September 7, 2009    It’s September & the kids are outta here

Howdy folks.  I hope every one is having a pleasant September.  Our kids are back in college and we are significantly poorer than we were a month ago, but otherwise life is decent enough –  now that the damned interminable rain has let up.   There are a few last minute additions to my schedule, so pay close attention…

Sept 12, Saturday, 8-12 PM –  Woodstock Retrospective, Jimmy’s Rock Cafe, 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie, NJ  201 939-1244
This is a follow up to the Beatle’s Show back in July.  Once again, Nikki Armstrong is hosting an exceptional roster of musicians as we recreate the sounds and feel of Woodstock – minus the bad acid.   For this show I will be in the house band playing a supporting role, so while I will be on most of the evening, I will get the occasional break.   So get ready for Santana, The Band, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, etc.   The Beatle’s Show was totally sold out, so I recommend getting reservations.  Tickets are available online at www.newvibelive.com $15/ $25 VIP.   $18/$28 cash at the door day of show,
http://www.myspace.com/jimmysrockcafe
http://www.jimmysrockcafe.com/contacts.html
http://www.makinmusicny.com/events/event/show?id=2920263%3AEvent%3A16798
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/


Sept 13, Sunday, 1:00 PM –  The Funky Fritters, Harmony on the Hudson Family Music Festival at Battery Park City, New York 
Funky Fritters is the opening act for this afternoon of music and fun for the whole family.  (Of course, if you prefer, you can leave your family home and have fun all by yourself.)   The headliner for this event is Tom Chapin who goes on right after us.
http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/events/events.php#allagesharmonyonthehuds

Sep 18, Friday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
I will attempt to hold my own as I play with some of the best local musicians around.  Ben Susswein will be playing guitar and singing, along with Adam Gustavson on bass and Matt Patuto on vibes.   Get ready for some cool bluesy jazz.  We’ve been rained out twice already, so hopefully third time’s a charm.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

Sep 20, Sunday, 7:00-10 PM – Church Street Kitchen,  12 Church St , Montclair, NJ 973 233-0216
It’s just me and my trusty old piano on this one.  I’ll be playing outside right on Church Street in picturesque downtown Montclair.  You can sit at a table, have dinner, listen to music, and watch the denizens of Montclair in their native habitat.   And if this damned interminable rain starts up, we’ll simply move the whole thing inside.
http://www.churchstreetkitchen.com/

Oct 10, Saturday, 8 PM – The Lunatic Fringe,  Piano’s Bar & Grill, 36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-7208
Coming into October, you will find me where you can usually find me on the second Saturday of every month: attempting to stop laughing long enough to provide musical accompaniment to New Jersey’s top improvisational comedy troupe.   If you show up early, you can catch me doing some fast boogie woogie to help keep things lively
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com/
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com/

August 12, 2009 :     Last Chance to subscribe

I’ve given it my all, but still you resist the pleasure of receiving my occasional “Where is Eric” e-mails.     

So this is your last e-mail from me – at least this is your last “Where is Eric” e-mail.    However, if you change your mind in the future, all you gotta do is ask.

I can think of three at least reactions on your side:

1. Thank God I’m free of this #%^&*, a great burden has been lifted off my shoulders.
2. Dang, I forgot to respond, I better get right on it now
3. Eric who?

July 18, 2009:      Two Shows

Hey folks, 
I’ve got two shows remaining in July, next Saturday night and the following Friday.   So far it looks like I’ll be relaxing in August, then things start picking up in September again.    So…. 

