Catch Of The Week: Jacob McCurdy
Meet Jacob McCurdy, a singer/songwriter and fervent performer from Portland, Maine Jacob McCurdy is a busy man. When he’s not sitting down to write and create music, picking up the…
Meet Jacob McCurdy, a singer/songwriter and fervent performer from Portland, Maine
Jacob McCurdy is a busy man. When he's not sitting down to write and create music, picking up the guitar, ukulele, bass, percussion, harmonica or keys, he may be performing as a solo artist or in one of his three bands. Jacob is part of a duo called Emily and Jake. He's also in the band, Johnny Clay Shanks, and fronts the The Dapper Gents. Jacob's singing career got started in an unusual way, by peer pressure. In grade school, chorus was a requirement, but Jacob wasn't having it by the time 4th grad rolled along. His good friend Jesse coerced him, saying there weren't enough guy singers, so he had to stay! Each year he pulled the same move, insisting he would drop out, but pressured by Jesse to stick it out. McCurdy ended up singing in various musicals, and the All New England Music Festival. It wasn't until he was studying audio engineering at New England School of Communications that he really started writing and playing guitar. For the last six years he has been playing covers with his wedding/party band, The Dapper Gents, and more recently working on his original projects with his duo, Emily and Jake, and his country, rock, blues band, The Johnny Clay Shanks Band. Jacob also performs his originals as a solo artist. He describes his sound as folk, pop, and "Fleetwood Macesque rock." Jacob has a raw honesty about him, and delivers his lyrics with a smooth, natural sensitivity. He believes what he is singing and his voice perfectly portrays that.
Jacob Jams
On a recent visit to the Country 102-5 studios, McCurdy shared 2 of his impassioned originals. Here's "Empty Bed"
And now..."To Be Found"
More On McCurdy
- Plays: Guitar, bass, harmonica
- Biggest influences: Ray Lamontagne, The Black Keys, Guster, and Dispatch
- All-time favorite country song: "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton
- Favorite country concert: Nickel Creek
- First country concert: Nickel Creek
- Songs you like now on Country 102.5: "Broken Halos" by Chris Stapleton
- If you weren't a musician, what might you be doing: Teaching music or audio engineering
- Most proud moment: My mom heard our new single, "Last Bust To Portland" on the radio as she was walking through L.L. Bean. The excitement she had was amazing. I might have cried hearing her tell me about it
- Crazy thing that happened in your career: I once met Dan Aurback of the Black Keys, and instead of having my picture taken with him, I took his picture with one of my friends
- Frivolous fun facts: I love Zumba! I ride motorcycles, and I enjoy a good game of disc golf
Jacob Gigs
- May 10: Alchemy in Providence, RI- Emily & Jake with The Johnny Clay Shanks Band
- May 14th: O'Briens Pub, Allston- Emily & Jake
- May 24: Empire, Portland, ME- Emily & Jake
- June 23: Article 24 , Brighton, MA- Emily & Jake with the Johnny Clay Shanks Band
JMac Network
Links to Jacob's other projects:
Emily & Jake:
The Johnny Clay Shanks Band:
The Dapper Gents:
Every week, Kruser's Local Catch highlights New England’s homegrown country music talent, and tells you where to catch them locally and in Nashville. Click here to view previous catches.
If you would like to be considered for Catch of the Week e-mail your information and a sample of your work to localcatch@country1025.com.
