Human Jukebox Occupies Village Manor for a Night

Tequila Tim Curry, a solo acoustic musician from Hingham, is an impressive one man show; with an acoustic guitar, a few effect pedals, and the occasional harmonica, Curry can produce a wall of sound that seems to be taken for granted by bar-goers who might simply confuse his rich, polished sounds for the radio.

“Hey, I take it as a compliment,” says Curry, holding a beer, making himself right at home during a short break in his set. He said it himself, “I like to consider myself a jukebox.”

Curry demonstrated no sloppiness, no loose ends, as he effortlessly transitioned from R.E.M. to George Harrison to Buffalo Springfield, the latter containing his apparent idol Neil Young.

Curry said how when Young came to town to give a solo performance, he was reluctant to miss it, saying “Neil Young is one of my top three [songwriting musicians] of all time. I was so mad. I was kicking myself.”

As a cover-heavy solo musician, it makes sense that he should be influenced by solo musicians that perform in the same vein, with rarely even a little help from their friends. 

 “I really respect good storytellers [like] Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Bob Dylan – [they can really] blow me away. The visual imagery just floors me,” he said. “[Performing] alone on stage, that’s it. [It’s] the bomb.”

But Curry’s income isn’t contingent on his music. Music is more of a hobby, a source of some extra cash, perhaps to be reinvested into his musical equipment. For work, Curry is in the catering industry, where he says he also enjoys expressing his creative self in a different, more culinary way.

His background is diverse. He’s studied journalism, worked as a photographer, and while doing his present work, he does get the opportunity to apply his multi-faceted sense of creativity, sometimes guiding and educating clients, adding his two cents when the discussion of hiring a musician comes up.

As such, Curry can afford to decline inconvenient gigs, or expect necessary accommodations and compensation for travel expenses. He’s declined some out-of-state request, but recently he did agree to perform at a woman’s 40th birthday party, a loftier gig.

Curry self-promotes, using his website as a contact point, which has lead to many a successful venture, through his “Tequila” Tim moniker, by those seeking a more tropical essence to entertain an outdoor spring or summertime fiesta. Sometimes he does this literally afloat the ocean on some luxurious, high-capacity boat.

While he enjoys being the sole entertainer in larger, more corporate-oriented occasions, he gets an unrivaled joy in not having to lug a bevy of gear to some trying location or having to appeal to a setting full of high-expectations. This can be found at The Village Manor, a short 20-minute hop from his home, where he is still a husband and father.

“[At the Manor], I’m part of the scene. I’m okay with that. [The bar-goers] are there with friends. It’s a fun bar,” he said. “They’re so welcoming. The owners are nice. They have wonderful patrons. It’s the type of venue I love.”

He especially loves when he plays a John Denver song and the crowd sings a long with the chorus. Or when he performs a rendition of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” like he did last Saturday night, causing one table to resound with applause and appreciation. Or when he plays an obscure Bruce Springsteen song and hits a few attentive ears, causing them to physically confront him with their zealousness. 

“That’s something I get jazzed up about,” Curry said.

Curry will be performing next at The Village Manor Friday, May 13 at 9:30 p.m. He has quite the extensive repertoire, ranging from the 60s to current, and he does take requests.

Download the movie