July 25 Saturday, 8:00-??? PM – Beatles Tribute,  Jimmy’s Rock Cafe, 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie, New Jersey (201) 939-1244
I will be a featured performer at this Beatles extravaganza event next Saturday night.   This promises to be one amazing night.  There will be historical Beatles footage playing all night long, plus they are filming the whole shebang – so here’s your opportunity to be immortalized.    Show up early, because I will be ‘warming up’ the audience starting at 8:00 with a selection of tunes mostly from Revolver.  After that I will be be playing with the ‘house band’ and others, along with doing another solo slot of tunes from Abbey Road.  There is a $10 cover charge, they also serve dinner (I’ve had it, the food is good).
http://www.myspace.com/nikkiarmstrongbands
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jimmysrockcafe

July 31 Friday, 7:00-7:45 PM – The New Montclairians,  Montclair Center Stage, corner of Church St and Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, New Jersey
I’ll be teaming up with my ‘homies’ Bob Mellman, Marty Fields, and Dave Cushing to do our mix of 60s and early 70s tunes – Dylan, Beatles, Byrds, etc.   This is a rare opportunity to hear me (ahem) sing.   We’ll be followed by another local group El Kabong.   This is an outdoor show – so weather permitting.

June 29, 2009 :    The 2nd Where is Eric

First of all, thanks for all all the responses and encouragement.     I hope to get things on a more regular schedule, but right now I’m still getting my “sea legs” as it were, so bear with me.   There’s one late minute addition (this Wednesday) plus a few changes and new stuff coming up in July, so here’s the latest edition of…. 


Where in the world is Eric (playing that is)?

July 1st, Friday,  8-?? PM   – Blues Jam – Franklin Tavern, 97-99 Franklin Ave. West Orange, NJ   973-325-9899
There’s so much I could say about this place.  From time to time I show up at various blues jams in the area; but the one I’ve been going to the longest is run by Kevin Kiley at the Franklin Tavern in West Orange.   Every Wednesday night for the last four years, Kevin has attracted a crowd of disorganized, unruly musicians and somehow manages to get everyone to play in the same key at the same time.   You never know who you’re gonna play with and what it’s going to sound like, but more often than not great music comes out.    This Wednesday is the fourth anniversary celebration, so it’s promises to be a blast.   There will likely be other keyboard players showing up, so if you don’t see me playing at first, have a beer, grab a slice of free pizza, and enjoy the show. 

http://www.myspace.com/franklintavern
http://www.myspace.com/kevinkileytheoutpatients
http://www.myspace.com/kevinkileyfromjersey

July 3, Friday, 10:00-10:45 PM – The Funky Fritters at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia) in Manhatten  (212) 673-7030
Last week’s show (my first with the Funky Fritters) was a gas, and this one should be even better.    The ‘Fritters’ do a mix of New Orleans flavored buses, rock, R&B, and gospel.   The Bitter End has a $10 cover charge.

http://www.bitterend.com
http://www.myspace.com/thefunkyfritters
http://www.thefunkyfritters.com

July 10, Friday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
I’m back at Ruthie’s.  Most likely I will be doing a solo show, but there may be some special guest appearances.

http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

July 25 Saturday, 8:00-??? PM – Beatles Tribute,  Jimmy’s Rock Cafe, 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie, New Jersey (201) 939-1244
Nikki Armstrong is doing yeoman’s duty in pulling this special event together.   Full details are not available yet, but there will be some very talented people showing up.   I will be playing with the ‘house band’ and doing a solo slot of some of my favorite Beatles tunes.  There is a $10 cover charge, they also serve dinner.

http://www.myspace.com/nikkiarmstrongbands
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jimmysrockcafe

June 12, 2009 :     Where in the world is Eric?

People are constantly asking me “Eric, where can I hear you play”?   Well..  some folks are a little more demanding. They say,  “Eric, tell when you’re playing next.”

So after much thought, and in order to satisfy all you curious and demanding people, I’m starting this little e-mail list so everyone will know exactly when & where I will be appearing in public.

But one question/demand leads to another (If you give a mouse a cookie…), so I will try to answer all your other questions, starting with:

I’m neither asking or demanding anything.  Why did I receive this e-mail?
You received this e-mail because you are a friend, a friend of the family, a musical colleague, a neighbor, or possibly because somewhere along the line you were CCed on some random piece of e-mail that someone sent me years ago.

