Blue Monk | Thursday 8/18 | 9pm-1130pm
Terry Sullivan & I were both given brass and tested by
the music Gods in the 5th grade. Terry was handed a tuba, I was
given a trombone. My enormous eleven
year old ego wanted no part of the trombone.
I didn’t want to get my ass beat on the bus, cared too much what the
other kids thought, and ended my music career after 7 long weeks. Terry, on the
other hand, is wired completely different.
His innate passion for music coupled with a smaller than average rock
ego triumphed over his dislike for the tuba. After one quick year he graduated
to percussion and never looked back.
The best way I can sum up my three hour interview with Terry
is, “Been there, done that”. Inducted
into the Buffalo Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, he has shared the stage
with some of the biggest names in music, fronted some of the area’s most
revered bands and played all of the rock-games in a quest to book a gig. I didn’t want this article to be another
regurgitation of his many accolades. My
intent is to bang out a quick Zen-like portrait of Terry, the person.
Terry Sullivan is f-ing cool. Terry Sullivan is an artist in every sense of
the word. He creates art (he feels the
timing is right to promote his physical pieces) the same way he creates music-
with passion, for all the right reasons.
Terry’s art & music are an extension of his soul. He doesn’t take himself or his music too
seriously. He has fun. Terry gets it.
Low Lamp Sessions provide balance in Terry’s life, a bit of
a respite if you will. Terry has been playing original music his whole life. The
musicians he has congregated (David Kane, Bob Kozak, Howard Wilson) are all
original artists with massive catalogs who enjoy playing loose arrangements of
someone else’s compositions. He loves
the idea of performing for people in a creative environment. We had some fun & shared a couple pints
at Blue Monk. Terry digs the vibe there and
is impressed with the educated employees.
He eloquently communicated to me, “They did their research for groovy
consumption”.
Terry Sullivan is a pure artist who plays by his own
rules. Buffalo is lucky to have him
& his accomplished band-mates as residents. This Thursday is sure to be
magical. If you see me at the show, no
need to thank me- just buy me a number 7.
Find Terry on facebook.
Blue Monk
727 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 882-6665
“55” by Terry Sullivan