Eric Reitz

I had the opportunity to play a few shows in the Outer Banks this spring and I thought I would share some of my photos with you! I hope you enjoy...Oh yeah, New Album Soon!

Hey,

So this past Tuesday I had the opportunity to shoot my first music video! The video will be for the song "City Lights," and for our backdrop we headed to Asbury Park, NJ. The contrast of the ocean with the somewhat dilapidated buildings on the waterfront make it a very interesting spot. In addition to the seaside shots we headed into town to see what we could find. It was a a lot fun and I can't wait to share it with you (hell, I can't wait to see the finished product myself!). The album is being mixed now and we are rolling along, getting ready to set this baby free! Here is a shot of the "Casino" in Asbury Park where we did a little filming. I hope everyone is well and please be sure to check out my "dates" page to see when I will be coming to your town. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Much love,

E

Hey folks, 

I got to play at one of the coolest venues in Staunton, Virginia last night and on my way there I saw some beautiful views of the sunset and the mountain range. I snapped some photos and thought I would share them with you. I hope you all are doing well and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Hey folks!

So we finished up with our time in the studio. This means that all the musicians have done their parts, all the songs have been sung, and there will be no more long nights at the farm (possibly). The next step is to give the songs another listen (after our ears have taken a rest and we can approach the music with fresh ears) and see what aspects of each of the songs are good, what has to go, and what should be added. From that point we begin mixing the tracks (so all of the levels are just right). The mixing process will probably take a few weeks because it is a pretty in depth listening process. Once mixing is complete we are on to mastering, where all the music files are sent to a mastering professional and we begin to polish this bad boy. So, although there is still a little more time between us and the finished album, we can see the light at the end of the sonic tunnel. For now, here are some photos from our last days at the studio. I hope you enjoy!

The Vocal Mics

Again...Vocals

Sometimes we need a little break..

Hey all,

Just thought I would stop in to share some photos of our session with the keys (piano, organ, synthesizers, etc.) and some of my vocals. We have been moving along and we plan of continue or work today! I will be sure to come back tomorrow and update you with some more pictures. I hope you all are living well and enjoying each moment. 

Got a song in today before our recording session:

A little Brandi Carlile to start of the morning of recording...

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all are doing well. I returned to the studio yesterday to record the acoustic guitar. So the entire day was pretty much spend in a sound cubicle recording a number of acoustic parts for the songs...it was pretty cool. In addition to my guitar we also used an old (like 1960s) Epiphone acoustic guitar. This thing has some character and should be add a lot of warmth and richness to the songs. Here are a few photos of where we recorded the guitars and the additional pickup we put in my guitar to capture all the sounds we could.

Hey folks,

So we just finished up two full days of recording the drums, bass, electric guitar, and pedal steel. This means that all the songs are outlined and coming together! On Wednesday the musicians arrived and we began setting up the studio

Lots of drum equipment brought in, then the pedal steel made its entrance:

On the electric guitar we had to put some very cool effects (you know, give it more crunch/suspense/rock, etc)

The past two days have been long (wednesday we worked from noon until 11pm and then thursday we worked from 11am to around 1am). But they were amazingly productive and very fun. As the songs come to life I am more and more excited to share them with you. Good thing about the studio is that if you start to get burned out there are always chickens and goats to calm the brain.

We have a full week in the studio coming up (vocals, keyboard, acoustic guitar, and everything else we can think of to make a great record. I'll be talking to you soon

Much love,

Eric 

Here are a few shots to wet the whistle. These are of the drive to the studio and then a few of the driveway leading to the studio. There will definitely be more on the way...

