Women ROCK! article index >> Shannon Curfman: Loud Guitars, Big Future Shannon Curfman wrapped her debut album Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions in a dense blues-rock web of hard beats and ravenous guitars -- her rough-mama vocals brimming with the impudence of youth. And that can't be considered a surprise, since Shannon Curfman is 14 years old. Despite Curfman's early years -- or maybe because of them -- Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions is one of the year's gutsiest, most satisfying albums in its field. Curfman's passionate connection to her material is apparent from the chugging kickoff track "Few And Far Between" (embellished with her howling, raging guitar solo), to her soul-stirring cover of the Band's beauty "The Weight," to the splendid vocal harmonies of "If You Change Your Mind" borne aloft by soaring organ chords. But despite her vibrant performances and thoughtful songcraft, Curfman knows her age will attract curiosity. "Whatever gets people to the shows, I don't care" she says with a laugh. "I guess there's nothing wrong with people looking at me as a novelty act, or whatever, but that's not what I'm personally going for. I'm in this because this is what I love to do and I couldn't ever imagine not doing this. Whatever gets people to the shows and just hopefully they can overcome that and not think about that the next time they come. The next time they'll come to the show because they liked the music and they liked the show and not because I'm 14 -- or 63 or however old I am." Curfman grew up in Fargo N.D., became a rabid fan of local phenom Jonny Lang, and embarked on a similarly precocious musical career, for which her family ultimately moved to Minneapolis. "If I didn't have supportive parents, I wouldn't be anywhere," she said. "My mom is my personal manager, so she's definitely really into this. She goes everywhere with me. If you see me anywhere, you know my mom is around. If you see my mom, you know Shannon's right around the corner or something. [laughs]" "There's nothing wrong with people looking at me as a novelty act, or whatever, but that's not what I'm personally going for. I'm in this because this is what I love to do." For some teenaged girls, the prospect of living and working with their mothers may not be a goal, but Curfman said, "It's good, it's fun. We get along, so it's definitely not like a chore to have her around." (She'd long been home-schooled, and maintains a daily six-hour academic regimen even when she's on the road.) Curfman may differ a bit from the average teenager in her musical tastes, too, with her favorites including the Beatles, Tom Petty, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Greg Brown, Dwight Yoakam, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana. Her peer group didn't always share her enthusiasms. "When I'd go over to sleepovers, they'd be like 'Yeah, everybody bring your favorite CDs,' that kind of thing," recalled an amused Curfman. "And I'd show up with Sly & the Family Stone, and all these people were like, 'Oh, my God, who's this?' . . . I'll listen to Alanis Morrisette and Sheryl Crow and stuff like that -- Jamiroquai and Lenny. It's kind of crossing paths a little bit, now. A lot of my friends are listening to Santana and the new Prince thing. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin are. By Drew Wheeler http://www.cdnow.com Find music at Amazon.com! Women ROCK! article index >> News I Health I Wellness I Exercise I Profiles I Business I Links I Women ROCK! Product Review I To the Point I Contact I Home Created by: Art Street Design Studio. © Concerning Women Communications, Inc. all rights reserved.