Jamie DiCiurcio, the lead of pop/rock band Next Best Friend, has established himself as a fixture in underground and up-and-coming local music scenes, playing shows from New York City to Tampa, Fla., up and down the East Coast.
Next Best Friend, a band originally based out of Conshohocken, Penn., got its start in 2006, after high school and New York University brought each of the four members together.
However, in the past few years, DiCiurcio has emerged as a solo act based out of Athens, Ga., and tours any chance he gets.
"In the Northeast I play full band, and everywhere else I play solo," DiCiurcio said. "I'm the only real entity of Next Best Friend. It's kind of like the whole Dashboard Confessional thing."
He is also signed to a booking agency in Georgia, giving him the opportunity to play all kinds of different venues, establish connections and live the dream of a touring musician — apart from his side gig as a once-a-week CVS manager.
"I have this amazing manager, and I can say, 'I'm available in the morning Monday; can I get some hours?'" DiCiurcio said. "It's mainly because I want to keep my discount."
Describing his sounds as "radio-friendly" and similar to Top 40 regulars The Fray and Matt Nathanson, the singer/songwriter has made a name for himself with his guitar and a little time behind the piano.
"The shows are a bit looser when I'm solo, and a little tighter when I'm with Next Best Friend, but I also hire on other guys," DiCiurcio said. "Tomorrow I'm in Lexington, Ky., playing with a keyboardist and drummer, and then Friday I'm in Georgia playing with a guitarist."
Songwriting is also one of DiCiurcio's strong suits; he writes all of his own music, which seems to flow with the same acoustic yet powerful vibe as his delivery and performance.
"It's just a stream of emotion that I felt in a certain situation. When I go back and sing the songs, I'm looking to relive that experience. What I draw on and what I go back to is just remembering how I felt," DiCiurcio said.
The music is meant to inspire his audiences, no matter which city he may be performing in any given night.
"I think I really get through to people. I don't feel like situations are exactly the same as every other person's situation, but there are definite feelings that you have that are pretty relatable across the board no matter who you are."
Even though DiCiurcio covers his fair share of ground, and sees the insides of venues from Florida to Pennsylvania and everywhere in between, there are some favorites, including Totaro's Italian Restaurant in his hometown of Conshohocken, Arlene's Grocery in New York City and The White Mule.
"I'm on the road all the time," DiCiurcio said. "It's my life."
Next Best Friend, featuring DiCiurcio, does have an album, "At the Terminal," which was released in 2007. But they have also just signed an investment deal to record their next album as a band.
Recording will start in November, and will be split between Philadelphia and New York, pulling DiCiurcio out of his current Southern stomping grounds.
DiCiurcio will be playing two songs on WXRY's Unsigned Sunday night at 8 p.m. in Columbia, and will also have a solo show Sept. 6 at Wild Hare on Gervais Street.
To listen to Next Best Friend and DiCiurcio's music, visit their MySpace at myspace.com/nextbestfriend, find their Facebook fan page or follow DiCiurcio @jamiefromnbf.