Hey Folks,

So the big days are approaching! Tomorrow I am heading out to the studio to do the pre-production work with the producer for the album. This means we will be going over all the songs to see what can be improved (made tighter, catchier, sweeter, etc), what songs will be used, what instrumentation will be best for each song, as well as laying some other groundwork so we will be totally ready when we enter the studio next week with the musicians. This is a very exciting process because by the end of our meeting there will be a more complete outline/personality to the album. I plan on capturing the entire recording process to share with you all. Through video, audio, photos, blogs, facebook, twitter, and whatever else strikes our fancy, we will bering you into the recording of album numero dos. Tomorrow's endeavor will be no different. When I return tomorrow evening I will have some photos, video and audio on hand to share. This album is happening because of you and I want you to experience as much of it as possible. I will be back tomorrow with updates, but until then, stay happy and safe,

Much love, 

Eric

Got another little something something from the Country file (also a bit of the rap file). What do you think?

A country song by the Eli Young Band for you all

I had the opportunity to see an in-studio acoustic performance with the HEartless Bastards and I thought I would share a video I took of their session. What do you think this band from Austin, TX?

Heartless_Baatards_3.mp4

So there is a website called TopBlip that that asks artists to submit their videos for the possibility of opening for a nationally touring act. Once the artist submits his/her video folks vote on the best video and then the artist with the most points wins the opening spot. I have submitted my video of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and I would be very grateful if you took the time to head over to the site and vote for it. Hopefully we can get an opening spot for Dave Barnes in Washington, DC! Here's the link: http://www.topblip.com/w/8941

I hope everyone is well and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Much love,

Eric 

Hey Folks,

So I hope everyone had a great weekend. In Virginia the weather was beautiful (not sure what that means overall), but we took advantage of it and headed to the hills. Here is a picture from our hike on Ragged Mountain. How did you spend your weekend? 

Once again, for those who did not catch "What's Going on C'ville," here is the other song I performed on the show. This is also one song I plan on putting on the next album (with a full band, of course). So I hope you enjoy and I will talk to you soon.

Eric 

Last night was a great evening at The Southern in Charlottesville, VA. The crowd was absolutely brilliant and Gregory Alan Isakov put on a fantastic show. Thank you so much for those who came out last night. The place was packed and the energy was so delicious. For those who missed it, please take some time to check out Gregory Alan Isakov. He's a very talented musician and worth some ear time. As I sign off for now, here is a grainy shot of Gregory from last night. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

All my best,

Eric 

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone had/is having a great day. I wanted to put up one of the two songs I played for "What's Going on C'ville." So for all not in the broadcast area, here is a segment from the show. Also, don't forget to mark you schedule for tomorrow night's show at the Southern in Charlottesville. I will be opening for Gregory Alan Isakov and I promise you will have a blast. I wish you much love on This Valentine's night!

On Wednesday, February 15, I will have the great opportunity to open for Gregory Alan Isakov. He is a very talented singer/songwriter and not one to miss. We will be playing at a very cool venue in Charlottesville, VA called The Southern. I invite you to come out and enjoy a good mid-week evening of music...you will not be disappointed, I promise. For tickets you can head over to The Southern's website at http://www.thesoutherncville.com/. Also, you can always shoot me an email if you have questions. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Wow! Just a little over 5 hours left until the Kickstarter campaign is over. This has been an incredible experience and I can't thank all of our supporters enough. You all have really put a big smile on this boy's face and your kindness has just been inspirational. I really appreciate everything you have done and I can't wait to make you a great album! So here it is...one last post for any more contributions you wish to offer.

Much love, 

Eric 

As I write this the clock on the Kickstarter page reads 56 hours until the end of the campaign. We have $8,901 with a few more precious hours available. Although we have reached our goal we can still keep climbing until that last grain of sand passes. So please help us out in these final moments and become a part of this next album!

You all are great,

Eric 

My "Thank You" song for all of your generosity!

Holy wow! Six days and $7,321 in the bank! You all are amazing. Thank you so very much for all you have done so far, you have been supremely generous. Although the campaign is in the right direction we still have some green gap to fill in the next few days. So please help out in any way you can. Remember, if we raise more than the $8,500 there will be more goodies for all involved in the Kickstarter project! So, let's run through the finish line together!

