It's just me. To be honest, that more than enough!
In addition to my "Never-Ending, Middle Of Nowhere" Solo tour , I'm available as a freelance Acoustic or Electric Guitarist, Bass Guitarist, and Lead or Background Vocalist for live or studio work. I also play lead guitar every once in a while in a band called "The Scotch Plainsmen" backing Smithereens Lead singer/Songwriter Pat DiNizio on some of his solo projects
I'm also very proud to say that I exclusively endorse Kona Guitars and Gripick Guitar Picks
with Pat DiNizio & The Scotch Plainsmen
Influences
The Beatles The Smithereens Billy Joel The Who Garth Brooks Elton John Elvis Presley The Eagles Elvis Costello Jim Babjak's Buzzed Meg The Police Ricky Nelson Michael Nesmith Greg Howe Del Amitri Gerry Rafferty The Monkees Paul McCartney John Lennon George Harrison Ringo Starr Phil Keaggy The Rolling Stones Keith Urban Jimi Hendrix Badfinger Jerry Lee Lewis Eric Clapton Chicago Neil Innes The Bangles Tenacious D The BAR Laurence Juber The Cellarbirds The Rutles Lisa Loeb Marvin Gaye Wings The Rutles Todd Rundgren The Gripweeds Preston Reed Justin Currie Boyce & Hart Fats Domino Neil Diamond Little Richard Stone Temple Pilots The Badlees Rooney Monty Python's Flying Circus Barenaked Ladies ...and just about anything & EVERYTHING I've ever heard.
Sounds Like
I refuse to seperate music into genres. A good song is a good song no matter how it's performed. So basically, I hope that my music just sounds like good songs.
I don't really sound like anybody except me (I think). I have absolutely no problem with wearing my influences on my sleeve, and letting people hear them in my own work. Mainly, I'm just me, and hopefully that's good enough!
Thank you to C.C. Wilkinson at Gripick Guitar Picks for all the support & friendship!
Thank you to Marty Stenzler, Mark Jabben, & Everyone at Kona Guitars for helping me get where I need to be, and for making the great guitars that help make the job that much easier, and better sounding.
Very Special Thanks to all of you for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself.
People have been asking me for quite a while now about the main equipment that I use. I'm proud to say that I am endorsed by KONA Guitars and GRIPICK Guitar Pick. In addition to their great guitars & picks, I also use instruments & accessories from a few other great companies. Here is the current rundown of my gear:
For my Live Performances I use:
A Kona Gold Series KG1FMCEN (6 String Flamed Maple Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with cutaway)
A Kona Gold Series KG1CEN (6 String Spruce Top/Mahogany Back & Sides Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with cutaway)
A Kona KESSTSB (Strat-style 6 String Electric - Equipped with DiMarzio DP187 Fast Track Humbucker (neck), John Suhr V60LP Single Coil (middle) & Seymour Duncan Quad-Rail Humbucker (bridge)
A Kona KES35FM (Double Cutaway, Semi-Hollow Body, Flamed Maple Electric Guitar with Gold Hardware and Abalone Binding)
A Kona Signature Series KS12NE (12 String Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Equipped with a Fishman Acoustic Pickup)
A Kona KM004 Florentine Style Mandolin - Equipped with a DiMarzio Hot Rails pickup.
A Hilo Soprano Ukulele
A Fender Foto-Flame Telecaster (3 pickup model) that's been equipped with John Suhr V60LP Single Coil pickups (in the neck & middle positions), a Seymour Duncan L'il '59 Humbucker pickup (in the bridge position) and a Fishman Power Bridge acoustic pickup
I use D'Addario Strings exclusively on ALL my guitars both live and in the studio.
A Yamaha YPT-300 Electric Keyboard
A Line 6 Pod 2.0 with Full-size Floor Board and A Line 6 Pocket Pod
In the studio (and various freelance Live Projects) I also use:
A Kona MBPS (19" Scale Mini Strat-style Guitar that is tuned to an "A" above the low "E", equipped with DiMarzio Quad Rails Humbucker pickup)
A Godin A12 (12 String Acoustic Guitar)
and
A Fender Power Jazz Bass Special equipped with active electronics
2 Kona KAA-60 Amplifiers
I've changed the style of the player here on my page in order to make it less confusing. All of the songs were performed by me at my solo gigs, except where the title is followed by a band name. Some of those songs were live, others were recorded in the studio. In any case, I hope you enjoy them, and there will be more coming soon!
Scott Erickson, a musician based out of the Bloomsburg Pennsylvania area, has been performing professionally since the age of 21. Over the past 15 years, Scott has built up a reputation as one Northeast and Central Pennsylvania's premiere Solo Performers. He has also, during this time, been a member of several bands, each one covering very different styles of music: ''The Rumble Cats'' (Rock-a-billy), ''Circle Sky'' (British Invasion & 1960s psychedelia) which played in Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago, from the summer of 1994 until the winter of 1996. In the fall of 1998, the band reunited under the name ''The Impossibles'' and opened for ''Gary Lewis & The Playboys'' and ''Freddy 'Boom Boom' Cannon''. He was the bassist and occasional lead vocalist for one of the Lehigh Valleys favorite bands, ''The Aardvarks'' (Classic pop & rock), from their earliest incarnations in late 2002, until January of 2004. He was featured on lead, rhythm, acoustic, electric & bass guitars in perennial Lehigh Valley favorite ''Redz Vision'' (a little bit of everything), as well as a member of one of the Lehigh Valley areas favorite up & coming bands; ''The Infamous Hogleg Boys'' (Heavier Classic & Modern Rock).
