By SCOTT CUNNINGHAM // Run includes a rare acoustic performance at the Lake Theater and Cafe in Lake Oswego
Ty Curtis is one of Oregon's best bluesmen and is quickly carving out a major spot for himself in the genre.
Curtis comes home this month for a three-week string of dates, including a rare acoustic performance Monday Feb. 13 at the Lake Theater and Cafe in Lake Oswego.
For not being 30 years-old yet, Curtis has generated a lot of excitement in the blues community. Last year's release "Blame Me" was named a top ten album of 2016 by Blues Rock Review.
"Blame Me" is a more of a return to his musical roots than his previous album "Water Under the Bridge".
"This record is more of a bluesy, rootsy approach. I didn't do as much double guitar as I did on 'Water Under the Bridge' because I want to replicate the album as much as I can in the live shows," Curtis tells me.
The album is a mix of hard-driving blues rock, laid back slow blues, and even has a bit of reggae mixed in to great effect.
To achieve his sound, Curtis relies mainly on two Gibson classics: The ES-335 and ES-120T, the latter once belonging to his father. For pedals, he uses a Scionic Audio Telos for boost and drive, and a TC Electronics Vicous Vibe.
The Viscous Vibe is a recreation of the classic Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe used by guitar legends such as David Gilmour and Jimi Hendrix. His ampliflier of choice is the BlackVerb from Red Plate Amps.
ON TOUR: Ty Curtis appears at the Lake Theater and Cafe in Lake Oswego on Monday Feb. 13. The theater is located at 106 N. State Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. As of this writing, tickets are still available.