My deepest gratitude,

Eric 

Hey,

So this past Monday I had the absolute pleasure of appearing on the show "What's Gong on C'ville?" The show will air next Thursday and in addition to my performance, the very talented and sweet host, Lana Young, also interviewed the "Love Doctors." If you're in the Charlottesville area please tune in to channel 13 on Thursday at 7pm. If you are not in the Charlottesville area I will be sure to embed some videos on my site so you can check out what went down. You can also head over to the show's Facebook page and get the latest updates: http://www.facebook.com/wgocville. I hope all is well and I also want to send a gentle reminder that there are only 8 days left in the Kickstarter campaign. So please consider being a part of the next album and I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

much love,

Eric 

Here is a new cover song for you all. A Ryan Adams song called "Lucky Now" from his latest album

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Langhorne Slim play at The Southern In Charlottesville, VA. I have been a long time fan of this artist and was absolutely thrilled that I had the opportunity to see him. Opening for Langhorne was a band called the Holy Ghost Tenet Revival  (I know the name is a bit of a mouthful, but these boys could play). Holy Ghost Tent Revival was a healthy dose of power-folk (like an Avett Brothers meets Mumford and Sons meets some jam band with a horn section). Though the lead singer has an amazing voice, a few of the members had some killer vocals and they often traded parts and harmonized. They were a great discovery and I highly recommend you give them a look 

Langhore Slim took the stage about 30 minutes after TGHTV left the stage. Having only seen Langhorne Slim in Youtube videos and pictures, I was taken aback when I saw him in person. Granted, his stage name does have the word "slim" in it, but this boy is quite skinny. When he walked onto the stage it looked like his jeans were about to fall down at any moment (and they were small jeans). Furthermore, he wore a blazer on stage (at first), which looked like a fitted extra small. When I say he is thin, I felt like a mother worrying about her son not eating enough. Even though his physical presence wasn't great, his musical and emotional personality filed the entire room. His opening song immediately slapped the audience in the face with pure rock and roll as Langhorne roamed the stage. The next hour and a half flew by as Langhorne Slim and his band busted out beautifully orchestrated tunes with the precision of masters. Langhorne must have traveled 2 miles throughout the night, constantly working his way all over the stage and walking among the crowd. He owed every song and the attention of the entire crowd for the duration of the evening. This was most evident during his encore performance of a song called "Song for Syd." This was one of the few songs he performed solo acoustic, but man, he played this tune like he was taking his last few breathes here on earth. The audience fell completely silent as he brilliantly shaped the personality of his grandfather, Syd, and made us all yearn for our lost grandparents. Ten dollars was all this show cost. It was almost a crime for the quality of music the evening provided. By the end I had felt like I didn't pay enough, so I bought an album and had Langhorne sign it. Damn, it feels good to be a fan!

With only 15 days left on the clock for the Kickstarter campaign, it's in this time when we really need all of your help to push our project to success. Please consider being a part of the next album and contribute what you can to our project...there are goodies involved!

As we wrap up the end of the work week I wanted to remind everyone that I will be playing in the greater DC area at Paradise Springs Winery from 5-9pm this evening, They have some happy hour prices and it will sure be a great night. So if you are in the mood to gracefully unwind and sip on some wine, I highly recommend stopping in. Also, our Kickstarter campaign has 20 days to go! We have been steady but time is moving fast. So click on the widget below and stake your claim in the project! 

Hey Folks,

So I was recently notified by Pandora (the internet radio service) that my music is up and running on on Pandora's site. They have processed my album through their Genome (a music matching program) and have placed me with similar artists for your listening enjoyment/ease. So for those who have an account and listen to Pandora, please type in my name and see if you like what you find. If you don't have an account, head on over to Pandora.com and sign up for a free account (it is a cool service and worth checking out because you will stumble upon some great new artists). Also, we still have our Kickstarter moving along but we do need all of your help. Please consider contributing to our next album and prepare to be showered in some great rewards! 

