ERIC STECKEL [New CD On Sale Now]

Eric Steckel & CTB
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Eric Steckel & CTB - Springing the Blues 2008 LIVE
From the road to the stage, a smile on just one face….it feels like home…
Music has shaped Eric’s life since the day he was born. As a cranky infant he was soothed to sleep by the early 90s sounds of Country Music Television. As he learned to walk his first steps were to the cassette player where his personal favorites were The Allman Brothers and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Childhood piano lessons soon turned into Blues jams and before long he picked up his first fender Stratocaster. There was no looking back…..
After sitting in with some of the finest performers in his Pennsylvania hometown, Eric’s passion for the Blues enabled him to soon share the stage with many nationally known artists including Bob Margolin, Debbie Davies, James Armstrong, Steve Guyger, Kenny Neal, Chris Beard, Tommy Castro, Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Solomon Burke, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Hubert Sumlin.
With a feeling and natural ability that could not be explained for someone so young, Eric delivered a Freddie-BB-Albert King influenced performance with an intensity and skill that belied his youth.
The Eric Steckel Band’s debut CD, "A Few Degrees Warmer", was recorded live in April 2002 when Eric was a mere 11 years old. A Few Degrees quickly became a CD Baby Top Blues Seller and the record continues to delight Blues Guitar fans across the globe.
In November of 2003 the "ESB" appeared at the Sarasota Blues Festival where Eric’s powerful set and cameo appearances became the talk of the day. Before the night was over Eric was introduced by John Mayall as the youngest person ever on stage with the Bluesbreakers.
Eric left a lasting impression on Mayall and in the Summer of 2004, Eric appeared in Sweden, Norway and Denmark as a special guest with John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers during their Scandinavian Tour. In early 2005 Eric traveled to Los Angeles where he joined Mayall for session work on the Bluesbreaker’s "Road Dogs" record.
Eric & John Mayall
The ESB developed their own faithful following through years of club gigs and festival appearances including opening sets in support of Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro, Shemekia Copeland and B.B. King.
The band released a studio record titled "High Action" in 2004 and traveled to Holland and Belgium in 2005 for a 10 concert tour promoted by Rounder-Europe and King Bee Music.
After relocating to Jacksonville, Florida, Eric was introduced to Duane Trucks who joined the band in late 2005 on drums. Music fans may immediately recognize Duane as Derek’s younger brother and the nephew of Butch Trucks.
In celebration of Duane’s arrival, the ESB released their third record, "Havana". Deeply rooted in the Blues, this live recording recalled the sound of the 60s and 70s Blues Rock era.
In support of the European release of "Live at Havana" through Rounder-Europe, the ESB returned to Holland in 2006 where they had the honor to open for Johnny Winter at The Paradiso in Amsterdam and appeared at the Tegelen Blues Rock Festival.
The Summer of 2007 marked another milestone for Eric as the band played several prominent American music festivals and earned rave reviews and new fans during tours in Holland, Germany, Belgium and Italy, including a prime time performance at the legendary Pistoia Blues Festival where he opened in prime time for John Mayall and Gregg Allman.
Eric greeted 2008 by emerging from the recording studio with a host of new songs to be released on an all new record titled “Feels Like Home”. Supported by solid session performances from Duane Trucks on Drums and Mike Esposito on Bass Guitar, “Feels Like Home” marks another stunning achievement for Eric as the one-time boy-wonder-guitar-hero is now a matured guitarist who combines his Bluesy feel with eclectic influences and modern songwriting. “Feels Like Home” is currently scheduled for a March 2008 release.
In support of “Feels Like Home” Eric has teamed up with one of his original influences and early mentor Craig Thatcher to develop a new road band, “Eric Steckel and CTB”.
The Craig Thatcher Band has a well-earned reputation for blending classic rock and blues with a joy of playing that’s up front and bold. With their own worldwide recognition and a slew of music awards the CTB is recognized by many as one of the best bands on the East Coast.
Eric Steckel and CTB is a must-see-live performing band.
A smile on just one face, it feels like home………
Eric has performed live on-air on WDIY and WLVR in Bethlehem, PA and has been featured in The Allentown (PA) Morning Call, The Doylestown (PA) Intelligencer, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The (NY) Times-Herald Record, Music Head Magazine, The Warren (NJ) Reporter Forum, Guitar World Magazine,The Easton (PA) Express, The Bridgewater (NJ) Courier Times, The Sarasota (FL) Herald-Tribune, the Lancaster (PA) Sunday News and The Florida Times Union. International press includes 2005 features in the Haagshe Courant, De Telegraaph and a 2007 MusikMaker (NL) feature.
Eric was also featured in a 2002 Comcast CN8 TV News Extra and in 2003 he has appeared on NBC 10 in Philadelphia, Comcast CN8, Fox Philadelphia and SNN6 in Sarasota. In 2005 Eric was featured on Reuters TV.
Photo: GPBluesboy.it
ERIC STECKEL & CTB - Springing the Blues 2008
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Eric Steckel & Danny Bryant - Pistoia Blues 2007