In the Nick of Time

These things seem so common nowadays: a musician falls ill without insurance and the community rallies in support with a fundraiser. That he’s in a popular club is cold consolation to Nick Curran, whose recent surgery for mouth cancer inspired friends to play for him tomorrow, May 3, at Antone’s.

Last year’s killer party record, Reform School Girl, could have been a load of retro-posturing. Instead, Curran, with his penchant for using vintage recording equipment, created an authentic work of musical prowess befitting his wild ride of a career. His years playing in such Lone Star powerhouse outfits as Ronnie Dawson, Kim Lenz & the Jaguars, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds gave the East Coast-born guitarist that definitive Texas blues-rock edge, but his inclusion on the soundtrack of HBO’s True Blood bought him nouveau street cred in spades.

Curran wasn’t the first guitarist to step into Jimmie Vaughan’s spot as guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, yet his three-year stint with the band honed his inner T-Bone Walker to … well, to a T. With his own bands the Nitelifes, Deguello, and the Lowlifes, he’s stomped all over tradition with his own young man blues.

Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band head up the Tuesday show in Nick Curran’s honor. Also playing are Derek O’Brien, Malford Milligan, Chris Layton, Mike Flanigin Trio, the Horton Brothers, Public Soul, and no doubt a guest or two. Suggested donation is $10 and show starts early, 7pm.