When you listen to 12 (South) do you ever wonder, what would be a good drink to couple with this music? If so, Drinkify has given you one idea. When you type my name into their search you will find which libation will enhance your listening pleasre. So head over to http://drinkify.org/ and find out just what that drink is!

Also...Kickstarter:

As we embark on a new week I wanted to write to ask that you keep the Kickstarter campaign in mind. We have been doing well with the campaign to this point, but in order to reach our goal we have to keep moving at full force. I know times are busy and we are all caught up in a number activities, but I would truly appreciate your support and I know we can make a great album! So just give the widget a click and head to our Kickstarter page:

So with one of the Kickstater rewards a home-cooked meal from me (empanadas). I wanted to give you a glimpse of one of my recent culinary endeavors. Though this isn't an empanada, I thought a pot roast might suffice for this post. 

Here we are. A Saturday. In January. What to do? What to do? You had your coffee (or tea). You've eaten your breakfast and are now planning your daily activities. Possible activities: Maybe some home repairs, trips to local crafts store, grocery shopping (do people do that on weekends?), roller derby, some sort of monster truck rally, football playoffs, wiffle ball, or watching made-for-tv movies. Whatever you pick, please be sure to include a contribution to my next album. "What? You're making a new album?" That's right, with your help a new album will be made. So please click on the widget below and follow the trail to the Kickstarter page that will make you a quasi-record label! Thank you and I can't wait to hear from you.

Hey,

So for Day 4 I thought I would send out a video of a Ben E. King song, "Stand By Me." Give it a listen and please head over to my Kickstarter page and consider being a part of the next album.

Thank you so much and I'll talk to you soon,

Eric 

Hey Folks! 

So here we are in day two and I could not be more thrilled with your generosity! With just over 36 hours into the campaign we have more than $1,800 pledged....holy amazing! For those who have pledged, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. We still have a little ways to go before we can start to celebrate, but I believe we can do it. So please consider contributing or sharing the link to our Kickstarter page so we can be successful. Thank you so much and I will talk to you soon.

Eric 

So today is the day (at roughly 6pm)! We have launched our Kickstarter campaign and we invite you to become a part of the excitement. Just click on the widget below and follow the path to a musical experience (with a video)! Any support you can offer would be a great help in making the next album. We have set up some awesome rewards and they are all there ready for the taking. So what are you waiting for? Go get 'em!

So with just a few days left until the launch we are getting into the meaty rewards. One of which will be a house concert for you and your friends. Yep, a private concert in the venue of your choice! And...I may even make you some of my famous empanadas. Be on the lookout! 

Hope you all are well

Eric 

Hey,

with just a few days left until the launch of my Kickstarter campaign I wanted to let you in on another possible reward. How does a handmade (and handwritten) lyric book sound? Each one will be personalized and unique with lyrics from my original songs...just some more food for Kickstaretr thought. Talk to you soon.

Eric 

Another possible reward: Handmade, Limited Edition, Signed, Kickstarter Campaign Poster. Yep, I will test out my artistic skills on a different medium. More to come tomorrow...

Hey all,

Sorry about the "OMG." That's not who I am nor is it who I want to be in 2012. I write to see how everyone enjoyed the holidays and if you have any fun stories to share from New Years Eve (emails can be sent to ericreitz@ericreitz.com under subject: Other)... I got to spend my evening in New York City. Man, that town on NYE is like a speed cocktail collided with an insane monkey-child. Anyway, for the beginning of 2012 I plan to launch my Kcickstarter campaign to raise money for my second album. I will be "rollin' out" the campaign next week, so prepare yourself for the great rewards that will soon be a part of your future (at least that's how we hope you'll feel). Just a little taste, one gift will include a hand written lyric sheet from the song of your choice...how does that sound? Check back tomorrow for another little taste of what to expect. I hope all is well and I will talk to you tomorrow!

E

Hey everyone,

It's been a little while but I'm checking in with a new video. This one is a cover of a Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris song called "We Found Love." I hope you all enjoy and I look forward to seeing you soon. 

