The Old Switcheroo...

Ah yes, the old switcharoo…just what you have been waiting for, right…right?  Come on humor me at least.  So, for my faithful blog readers you know I have been posting Guest Picks for about the last 7 months or so, and it has been really cool to read what other people think and what songs they like, but I decided it was time for a change…you know I love change.  What I am going to do is pick my 6 favorite songs from each CD I have recorded, and I am going to post them chronologically. 

This month we will be reviewing Unfulfilled Desires.  Although I did have 3 recordings before this one, I consider this my first recording because it was the first one done in a studio with a producer.  I had been playing guitar for about 4 years, and my songwriting was starting to develop.  As you probably guessed Rob Woerther was the producer and engineer on this album.  I actually traded a 60's Gibson ES-120 for the recording time (Rob later trader the guitar for something else, we both miss it).  This is the only recording I have done to ADAT without ProTools, all the rest were recorded using computers.  This was straight to a board and then to ADAT tape.  As a result it is probably the warmest sounding recording of me.  It is very clean and simple, and that was the intent.  Unfortunately, I only made 250 copies and sold out quickly.  Very few people have this, so download while you can.

"Railroad Affair"

Up first we have "Railroad Affair."  This song remains a favorite of mine some 7 years after I wrote it.  It is a simple 4 chord progression that never varies from verse to chorus, but I love it all the same.  The lyrics reference the Beats and it has that Midwest feel that had started to invade my music around 1999.

"The One"

I have several songs that I can no longer play because I forgot the progression, never wrote it down, or whatever.  This is one of them, and it is the one I am most upset about.  I have always loved this song, loved its inspiration, loved the DADGAD guitar, the vocal is soulful and resounding, the lyrics are solid…man, I LOVE this song, hope you do to.

"Dear Diary"

By now you should all be very familiar with "Dear Diary."  It has been a staple for many years, and the story I have probably told the most, so I will spare you.  I will say, to date, this is my favorite recording of the song.  Although it was great with Scott's slide in EKe, and the juiced up version Whiskey Daydream did was a ton of fun, this version really conveys the emotion of the song.

"Unfulfilled Desires"

How could I not include the title track?  Hearing this song instantly took me back to college, cold April garage, beer cups dripping from reckless pours, guys on the prowl, girls shaking tail feathers, and me writing this song.  I actually came up with the guitar part that night, and then added the lyrics from a poem I had written a few months earlier, another trip down shy kid lane.  The funny thing is, I had written the poem about one girl that I was too shy to talk to but was writing the song for another girl who I was talking to before she got swooped up by the school's super-playah…I know don't hate the playah, hate the game.  This was also written in DADGAD.  I'd go as far as saying everything I wrote between April 1999 and October 1999 was in DADGAD.

"Impressions of Dance" 

Lyrically, possibly the best song I have written.  I used so many poetic devises and solid descriptors.  I really think you can see the dancer and angels, and I love the references I made to Degas, Cassatt and Pyle.  If you couldn't see it before, I hope that those names trigger the images I was attempting to paint.   Musically, I love what Rob added to this song.  The alternate guitar part he contributed made the song for me.  

"Flesh and Blood"

As you all know, I was raised by my mom, and I would never change that because it made me the man I am today, but I guess I have always felt like I needed to prove something to my dad, like if I was better it would have been different.  Mind you none of this is conscious; it is just me attempting to rationalize my emotions.  It is like dreaming, all we are doing is creating mind stories to explain why there is brain activity during a sleep state.   At any rate, the first time I saw someone cry when I was playing was during this song…Enjoy!!!

Alright, that is it for this month.  Next time I'll be picking my 6 favorite from Lost Angel.

Thanks for reading, Eric

Currently listening : Grace By Jeff Buckley Release date: 1994-08-23

1:02 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

13 Days and Finally...

I am SEVERLY late this month.  It seems like August just came out of nowhere, sprung itself on me like a leaky faucet that suddenly gives way, luckily I was able to patch it with some help from my good friend and former drummer, Corey "Woody" Woodruff.  You know him.  You love him.  And, like me, you miss him.  Although I love giving my fans, friends, and family an opportunity to speak out about my music, it is especially gratifying for me when one of the guys I have played with makes the selections.  Woody and I were kindred spirits from the moment we met, and I still feel very close to him, even though he left me for a bigger band.  I curse the Phat noiZ (just kidding they are all great guys, and you should definitely check them out www.myspace.com/phatnoiz).

