2. Fact Sheet
Hometown: Bloomington-Normal,
Illinois
Debut CD Release Date: Oct. 1, 2011
CD recorded, mixed and mastered by
Eclipse Studios in Normal, Ill.
Engineer/Producer: Erik Nelson
Has played several shows, including
the International Blues Challenge in
Memphis, Tenn.
“…I just cant be without you if I don’t got you”
song: If I Don’t Got You
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3. Biography
Matthew Curry and The Fury deliver energized blues and blues-
rock along with a great show for all ages. Matthew, at 16 and already a
veteran performer, is astonishing audiences with his blazing guitar
playing, original songs and soulful voice. Often referred to as a cross
between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, Matthew Curry is a
triple-charged musician in his own right and amping up the blues
scene.
Shortly after competing in the International Blues Challenge in
Memphis, Tennessee and recognized as one of the five international
finalists in Ampeg’s “Straight-Up Tone” competition, the band came
back to Bloomington to focus on creating their debut record. All the
prep has paid off - "If I Don't Got You" has been sponsored by the
Crossroads Blues Society in the Best Self-Produced CD competition for
the IBC.
“…16 and already a veteran performer”
cc: Reverbnation 2
4. Matthew Curry
Matthew Curry is unlike any other
musician you have heard before. At age 16,
he is one of the best guitar players in the
Midwest. His father bought him a guitar
from Wal-Mart when he was four years old;
ever since then it has been all up hill for
Matthew. Curry has played with many of
people that he admires such as Tommy
Castro, Bryan Lee and Ronnie Baker
Brooks. He already released an album
entitled, “If I Don’t Got You,” which has
received nothing but good press and
reviews. He has played countless numbers
of shows including the International Blues
Challenge in Tennessee. He is an
unbelievable performer and rarely misses a
note. His voice is remarkable, and when
you hear it, you will not believe that a voice
like that is coming out of a 16-year-old boy.
He is one musician you don’t want to miss
out on.
“… I'm shouting out your name”
song: New York Blues 3
5. Greg Neville
Born and raised in Central Illinois, Greg
Neville has played in various bands
throughout the Peoria-Bloomington
area for the past 30 years. Greg
remembers being influenced early on by
Buddy Rich and later by Neal Peart of
Rush. Greg has played in bands
covering many genres of music, but is
now quite content being a member of
the Fury and backing the talented
bluesman, Matthew Curry.
Jeff Paxton
Jeff Paxton was born into a musical family
at a young age. His parents played the
Clackamore and Fiddle-Dee-Do in the
Circus, allowing the family to travel the
world and learn all styles of music. After
many years involved in the circu, Jeff
eloped with the bearded lady, Hariette.
One day Harry, as Jeff called her, left a
note for Jeff to pick up a bass for dinner.
Jeff misread the note and has been playing
bass ever since. People often remark after
hearing Jeff play, “Not bad for a one armed
guy.”
“…he’s the real deal”
Cc: Bryan Lee 4
6. Gig Sheet
Past Shows
November 5 – River Beach Pub (Headline)
Chillicothe, Ill.
October 29 – Eagles Club (Headline)
Bloomington, Ill.
October 1 – Castle Theatre (Headline)
Bloomington, Ill.
(300)
September 17 – Memphis on Main (Headline)
Champaign, Ill.
(100)
September 9 – Contemporary Arts Center
(Headline)
Peoria, Ill.
(150)
September 3 – Peoria Riverfront Events
(Headline)
Peoria, Ill.
(250)
(#) Denotes Attendees at Show
Upcoming Shows
January 6, 2011 – Eagles Club
Clinton, Ill.
February 5, 2011 – Eagles Club
Bloomington, Ill.
April 7, 2011 – The Castle Theater
Bloomington, Ill.
Notable performers MCTF
has played with:
Tommy Castro
Bryan Lee
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Coco Montoya
Bernard Allison
“…you don’t love me anymore”
Song: Walk Out That Door 5
7. Bman’s Blues
Report
“…With the release of his debut CD “If I Don’t Like
You,” you can hear that this gifted teen is forging his
own path” – WGLT
“I usually try to give constructive criticism when I
hear new artists. In this case I am somewhat
speechless.” – Blues Blast Magazine
“As soon as the album began to play, he transformed
into somebody who is going to make musical
history.” – Indie Music Reviewer
“I am very impressed with this CD actually feeling
that it may be one of the best recordings I have
listened to in the past year.” – Bman’s Blues
Report
Album Reviews
“…he was born with a guitar in his hands”
Cc: Ronnie Baker Brooks 6
8. Press Coverage
Matthew Curry and the Fury has been featured in a number of student and local newspapers over the past
months. The following is an article from The Pantagraph, a Central Illinois newspaper.
“Young Gun: Local Blues Prodigy Wows Crowds.” The Pantagraph
Dan Craft
December 16, 2010
BLOOMINGTON -- At an age when most young guys are just figuring how to be 13 next year, Bloomington's
Matthew Curry was up on a stage trading hot licks with two blues greats.
Tommy Castro here. Ronnie Baker Brooks over there.
The 12-year-old had been invited to help set up the show at the Lafayette Club and wound up joining the all-
star gang on stage near the end of the show, guitar in tow.
"It was a really fun night," recalls the Bloomington High sophomore, even if it fizzled to a finish. "We ended up
playing one song, and, then, when we started a second song, the power in about half the city went out."
Wailing electric guitars fell silent.
Accusations flew: "Yeah, some people said it happened because of us using up all the electricity," Matthew
notes.
If anything, say some witnesses, the wattage emanating from the stage that night could have fired up a power
station.
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9. Press Coverage (Cont.)