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and took some time to relax. I had the opportunity to gather with some great people and I am truly grateful for the people in my life. We are still rolling out tour dates and working on finding a producer/studio to work with for the upcoming recording. We want everything to come together just right so that we can produce a product we will be happy to share with you (an hopefully you will be happy to listen to). So, with a little more time and planning we will be on our way to record part 2. I hope you all are doing well and your food coma has been shaken. I will see you soon.

Eric 

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to stop by on this day before Thanksgiving to show you a poster that was made for an upcoming show in Red Bank, NJ. If you will be in that area on December 6th I i would love to have you to come hang out, catch some music, enter some raffles, and enjoy a good time at The Downtown. Should be a great evening! Well, that's it for now. I hope you all are getting to spend some great time with family and friends and I look forward to talking with you soon.

Eric 

Hey folks! 

So Portland, Oregon's own Boy Meets Music did a very kind write-up of me on their blog. The guy behind the blog, Cory, is a very cool, knowledgeable dude and set up an awesome interview. So, please jump on over there to give it a read and maybe stay a bit, poke around all the great music coverage Boy Meets Music has to offer. I hope you all are doing well and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Link: http://www.boymeetsmusic.com/view/classic

Eric   

Good morning everyone,

I hope you all are doing well. I woke up to the great treat of a nice writeup on videosee.net. I am very appreciative for their support!

"Eric Reitz is a young singer songwriter guitarist from Pennsylvania with a crazygreat voice and a real songwriting gift. Hes also a JL Audio fan, which makes him doubly cool in our book. Check him out in this live performance of Sinister Love at the Bitter End in NYC. You can see and hear a lot more at Erics website ericreitz.com and his FB page. His music is available on iTunes as well as his site."

They also have the video of "Sinister Love" up just in case you haven't given it a listen...http://www.videosee.net/artists-we-love-eric-reitz-live-at-the-bitter-end-in-nyc.html

I look forward to seeing you all soon and I wish you well,

Eric 

Hey! Thought I would share this with you. A nice invitation for a party I will be playing in December..maybe you can come too! I hope you all are well

Eric

Hey everyone,

So I spent a lot of the day checking out studios for the upcoming album. With the help of a number of people who have used the studios or have heard good things, I took some time to meet with producers and check out their places. It was a great day of investigation and another step closer to getting the next record off the ground. During this process I have also been honing in on a reasonable budget to set for the project. I am deeply committed to making this a work we take to the radio and broadcast to the world, so I want to make sure everything is in order to make this a reality (that means not undercutting production or the quality of studio musicians we bring in). I have a little more work to do with budget stuff, but with a little more time and research all will be set. I am extremely excited about this next record and I hope you come along for the journey too. Making the album possible through Kickstarter will be a very exciting process and I can't wait to shower you all with rewards. Let me know if there are an special goodies you would like to see in return for pledges and I will try to make it happen. There will be more to come soon and I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you all are doing well and the first day of November didn't beat you up too much.

Eric 

Hey everyone! So I've been aching to record another professionally produced album with some of the new songs I’ve written. I fully funded my last album, 12 (South), and for this next one I come to you to see how you all would feel about a service like Kickstarter.com or pledgemusic.com. Both of these services have done great things for independent musicians and I want to see if you would like to be a part of something like this. It would only be possible with your support and commitment  (and love). I would set a monetary goal needed to record the album and we would try to raise the funds by promising the contributors (hopefully you) items like a signed album (the new one), original  (limited edition) posters, signed guitars, hand-written lyric books, private Skype sessions, house concerts and many other cool treats depending on the amount you pledge. Trust me, I have been working on a list with some very cool rewards that will be sure to make you happy. Also, and a very important also, if we don’t raise all of the goal amount, the project does not move forward (all or nothing deal). You do not pay the amount you pledged and we go back to square one. So, you will not pay your pledge unless we get all the money to provide a successful project. I know this is a lot to ask from you, and it is awkward for me because I only want to give back to you all. However, with the way the music industry is and the state of independent music, these services are so helpful to us. So, although the asking of money is never an easy process, I do so in a humble and very appreciative way. And so, let me know if this is something you would support and want to be a part of. Once again, without your participation and willingness to support the album, these services would not work for my next album. So look around the sites, gauge your feelings, and let me know where you stand. Please write to me, like the post on Facebook, call me, or send a pigeon. Anything to let me know if this would work. I will gather all the intelligence and see if I should launch the project with all the goodies. No matter what the outcome, I thank you so much for all your support and I hope to hear from you soon.

