Guitar with Eric J.

The Tripping Billies

Last year I joined the one of the hippest bands in the midwest, the Tripping Billies. It's a Dave Matthews tribute band. They send me around the country playing a ton of really great tunes and I get to play with some amazing musicians!

Raue Center for the Arts - Crystal Lake, IL

We just wrapped this show in August. I played the guitar chair with some amazing musicians by my side. The show is a jukebox musical featuring female fronted pop songs from the 60s. It was a blast to play. I always love working with the crew at the Raue Center. I've uploaded some pics from the show below.

Hands on a Hardbody - Crystal Lake Raue Center Production

This one has a funny story behind it. Hands on a Hardbody is a two guitar show. I was assigned guitar book 2 but was mailed guitar book 1 by mistake. I didn't find out until I met the other guitar player and we were both confused why we had the same book. Turns out guitar book 2 is all slide guitar, dobro and pedal steel and other 'country' type guitar parts. Being someone who doesn't know how to play a lick of pedal steel, I naturally panicked. I adapted all the pedal steel to my electric as best I could. I learned to play a dobro properly and built my own lapsteel guitar specifically for the gig. Between the last minute scrambling to master an instrument I've never played and the experience of building my own lapsteel guitar I think it's safe to say this gig as a kooky, unusual and awesome place in my heart.

Little Shop of Horrors - Woodstock Opera House Production

What a fun gig. I don't take a lot of theater gigs on bass but I just HAD to take this one because the material is really fun to play and I really wanted to get a selfie with the big talking plant at the end of the show! Joey Z was my musical director and he's probably my favorite person to be conducted by!

Private Studio

This is my private studio in Elgin, IL. It's my home away from home. My studio is probably one of the best outfitted private lesson studios in the area. I keep tons of instruments on hand. Multiple guitars, basses, mandolins, ukes, etc! I also like to keep an electronic drum set and piano set up there for when students want to learn on a new instrument. It has a fully functional recording studio so we have a lot of fun recording students lessons for them to take home. my studio is my favorite place to be and I think you'll have fun there too!

Word to Your Mother - Chicago's Premier 90's Cover Band

Word to Your Mother is the best 90's tribute band around. I was their go-to bass sub for years and now I play for them as a full time member. It's a great show that's suitable for all ages and plays all your favorite hits from your favorite decade.

Myself

A 'jobber' is a musician who pays his bills by taking any gig he can. It's kind of romantic if you ask me... The jobber gets a call when a regular band member can't make the gig. You call him because he's really good and can adapt to any style and is easy to get along with. He's a musicians' musician. One night he's playing jazz in a smokey club and the next he's playing Lady Gaga cover tunes for a corporate event. He slips in, plays like a champ, gets his check and slips back into the night, only to resurface for the next gig. I am a jobber. Do you need a jazz player to sit in with a saxophonist for cocktail hour at your wedding? You hire me. Do you need someone to learn a hundred 80's pop tunes for a last minute retro gig? You still need me. Are you a rap artist from the South side who needs someone to play funky drums at a club in the city? ...yep...I'm still your guy. Much of my performing work is of the 'jobbing' variety. I am a musical gun for hire and as a result I've played tons of gigs on every end of the musical spectrum. The list is long and not worth listing here but let's just say I've gigged pretty much every instrument and every style apart from brass/wind/and orchestral strings.

Jersey Boys - Chicago Production

Back in 2008 there was a nasty rumor going around Chicago that I was friendly, knew how to play well, and was rarely late for a gig...so I got a call to do work on probably the biggest theater production country at the time! What a blast. I got to play with...and make some mistakes in front of the best players in the entire region. The 17 shows I played are some of my fondest musical memories.

Dr. Woods Guitar Emporium

Best little shop in the burbs. This place was my stomping ground as a kid and I was honored to serve them as a full time instructor for more than ten years. I even managed a 'Rock University' program there for young musicians to jam after school!

McHenry County College

Native Proficiency