Despite his name, Stevie Tombstone's inspiration is his life and the life of his friends. Tombstone has been playing the guitar for more that 20 years, he said. He's also spent a lot of that time on tour.

“I tend to look at things a lot differently than most people,” he said. “I am always trying to figure out how to see things through other people's eyes. That's one thing (about) being a gypsy, I can relate to anything.”

Tombstone, who also sings, recently moved to Auburn from Austin, Texas, and tonight's show will be his first here. He will play with his wife, Melissa, who plays bass, and drummer Ron Thompson. Local musician Loren Barrigar will open the show.

“I hope (people) can expect to hear some good songs. I've got great musicians playing with me,” Tombstone said.

Tombstone met his wife Melissa three years ago, when he hired her as his bass player. She moved from Auburn to Austin, and the pair went on tour almost immediately, Tombstone said. Since then, they have done three national tours together.

The Tombstones have a 15-month-old son, Nova, who makes practicing a little more difficult, though they manage to rehearse at home.

“If you have the desire, you can do anything,” Tombstone said.

Although Tombstone has enjoyed most of his music career, there have been times when he wanted to stop, he said. In one specific incident he recalled, Tombstone decided he was going to quit after the club where he was supposed to play did not have a liquor license and police came and took all of Tombstone's equipment.

“I just wanted to cash in,” he said.

But after the police let people go and Tombstone got his equipment back, some people invited him and his band to play at their house. They spent all night playing at the house party and made the same money the club originally offered, he said.

“That told me that there are people out there who really appreciate (the music),” he said. “The fans were willing to do whatever they had to do.”

Tombstone currently has four records, two of which are out of print. Tonight's show will probably be his last one until early spring, he said.

For those who want to make it in the music business, Tombstone says, “try your hardest and practice.”

Gitana Mirochnik

253-5311 ext. 237

gitana.mirochnik@lee.net

If you go.

What: Stevie Tombstone in concert with Loren Barrigar

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20

Where: Auburn Public Theater, 108 Genesee St., Auburn

Cost: $10

Info: Call 253-6669