With great love,

Eric 

Got a heavy chill one recent morning. Was not expecting that. I absolutely adore the Fall, but what I experienced was no Fall transition. I went to bed feeling a cool sense of summer and woke up face to face with the dark eyes of a Siberian winter. You know that cold that gets into your throat, grabs a folding chair, and begins to suck out all the moisture that once inhabited the area. You open your mouth and feel like that peaceful night of watching Modern Family and sipping on cool glasses of green tea was a dream and, in fact, you had really spend the night trolling the back alleys of [name a city] for food carts, taking whiskey shots from a bottle you found beside the animal shelter, and alternating between cigarettes and peach-flavored cigarillos during your chain smoking binge. Love the Fall, but I am also a fan of transitions. I was never the kid who you could find running from the gate, past the steps, off the diving board, and into the pool. No sir, let me dip my toe in first to make sure I won’t vomit and my heart won’t stop because my body wasn’t ready to give up control of its heat. Furthermore, the abrupt change has made me cast off shorts until spring. I feel we have crossed a line and no matter how warm it gets, shorts are retired. Don’t know why I feel this way, nor can I entirely explain it. I guess it’s a mindset thing. Goodbye shorts and hello pantaloons. Don’t get me wrong Fall, just the thought of you makes my body crave a strong pumpkin beer, a big bowl of chicken noodle soup, and some sort of flannel shirt that will inevitably become my “house coat.” But there needs to be a little better communication with Summer as to when her shift ends and you punch the clock. And if Summer has just gone on a brief smoke break, convey to her the need to inform the rest of the production line before she leaves her post and the throats of many are overcome by gremlins cleaning out the trace amounts of saliva we thought we needed to get through an evening of sleep. Fall, it’s good to see you again

Eric 

I recently got the opportunity to ride the train from Virginia to Philadelphia. While I understand that this is 2011 and train riding is not completely mind blowing, I must say I had quite an enjoyable trip. First and foremost, my ears did not pop the entire trip (this is a very important detail that we cannot overlook). Secondly, to travel all these miles it only cost me 67 bucks. Not a bad deal considering gas prices and it blows away what flights would have set me back. I can always get onboard that kind of deal (so sorry for that). The train, unlike many flights I have been on, gave me enough leg room that 2 hours into the trip I didn’t feel the need to order a grownup beverage or do some sort of awkward stretch in the aisle. Although sitting for 5 hours, no matter where you are, can cause some blood to slow its transit, the tray table/seat in front of me did not interfere with later attempts to move my oppressed legs. The train was scheduled to leave at 8:52 am, and guess what? It left somewhere around there without a thorough pat down from our friends at the TSA. We all do like to feel special sometimes, but at 8 in the morning the last thing we want/need/hope for is a rubdown by a man in a short sleeve button-down. Did you know they have power outlets on the train (one per seat)? I was pretty impressed with this. I feel like it is underappreciated and I wanted to give props to the idea. That last sentence might just be my naivety in terms of technological advancements, but still pretty cool. What else…oh, never had to turn off my electronics. Do you still have to do that on plans? Now, the train compared to driving. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very safe driver (this is at least partly true), but when a young man (getting older) wakes up early after a later evening, safety is sometimes neglected with everyday functions. It isn’t always my decisions where to apply greater care and concern either. For instance, even though I want to dedicate my complete attention to the road, it is possible that because my coffee is not sweet enough I will divert my focus to sending out a theoretical search party for the Splenda hiding in my car (yes, Splenda. Why? Not sure, but once I stumbled down the path I kind of lost my direction). Additionally, it is nice to just sit back and let the traveling happen without you behind the steering wheel. After logging many hours/miles on the road  this is a welcomed change of pace. And you may say, but Eric, you lose some control when you take the train. True. I could not stop to get more coffee or a tasty pastry; however, the train did have a “café car.” Did I visit it? No. But, it is good to know that one existed. Kind of like, do I use the AM stations on my radio? No, but I would get pretty surly if they were to disappear. Finally, to wrap this up, it is quite cool to watch part of the eastern United States pass by your window without feeing the guilt of not keeping your eyes on the road. If pressed, I could go on further. In fact, if you would like to hear more about train ride I would be happy to field questions/comments. But if not, I would suggest you take a train to some destination soon. I’m not talking about the metro, subway or something of the like. I mean a real, old-fashioned train ride with nice men and women who come around to punch your ticket. I hope you all are doing well and traveling safely.  