What Woody has chosen for you is a good mix of tunes from EKe, Whiskey Daydream, and of course the Duo, which was the last version of Whiskey Daydream, just Woody and I, and we rocked balls!!!  Actually, I am trying to set up a duo show in October, so be on the look out for that.  By now, most of these tunes should be familiar, but a few of the versions will definitely surprise.  So, enjoy!

1234
Hmmm...a political tune that rocks super hard? Yeah, I'm all over it. The duo stuff I did with Eric was a fun challenge, but this tune let us unleash some real sonic fury. I like to think we were channeling Rage Against The Machine and The White Stripes a bit. Pompous perhaps, but the inspiration had to come from somewhere.

FEEL THE SUN
Call me biased, but I'm partial to the Whiskey Daydream version. It's such an optimistic song, and I think that the instrumentation of that version portrays the hopeful vibe of the tune very well. It's a song that just makes me smile inside. Cheesy, I know. But true.

LAYOVER IN LOUISVILLE
Simply put, it rocks balls. The dynamic drama of soft-loud-soft was always a lot of fun to play with, and on a good night it was a pretty epic tune.

MONDAY MORNING
Such a catchy, energetic tune. For some reason, I always felt it belonged on the soundtrack to a romantic comedy or something. Someone call Vince Vaughn.

BEEN DOWN
Bring the funk! A great groove that simmers slowly until Eric's formidable voice erupts at the end of each chorus. Terrific arrangement. Scott's slide guitar on the EKE version is especially tasty.

Currently listening : A Good Day By Priscilla Ahn Release date: 2008-06-10

12:23 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The July installment is in, and it is all live...

Alright, July 1^st, you know what that means…yes, yes, we are 15 days away from the first full Pawnshop Testimonies show; I am 15 days away from being 34; and, you have six new tracks to obsess over, spinning them frequently everyday to make me feel loved.

This month one of my oldest (not that she is old, just that I have know her for a while) St. Louis friends, Allyson, picked the songs for you to listen to and had some very kind things to say about them.  Now I know Allyson LOVES live music, maybe more than I do, which is almost impossible.  At any rate, I am going to use all live tracks this month.  This actually serves a few purposes: 1) Allyson loves live music 2) Allyson was probably at the show [she actually got to see me play the Sheldon, solo, on my 29^th birthday] 3) Some of the songs she picked are songs that others have chosen.  They have been out on the page for a while, so I thought I'd at least give you different versions of them.  It is good to know that there are some core songs that a lot of folks chose as their favorites, helps me identify what is actually good.  

Now these tracks were all pulled directly off the board.  They were never mixed down or mastered or anything, just a mono-feed off the mixing board.  To say they are rough would be just admitting the obvious, but if you make it through them.  I think you will garner a deeper appreciation for the various forms of Whiskey Daydream and EKe, as well as realize how diverse and how solid we were. 

Here are Allyson's words, with some comments from me…

My favorite incarnation of Eric is Whiskey Daydream. Soulful country music is what I was raised on and I miss being able to head down the road to 10 Mile and catch a night of good C&W mixed with a perfect amount of rock and soul.

"Been Down"
Something Eric and I have in common is having spent a fair amount of time in Arkansas when we were younger. The first line, "Intoxicated ignorance on a catfish Friday" made me think of my big Arkansas family getting together for one of our staples. My grandfather would suck down Milwaukee's Best despite being in a dry county and my grandmother kept a bottle of VO under the sink for medicinal purposes. I later found out my interpretation of this song couldn't have been more wrong! Regardless, it still takes me to a different time. (For this track I chose a very rare cut, one from when Whiskey Daydream was a 5 piece.  It only lasted for 2 months, but having Scott Allen, Brian Ruby, and I all sharing guitar work made things very interesting and exciting.  You'll hear Scott's slide and Brian's leads on this one)

"Feel the Sun"
This song just makes me happy and hopeful. (I chose a solo one for this.  It was the one solo show I did between EKe and Whiskey Daydream. Most [including Allyson]  say that they prefer Feel the Sun solo)

"2000 Miles"
This song is melodic and just poppy enough that it makes me want to grab that old guy in the corner and dance! At Whiskey Daydream shows I danced my ass off but managed to abstain from grabbing any old guys. (This was the hardest song for me to find a good live recording of, there was always banter before or we were off or chaos was controlling the equipment…you get what you get when pulling it from the board).