8
Matthew, now three years older, is no less electrical: He and his band, the Blues Fury, are plugged into the
International Blues Competition in Memphis, where they'll be up against 200-plus bands.
They earned that privilege by winning a regional competition at last summer's Illinois Blues Festival in Peoria.
A preview is Friday as Matthew & The Blues Fury headline a Blues Blowtorch Society show at Bloomington's
Castle Theatre.
The Furies are all seasoned local music veterans: guitarist Randy Hoffman, late of 6V6 and president of Blues
Blowtorch; bass player Jeff Paxton, Hip Pocket's lead guitarist for 10 years; and drummer Greg Neville.
"I think a little bit of the purpose of going to Memphis is to bring him national exposure to some of the record
labels and industry professionals -- to show them we've got someone with immense talent," says Hoffman.
"Our job is to back him up and help lay the groundwork for him for him to reach a national, and international,
audience," agrees Paxton.
The son of Paul and Patti Curry remembers it all beginning around age 4 "when I got this cheap little Wal-Mart
mini-sized guitar and would sit on the floor watching my dad play his acoustic guitar and trying to figure how
he was doing it."
"He would pick up stuff playing it basically upside down, since he's left-handed," recalls mother Patti. "He
focused on what my husband was doing and where his fingers were positioned. And he would get it, and latch
onto it."
By age 9, he was opening for local rockers Who Cares.
"Well, that being the first time, I was pretty nervous for the first few minutes," Matthew admits. "I kind of stood
there with my guitar like a statue."
10. Press Coverage (Cont.)
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But that was then. At 15, not only has he mastered his guitar, his voice has gone through the change and turned
into an expressive blues instrument in its own right.
Moreover, he's writing most of his own material.
"He has an ability that's very unusual," notes Hoffman. "It's almost like he channels the guitar. He works very
hard at it, and is very studious about what he does. There are a lot of young people out there who can play
guitar, but there are very few who play with the emotion and tone that Matt has."
"He's not just good, he's REALLY good," says Deborah Mehlberg, entertainment director for the Blues
Blowtorch Society, a big supporter of Matthew's career.
"We're absolutely tickled to help him -- he's a very sweet young man, very quiet, until you get him on stage ..."
Mehlberg's husband, veteran bluesman Steve "The Harp," is another of Matthew's mentors/fans.
"He's really a joy to play with, and it's a joy to hear his playing," Steve says. "It's a gift from the Lord, I really
believe that. And he's got the interest and desire to practice daily, which is the key to being a good player."
Matthew cites Stevie Ray Vaughn and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons as two key inspirations, and he feels an
especially close bond to Joe Bonamassa, a fellow blues prodigy.
In his short career, Matthew also has shared stages with Bryan Lee, Coco Montoya and others.
He's already into his second band, with the Blues Fury being the successors to the CurrFew, whose adult
members hailed from the Champaign-Urbana area.
That lineup lasted around a year before the distance separating Curry and his band-mates inspired the
formation this past summer of the new, Twin Cities-based configuration.
11. Press Coverage (Cont.)
He is definite in his career plans, while trying to live his life normally as a 15-year-old with a twin brother,
Andrew; a homework load; side interests (fishing, for starters) and parents who attend every gig and strive,
says mom, "to keep him grounded and with his head on straight and realizing he's just one person in a mass
of talented people."
In a symbolic preview of things to come, Randy Hoffman remembers his first on-stage encounter with
Matthew.
He was around 11 at the time, and Hoffman's former band was playing Bloomington's Coppertop Lounge.
"His parents had brought him -- they had to get permission from the owner just to let him in," recalls
Hoffman. "During a break, his parents asked us if Matt could sit in with us."
The band chose a Stevie Ray Vaughn tune, which Matthew, being a Stevie Ray fan, took to like a duck to a
pond.
"We finished that song, and then the lead guitar player asked Matt if he knew 'The Thrill Is Gone.'
"Matt said, 'no,' but that he'd try to keep up," continues Hoffman. Not too many riffs later, the lead guitarist
turned to Matthew and said, simply, "It's all yours, kid."
As Hoffman recalls the moment, "It was amazing -- he owned the room that night."
That tendency toward ownership has continued.
"He has," says Steve "The Harp," "all the potential in the world."
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12. Testimonials
"We made it out to hear guitar player, singer and songwriter Matthew Curry. His
new band The Fury played to a standing room only crowd at the Castle Theatre last
week end. The young Bluesman is backed by a crew of real veterans including Jeff
Paxton on bass, Greg Neville on drums and Randy Hoffman on rhythm guitar. They
are headed to Memphis in a few weeks to compete in the International Blues
Challenge. Check them out! ” – Blues Blast Magazine
"Keep up the great playing!” – Joe Bonamassa
"Matthew Curry is a guitar phenom whose reputation grows with every riff he plays
on the instrument.” – Brad Burke, The Journal Star
“Bloomington-Normal’s whiz kid on blues guitar, Matthew Curry has been making
waves for some time now...Now Matt is back with more licks, via his debut CD with
his current band, Matthew Curry and the Fury. Titled “If I Don’t Got You,” its
packed with a half-dozen originals and a couple covers, and it smokes. Catch the
heat…”
– Dan Craft, The Pantagraph
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13. Contact Information
Booking Contact:
Patti Curry
lilbigman1@gmail.com
Live Sound Contact:
Jeff Paxton
(309) 310 2967
Press Contact:
Karyl Carlson
matthewcurryfury@gmail.com
(309) 533 3433
Official Website
www.matthewcurry.com
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Social Media
/matthewcurryandthefury
Matthew Curry and The Fury
@MattCurryFury
MatthewCurryFury
