre Friday, April 16 at 8 p.m.

General admission is $15.

Students pay $10 with a valid ID. Tickets are $12 with a WRKR card.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre ticket office, open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Apr 14 2010. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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