Wednesday, April 27, 2011

James Durbin

If you're watching American Idol these days, you know this name. James Durbin is a "local boy;" born, raised, and educated here in my neck of the woods, 15 miles north in Santa Cruz, CA. I mean, we like breathe the same air when he's in the area. The Santa Cruz music community even nicknamed him "King of the county's karaoke scene" sometime back.

I admit, I don't watch American Idol. OK, once when another local, Lisa Leuschner made it on the show (and lost mainly because Simon thought she was fat) and then was the Grand Marshall in Watsonville's 4th of July parade in 2004. But that was nothing like this. There are huge public gatherings every Wednesday night starting at 8pm at various pizza joints, bars, and BBQ restaurants all over the county (it's aired live on the East Coast, but is tape-delayed for us "Left Coasters).

At 22 years old, Durbin has been called "brash and supremly talented" and has managed to unite the Deadhead & Reggae-loving old Hippies all over the county with his hard-rock and heavy metal style. Give me Rock & Roll over Reggae ANY day.

When he wins this thing (and he will) it'll put a whole new meaning on "local boy makes good." Now that's FAR OUT man.

3 comments:

Randy Johnson said...

Luckily, I have no idea who you're talking about.

itsmecissy said...

I only know because it's all that's on our local news these days. Never heard of the guy til now.

Pam Beers. said...

Me either, Randy. It's pretty sad when our local news consists of this kinda stuff.