Although his address now reads Portland, Ore., musician and Ohio University alumnus Dan Lurie never managed to fully steal his heart back from Athens, even after a 10-year absence.
“I think I’ve just hit that point where I’m in a stage of nostalgia and want to go back and relive those memories,” Lurie said.
It has been 10 years since his last visit, but Lurie has found his way back to Athens as he tours across the Midwest to promote his album, Spirit of ’98, which was released early this year.
“All the songs are based on my personal experiences going to OU,” Lurie said. “They’re about drinking in someone’s dorm room or that boring spring break when no one was around. You piece all those little moments together and it’s great.”
Lurie attended OU between 1995 and 2000, graduating with degrees in visual communication and telecommunications. It was during his senior year that Lurie first picked up a guitar, never expecting that music would become such a major part of his life.
“A friend and I just did it for fun, not really wanting to do anything serious,” he said. “We started out doing open mics in the Front Room, and I guess it wasn’t ’til after graduation that I got more serious about it.”
Lurie moved to Portland, where he currently lives and works as a copywriter and freelance photographer. Despite his involvement in three other bands, Lurie decided to release Spirit of ’98 by himself.
“It just made perfect sense for it to be my solo album,” he said. “It’s the most personal for me and it’s been evolving for almost 10 years.”
While he primarily considers it a solo project, Lurie assembled a band of friends to accompany him on the album, calling the collaboration “Dan Lurie & the Quarter System.”
Lurie always wanted the album to bring him back to Athens. He originally contemplated coming in the spring, but decided the fall would sync better with students’ energy and excitement to be back in Athens.
The rest of his group, including wife, Vanessa Rehder, and several other friends will come to the city for their first time.
“I won’t lie, it’s going to be great to show (Vanessa) the campus and all the old spots,” Lurie said. “We’re definitely planning to do a Court Street pub crawl. It’s going to be so fun.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Lurie said he’s most looking forward to playing for an audience that can truly connect with the songs.
“More than anything, I tried to capture the whole experience rather than some vague feel for how it was at OU,” Lurie said. “Even though it’s probably different here now, I think people will still be able to see their own experiences in my songs and remember their own times.”
nb360409@ohiou.edu
