The word “kismet” comes to mind when talking with singer-songwriter Tom Pirozzoli and guitarist Brad Myrick. Of their connection, Myrick says, “Tom and I had known of each other for a long time because of doing things in New Hampshire [where both reside] but we really only started getting to know each other–and became fast friends–two years ago. It’s one of those things that feels like a lifelong friendship that only took me 40 years to come across.” The two share essential qualities that enrich their partnership: a love of travel and music, and how those loves inform their lives.

Pirozzoli is a self-taught guitarist and painter whose five-decade career has generated ten studio albums, numerous songwriting credits, and collaborations with artists including Willy Porter, Joyce Andersen, and David Wilcox. Several of his original recordings also reside in the Smithsonian Folkways Collection via Fast Folk Musical Magazine. He has toured internationally, working with artists such as Greg Brown, Jesse Winchester, and Doc Watson, and his ongoing collaboration with Milwaukee-based guitarist Willy Porter has produced co-written songs featured on Porter's albums.

Myrick is a guitarist and composer from New Hampshire. He spent six years working as a musician in Los Angeles and two and a half more based in Italy, where he built an ongoing duo project with Italian guitarist Nicola Cipriani that has produced four albums of original music and toured the US, Italy, and the UK. Pirozzoli says of Myrick, “Brad has a very impressive biography: he’s played all over Europe, he’s taught in Europe, he’s done amazing things in his forty-odd years. What he’s done with his music is jaw-droppingly amazing. I’ve played with some really great guitar players, and Brad is as good as any of them. He’s an amazing player.”

In conversation with the pair, the story behind one of Pirozzoli’s songs, “Desert Train”, comes up. He says, “I wrote this in India in 1979, on a Nepalese banjo, while on a long, long train ride from Jaipur out to the Pakistani border.” Myrick chimes in, “When Tom was telling the story about that song, it reminded me that the reason we get along so well is we’ve had a lot of similar experiences. We’re both explorers, we love to see the world, and we’re curious about things that might be inspiring. I’ve been to Jaipur–and it’s funny because he can have a song written in ‘79, before I was born, and I’ll be able to relate to it because of my experiences.” He adds, “That sensation is why when we get on stage together, there’s really nice synergy even though we’re relatively new to making music together.”

On stage, Pirozzoli brings lead vocals and decades of road-tested storytelling, while Myrick's guitar work adds a second voice — part conversation, part counterpoint. Pirozzoli says, “Part of the reason Brad is able to play with people is because he listens. He doesn’t just play over the music you’re playing; he’s listening to everything you’re doing and he’s enhancing it. He listens to the lyrics, he listens to the movement of the music.” They explain, “It's not a rehearsed act; we trade glances, riff off each other's stories, and often pull the audience directly into the exchange…it’s acoustic and unplugged in spirit, drawing on original material and well-loved songs, in the kind of small, attentive rooms where folk music has always lived best.”

And making special guest appearances during the Sept. 12 show: Scott Elliot of The Boneheads, Holy Mackerels, Scotty River Band; and Alva Achorn. All will bring their collaboration to the Upstairs Bar at the Opera House, Tickets will be available at the door for $10; doors open at 6:30. 

For more information on Pirozzoli, go to https://pirozzoli.com/. For more on Myrick, go to https://bradmyrick.com/.

To see other upcoming shows at the Opera House, go to https://boothbayoperahouse.com/.