Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Part 4: Overnight sensation

Hey friends. Lean in closer … can we talk about Eric Erdman? How in the world am I just now finding out about this amazing singer/songwriter? I feel as if I've been under a rock or something. Have mercy, y'all. I could absolutely drown in his tone. Eric's performances of Billy Joel’s Piano Man and James Taylor’s Fire and Rain were both dark horse favorites of mine Friday night at Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s.

It wasn’t quite eight o’clock on a Friday and the regular crowd had shuffled into Florence’s historic Shoals Theatre a few hours earlier because there was no place they’d rather be. Eric Erdman, with a mic in one hand and a drink in the other, worked the stage with an ease that matched the soothing familiarity of this classic tune.*

The Fiddleworm’s own, Clint Bailey, did the Piano Man justice on keys and Trick Fiddle himself, Mitch Mann, played the hell out of the harmonica. With Kirk Russell on mandolin and Greg Franks rounding out the performance on accordion – this fourth song of night was a sing-along for the ages. After a day of working hard or hardly working – I see you Shoals friends – Eric, the Fiddleworms, and friends had us all drinking for free.

Not gonna lie, I'm nowhere close to being a James Taylor fan but I am fan-girling pretty hard over Eric Erdman right now. After he blew me away early in the lineup Friday night with Piano Man, I was so looking forward to his rendition of Fire and Rain. Holy smokes, y’all. Eric’s performance of this beautifully brilliant song was full of honest emotion just like the fire and rain of life. It was so very nice -- so much so that I have this written in my notes: Should I listen to MORE James Taylor???

Isn’t it funny how some of these classic, timeless treasures just hit different now that we’re older? Is that just me? With the Shoals Strings adding to the ambiance, this 12th performance of Friday night brought tears to my eyes. You know, I always thought I’d see you again. Man, I love my hometown.

Thank you, MSM, for yet again introducing me to another "new-to-me" artist. I love experiencing a fan’s version of the overnight sensation thrill. I love “finding” a working veteran artist who has somehow flown under my radar for years. I definitely came away from this past weekend’s Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s concerts with more than one new/overnight sensation obsession. Life is good.

More to come … stay tuned.

Dig Worms, friends.

Photo credit: Angel DeAnn Pilati

*Yeah, Eric totally did NOT perform with a drink in his hand Friday night. That’s just a story embellishment courtesy of my over-active imagination. You’re welcome.