The Alchemist, March 18, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 12
Vol. 1, No. 12
LOCAL ARTIST OF THE WEEK
CURTIS MONETTE
By Robin Canfield
Local musician Curtis Monette is playing his monthly solo show at Bomb’s Away Café, Wednesday, March 19th. Some people might take this as license to call him a one man band, but this one man is more a musical force.
“It’s the only thing that feels real,” Monette said about playing music.
Working at twenty-plus credits a term to finish degrees in both Music Composition and Business Management, Monette still manages a lot of time to play.
On Friday, the 21st, also at Bombs Away Café, Monette is playing an acoustic set with some fellow bandmates from the former Led Zeppelin cover band Stairway Denied, and some friends, as the project Amigos, Bebidas y Musica. His solo sets at Bombs are monthly, and he does a duet performance about every other month. On top of that Monette is a member of The Badfish Band, a local funky reggae band packed full of talent that has many, many shows coming up, and may do a multi-state northwest tour this summer. Also, once every Stairway Denied bandmember is back in Corvallis the band, tentatively known as “Escape from the Velvet Trap,” could be touting some new music around Corvallis.
Some people would collapse under such a load.
“It’s stress relief, it’s fun, and it’s a way of life,” Monette says.
While he mainly performs guitar and vocals, Monette started learning with the saxophone at 9, and has since taught himself to play the mandolin, banjo, piano, harmonica and various percussion instruments.
Curtis Monette is putting his business management skills to good use too. Working with five other guys and OSU STAND he helped set up a Darfur benefit concert that featured Eleven Eyes and The Badfish Band. He has also helped with multiple benefits for the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence, such as this years two upcoming Beatles at OSU performances. True to form, Monette will also be playing in the band.
Check out Curtis’ playing at:
www.myspace.com/stairwaydenied
www.myspace.com/curtismonette
www.myspace.com/johnnydandhisbadfish
