OurStage

When "American Idol" began auditioning contestants in Washington, D.C., Roanoker Kurtis Parks never dreamed that he'd make the first cut, let alone become a finalist during the show's 2004 season. At the half-joking urging of his brother, Parks took the bait and beat out 100,000 other hopefuls to become one of 193 semifinalists. He got the ax right before the group was cut to 44. Bummed but unwilling to give up, he returned to Roanoke and quickly reunited with friend and foil Josh Kim to form the Season. Parks (vocals/piano) and Kim (guitar, backing vocals) are touring the East Coast behind their self-titled, independently released debut album — having the time of their lives while gaining popularity. Best described as a mix of Switchfoot and Lifehouse with piano, the touring band is rounded out by bassist/guitarist Adam Agati and drummer Elliot Lopes. Parks' numerous other accomplishments include composing and recording a symphony for electric guitars (a feat not taken seriously since New York noisemeister Glenn Branca recorded his groundbreaking "Movement No. 1" in the 1980s) and winning a VH1 Song of the Year Award for his song "Everything That You Are," which ain't too shabby for an Air Force brat from Roanoke. Q: It must have been difficult moving around so much as a kid. Kurtis Parks: Yeah, a bit. I spent a lot of time in Florida, so I "grew up" there. I came of age in Roanoke and graduated from Glenvar High School in 2000. It was hard having to meet a whole new set of friends every couple of years, but I did have a lot of fun. Q: What made you decide you wanted to be a musician? A: I started playing piano at age 11, and writing my own stuff a few years later. I was good at it (laughs) and I decided I wanted that as a career. Q: Influences? A: When playing piano, I listened to a lot of classical: Mozart, Beethoven, George Winston, Jim Brickman. I grew up in a Christian household, and when I got into rock it was Jars of Clay and D.C. Talk. As I got older and more independent, I fell in love with the guitar, which led to the Smashing Pumpkins, U2 and Weezer. Q: How did the Season come about? A: While at Virginia Tech [graduating in 2004 with a degree in finance], I formed a band my sophomore year with Josh called the Temple. After losing on "Idol," I came back here and we played together again as the Kurtis Parks Band, using my name to get attention. Soon after, we changed the name to the Season, because the band is much more than just myself. Q: Now that the album's out, what's next? A: We've received a sponsorship from a German company that did the computer rig for the last U2 tour, so we'll probably be heading to Europe. For now, we're going to continue to hit the East Coast and Midwest circuits, back and forth, every few months, and hopefully we'll create enough of a spark to make it to the next level and make it fun for everybody. We're really proud of the CD. It's the kind of record you can put on and listen to all the way through. Next time we're in town, hopefully Roanoke will come out and support their brother! Q: Has your stint on "Idol" helped or hurt in the long run? A: It was eye-opening. I saw how the industry works and the demands it places on people. When I lost, a friend made me feel better by saying I'm just going to have to do it the old-fashioned way, by busting my hump. It's given us a bit of an edge because a lot of people recognize me and enjoyed my performances. It's been a good tool to use. It's gotten us gigs and helped us sell CDs ... lots and lots of people watch the show! Q: How merciless was Simon Cowell? A: He's actually pretty funny and really nice. He's not really the person you see on TV. Even when he's mean, you can see he's telling the truth ... he could be pretty harsh, though! (Laughs.)