We are proud to welcome Eric John Kaiser for a SECOND exclusive performance to celebrate is new CD release entitled “Dehors c’est l’Amerique”/ “Outside its America”. In this concert Eric John Kaiser will be accompanied by Todd Bayles on the accordeon.

Press release by Matt Kalinowski from Noctilucent Arts:
Portland, OR – February 20, 2012 – Since the June, 2010, release of his third CD, “Portland Rendez-Vous,” Eric John Kaiser (“Portland’s French Troubadour”) has logged close to 10,000 miles via air, land and sea. Exploring North America on multiple lengthy tours, the Paris native has gigged his way up through Canada and down through the South, as far as New Orleans and Washington D.C., where he performed as an “Artist in Residence” for the Smithsonian Museum. Sometimes driving his trusty Subaru under the wide Montana sky, sometimes riding the subway under the New York City canyons… Then jetting across the Atlantic to tour through France… His music has logged as many miles and picked up accents from across the American landscape: his latest songs resonate now with a very American rhythm, like bouncing across the vast plains on horseback… some western lap steel guitar… some dirty roadhouse blues… The culmination of this musical evolution is Eric John Kaiser’s latest CD (produced in part thanks to fan-funding through RocketHub.com), “Dehors c’est l’Amerique” (“Outside, It’s America”).

In his travels, Eric John Kaiser has become a kind of booster for the charms of Portland and America in general. He says, “After touring intensively in the US over the last two years, I think that in a way sometimes I am a mirror to people. They’ll ask why I would leave a beautiful and prestigious city like

ONLINE MEDIA

www.ericjohnkaiser.com

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(SOME OF) THE SONGS
The new songs on “Outside, It’s America” both represent America as seen through the eyes of an adopted-son, and also the reflection of France through the eyes of an increasingly Americanized Frenchman who has traveled far and wide. The opening track, “Dehors, c’est l’Amerique” (“Outside, It’s America”) kicks off with the wailing of an oncoming train, merges from railroad rattles to an easy lap steel, until finally the French lyrics begin, grounded by a comfortable honky-tonk rhythm.

The song “Louisiane” is a musical reminiscence of Eric’s first trip to that most French of American cities, New Orleans. The song ties together Eric’s impression of French-New Orleans heritage as well as his exploration of the tragedy of Katrina. Touring through the Crescent City in 2010 with platinum-selling French recording star Tété proved an incredible opportunity for these two French musicians to see the blending of French culture through the deepest of American history where the roots of so much American music are anchored. During the trip, Eric and Tété were fortunate enough to hang out with the great Creole musician, Cedric Watson, in Lafayette. The musical cultures blended together in that room alone would be too many to count.

ABOUT ERIC JOHN KAISER
Paris native Eric John Kaiser is a complexity of sonic personality – a traveling musician in the Impressionist style… One night he may be singing solo French café songs in an elegant restaurant and the next fronting his electric pop-rock band for hundreds of dancers. Sometimes he’ll sing a Chanson Française in English with a modern beat and guitar loops. He has honed a set of classic rock covers (Rolling Stones, CCR, etc.) that he calls “Pardon My French” – crowd pleasers that once resulted in a $500 tip from a customer thrilled to hear “Take Me Home, Country Road” en Français. His original songs often combine French and English lyrics infused with rock, hip-hop and reggae (think Manu Chao meets the 1969 Rolling Stones), and most recently, Americana. When not touring, Eric is based in Portland where he hosts his weekly Portland Songwriters Showcase at the Thirsty Lion, a proving-ground for some of PDX’s most talented musicians. He has recorded three full-length albums, “L’Odyssée” (2008), “French Troubadour” (2009) and “Dehors C’est L’Amerique” (“Outside, It’s America”) (2012) along with one 4-song EP, “Portland Rendez-Vous” (2010).