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A York Community High School and Elmhurst College graduate, Jim Crowther has been playing guitar and writing his own songs since before he was a teenager.
Now the singer and songwriter for the Jim Crowther Band, he said he finds his songwriting inspiration in his family — his wife, Priscilla, their two children and his parents.
His band will play the Music@Bethel concert series at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the church, 315 E. Saint Charles Road.
What inspired you to pick up the guitar?
My parents, Allan and Sue Crowther, inspired me to pick up the guitar in sixth grade. I remember my father showing me how to play an E chord on our classical guitar and how easy it was to alter the chord by moving a finger or two. I wrote my first chord progression that day and was hooked. I immediately wanted to take lessons, and soon was figuring out popular songs and writing my own.
My mom was the choir director at Bethel Church for many years when my brother and I were kids. So, we were constantly surrounded by music of some sort.
Was there a specific band or record that you wanted to learn and informed your style and taste?
Like many, I grew up listening to and playing classic rock like Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix, but also was into hooky keyboard pop like Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode. I believe Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are two of the best lyricists. And I currently gravitate towards singer/songwriters like David Gray and Ray Lamontagne. I play my acoustic guitar on stage now, and I’m humbled by the musicianship of the great Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. Anyone that hasn’t seen him work the acoustic guitar is missing out.
How would you describe the music you play?
My genre of music would fit into the pop/rock category. But, I tend to write songs in all different tempos and time signatures. …
How often do you gig, what kinds of places do you play?
I have played at many clubs around Chicago since I was 17, including Double Door, Abbey Pub and Martyrs. Our current project, Jim Crowther Band, has played out mainly at open mics and coffee shops in the area since we’ve been gathering new material. … The band consists of Brian Creekmur and Sean Reidy — both York graduates as well. And Dean Klinker — our drummer from EIU.
A York Community High School and Elmhurst College graduate, Jim Crowther has been playing guitar and writing his own songs since before he was a teenager.
Now the singer and songwriter for the Jim Crowther Band, he said he finds his songwriting inspiration in his family — his wife, Priscilla, their two children and his parents.
His band will play the Music@Bethel concert series at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the church, 315 E. Saint Charles Road.
What inspired you to pick up the guitar?
My parents, Allan and Sue Crowther, inspired me to pick up the guitar in sixth grade. I remember my father showing me how to play an E chord on our classical guitar and how easy it was to alter the chord by moving a finger or two. I wrote my first chord progression that day and was hooked. I immediately wanted to take lessons, and soon was figuring out popular songs and writing my own.
My mom was the choir director at Bethel Church for many years when my brother and I were kids. So, we were constantly surrounded by music of some sort.
Was there a specific band or record that you wanted to learn and informed your style and taste?
Like many, I grew up listening to and playing classic rock like Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix, but also was into hooky keyboard pop like Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode. I believe Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are two of the best lyricists. And I currently gravitate towards singer/songwriters like David Gray and Ray Lamontagne. I play my acoustic guitar on stage now, and I’m humbled by the musicianship of the great Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. Anyone that hasn’t seen him work the acoustic guitar is missing out.
How would you describe the music you play?
My genre of music would fit into the pop/rock category. But, I tend to write songs in all different tempos and time signatures. …
How often do you gig, what kinds of places do you play?
I have played at many clubs around Chicago since I was 17, including Double Door, Abbey Pub and Martyrs. Our current project, Jim Crowther Band, has played out mainly at open mics and coffee shops in the area since we’ve been gathering new material. … The band consists of Brian Creekmur and Sean Reidy — both York graduates as well. And Dean Klinker — our drummer from EIU.
Is it nerve-racking to play a new original song the first time for a live audience? Can you tell by their response if it’s one of your better songs (or one you might not want to play again)?
Playing original music can be nerve-racking since the audience is hearing the song for the first time in most cases. So the delivery of the song is crucial — making sure the dynamics and lyrics are well heard and tying it together in the end. But a song that sounds good to me, may not to others. Or, a song that I wish to not pursue anymore, becomes the favorite melody of a friend, and thus is reintroduced to the set. I try to start writing from a heart-felt theme and see where it goes from there.