"Layover in Louisville"
I think of traveling (obviously) and how the anticipation of going somewhere or coming home and the questions about my life that always enter my thoughts. "300 miles from somewhere." Am I 300 miles from the next love of my life or 300 days from the love I lost? Maybe I'm only 300 miles from my next drunken story. (I chose the duo recording because it gives you a little variance.  This was the 4^th show of Corey and I as a duo, and the last official Whiskey Daydream show, June 2007)

"Broken Bottles"
I became a Whiskey Daydream groupie after a rough break up. Waking up alone after having not for three years lead to bottles of Budweiser becoming my anti-depressant but music healed my soul. Spending time with these guys was a big part of my transition from feeling broken to re-discovering who I am. (I am really excited about this one…this is a recording from the very first Whiskey Daydream show, technically we didn't even have a name yet.  We allowed the audience to pick our name that night; oh I  forgot some lyrics, I was playing acoustic (which I never did on this song), and Benjamin had been with the band for 2 days…very interesting)

"Reflections on Yellow Wallpaper"
Yellow Wallpaper was one of my first required readings when I started at Lindenwood University.  I appreciated how this story documented the treatment of a woman years ago experiencing a role conflict, who today, would be given a prescription for Paxil and sent on her way. I thought it was super cool that Eric connected with this story as well. (Alright, I did not have a lot of options for this one, as it was rarely played live with the bands.  Whiskey Daydream never did it.  I knew early EKe did it, when Joe Sherrell was still in the band, but I had totally forgotten that EKe v3.A [the Scott Allen years] performed it, so listening to this recording was a total mind melt for me.  I hope you enjoy].

Currently listening : The Cost By The Frames Release date: 2007-02-20

4:31 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

On the road again...

Well, work sent me on another trip.  This time I headed to the great Northwest to visit Vancouver, Washington, which is conveniently located just across the river from Portland, Oregon.  Having driven through this area on a trip from Fairbanks to San Diego, I knew it was beautiful, but having three days there allowed me to really appreciate it.  Friends of mine from the Vancouver instructed me to not become obsessed with the weather, as what I was experiencing was not the norm.  Apparently, 75% of the time it is rainy and grey, but what I saw was temperate sunshine with no humidity, the kind of days that beg you to open the windows and allow nature to cool you off.

As has become the custom, I took my guitar with me and did some playing while I was out there.  I flew in on Sunday; Southwest decided my luggage did not need to go all the way to Portland, so they removed it in Sacramento, luckily my guitar made it.  After wrestling with the Lost Luggage counter, I decided to hit up the White Eagle for my first show.  I was blown away by the other performers, some very solid singer/songwriters coming out of the Northwest.  My set was well received, especially "Been Down," which I was actually worried about because everyone else was relatively mellow, kind of country-folk, wasn't sure what they were going to do with some power-groove.  I was so freaked about my luggage that I spent a lot of my time on the phone trying to track it down, as I flew in shorts and didn't think rolling in to the office on Monday in Cargos and Birks was going to go over too well.  It eventually arrived at 2:55 am. 

Monday I headed to Twin Paradox Coffeehouse.  I very green establishment, using grind for compost, lots of veggie fare, and a fantastic Soy Mocha, decaf of course.  Twin Paradox is in a little city called Sellwood, southwest from the White Eagle.  I loved this area, like old America, the kind of town where they don't lock their doors.  It was beautiful, peaceful.  The performers were equally interesting, more raw which is always appreciated. 

So this piece began at the White Eagle and ended at Twin Paradox.  At some point the ghost of Paul Thiel (although he is still alive) invaded my pen; I had been listening to some old spoken word recordings on the flight, so I assume that is where the inspiration came from. 

Hope you enjoy:

 
Semen for Solitude

 Palmistry banner hangs

arched over passage to head

What's in your future?

