B i o g r a p h y (by Richard J. Skelly)
Guitarist and singer/songwriter Shannon Curfman burst upon the blues and roots rock scene in 1999 with her major-label debut for Arista Records, Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions. Her exceptionally well-produced, well-sequenced debut album won her rave reviews all over the U.S. and Canada, aside from lots of airplay, even on commercial radio stations in the U.S. Curfman made several U.S. club tours in support of Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions, and garnered huge amounts of publicity, because she was only 14 at the time. Now in her late teens, Curfman may choose to take a break from the rigors of the blues and rock & roll lifestyle to instead attend college, as the young Curfman is as academically bright as she is a multifaceted guitarist and songwriter. Curfman, raised in Fargo, ND, and now based in Minneapolis, says her influences are broad-based: Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Prince, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Rory Block, Robert Johnson, Dwight Yoakam, John Prine, and Chaka Khan. At the time of her debut in 1999, Curfman said her goal was to be like Sheryl Crow: a person who writes, sings, plays a lot of instruments, and also produces her own records. The home-schooled Curfman co-wrote seven of the 11 songs on Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions, and several of the album's opening tracks were radio-ready, including the bluesy "True Friends" and "No Riders." She was also joined on her debut by fellow Fargo native Jonny Lang, who is four years her elder. Naturally, Curfman could not have made the splash she did without the support of her parents. Her dad is an engineer for the Burlington Northern Railroad and her mom works to oversee Curfman's home schooling and general progress as an up and coming musician. At the time her debut was released in 1999, in the midst of a tour and several television appearances in support of it, the 15-year old said, "This is what I want to do with my life. It's cool being young and knowing what you want in life. I still have time to go to college if I want. I love every part of this — traveling, meeting people, and playing music of course. Just as long as I'm playing music, I'm happy." Curfman, Lang, and several other rising stars are rejecting the teen group model for success these days, and instead are embracing the music of their parents, blues, classic R&B, and blues-rock. This is an encouraging trend and something many fans would like to see more of, because for the blues to survive, it has to continue to evolve. Curfman takes blues and blues-rock in many refreshing, different directions on Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions.
Loud guitars big suspicions - 1999-09-28 -
Few and far between No riders True friends If you change your mind Love me like that Playing with fire I don't make promises (I can't break) Hard to make a stand The weight Never enough I'm coming home
Loud guitars big suspicions Few and far between Ever since I met you Mama said I should forget you She said you were a waste of my sweet time I wish I would have listened Because now I'm sitting here wishin' I never did believe in your sweet lies You said you were the king of love And I would be your queen How come the good times are so few and far between? Every night you leave me I'm telling you it ain't been easy Sitting here alone 'til 4 AM If this is love then I don't want it I'm gonna take this ring and pawn it I'm walking out on you fast as I can Ain't you the one who promised me peaches and cream? How come the good times are so few and far between? Few and far between The good times that I've seen when I'm with you Few and far between And baby I do believe It's time to pack up all my bags and hit the street Few and far between I got to find somebody Who knows just how to love me And baby I know for sure that it ain't you You said you were the king of love And I would be your queen How come the good times are so few and far between?
No riders I am just a poor girl Trying to get back home Waiting by the station Barefoot on the stones Seven years from Ponchatoula Not one penny in my hand Please mister help me I come so far I cannot stand He said We don't take no riders No riders on this train Go on ask the brakeman He'll tell you just the same I don't take no riders Don't take no riders on this train Best move on down the line, mama Go on back from where you came I done left my mama When I was but a child Took off with a young man Started running wild Seven years from Ponchatoula Ain't nothin' gone my way Please mister help me Can't you hear a word I say? He said We don't take no riders No riders on this train Go on ask the brakeman He'll tell you just the same I don't take no riders Don't take no riders on this train Best move on down the line, mama Go on back from where you came
True friends Don't have to go out Lookin' for trouble Trouble will find you it's a matter of time That's when you're gonna need someone behind you A true friend isn't easy to find You're gonna find out You're gonna find out You're gonna find out who your true friends are There will come a time Somewhere down the line You're gonna find out who your true friends are Room full of people They start talkin' Talkin' about you when you're not there Who'll be the one who won't play that game? Who's gonna stand up for your good name? You're gonna find out You're gonna find out You're gonna find out who your true friends are There will come a time Somewhere down the line You're gonna find out who your true friends are I'll be the one that That will pull you back When you've taken one step too far That's when you'll know who Who really loves you You're gonna find out who your true friends are Now people say Almost anything There's no way to see inside their hearts But they you'll see who runs away And who's there with you when the trouble starts You're gonna find out You're gonna find out You're gonna find out who your true friends are There will come a time Somewhere down the line You're gonna find out who your true friends are
