Photo: Jason Cryder
Eric Sommer and the Fabulous Piedmonts bring their high-energy, difficult-to-classify music style locally to Roanoke, for a performance at Coffee Pot Roadhouse, 2902 Brambleton Ave. SW, Saturday, March 11. Show: 9:30pm. Tickets: $10. Info: (540) 774-8256 or visit thecoffeepotroanoke.com.
Eric Sommer and The Fabulous Piedmonts are Eric Sommer (guitar-vocals); Jimmy “Four Fingers” Hauer (stand-up bass, Stingray electric); and Amanda Sycamore (percussion). Eric Sommer is the writer, lead singer and guitar player for this stand out collection of musical souls. His credits are strong and diverse, starting in Boston opening for Little Feattours. Sommer also shared bills with David Bromberg, John Hammond Jr. and Leon Redbone; then fronted gene-bending power trio The Atomics, who toured for several years with Mission of Burma, Gang of Four, Dead Kennedys and Bugsy Low-Low, which subsequently led him to London. Eric then moved to Aarhus, Denmark, playing with Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds for two years off and on while picking up acoustic tours in Germany, Denmark, and Holland. Sommer has recorded five albums — one with The Atomics, and with Brooklyn Bolero Producers at Room 13 in Brooklyn. Numerous singles followed; the output will soon be enhanced with a new release by The Piedmonts. Sommer has developed a unique acoustic style that combines picking grooves reminiscent of Steve Howe and Doc Watson with his tour-mates from The Atomics’ influences, which include The Cars and a bit of ZZ Top; and country pop-styled songs of Hank Williams channeled through a little Shania Twain, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Black Crowes.
Jimmy “Four Fingers” Hauer is a virtuoso on stand-up double bass as well as Stingray electric. He has played all over the world and is a sought-after session bass in the North Carolina Triangle. Vocals, bass, and a groove catalog that stretches all the way to Bloomington, Indiana, make Hauer the master of the lower register and part of the rhythm section that is at the heart of The Piedmonts sound. Jimmy and the Bass are one – it’s like seeing a young Ron Carter blended with James Jamerson, with a little Slim Jim Phantom squeezed in between. There is room on occasion for some exciting bass solos, and between Amanda and Jimmy, no octave is too great, no register too low. They are the best rhythm section in town!
Percussionist Amanda Sycamore brings her considerable skills to a multi-faceted musical cyclone — back-up vocals and a remarkable variety of tools turns these songs into a unique storm of perfectly-timed sound waves. Amanda can’t remember a time when she wasn’t playing music. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in percussion performance from UNCG, and has performed with Drum Corps International, Busch Gardens Entertainment, and various touring acts including The Irish Tenors, Paul Anka, and Kenny G. She is currently the Principal Percussionist for the Salisbury Symphony and enjoys sharing her love of music by teaching private percussion and piano lessons in her home studio. Sycamore also enjoys working with music publisher C. Alan Publications, where she composes works for percussion ensembles and solo marimba.
March 9 (Thur) HOT TIN ROOF Hillsborough NC
March 10 (Fri) THE LOCAL BAR Apex NC
March 11 (Sat) COFFEE POT ROADHOUSE Roanoke VA