expulsion of fine lagers and wasted whiskey

study of lines carved through palms

like river carved through land

separating Washington and Oregon

White Eagle

tired building with tapestries and pints

Never Get Enough

touches me

as ears turn to stereo

breaking silence of songwriters

waiting for their shine

Teddy sits across from me

thick roll with kickers peeking out

red suspenders on white oxford

rockin' beard I would rock

if I was unemployed

thick and pointed

like hipster lumberjack Satan

early Stones

acoustic and soulful

spills out of speakers

odd Amber lights

woven through drop ceiling

connected by crazy conduit highway

mimicking 5 – 405 split

Tonight  it is 205

crossing from Vancouver into Portland

high above water and dirt

buildings and bodies

Grand Master visible in distance

white Hood mocks June heat

brilliant purity

cloaking massive mountain

land on grand American street

still surviving amidst conformity's pressure

before me two sit barefoot on comfy couch

books laid before them

like great turkey dinner

highlighters for silverware

walls a rich purple

remind me of the bed

I will not sleep in tonight

to right

open laptop is backdrop

to two silhouettes in conversation

Electric Company without the horns

open door nature's AC

allows flies to dance at dusk

and I am calm

far from rat race

and track housing

from corporate coffee

and humidity

and I appreciate the Beats

every time I travel

their Benzedrine drives

from right to left

left to right

always looking for calm in chaos

substance induced chaos

be it gentle burn of black centipede

dried and smoked or

gentle burn of cock in assholes and cunts

fucking their way to freedom

always fucking

constantly fucking

to release

to exhaust

to calm

and calm

calm is what writer needs

to hear head words above

deafening high squeals of life

but that is not my road

traded drugs for water

and semen for solitude

I was cleaning out my planner the other day, and I came across this little piece that I wrote last year while on a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia.  I thought I would include it in the blog, as it is just a quick glimpse and nice close. 

 
iPod Gaze

 
The world walks with iPod gaze

mesmerized by melody and movement

I invade their moment

while drinking dark roast

and smoking cigarettes at Garden Deli

creating stories of their origin and destination

following them with interested eyes

As always, thanks for reading…if you are so inclined, feel free to let me know your thoughts…Eric

Currently listening : Transatlanticism By Death Cab for Cutie Release date: 2003-10-07

7:35 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Diego is Dead...

Ah Diego, how she meant so much to me, gave me life, gave me soul, so sad to see her soulless.

As you may or may not know I recently took a trip to San Diego to connect with some old friends, play some music, and go to the ocean, find me set me free.  If you happened to catch the Whiskey Daydream blog yesterday, you may even understand the catalyst, the need to reacquaint myself with myself.  I have been in St. Louis for 10 years now, 5 years longer than I lived in San Diego, yet somehow that city has a hold over me, so I go back when I need to be reborn.  Unfortunately, each visit presents a different city, like going to see a friend who is slowly going mad, at some point they forget who you are all together, leaving you to stare at them wondering if you ever really knew them.

Traveling tends to awaken my muse; she gets complacent with the routine that drives my day to day.  So, I thought I would share a couple poems about my Diego.   

The first one was written in 2004, my first visit post divorce, when I needed my mistress more than anything.

Diego

Returned to the womb
found her wild and nappy
barking obscenities into a brisk November

Her authentic shine
replaced by corporate facade
and an inability to establish eye contact

Sampled her flavors
experienced something familiar
in their sauces and textures

Her diverse appearances
varying shades and hues
still speak with intoxicating tongues

Left the womb again
appreciating the life she gave me
and the me apart from her

Hopefully you can sense that I was still very much in love with the city, despite the changes that I experienced.  Up next we have Diego Revisited, written after my recent trip.

Diego Revisited

Returned to the womb

found her new homogenized high-rise streets

lined with chains offering the same resolve

             Intoxication

 Diego

bigger

better

brighter

when too numb to look

But I am sober

and I am disappointed

the hallowed stage of Johnny M's

where I watched Bill Magee

pour his soul through six strings and tube amplification

now a Hard Rock that doesn't offer music

just exploits its mystique

Walk shattered and soulless shiny streets

so much of me lost to revitalization

the desire to beautify what was already beautiful beneath the surface

But Café LuLu reminds me of what used to be

her tired pawnshop sofas dingy with Life's little spills

still smell of smoke from when Diego was free

her chalked menu

like a photograph

reminds me of when I haunted these streets

bouncing from the base station Gas Haus

to every Caffeine Chapel from the Convention Center to the danger zone

grabbing lonely microphones

to tell the world just how much love was trapped inside me and how much that hurt

reminded me of a time when Diego lived beneath the surface

reminded me of a time when a band of 20 somethings believed art WAS life

Now

corporate decor permeates every pixel of my picture

Diego saved me and I desperately want to save her

but she doesn't want my salvation

having traded her spirit for paper emeralds long ago

Returned to the womb and realized she is no greener

Well there you have it…hope you enjoyed…Eric

3:54 AM - 5 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Rob Woerther Picks 6 and why he chose them

So it is that time again, time to ask another friend, family member, or fan to pick their 6 favorite songs and tell us why they like them the best.  This time I reached out to one of my oldest friends, Rob Woerther.  You should all know Rob as the other founding member of Pawnshop Testimonies.  You should also know him as the Producer and Engineer of my first 3 full length CDs, Unfulfilled Desires, Restless Sheets, and Left Side of the River.  And, if you actually read my blogs, you'll know him as my favorite St. Louis songwriter.  There is an "I wish I would have" moment songwriters have when they hear someone else's line that they whish they would have written.  That happens ALL the time with Rob.  I am constantly in awe of the words he chooses, the melodies he creates, and the process he uses to write, when we finally put out the Pawnshop Testimonies CD trust that you will ALL be amazed because I have never been better then when writing with Rob.

