On his fourth and latest album, “Yorick,” Southern California singer/songwriter Tom Ciurczak (Sir-Zak) offers a melodic blend of powerful storytelling, energetic rhythms, and heartland rock and roll inspired by artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, the Who, and the Eagles, along with classic rock guitar. Yes, it was the Beatles on Ed Sullivan that inspired young Tom to write music as he grew up in New York State’s Hudson Valley. His father was a professional musician at the Military Academy of West Point, Tom learned, early on, about music’s complex and distinct sounds and rhythms as well as the imagery that great story telling can evoke.
After graduating SUNY Oswego, Tom moved to the West Coast where he worked in the Specialty Lighting industry, and focused on raising his family. He continued writing songs, finally in 2014 attending Steve Earle’s Camp Copperhead, he was thrilled, “It put me on the road to finish my songwriting ideas and create new ones. I knew I found my tribe!”
Tom put together his prestigious recording team of producer/drummer Stephen Haaker, sound engineer Brett Grossman and a number of A-List studio musicians to record his first CD, the powerfully combustive “Call Me Ishmael.” Follow up releases were a 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five other songwriters from the Steve Earle tribe put together “Muscle Shoals Record Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!
The new album, “Yorick” celebrates the artform of storytelling. Many songs are stories and situations that Tom made up. The title track is his story of the skull of Yorick, the court jester in Hamlet came about after a witch decapitated him. “Yorick” will be the music video when the new album is released on June 27. Stay tuned for more information.

“The Watcher” is the story of an alien dropped off on earth thousands of years ago, while his people never return for him. Watch the lyric video at https://bit.ly/4lUXGZl.

“Am I M.I.A.” is a tongue twister about a guy so bored with his life that moves to Miami to become a mercenary. Tom’s “Chameleon” is a private eye and master of disguise. The Billy Joel-inspired “A.L.T.O.W.D.” is short for “Another Long Typical Ordinary Working Day” is an introduction to someone in the Afghanistan heroin trade, who we later find out is a C.I.A. agent!
Tom says the topical “ You’re Next,” is inspired by the Who, Rage Against the Macchine, and Martin Niemöller’s poem, “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak because I was not a socialist.” “Where Do I Belong” focuses on the homeless crisis. “Malleus Maleficarum,” which means “The Witches’ Hammer” offers parallels with the people of Ukraine fleeing the destruction from the war. Tom wrote personal songs—the Steppenwolf-inspired “Wild One,” which pays tribute to one of his friends that didn’t survive youth. “Top Of The Rainbow”an R&B lament, with horns, and will be available as a music video on May 23. Here’s a private link to watch Tom’s solo performance in the video in advance at https://bit.ly/3SjLvre.
Tom performs with his band at music venues throughout Southern California to promote his own brand of Heartland Rock. Having played such well-known venues as the Whiskey A Go Go, The Mint, The Viper Room, The Coach House, this singer/songwriter/recording/performing artist is proof that, once lit, the musical spark never dies – he’s just blazing its magic!

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