As a solo artist, he has opened for ''The Bacon Brothers (actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael)'', classic rock icons, ''Blue Oyster Cult'', and comedians "Big" Jay Oakerson, Tom Rhodes, and the legendary Gilbert Gottfried. He has also performed with former Paul McCartney sideman Robbie McIntosh, and Hamish Stuart (who has worked with both McCartney & Ringo Starr), Country Music superstar Keith Urban, and most recently jammed with legendary rock & roll band, ''The Smithereens''.
As a "Power Solo", Scott is an experienced and energetic showman who knows how to keep an audience entertained by giving them what they want by letting them request the music they want to hear. Scott performs his shows mainly with just his voice and his acoustic guitars, but is considering the idea of adding some digitally pre-programmed music to his shows. Says Scott, “Since the beginning of my career, I was always against the use of pre-programmed music. I felt that it wasn’t honest, but now that I’ve been involved with projects that incorporated it into the show, I feel that by using it, I can become even more versatile & find new & more interesting ways to entertain my audiences. After all, they are why I keep doing this.”
After the better part of 20 years of performing, Scott still really enjoys what he does. Now, hes ready to really take his show on the road and play for as many new audiences as possible. He freely & proudly admits, ''Without my audience, I am nothing at all. I am eternally in their debt.''.
Forget what you have heard or think you know about solo performers. See Scott for yourself, and see why he says:
''...A splendid time is guaranteed for all!''
Check out what people are saying about Scott:
Scott Erickson has performed onstage with me on many occasions and it is always a great thrill for me to sing 2-part harmony with him, whether its one of my own Smithereens compositions, one of his own modern pop classics, or a song by our favorite group, The Beatles. Whether performing one of his own fine musical compositions or a tune by one of his favorite songwriters, Scott Erickson is an enormously talented walking encyclopedia of pop music, with a reputation for excellence that cant be glossed over
Pat DiNizio, (Lead Singer/Songwriter for The Smithereens)
Scott Erickson possesses a powerful, yet smooth vocal style with an inviting live stage presence. Erickson's covers are many and infectious. Once you hear him you prepare to leave by making sure you know where you can catch him next.
Mike Mollo (agent, Blammusic Productions)
Scott & I have known each other for longer than either of us care to recall. In the Past 10 years, his playing & singing have matured tremendously. He is very, VERY good, and probably one of the better cover artists out there.
Greg Howe (Virtuoso Guitarist, Recording artist-Shrapnel/Tone Center Records)
Scott is an amazing performer. He's really on a different level than most. I not only recommend him, I would say it's a loss not to go see him. Cancel all your other plans and go see Scott Erickson. – Clark Clifford (South Bound Brook, NJ)
Scott is a very talented guitar player and singer. His ability to cover songs and entertain audiences is awesome. When Scott covers a tune, he adds his thing to it and they just come out great. It’s almost brand new! We are very happy Scott is part of the Kona Guitars family.---- Mark W. Jabben (Product Specialist, A&R Rep for Kona Guitars)
Finally a musician that only plays what you want to hear! You want Van Morrison? Shazam! You want Billy Joel? Not only do you get the piano, and the great vocals, but he fills it in with the real-deal background tracks! S O O O O M U C H F U N ! – Jessie Yamas (Musician & Co-owner, Cherry Alley Café, Lewisburg, PA)
You can tell that Scott really loves music. Not only does he learn every nuance of a song but gets into the details of the artists who recorded it. Jamming with him reminded me that there are some really good musicians out there who still believe in the power of music to make people feel good and forgot about their troubles just for a little while.—Jim Babjak (Lead Guitarist from The Smithereens)
In my long career, I’ve hired many solo musicians for various shows and broadcasts. The ones who were the most successful all had one thing in common: They entertained the audience in everything they played and said. Scott Erickson excels at this. His vast repertoire and polished-but-fun style makes him a perfect choice for clubs, as a concert opening act or for any private or corporate function. He is unique and a gifted performer who will entertain your audience and keep them coming back for more. -- Steve Bryant (Former VP of Talent for Scripps Network http://www.stevebryant.tv)
This next link is to a new site that I've recently taken part. It's called Feed The Muse, and it allows my fans (that's YOU guys!) to help support my career by donating a small amount of money ($5.00) to help keep my vehicle & Equipment in top shape. Please check it out, and donate if you can. Thanks!
Spread the word! Copy and paste this code into your page to display the Feed The Muse widget.
Now you guys can buy some cool swag from me! Buttons, pins, mousepads, even coffee mugs! it's all available RIGHT HERE!
LOL! Hope your getting all of your Christmas shopping done! I haven't even started yet. I will probably wait until Christmas eve like I did last year! Check in with ya later. Rhonda
Facebook is corporate...that's where all the people at my WORK go! It's not as creative as Myspace. But I've heard others like it, so maybe one day I'll try it again... My first try was a "bad trip". ;)
OK I confess! Sometimes when you are talking to me .... But I need your help in answering these questions that keep popping into my head...
Can you cry under water? Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural? If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? Why do you have to "put your two cents in".... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? If A deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? Why did you just try singing those two songs? Oh Well nevermind because I would just forget the answers since ... LOL! Is it Friday? Rhonda
Hey Scott, I have been taking dance lessons and I think I'll enter the America's Got Talent myspace group that airs tonight. What do ya think? I think I am pretty damn good and could win that million dollars! ....
Well thanks for the compliment and this is exactly what eggs me on until I have no control over my stupidity! I'm glad you get my sense of humor as I am just learning to get it myslef as I watch it unflold with each new comment. lol Have a good week ahead and thanks for your friendship. Rhonda