Reviews of The Eric Underwood Band, THE LIGHT BEHIND YOU:
Acoustic songwriter pop as good as this only comes along once every couple of years, and when it does, I'm awfully glad for the opportunity to review it within these hallowed pages. The Eric Underwood Band put a fresher face on what I feel is a musical format that has been hopelessly bled to death. Listening to this disc brings the feelings of freshness and the newness I felt the first time I heard Nick Drakes's Five Leaves Left, 10,000 Maniacs' In My Tribe, or REM's Fables. Eric Buddington's tasteful violin alone could set the band's sound apart from all the other drivel out there, but this band goes further with songs that actually mean something, with lots of emotion and lots of integrity, sporing a wide array of folk and rock influences spanning decades. Fans of Jeffrey Gaines, Michael Penn, and pre-crap era Dave Matthews would enjoy this disc with a candlelight dinner and a bottle of chardonnay. Bon Appetit!-JOEL SIMCHES (THE NOISE-ROCK AROUND BOSTON),
The Eric Underwood Band is a Massachusetts based group that's led, not surprisingly, by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Eric Underwood. The band's CD, The Light Behind You, is an evocative, acoustic collection of originals. Rich harmonies, crisp melodies and lush acoustic guitars are prevalent throughout, but the band doesn't have your normal "acoustic" sound. It weaves rich, percussive textures and grooves with soaring violin fills. Ther's some excellent material here, especially the jazzy meanderings of "Patagonia Blue," the sweeping "Exodus" and a rendition of the traditional "America the Beautiful." Fans of the Dave Mattews Band and From Good Homes, among others, should find this of interest.-RELIX
Reviews of Eric Underwood and Eladia, DOWN FROM the TREEHOUSE:
Brooding, dark, and utterly gorgeous, Down From the Treehouse is a moving study in thick sonic textures and emotion. With Eric Underwood on guitar and vocals and...Eladia playing some of the moodiest, most versatile cello you'll hear, this record fluidly moves from churning rock to baroque Simon & Garfunkel-esque folk.
Eladia's cello serves as an apt foil for Eric's vocals, which range from the snarling bite of Trent Reznor to the reflective glint of Elliott Smith. On tunes like "Marianne," the cello flutters and swims around Eric's guitar and vocal, alternately serving as a melodic lift and a grounding bass, gypsy viola and its own string section. The standout track "Carousel" perfectly represents this record-smart, dark and lovely.-PERFORMING SONGWRITER
ERIC UNDERWOOD DITCHES THE BAND, COMES DOWN FROM THE TREEHOUSE
by Seth Rogovoy
Eric Underwood worked his way up on the regional music scene headlining a band that bore his own name and, with a violin in the group and lots of minor-key folk-rock anthems in the repertoire, one seemingly patterned along the lines of the Dave Matthews Band.
But with Underwood's brand new CD, Down from the Treehouse, the follow-up to the Eric Underwood Band's The Light Behind You, the singer-songwriter has done a 180-degree turn.
While the minor-key melodies are still prevalent, the band is gone and in its place are just Underwood's voice and acoustic guitar accompanied by the versatile, haunting cello stylings of Underwood's new duet partner, Eladia who also lends occasional vocal harmonies.
Down From the Treehouse is a dark, intimate album, colored heavily by Eladia's gorgeous cello, which lends a timeless, mournful quality to the already timeless, mournful ballads composed by Underwood, an Adams (Massachusetts) native who was himself something of a childhood prodigy on violin, performing with the Berkshire Symphony at age 12.
Something of the texture of violin and classical music informs Underwood's songs on Down From the Treehouse, which with few exceptions-most notably "Jericho," which works up a sensual froth-are contructed of delicate latticework of Underwood's whispery vocals, his rhythmic guitar strumming, and Eladia's moody counterpoint.
Here and there one hears traces of the Beatles-another folk group that once put cello to good use-and other late-1960's/early-'70s English folk groups, as well as hints of some of the more angst-laden grunge-rock of the early-'90s, albeit unplugged-style. But for the most part, on Down From the Treehouse, Eric Underwood and Eladia have invented an original sonic blend.
-THE ROGOVOY REPORT
ERIC UNDERWOOD was born and raised in the town of Adams in Western Massachusetts. Having a strong interest in art and music, Eric began studying the violin at age 10. At the age of 11, Eric began studying with renowned conductor and violinist Julius Hegyi. Hegyi would become one of Underwood’s most powerful influences by providing a combination of discipline and brilliant musical interpretation.
Eric’s father Monty, a machinist by trade, would also make a huge impact on his music career as motivator, coach, and Eric’s biggest fan. He was also a great tipper, supplying Mr. Hegyi with venison steaks from the latest hunt. By age 12, Eric was performing in The Berkshire Symphony Orchestra. Hegyi was the conductor and it was time for Eric to learn fast.
The following year, Eric’s universe would come to a screeching halt as his father Monty was killed in a motorcycle accident. The violin would never feel the same. Haunted by the memory of his father, Eric’s music studies would lag behind and it was time to try something different and exciting. He had always dreamed of playing the guitar and finally decided to give it a try.
At 16, fueled by his passion for the music videos of the 1980’s, Eric started playing the guitar but quickly switched to the electric bass and got his first taste of rock’n’roll stardom while performing with his high school cover bands. The audience response was electric and exhilarating. Eric was hooked. After high school was over, Eric began playing the acoustic guitar to support his newest passion, songwriting.
When it came time for college, Eric decided against going to music school and instead went to work in a local engraving factory. He swears to this day that this was his internship for songwriting, besides seeing the care and expert craftsmanship that goes into making a quality product, he learned the process from start to finish of making everlasting impressions. Eric Underwood fans will agree that his music is unforgettable.
His first original band, The Eric Underwood Band, received some regional success when the album “The Light Behind You†would garner favorable reviews as their music was compared to the likes of the Dave Matthews Band. The violin colored the album heavily and would be the first of many reminders of Eric’s past. Included on this album are two songs from the independent film, “Purple Mountain Majesty.†Eric narrated the film as well as collaborating with director and high school pal Blair Mahar on the music. For the first time, Eric’s original music was getting the attention it deserved, but only months after the album’s release the Eric Underwood Band had disbanded and Eric would begin performing solo again with occasional accompanists. With one of them he would fall in love and make his next record.
Eladia, later known as Eladia Underwood was a cellist originally from the Bronx in New York City. Together they would record “Down From the Treehouse†billed as Eric Underwood and Eladia. Their album would make it to the DIY section of Performing Songwriter and Eric & Eladia began to build their audience. Two years later, Eric and Eladia Underwood, now married, would relocate to New York City as a serious career move. This change had its costs. The couple split after one year in New York.
Eric, once again a solo performer, moved to West Harlem and called it his home. With his creativity in full bloom and a new voice, he began writing then recording songs for his latest EP entitled “Natural Selection†and enlisting the talents of his new found Juilliard School friends.
Eric continues writing and performing as a singer and songwriter in New York City. The use of strings has become Eric’s trademark over the years and remains a staple in live performances and in the studio.
