Kevin & Tom
by Lauri Sturdivant
Kevin & Tom have been the house musicians at SAM’s 2nd Saturday opening receptions since board president Ernie Wasson heard Kevin playing his guitar at Dunsmuir Hardware. In early 2021 Kevin began as a solo singer and guitarist. He said he was nervous, but the support from SAM volunteers and patrons was encouraging. Tom joined him later that year and they became Kevin & Tom.
Kevin and Tom met each other in Dunsmuir when Tom spotted Kevin walking down Dunsmuir Ave. playing his guitar. Kevin plays whenever and wherever he can including walking to, from and during his job at Dunsmuir Hardware. Kevin picked up the guitar during the Covid pandemic when we all seemed to have a little extra time to pursue interests and learn new things.
When Tom’s children moved away to begin their lives he wanted to challenge himself so with his interest in ‘the blues’ he picked up the guitar. “Fat fingers” made it hard to play the chords on the guitar so he tried the Dobro. Tom now plays the Dobro and lap steel instruments. Tom has over 13 years of music background including having played “horns in high school.” (I said I wasn’t going to use the term “fingers fat” in this interview, but both agreed it is a thing to have large fingers making it difficult to form the chords on the fretted neck of a traditional guitar.)
The Dobro is an American instrument invented in 1927 by string instrument maker John Dopyera and his brothers (thus the name Do-Bro). The Dobro was made for working musicians who were looking to produce louder sound when they played in movie houses, juke joints and jazz clubs. The Dobro is a six stringed instrument with a squared-off neck and raised strings. It is easily identified by the elaborate metal resonator plate on the front of the instrument. It can be played on one's lap or upright position.
Kevin & Tom perform heartfelt folk, country and blues songs by American singer/songwriters based on “three chords and the truth.” This term comes from Harlan Howard (1929-2002) who coined the phrase describing the essence of country music that focuses on earnest storytelling and simple chords making the truth of the story accessible to everyone. Ken Burns based his Country Music documentary on this phrase.
Tom is Kevin's vocal cheerleader, not singing himself. The duet performs quite a few John Prine songs telling stories of humorous human experiences. When I asked them if they were having fun they both stood a little taller, their eyes sparkled, they broke out in big smiles and beamed a resounding YES!
Kevin & Tom play for tips from 5-7pm. SAM’s 2nd Saturday Arts Opening receptions hours are 4-7pm with food served by the SAM Hospitality Ladies and wine by donations. SAM is a not for profit arts organization operated by volunteers with generous donations, membership fees, art sales commissions and grant funding. SAM is the ART in the heART of historical downtown Dunsmuir.