So without further delay, here are Rob's picks and why he chose them. 

Intro
I feel very honored to have been asked by Eric to give my thoughts and memories on 6 of my favorite Eric Ketzer recordings. I have known Eric for over 10 years now. During that time I've shared and swapped songs, guitars, recordings, stories, and a whole host of other things and I wouldn't have it any other way. He has always showered me with praise in regards to my writing and recordings. He has been more kind and honest than anyone else I have known in regards to my music and that is a gift I treasure whole-heartedly. But as much praise and credit he gives me for my music I have to be honest and say he has influenced me more than anyone else. When I sit down to write a song, and this happens a lot, I think… Hmmm… will this impress Eric? There is no one else I so consistently want to impress with my writing than him, except maybe God. He is an extremely gifted and unique songwriter and I think at times he does not give himself enough credit for his writing. The task to choose 6 songs was not difficult. I have my favorites and my bias from recording some of these songs myself does not diminish their greatness. I don't know if I prefer Eric live or recorded. Both have harnessed great memories for me. Maybe if we bug him enough we can get him to record a live acoustic cd, him alone, with all of our favorite songs. (Although I would like to have a say in the song list - hint, hint!).

These are the 6 songs are ones I would take with me, from this earth, when it is my time.

Restless Sheets from Unfulfilled Desires: I remember recording this one. It was recorded in the San Miguel apartment studio. I had just started recording other people and I think Eric was one of my first real projects. I had seen him perform at Sally's and we hit it off pretty quickly. I could see from his performance that he had a different approach to writing than the other performers at Sally's. Right off the bat that was the part I dug. The line "These are the restless sheets of 2 AM". That line haunted me for many weeks after hearing him play the song. "November sky on a cold August night"

My America from the Red Barn Recordings: Eric was going to school at the wood and living in a house off Hwy 94 with Jeff. I had visited him there a few times and he had started recording some songs in the red barn next to the house with a four-track cassette recorder. He did give me a copy early on but it wasn't until recently that we sat down and started putting the cassettes to cd. I remember the song from Sally's (I think). At that time his set list contained a large number of songs he no longer plays. I think this is a great example of his early stuff. This is one of the Eric Ketzer songs I want to rerecord. It's got a great message and I think its subject matter is still relevant. It was also during this time I remember him reading a poem at Sally's that was written on the back of a playboy centerfold. Long live the dead poets. "My America was killed by guns"

Reflections on Yellow Wallpaper from Lost Angel: When I worked to record Eric there were always a series of discussions about what we were striving for. This was a recording I felt strongly about guiding during the recording process. Eric had told me the story of this song and I felt it really should be presented in as raw a presentation as we could get it. I had just gotten an old Gibson classical guitar that I wanted to record with. It's got a sound I have yet to find with another classical guitar. I remember hearing the playback and thinking "WOW". There is nothing you could add to this. It is performance and recording perfection, not that I am biased or anything. "I don't want to be lost in your memory"

Lost Angel from Lost Angel: The entire recording of the cd Lost Angel is something I consider to be my best work of recording another artist. It is creative, imaginative , and just down right cool. The songs were these great skeletons that Eric and I could hang on a series of skins and scare people. There are some freaky things going on in the recordings. In this song in particular the sounds bounce from speaker to speaker. I wish there could have been a camera on us as we were mixing. It was like we were each trying to push the other to the unexpected, the unusual. The great bass, player Donald Williams, gave it the bounce that was missing. I don't think Eric or I could have brought to the table what Donald did. That's why you bring other musicians in, to give you their personality, their perspective. Donald's guest appearance on this track brought a new life to the song that I didn't see or hear. "Sleeping in an empty bed, do you still dance when they turn the lights off"

