Thomas Csorba at the Rustic
By SUZI CASTELLAW, Contributing Writer
What do you do if you can’t be the trailblazer because of all the legends who have blazed before you? How do you travel their same path without becoming them? There’s a new singer-songwriter in town and he just may have the answer. Texas boy Thomas Csorba will take the stage this Thursday at The Rustic in San Antonio and again on Friday in Houston.
If there ever was an artist with a foot firmly planted in two different worlds it is this young man. From the moment you hear him sing you begin to imagine a world where Dylan is a songbird and Townes never had a death wish. But when asked about artists who inspired him, he replied, “Man, close your eyes and point! I believe wholeheartedly that every inch, every atom around us has a story to tell. I began to understand this when I was about 16, and wanted to capture those stories and put them into songs.”
Born and raised in Houston, he considers ALL of Texas his home. “There’s a spirit of authenticity that runs through this place,” he said. “The relationships I’ve built, the stories I come across, and the music created here all seem to have that authenticity in common.”
Csorba is a recent graduate of Baylor University where he received an undergraduate degree in English. “Yeah, I studied English in undergrad. It was a blast – I was able to read some of the great literature this world has to offer and learn how to think about it critically. To do so amongst some really knowledgeable professors and colleagues was wildly challenging and inspiring,” he explained.
To discover Thomas Csorba style, all one has to do is download the “intro” song “I Want.” It is the brief first track of his self-titled album released last year. It begins with the hum of a church organ echoing off the holy rafters and then layered on top a single haunting voice and acoustic guitar. “I want to write less about romance and more about love. I want to sing like the angels in the heavens up above,” said the songwriter.
Csorba’s creative process is quite amorphous, especially these days since he is working on many different kinds of projects. “It’s important to always be trying new things, working with new people, and not getting stuck in too much of a construct,” he points out. “Priority number one is to follow the song, however that looks is fine with me.”
He describes his music as eclectic Americana, a culmination of a lot of different styles, regions, and voices I love.” After listening to his songs, we have to agree.
“Plastic Jesus” is just plain fun to listen to and could possibly be mistaken as a sequel to Terry Allen’s “Gimme a Ride to Heaven.” “A Crooked Kind of Free” has that driving beat, like a freight train or a galloping steed, reminiscent of Joe Ely. With the lyric “I’m a saddle riding man,” it could easily be the opening credit from an old hoof-pounding spaghetti western. “Another Man in Me” is transformative, taking you back to an old Texas dancehall listening to a whining steel guitar and a brushy snare drum and yearning to be swept away to a sawdust floor and gliding two-step.
As a musical artist Csorba tries to listen to everything and draw inspiration from his peers, including Wesley Geiger and Brian Douglas Phillips who are “creating wonderful things,” And beyond his world, he’s been diving deep into NRBQ’s “Scraps” and Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out” recently.”
So, how has he managed the impact of this global pandemic on his career?
“I’ve definitely been writing a lot. It’s taught me to co-write a bit. I think I’ve been craving a level of human contact, so I’ve been writing with folks over zoom,” he explained. “It’s also taught me how important it is to build a business that isn’t directly dependent on touring. To be a successful small business in the 21st century, (especially in a creative realm), you have to diversify the ways you’re bringing in money. That’s been a bit of a challenge, but it’s helped me lay some groundwork that will hopefully last for years to come.”
He has missed playing at his favorite places, like the Cactus Cafe in Austin, the Kessler Theater in Dallas, and the Basement in Nashville. And radio play has not been great. “We don’t have any radio promotion campaigns, but we’ll get a few call-ins for a song or two on some local stations. Love it when that happens,” he noted.
Csorba will be playing The Rustic this Thursday, April 8th, with the full band– Fred Mandujano, Jacob Hildebrand, Z Lynch. Show starts at 7:00 p.m.
“I love hanging out in San Antonio. I love the people here! It is such a different vibe and culture than any other Texas city.” Csorba promises something special for everyone this Thursday. “I’m putting out some B-sides from my self-titled record, “Green Velvet’” which releases this Friday,” he responds excitedly, “and there’s more to come!”