If you change your mind I smell you on my fingertips I can taste you on my lips I can still hear the echo of our last goodbye You're the love I can't forget I see you everywhere I turn I guess I won't ever learn I always fall for the ones that I can't keep I let myself get in too deep If you change your mind I'll be waiting on you If you need somebody to be your fool I will be there for you If you change your mind Remember down in Baton Rouge When I gave it all up to you? I could tell right then that it was the end There was nothing left but the truth If you change your mind I'll be waiting on you If you need somebody to be your fool I will be there for you If you change your mind All of my life I let the darkness pull me in A flicker of light Gone again If you change your mind I'll be waiting on you If you need somebody to be your fool I will be there for you If you change your mind
Love me like that At the bottom of the ocean If you could hear me call your name Would the changing tides Ever turn you away? At the top of the mountain At the end of the day Would you still have a place in your heart For me to stay? You're the only good thing This little girl ever had Your got to treat me like a good thing You got to give me all the love I give you back If you really want to love me You got to show me that you love me like that Down in the valley Where all the wild things run Would you still be true Would I be the only one? Love is a jungle the hunter is the game If I love you would you love me just the same? You're the only good thing This little girl ever had Your got to treat me like a good thing You got to give me all the love I give you back If you really want to love me You got to show me that you love me like that Out in the country Where the tall grass grows Would you really really love me 'Cause I really need to know Back in the big old city Would you keep me by your side? I've got to know the truth Before I let you come inside You're the only good thing This little girl ever had Your got to treat me like a good thing You got to give me all the love I give you back If you really want to love me You got to show me that you love me like that
Playing with fire Down at the crossroads They say he sold his soul Hell-bent on being King of Blues Deal with the Devil But I swear there's an angel in there Gotta give credit Where credit's due Sittin' in his rockin' chair He put the mojo in the air Yeah, hear the black cat moanin' Twelve bars and a man possessed Separated from all the rest He was playing with fire Six string -- his thing No waking up from that dream Took it -- turned it upside down He rocked Woodstock Jump start -- never could stop Guitar gods all hit the ground Heads up when he hit the stage Sky high in a manic rage Yeah, and the rocket's red glare They say the boy really caused a scene He took a match and he lit that thing He was playin' with fire Who's that creeping Taking ahold of my hand? Who's that moving Through my veins? Must be the spirit Of those who've gone before Got their fingers on my strings Sittin' in my rockin' chair I feel the mojo in the air Yeah, I hear the black cat moanin' Let it roll all over me let it take me 'til I'm free And I'm playin' with fire
I don't make promises Love ain't worth the tears sometimes There's nothing left in this heart of mine I've stayed with you but I don't know why After all you've put me through How can you lie when you know I can't? How can you ask for one last chance? You let it slip right through your hands And now it's caught up with you I don't make promises I can't break Not like before I let you make your last mistake Don't wanna cry no more You never give back what you take You only use things 'til they break How many times must my heart ache All because of you? I don't make promises I can't break Not like before I let you make your last mistake Don't wanna cry no more Love ain't worth the tears this time Don't wanna cry Don't wanna fight I know whats wrong And I know what's right And I know what I have to do I don't make promises I can't break Not like before I let you make your last mistake Don't wanna cry no more
Hard to make a stand Old James Dean Monroe Hands out flowers at the Shop-n-Go Hopes for money But all he gets is fear And the wind blows up his coat And this he scribbles on a purfume note: "If I'm not here, then you're not here." And he says: "Call me Miscreation, I'm a walking celebration." And it's hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand My friend, oh lawdy Went to take care of her own body She got shot down in the road She looked up before she went Said, "This isn't really what I meant." And the daily news said: "Two with one stone." And I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, Bring a flower, time is wasting." And it's hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand We got loud guitars and big suspicions Great big guns and small ambitions We still argue over who is God And I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, Bring a flower, time is wasting." I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, We all need a revelation." And it's hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand Hard to make a stand
The weight I pulled into Nazareth I was feelin' about half past dead I just need some place Where I can lay my head "Hey, mister, can you tell me Where a girl might find a bed?" He just grinned and shook my hand "No!" was all he said Take a load off Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off Fanny And (and) (and) put the weight on me I picked up my bag I went lookin' for a place to hide When I saw Carmen and the Devil Walkin' side by side I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown" She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around" Take a load off Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off Fanny And (and) (and) put the weight on me Go down, Moses There ain't nothin' for you to say It's just ol' Luke And Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day "Well, Luke, my friend What about young Anna Lee?" He said, "Do me a favor Stay an' keep Anna Lee company." Take a load off Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off Fanny And (and) (and) put the weight on me Fetch me a cannon ball Now take me on down the line May bag is sinkin' low And I believe it's about time To get in touch with me You know she's the one He said, "Honey, regards for everyone." Take a load off Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off Fanny And (and) (and) put the weight on me