6:45 from the compilation that never was: As I was looking back through Eric catalogue of cds I was surprised to not see 6:45 make an appearance in any of the EKE or Whiskey Daydream recordings. This has to be the first song of Eric's that I remember. I remember this from Sally's and remember being enamored by it. I think this was the one that made me a fan. Kind of like "You had me at 6:45". I have started and stopped doing my own version of the song. I say started and stopped because I did start recording my version of it but I had to put it aside for access to a nice grand piano. As soon as I can get access to that I will be able to continue recording. This particular recording by Eric is from a compilation that was never completed. I am so glad I have this recording though. It's pretty damn good. I haven't heard it in a while and it's playing as I write this. I think I am playing bass. It sounds like me. The lyrics and plaintive voice are so powerful. It's like he's pulling this melody through the stars in the sky, like everything is going against him but he is a man bound and determined to make the stars do his will. Eric has told me that this song started as a poem and I can see that, but I have never seen a poem survive as a song as powerfully as this has. I think it was just a great set of lyrics that finally made it into a song.  The end section that goes into the Smashing Pumpkins bit was always a favorite of mine. It's like he turns on a radio in the middle of the song. I can see the beach and the song playing on someone's car stereo. "But still have called my name so I continue to kick back and contemplate the Indians escaping"

Been Down from EKe – The Reality of Monday Morning: Man was I jealous when I first heard this. Eric had a new band that seemed to be a good mix of folks and had recorded in a new studio with John John from Cicero's. I hadn't seen him in a while and made it down to the CD release to hear him. On the way home I popped in the cd in the car and was blown away. Great recording but man the song just kicked me in the gut. His voice had sounded so much better, there was a maturity to it I had not heard before and the way he sang those lyrics convinced me that he was due for greatness. I could see him driving his van with a cross swinging from his rear view mirror. It was all there in the lyrics. And that damn slide haunting like a voodoo witch watching from above. I don't think it gets any better than this. Knowing Eric you had to see the honesty in the lyrics. I feel this song is about surviving in spite of the all that is against you."Intoxicated ignorance on a catfish Friday"

Currently listening : Plans By Death Cab for Cutie Release date: 2005-08-30

6:25 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Ryan’s Top 6...

Well, it is May 3^rd (3 minutes away from May 4^th actually) which means it is time for me to switch out the tunes on my page and have another guest pick their six favorite songs from any album I have recorded. 

This particular guest is LONG overdue, by all rights he should have gone first, as he has seen me play more than anyone, he has carried amps and guitars, made roadtrips with me to Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Cape (several times), Columbia…been in the studio when I recorded two of my five albums…driven me home when I was too drunk to drive…made me puke on more than one occasion…helped me through a divorce…included me into his family…basically been the best friend a guy could ever ask for. 

These selections are coming from none other than Ryan Moran.  If anyone knows my music Ryan does, so it was definitely interesting for me to learn what his top six were, not just for the songs but the reasons why as well.  As a singer/songwriter you don't always know why a song touches someone, so this process is incredibly gratifying for me.

Here is what Ryan had to say:      

This is going to be a sorted list; I am not going to rate them in any order but here goes.

Sex With Saturn: I think the main reason that this song sticks with me is the first time that this song was played out was on April 8th (my b-day 4 or maybe 5 years ago)at I want to say Sam's Place (this little cop bar on the outskirts of Soulard).

Feel the Sun: This became my favorite song the very first time I herd it. This was the first song that I memorized all of the words to. (Note: Since my mom chose Feel the Sun last month, I am going to use a different version this time around.  Last month, I used the Whiskey Daydream version.  This time I am using the solo version from my Lost Angel CD).

Palace Door: This was our thing, Eric, Jeffmo and I; the 3 amigos just about after every show EAST bond we would go. Malibu, Jules, Erica, Shelby…ahhh the good ol' days.

Been Down: This was the first song that I got to witness its birth.  Several days after work at VZ back to the crib in the basement watch this song come together. There have been many more since then, but this was the first.

Yellow Wallpaper: This one made my list because of the picture it paints. The words are so descriptive; you can almost see what's happening

I am really torn with the 6th and final pick. It comes down to Left Side, Dear Diary or Jazz Sounds.

I have to go with Jazz Sounds: The record version of this spoken word is so impressive to me because despite all of the sounds, there is not one instrument being played.  Plus this is like nothing else that Eric does.

