“American Idol” finalist James Durbin will perform at the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium March 15.
Durbin will bring his brand of rock ‘n roll to the main campus of Johnston Community College at 7 p.m. March 15.Durbin is rock music’s 2012 revivalist and ambassador.. Pop culture watchers will recognize the name. Durbin, 22, was known for “bringing heavy metal to the ‘American Idol’ stage” by performing Queen and Muse songs and then by singing onstage with metal legend Judas Priest. Durbin ultimately placed fourth on Season 10 of American Idol, going that far due to his “rawk” edge, his unbridled emotion, his undeniable swagger, his powerhouse voice and his God-given talent, all of which meshed into a potent cocktail that allowed him be rock music’s crusader. He gives this time-honored sound a modern update, thanks to his youthful, impassioned flair.
Durbin is ready for liftoff, armed with his Wind-Up Records debut “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster.” The singer has a singular focus and a noble goal and that’s to have you standing on your feet, pumping your first in the air and rocking out for every minute of his concert. “I want people at my shows to be standing the whole time. For every rock show I’ve been to, I’ve been on my feet. I want my fans to get up on theirs, too!” said Durbin on the upcoming show.
Durbin, who suffers from both Aspberger’s Syndrome and Tourette’s Syndrome but refuses to be sidelined by either of those medical hurdles, co-wrote five of the 11 songs on the standard edition of “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster” and was afforded the dream come true scenario of working with his favorite band, Swedish cult heroes Hardcore Superstar, and with a guitar god, Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, on “Outcast” His fellow writers were like the spark plugs that jumpstarted his newfound creativity and confidence in this realm.
Overall, “Memories of Beautiful Disaster” is an audio document of Durbin’s life as he’s lived it. “It’s my first record, and I am figuring stuff out,” he admits. “I am looking back on my life. Parts were disastrous, and there are some things I wished never happened. But I can look back and appreciate things that I once considered disasters as things of beauty. They make me who I am today. I’d never go back and change anything.”
Tickets are $30 in advance and on sale at the JCC box office, Call 919-209-2099 or online at johnstoncc.edu/performingarts.
