Eric Selby "starting to sync in" AVAILABLE NOW on soul stew records
Created at Recording Arts in Arlington, VA & The Facility Nashville in Nashville, TN &
Abbey Road Studios in London, England
ARTISTS
BOB EIKE
Sure, it’s been a while, but Bob Eike has resurfaced gloriously, “after going around the world a few times and experiencing a few things,” with a collection of songs with no commonality other than, well, Bob…entitled “Sometime/You Know.”
“Sometimes/You Know” offers, as Bob puts it, “some guitar musings, some songs with words of wisdom, some with just words, that really are aren’t that wise at all.”
It’s hard to believe that it has been a decade since Bob Eike’s last Soul Stew Records release, “Happy Little Songs About Futility and Despair,” but patience is, indeed, a virtue and good things do come to those who wait!
From the opening notes of Bob beckoning us to join him in “My Parade” to the syncopated blues of “Circling the Drain” to the tsunami of the last notes of “The New Lowdown,” the 15 songs on “Sometimes/You Know” are an acoustic party and y’all are all invited.
“Sometimes/You Know” was recorded live, with no overdubs, at Rainshadow Studio in Port Townsend, WA, engineered by Conor Sisk and mixed by Victor Sanders, at Lakeside Media in Chicago IL. Hats off to the fine guitars from Travis D. Wade, Ft. Worth, Texas.
Bob Eike grew up in Texas and is a self-taught guitar player. Throughout his youth, he had a passion for Blues and Americana music. His musical talents gained him recognition by ‘Guitar Player’ magazine, featuring him as “an undiscovered great.” He has performed in venues and at festivals throughout the country, including sharing the stage with such notable icons as B.B. King, Johnny Winter, John Hammond, Jr., Taj Mahal, Townes Van Zandt, John Lee Hooker, Lyle Lovett, Leo Kotke and Sonny Landreth. While in California, Bob had the opportunity to work on recording projects with artists such as Billy Thompson and Dr. John.
BILLY THOMPSON
Billy Thompson has been delivering guitar work that has electrified audiences in the U.S. and throughout Europe, setting the tone for this veteran musician’s sizzling performances, both live and in studio. In his original music, he combines world class slide guitar, searing licks and soulful vocals with a unique amalgamation of styles including blues, rock, funk, New Orleans and R&B.
ERIC SELBY
Eric Selby is a sought-after artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. After many years behind both the drumkit and mixing board, Eric has stepped out front as a drumming singer/songwriter, being quite prolific of late, releasing 3 records over the last few years. These releases have gained national attention:
- Eric's third and most recent release in 2023, "Dang Fool," is currently charting on both Roots Music Report's TOP 15 NATIONAL ALTERNATIVE FOLK ALBUM CHART and their TOP 40 NATIONAL FOLK ALBUM CHART.
- Roots Music Report listed Eric's second release in 2021, "Where You Born At?," as their NATIONAL TOP CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM CHART's "Best of 2021."
- Roots Music Report listed Eric’s first release in 2020, "Do, Baby.," in the TOP 50 of their NATIONAL TOP CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM CHART's "Best of 2020" and "Best of 2021."
NORMAN TAYLOR
Give customers a reason to Norman Taylor is a singer/songwriter/acoustic blues performer from the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. His style is entrenched in the country blues of people like Robert Johnson and Skip James, and contemporary acoustic blues men like Keb Mo, Eric Bibb and Guy Davis. Norman also draws influence from country, 70′s rock, soul, gospel and a variety of musical forms. do business with you.
ROB GILLETTE
Rob Gillette has been rocking out since 1969, when he got his first guitar by stealing it from his brother who couldn’t play it anyway.
After turning to jazz and jazz-fusion in the late 70s, Rob returned to his rock and roll roots founding a series of original art-punk and post-punk bands in the lively DC music scene of the mid and late 80s. These bands include 86% Hype (with members of cult favorites 9353), The Man Upstairs (with Soul Stew recording artist Mary Hott) and The Prawns. After his move to California in 1997, Rob founded the Fabulous Jammies, playing a combination of originals and covers in venues from the Sonoma Film Festival to various biker bars in the San Francisco Bay area.
Rob’s first solo release, “Topic Ends,” embodies his eclectic influences that range from T. Rex to Johnny Winter, from Eno to Little Feat and from King Crimson to the Pixies. Listeners will find in Topic Ends, sounds that are new and at the same time familiar — a retro feel, with a modern esthetic.
The first two single releases, “What I Know Now” and “Don’t Push Me,” reached #19 on radioinfo.com’s Top 20 Pop Songs & #75 on USA Today’s Top 100 for Top 40 singles and #74 on USA Today’s Top 100 for Top 40 singles, respectively.
LITTLE BIT A BLUES
Warner Williams and Jay Summerour have been playing music together under the name of Little Bit A Blues for nearly 30 years. During their tenure together, they have recorded several albums, including one under the Smithsonian Folkways label. Eric Selby joined up with Warner and Jay over a decade ago, completing the trio. Icons in the genre of piedmont-style, acoustic blues, Little Bit A Blues has become a fan favorite nationwide. Often shying away from the media spotlight, they have continued their musical journey together while gaining a large and loyal following. Individually and as a group, they have received numerous awards and recognitions including Warner's NEA National Heritage Fellowship, Jay's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Area Music Association and Eric's induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
LES HATLEY
Les Hatley, an electric, acoustic, six and twelve-string guitar player, was inducted into the Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2016, he was awarded a Washington Area Music Association “Wammie” for Folk – Contemporary Instrumentalist.
Les has recorded with a number of artists over the years, and released his first solo CD, called Second Chair, in 2009 and was nominated for a Wammie for Debut Recording. In November 2012 he released his second solo CD, called Surge, which stayed on the Americana National Top 500 Chart for almost all of 2013. From summer of 2014 to early 2015 Les remained on the Ramgatie International Mainstream Country Music Top 200 Artists Chart. His music has been played on well over 600 hundred radio stations worldwide. His songs have been included on television soundtracks, including Animal Planet and MTV.
One listener wrote that “Les Hatley has the fingers of a big, muscular, friendly angel.” Belgium’s Rootstime Magazine reviewed Surge and wrote that especially enjoyable were the “...atmospheric instrumental tracks” and that the CD “...provides the listener moments of reflection and quiet enjoyment.”
MARY HOTT
For much of her musical career Mary Hott has played a supporting role, helping other musicians realize their own musical goals. While living in New York City and later in Boston, she was a sought-after recording studio session singer and background singer, largely due to her ability to quickly learn a vocal passage and get it right on the first try. Her musical interests turned to the blues, and she was soon fronting several bands, including a ten-piece R&B Soul ensemble with regular appearances at The House of Blues and festivals and nightclubs throughout New England. She has shared the stage with nationally known musical acts as diverse as The J. Geils Band and Asleep At The Wheel. Mary’s own original music reflects that diversity of musical interests, with elements of blues, funk, soul, rock, jazz and traditional country blended into her songwriting.