As always, I hope you enjoyed reading about the songs that Ryan chose, now go give them a listen, post them on your profile, do something to let me know you appreciate the music…Cheers, Eric

3:11 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Wisconsin Check…

As many of you know, one of my goals is to play in as many states as I can.  Ideally I'd like to hit all 50, but I don't want to enslave myself to a number, so I just say as many as I can.  Well, I can check Wisconsin off the list, twice.  I had to go up to Fond du Lac for work, so I decided to bring the Guild with me.  Traveling for work as helped me to hit a lot of states that I may not have been able to if I was traveling on my own dime. 

I got in Sunday evening, made the drive from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac.  Pretty straight shot, not much to see.  Kind of reminded me of Missouri or Illinois, two states I am very familiar with.  I will say in this area they are not in a hurry to get anywhere, and I here I am in a speedy little Toyota, a far pitch from the gig mobile, so my foot was wanting to go.  I checked in to the hotel and solicited the cute clerk for the best Fond du Lac fare.  She recommended three places, so it was off to fill the belly.  With the gas tank primed with grilled chicken breast, I headed back to the room to prepare for the week. 

I couldn't find anything for Monday, so I just worked and kicked it in the room.  I did make a trek to Pier 13 which was another one of my favorite clerk's recommendations…again, she did not disappoint.

Tuesday was my first opportunity to play, so after work I headed to the New Moon Café in Oshkosh.  I quaint little space with a definite hippie vibe.  The clientele presented an amalgam of good poets, bad poets, several singer/songwriters, and a host of college kids embracing a 70 degree Wisconsin day.    I got up and did my thing, and I have to say I sounded pretty good in that room.  You know I like to remain modest, but there are sometimes when I surprise myself.  My voice sounded rich and full, guitar was solid.  It was a good set for sure, and I received several compliments.  Actually, as I was loading the guitar into my little rice burner a gaggle of girls walked by and were like, "Eric, you were awesome."  Even remembered my name, that left me smiling as I laid my head on the hotel pillow. 

If you have seen my play lately, you know that I have been talking a lot about the different types of writers, particularly crafters verse muse chasers, indicating that I am a muse chases, and how difficult that is as you get older.  I have decided to demystify the muse.  It is not some mythic energy that forces me to write.  Realistically it is newness, which totally explains why I do not write as much now as I did when I was younger, when everything was new.  I will never again be able to have that moment when I walked into my first bohemian café, the aroma cradled me, made me feel calm yet excited.  The people strewn about were of like mind, shared similar interests, and every girl was exotic, everyone kept secrets I could not wait to uncover.  The freshness is gone, lost between the veal fattening pin, the Joneses telling me to keep up, electronic bills reminding me my money is not mine…the monotony of life has spoiled my vision.  So what's left?  Stop?  Become a crafter?  Have a series of frivolous affairs, so I can fake freshness with the touch of a new lover's fingers?  Nope…travel.  Every time I go somewhere new, see something different, I am reborn, and my pen wakes from hibernation.  All that to say, I wrote a piece in Oshkosh; thought you might like to read it.

Security National Bank Trust

Proud building vacant

Like hungry storefronts

Tired

Empty

Confused

Earnest signs begging for new owners

Like orphans wanting parents

Cars coat street

Suggesting

A life

An energy

Exists beyond the emptiness

Desolation

Disillusioned youth

Make their way down decrepit cobble stone

Screaming obnoxiously

Over the hum of distant cars

And the movement of air

Misplaced bass resonates

Through open spring windows

Fades like tail lights

Escaping this antique city

But the Security National Bank Trust

Stands proud

Looking down on a weathered Maine St

Looking down on an aged Oshkosh

Remembering what used to be

Appleton.  Some of the folks I met in Oshkosh suggested that I check out a place called the Harmony Café, so I made the 44 mile drive north to see what Appleton had to offer.  It was very similar to the New Moon Café, young, hip, bohemian, and VERY green, which I appreciate.  I think small towns are where it is at for the coffeehouse scenes.  I would love to have a turn out like that for my Open Mic at the St. Charles Coffeehouse.  I think I actually played better in Oshkosh, but I was happy with my performance in Appleton, and I had another good response from the audience.  This time I actually mentioned my MySpace and stuff like that.  So, to all my new friends from Wisconsin, thanks for taking the time to find me out in space.  A couple things that I really value happened tonight, well a few actually.  First, I opened up with some strong originals, so when it was time for the last song I have gave he crowd and option, something they would probably know or another original.  They all yelled original.  For a singer/songwriter that means everything.  Secondly, after I was done I had a very diverse group of folks approach me to tell me they enjoyed my performance, from kids not old enough to vote to guys that probably voted for Bush.  It is so rewarding to be able to reach that wide of an audience.  Lastly, I got to see some really inspired performances.  The kid that followed me was awesome (name escapes me…sorry).  Young kat, couldn't have been older then 20, and my guess is younger than 18, but he ripped through three originals that would have made Chuck Berry proud, just some old school blues based rock-n-roll, played dirty as hell.  What he lacked in technical shine, he more than made up for in heart.  He attacked that Les Paul like a young Jimmy (Page or Hendrix, take your pick).  It is just so refreshing to see that kind of passion in some little town halfway between nowhere and somewhere. 

