He's a little jump blues, a little swing and a little bit of classic rock 'n' roll. He's Nick Curran, and he's bringing his musical styling to Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave., tonight.

Based out of Austin, Texas, Curran and his band, the Nitelifes, tour around the country bringing audiences its original and covered sounds of jump blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll from the '40s and '50s.

"It's the kind of music that makes white kids want to play rock 'n' roll," promoter Tom Spaulding said. " And his original songs are so well done in the idiom of the areas he covers, people can't tell if they are listening to one of his songs, or an old song from a record they just never owned."

Curran is no stranger to performing. His father is also a musician, and Curran began touring at the age of 16. Now, at the age of 26, he has released his third album, Doctor Velvet, his first with Blind Pig Records.

Label publicist Debra Regur said his work on the album is original with a vintage feel.

"It's definitely got the retro sound, and it's got that swing thing going on as well," Regur said. "He used vintage equipment when he was recording the songs."

Vintage equipment isn't Curran's only nod to his musical inspirations. Spaulding said Curran is also a big fan of vintage clothes and he and his band wear original threads from the time period.

"When he's performing, you're going to see him in a double breasted pin stripe suit with original wing tips," Spaulding said. "He's real flashy, and that's something that comes from the music as well."

Amanda MacKay (junior-advertising) said she has been to blues shows and appreciates the added elements of costume.

"I think wearing clothes of the time definitely add to the stylized elements of the show," MacKay said. "Music is entertaining on its own, but the clothes can really help the audience get into the performance."

Regur said she thinks the audience will have no problem enjoying Curran's show.

"Nick is a rather colorful and flavorful young man," she said. "But his appeal is definitely in his amazing voice. He plays very timeless music and his voice is very intense and sensual."

Spaulding said his guitar playing is equal with his vocals.

"I've never encountered anyone who was that good of a guitar player and also that good of a singer," Spaulding said. "Usually it's a trade-off, you don't usually see a lead performer who is so talented in both areas."

Curran is definitely raising the bar in his genre. The band just added a Grammy award winning bass player to its set.

"The caliber of talent that Nick is collecting around him is just huge," Spaulding said. "To the core he encompasses everything that is good about jump blues and old stylized rock 'n' roll."