I’m not sure how to say this without offending, but I’d rather not be on this list
I too receive a variety of things in my In Box that I’d much rather not see or even think about.   To alleviate your concerns, I will be taking an ‘opt in’ aoproach to this list.   In other words, I will only be sending e-mails to those of you who genuinely want to get them.  If you do want to continue receiving these messages,  simply click your Reply button and Send this right back to me.  If you have not responded after the next 2 messages, I will drop you from the list.   Oh, and don’t worry about offending me.

So in order to keep receiving these messages, I have to reply?
Yup, just click Reply & Send; that’s all there is to it.  

And if I don’t do anything? They’ll stop coming?
Yup. 

I really don’t want to get this s**t
If you really, really don’t even want to get 2 more messages, then Reply to this e-mail and put some obvious text in the Subject, such as ‘Decline’ or ‘Unsubscribe’ or ‘Stop this Now!’

OK, so enough with this already, I get it.  Where are you playing?

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Where in the world is Eric (playing that is)?

I have an action packed schedule for the next month (yeah I know, a little short notice on a few of these)

June 12, Friday,  7-9:30ish PM   – Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
Ruthie’s is having a whole summer of music out on their back portio and I’m happy to be a part of it.   This Friday I will be playing the piano all by my lonesome self, doing my mix of blues, boogie woogie, and music from the 60s.   If the weather is not cooperating, I will play inside.     I recommend the pulled pork, and their salads are great.
For more details/directions/etc about Ruthie’s check out their web site:   http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

June 13, Saturday,  8:00 PM   – Lunatic Fringe Show at Pianos Bar and Grill, 36 Broad Street, Bloomfield (973) 743-7209
This is the last regular show of the 12th season of Lunatic Fringe, New Jersey’s top improvisational comedy troupe.   If you’ve never seen them, you’re in for a surprise, they’re hysterically funny.  My job is to provide interlude music between sketches and to “warm up” the crowd before the show.     
    For more details on Lunatic Fringe: http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com/  
    We perform in the back room of Pianos Bar & Grill, it’s in downtown Bloomfield on Broad Street, about 1/2 a block in from Bloomfield Ave:   http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com/

June 21, Sunday, 4:00-4:45 PM – The Funky Fritters, appearing at the Waterside Plaze in Manhatten by First Ave & 25th Street  (212) 340-4227
I real excited about this gig (not that I’m blasé about my other shows).  This will be my debut appearance with the Funky Fritters, “A powerhouse 11-member band with horns serving up a bowl of funky gumbo and a hearty helpin’ of New Orleans, Mardi Gras, blues, brass, rock, R&B, jazz and gospel.”    These guys put on a super show.   If the weather cooperates, this will be an outdoor show, bring your lawn chairs.   Otherwise, things will move inside.
   You can get a preview of Funky Fritters at:  www.myspace.com/thefunkyfritters and www.thefunkyfritters.com
  For full directions on how to get to the Waterside Plaza, go to the “events page” at: www.watersideplaza.com


July 3, Friday, 10:00-11:00 PM – The Funky Fritters at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia) in Manhatten  (212) 673-7030
A pre 4th of July warm up at the historic Bitter End.   This one has a $10 cover charge.
  http://www.bitterend.com/

July 10, Friday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
I’m back at Ruthie’s.  This time I will be doing mostly blues with a bunch of really talented musicians, include owner Eric Kaplan on guitar, “Big Mike” DaVita on harp and vocals, Matt Patuto on drums, and Matt on bass.   Big Mike is also the front man for Big Mike and the Perpetrators.   They’ve got some nifty samples out on http://www.myspace.com/bigmikeandtheperpetrators

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So that’s it for now.   If you have any suggestions, thoughts, brick bats, etc on this and any future messages, let me know.    And as a bonus, here are some high quality publicity pictures for your refrigerator.

    Eric