Eric Jerardi Band - Virtual Virtue (2002)

"A lot can happen in five years" says blues rocker Eric Jerardi referring to ?the time between the release of his last studio record, Virtual Virtue and now. "A lot has happened and a lot hasn't happened I suppose, but what just happened is that I've recorded the best record of my life, and if it had taken me 20 years to get to this point, it would have been worth it. Just think about what has transpired in the last five years - you have I pods and I tunes and pod casts and pro tools and CD burners and bear share and limewire and all this computer stuff - the music business has changed and so have I. That's why I decided to go backwards in order to go forward and it took me five years to figure that out” says Jerardi. ??Jerardi and his band, Jon Arnold on bass, and Joe Prescott on drums teamed up again with veteran studio engineer Willie Pevear in Memphis whose extensive resume includes work with the Neville Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash to name a few. Together, Jerardi and Pevear had a vision to record a live performance in the studio - a rather unconventional approach with today's advanced recording techniques. With the help of Memphis dignitary Al Gamble on the keys, what emerged is what Jerardi calls his greatest achievement in recording. After the recording, it was rumored that Jerardi, in a haze of smoke and wine quipped: "It's as greasy as a chicken wing, funky as a pitchfork and sounds like damnation." The expected release date of Restless will be the spring of 2007 - constant touring to follow.?
Eric Jerardi started his musical career at Ohio University where his very first gig resulted in winning a battle of the bands contest in 1989. Ironically one of the very last gigs at OU was another contest, which ultimately secured a spot on MTV as the Midwest's Best Unsigned College Band in 1991. Now almost 18 years later, Jerardi still continues to perform countless live shows everywhere. He's shared the stage with Little Feat and Jim Belushi at The House Of Blues Chicago, and LA, jammed with Eric Johnson on Cape Cod and with Keith Urban, Wynonna, and Kenny Chesney in Nashville, played South by South West in Austin, TX, headlined B.B. Kings in Memphis, L.A., Nashville and Manhattan, as well as countless blues festivals and major concerts. The list of support shows is too long but includes several tours with Robin Trower from coast to coast. Eric has been featured on the House of Blues radio show with Dan Aykroyd, signed an artist endorsement deal with Fender Musical instruments, amps, and strings - twice featured in their yearly catalog, Fender Frontline, and was featured at the Nashville NAMM show on a double bill with Johnny Lang for Fender - the list goes on and on and on. "To say I've paid my dues is a gross understatement. However, all those years of honing my craft have brought me to this comfortable place in my life and my music that I wouldn't change for anything" states Jerardi. One major difference is the fact that Eric has what he calls "lightened up a bit." "I'm not as serious as I used to be. I'm writing more fun or witty songs as well as my usual heartbreakers, and I like it. "My playing, singing and writing have never been better, and the new CD will showcase that.