I thought I would leave you with something that may surprise you.  When I do these out of town shows, I actually get REALLY nervous.  Those that know me, and have seen me play, know how calm I am, how chill I am, but when I do these shows I am extremely vulnerable because I don't know anyone there, and (usually) no one knows me.  They don't know my history, my abilities, my sound, and I don't know if they are going to appreciate what I do.  I am as naked as I can be in these moments, without taking off my clothes of course.  Oddly enough there was a kid from the St. Charles area in the audience in Appleton, and said he recognized my name, but that was the first time that has ever happened.  So for the newbie's that are dealing with those butterflies, embrace them because they may never completely go away.

Cheers to you if you made it through this blog…Eric       

8:11 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

My mom picked 6 songs that you should listen too...

By now, I hope you have figured out the routine.  Towards the beginning of the month I reach out to someone in the inner circle and have them pick their 6 favorite songs and draft me a quick memo explaining why they chose them.  Well, this month’s guest was LONG over due, none other than my mom.  I will say I caught a ration of shit for not having her first and rightfully so.  I mean I am completely sure the reason I am able to do what I do today is because of her.  I grew up in a house where music was always more prevalent then TV.  Some of my favorite times with my mom were the deep cleaning days because she always had the stereo cranked.  I think the soulfulness in my voice comes from the music she raised me on, Luther, Billy Ocean, Lionel Richie, Kool-n-the-Gang, all early favorites of mine.  Plus, being a single mother, if she wanted to go out, we often went with.  I can still remember my first experience at a blues fest.  I was probably 6 or 7, but the images and sounds resonate with me today. 

My apologies to my mom.  I had not intended to slight her, I was just focusing on folks that go to a lot of shows, and with her in Arizona, she has only seen me a handful of times.

Now on to her picks and her reasons why, with a few caveats and points of interest by me at the end. 

My favorite six would be:

"12 Little Words" - Great Music and Lyrics; the perfect song for singing in the car.

"Sometimes" - Some of the most beautiful words ever written. It touches my heart.

"When I think It’s Over" - Another good singing song. While I’m getting dressed in the morning I like this one to get me moving.

"Feel the Sun" - The imagery of these words is so easy to place myself there.

"Time Disappears" - I have always felt connected to this song and I’m not even sure why. Just love it.

"Dear Diary" - Very easy to visualize you reading the Diary and writing the words to ease the pain, no matter who’s pain it is.

"Whiskey Days" - The words are very real and it is another song that gets the blood flowing.

Not sure if these are truly my favorite six because I like so many of your songs. It is really difficult to choose. Love and Hugs...

Okay, so her first pick, "12 Little Words," I cannot claim.  It was primarily written by Brian Ruby.  I assisted with the lyrics, but the music, melody, story, all Brian.  Also, I will say that I was very pleased that she picked "Time Disappears."  I think it was such a jammy song that not many people caught the lyrics.  Personally, I think they are some of my best, some great images and very sincere.  I’d like to point out that 4 of her 6 songs came from the Whiskey Daydream CD, so if you don’t have any of my CDs, apparently that is the one to get.  Actually, "Feel the Sun" and "Sometimes" were both on Lost Angel as well.  I just assume she meant Whiskey Daydream.  "When I think It’s Over" was also on Lost Angel, but I chose the EKe version from Left Side of the River because I don’t think that CD gets enough play.  Funny story, that CD featured the keys of Joe Sherrell who is now in Foilhat with Scott Allen whose guitar was featured "Time Disappears" which was EKe’s the reality of monday morning CD.  Small world.  As a side note on "Time Disappears" that is an 18 minute track, so I had to reduce the quality to 56K, but I thought it was important to include the hidden jam.  That was a one take recording and completely improvisational at like 2am.  We were wrapping up the recording session, and I told the guys to just throw a groove, and I would make up some lyrics.  It ended up being a shoutout to the ones we love. 

Until next month, thanks for reading and listening…Eric  

6:30 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment