EKG (Eric Knudson Group)

August 19th 2008 PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL COMIC, GUITARIST WITH TEXAS ROOTS SHARE AWARD NOMINATION
(To Broadcasters: Knudson’s name is pronounced ka-NUDE-son; the K is pronounced, and the accent is on the second syllable.)
When comedian Alex Reymundo was planning a four-night run at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque last year, he called on an old friend of his to help out with the show.
“About a week before the show, Alex called me and said he had an idea,” said Arlington-based guitar player Eric Knudson. “He said it’s never been done before.”
Reymundo wanted Knudson to play a guitar solo to open each show.
“He said the way I look and the way I play, it would be great,” Knudson said.
Knudson prepared the music before going out to Albuquerque.
“I stayed up all night recording. It took about 18 hours to complete,” Knudson said.
When Showtime won the bid to air the show, it meant more work for Knudson.
“I flew out to Paramount Studios to the editing room. Alex’s manager was there, and asked me to do to the ‘natural’ sounds for the show,” he said. This meant background music, Foley and other audio. “I did the main track called ‘Hick-Spanic,’ which is during the closing credits, as well as the DVD menu music.” In all, Knudson has five credits in the concert video.
Knudson and Reymundo met while students at Bedford Junior High School. Knudson picked up the guitar, while Reymundo became a comic.
Reymundo was a bartender at what is now Hyena’s Comedy Club in Arlington. Ron White was performing one night, and he encouraged Reymundo to try comedy. Reymundo did a bit during open-mic night, and went on from there.
Meanwhile, Knudson was playing in area clubs and developing a loyal and far-reaching fan base.
“I’m a veteran of the ‘legendary’ Savvy’s on East Lancaster Avenue,” he said, and was in a 1984 guitar competition against members of Arlington-based Pantera with Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott, who had his own loyal fans.
Knudson formed the band Déjà Vu, playing cover songs as well as original ones, practicing and honing his skills on the guitar.
After a few years as a medic in the Army, Knudson came back to Fort Worth and started playing again.
“I opened at Roxy’s; I toured Europe twice, first with Canadian band Anvil, the second with Omen. I opened the Roxy show with Blackfoot, and did the Main Street Arts Festival three years in a row.
“Déjà Vu performed on the air for an hour when Bo and Jim returned to KZPS. The band played live background music for the news and traffic, and one full song with vocals during prime time drive time on a Friday morning.”
Among his biggest fans is Manu Virtamo, the Consul General of Finland, who represents Finland in 13 western American states from his base in Los Angeles. Knudson has played for Virtamo four times; they share a love for The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, and Knudson autographed Virtamo’s guitar.
Knudson has a new band, EKG, or Eric Knudson Group. He still plays local venues, and recently opened for the British band UFO when they played at the House of Blues in Dallas earlier this year.
He also has participated in activities benefiting MusiCares, a foundation that provides for medical care and substance-abuse recovery for those in the music industry. “We support our own,” Knudson said. He played with musicians from other bands, including the Steve Miller Band, Ray Charles’s band, Supertramp, Jefferson Starship and Pink Floyd.
Those other musicians, he said, invited him to play alongside them.
“I looked around at all this talent, and I wondered, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’” Knudson said. When they invited him to play along, he didn’t hesitate for a moment.
“It was a true honor to play with them, especially after Scotty Page, saxophonist for Pink Floyd, greeted me at the door saying, ‘Hey you’re Eric, right? I can’t wait to jam with you!” Knudson said.
Last year, Knudson stayed in Los Angeles to try to get his career going, but his timing was bad.
“It was during the writers’ strike,” he said. “If nobody’s doing any shows, they don’t need music.”
“Hick-Spanic” has already been awarded Home Media magazine’s Best Latin Standup DVD for 2007; it was up against George Lopez, Carlos Mencia, Gabriel Iglessias and the original Latin Divas, which Reymundo produced and hosted. “Hick-Spanic” has now been nominated for an ALMA award.
Reymundo thinks Knudson is not just an outstanding guitarist, but a great friend.
“Not many people that are phenomenal at what they do are actually even better friends and human beings. Eric Knudson is one of those people,” Reymundo said. “I want the world to know that Eric Knudson is one screaming bad-ass rock god!”
The American Latino Media Arts award is presented by the National Council of La Raza to honor Hispanics in all aspects of entertainment. Alma is Spanish for 'spirit' or 'soul'. The awards show is scheduled for September 12 at 7 p.m. on ABC.
Rob’s Billiards on Trinity Boulevard in Fort Worth, a frequent venue for Knudson, will have a viewing party that night.
Websites:
http://www.alexreymundo.com/
http://www.knudsonband.com/
July 30 2008
!!!! 2008 ALMA AWARD NOMINATION !!!!!
Alex Reymundo "HICK-SPANIC" where EKG's Eric Knudson wrote and performed the soundtrack has received an ALMA AWARD nomination. The DVD has also gone GOLD in sales, and already received the Best Comedy Special for 2007. (SEE THE OPENING CLIP OF ERIC PERFORMING ON THIS PAGE)
The ALMA AWARDS will air on ABC Sept 12th at 7:00 pm !!!!
E.K.G. .....NEWS... DVD NOW AVAILABLE of EKG playing the House Of Blues with UFO.
Please e-mail for info on how and where to get a copy.