Never enough I've seen the people As they walk down the street Smiling and looking so free As I stand on the corner With a tear in my eye Wondering how it would be If I'd never asked for what I could not have Always living for things out of reach Never enough Forever unsatisfied Missing a piece of my soul Never enough Forever unanswered Like a prayer that never gets told Fall away troubles, dreams and desires And let me escape from myself If I'd never asked for what I could not have I could live just like everyone else Never enough Forever unsatisfied Missing a piece of my soul Never enough Forever unanswered Like a prayer that never gets told Fall away troubles, dreams and desires And let me escape from myself
I'm coming home I've been hearing stories Ever since I've been gone Heard all about your women Women, wine and song Did you think I wouldn't find you out? Did you think I wouldn't know? Let's skip the inquisition Consider this your eviction I'm coming home I've been hearing rumors I gave you the benefit of the doubt Ever since the day I took you in I should have kicked you out You've been living off my money And I bet you ain't alone It's been going on too long I better find you gone When I get home I'm comin' home to quit ya So don't let that back door hit ya when ya go I'm heading down the interstate Taking back my real estate I'm coming home I'm coming home When you said you loved me I should of known what you meant I guess you loved me just enough To let me pay the rent Since you've been livin' off me You've been livin' high Now I think it's way past time To leave you high and dry Let's skip the inquisition Consider this your eviction I'm coming home It's been going on too long I better find you gone when I get home I'm coming home I'm coming home
Fast Lane Addiction Do me I hate forever, stereo types All american boys and the simple life I'm a sinner, Mother Mary I ain't I hate roses, apologies And the bullshit that happens down on one knee We're all sinners, we're no saints I'm not looking for an angel I don't believe in miracles I don't need to be the queen of all fables I'm just a girl Do me, do me right That's what a girl wants, that's what a girl likes Take it, take it, take it like a man Hold me, hold me tight When we make love, when we fuss and fight Take it, take it, take it like a man Be my weakness, make me strong Take a stand and right me when I'm wrong Hold me but not too tight Shelter me and give me space Put me in the mood and in my place Hold me but let me fly Little Things You kill me softly with suicide eyes Make me lose sight of all my foolish pride I get mad, confused I should leave but I don't want to I miss the way you say my name I miss the way you say my name It's the little things that make me feel like a woman Drive me wild and always keep me comin' Back for more, there's never enough It's the little things that keep me in love with you To tell the truth the way you do the things you do I swear I feel like a queen And I realize now that there's so much more to life than just the finer things Don't ever go away and don't ever change Don't ever go away and don't ever change It's the little things that make me feel like a woman Drive me wild and always keep me comin' Back for more, there's never enough It's the little things that keep me in love with you The way you smile when you turn on the light The way you say you need to see my eyes The way you ask me to tell you all of my dreams That's what I like, that's all I really need It's the little things that make me feel like a woman Drive me wild and always keep me comin' Back for more, there's never enough It's the little things that keep me in love with you
Tangled These days I'm tired of crying These days I'm tired of trying Can you see the way I'm feeling Can you see I'm tired of healing Oh, no, my ship is sinking Lately, see, I've been thinking You're no good, no good for me Let me let go, set me free I'm tangled, tangled in the web you weave Your poison leaves me bitter but tastes so sweet Your sad eyes make it hard, so hard to leave I'm tangled Let me let go, set me free Spinning wheels and wasted tears Perfect pictures torn and smeared Sun is setting on a field of dreams On the fence and in between Oh, no, my ship is sinking Lately, see, I've been thinking You're no good, no good for me Let me let go, set me free I'm tangled, tangled in the web you weave Your poison leaves me bitter but tastes so sweet Your sad eyes make it hard, so hard to leave I'm tangled Let me let go, set me free
Stone Cold Bitch I'm not the lady in white, not the girl next door I'm a late night fix, I'm a borderline whore I'm not your Sunday school, not your mother's dream I'm the fuel for the fire, I'm the gasoline You think you bring me down You think you make me blue You think you got me good But the joke's on you I'm a stone cold bitch Long gone when the money's all spent I'm a stone cold bitch I'm the girl who came and went I can be anything and whatever you want me to be I can be anything and whatever But when I'm gone I won't be sorry I won't be sorry I'm not forever or after, not your thick and thin I'm the bottom of the bag, I'm the ultimate sin I'm not for better or worse, not the golden rule I'm the cross you bare, I'm the fool in you You think you stole my heart You think that I'm in deep You think you got me good But I refuse to bleed I'm a stone cold bitch Long gone when the money's all spent I'm a stone cold bitch I'm the girl who came and went I can be anything and whatever you want me to be I can be anything and whatever But when I'm gone I won't be sorry I won't be sorry Feel no shame Feel no pain Feel no shame I'm a stone cold bitch Long gone when the money's all spent I'm a stone cold bitch I'm the girl who came and went I can be anything and whatever you want me to be I can be anything and whatever But when I'm gone I won't be sorry I won't be sorry
Sex Type Thing You can't give me everything I need But I like the way you do it when you make my love bleed I start to quiver and get all warm inside Feel no shame, I feel no guilt, feel no need to hide Sex type thing With you and me No love, no hate, somewhere in between Sex type thing All we'll ever be All you want is all I need so I'll tell 'em when they ask me It's a sex type thing Slit restrictions, violate with passion Is all I need, nothing more I'm asking Please always checking me, baby what's going on Taking care of my business, you can mind your own You can use me all you want We're singing the same tune All you want from me baby Is all I want from you Sex type thing With you and me No love, no hate, somewhere in between Sex type thing All we'll ever be All you want is all I need so I'll tell 'em when they ask me It's a sex type thing