I've always been a big fan of Van Morrison and this song. I hope i made it proud and I hope you all enjoy

Here is a recent cover I did of a Journey song. I hope you enjoy...

Stopped by to share some more photos from my recent trip to Tennessee. Views from where I played...

I thought I would share these two photos from my recent trip down to North Carolina...have anything pics you want to share? send them to me and I will put them up: ericreitz@ericreitz.com

Happy August everyone,

It's been a little while since I talked to you all, but I wanted to let you know of a new review of my album, 12 (South), on Melodic.net. Rickard Holmgren did a cool review of the album and wrote down some kind works. So if you have some time you can work your way over to http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=10092 and give it a read. 

Also, I have a new code to share with you folks. The rise of the QR codes has pulled me in and given me the urge to develop my first code to share. If you have a device that can scan/read the codes (smartphone, or something of the like-not entirely sure what else reads them), you can access the website hidden behind the barcode. With time, I hope to deliver some free stuff and other cool nic nacs with the codes. So, for all those with the capability to read the code, give it a scan and let it take you on a short journey. Let me know how is works and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

E

Hey,

Just wanted to thank everyone who came out to my two shows in Virginia (Virginia Beach and Charlottesville). You all make my time so much more enjoyable and I can't thank you enough for your support. It was a blast visiting your state and I can't wait to return. I hope everyone is doing well and the spring/summer transition is treating you well. 

E

Hey folks! I got a new song/video for you all! It's a song called "City Lights" I hope you enjoy your listen...

What's up folks?

So in things unrelated to music, I have a few questions to ask. Over time I have found myself in a food rut. Barring the occasional empanada or paella, my food habits have become slightly boring. And so I write to you to see if you have an cool ideas of what to make for dinner that is a little different but not too challenging/complicated. I have been through a number of renditions of turkey burgers, watched chicken meet various spices/sauces, and stared at a bowl of cereal too many times. I want to discover something more exciting for my palate. Something unexpected. Possibly something even a little daring (except for anything oyster/clam-based, sweet breads, or squid/octopus). Outside that, I am open for suggestions. SO...send your recipes along if you have them because nothing would make me (and my taste buds) happier than a change of pace. You know where to find me and as always, I appreciate what you have to offer.

E 

Hey all,

I recently got the opportunity to play at a beautiful vineyard nestled in the mountains near Madison, Virginia. In the small town of Etlan, Virginia is an idyllic view surrounding the beautifully maintained grounds of DuCard Vineyard. I played the opening slot of a festival they had called Wine-Apallooza. In addition to three musical acts the vineyard hosted a number of craftspeople and food vendors. The day could not have been more beautiful and the wine DuCard produces was a perfect beverage to accompany the afternoon. The minute we drove onto the grounds via a gravel road there was a sense of awe that took over the car. We were immediately struck by the charm of the meticulously kept vineyard as well as the lush greenery that devoured the mountainsides. For fear of going off too much further into a rant that would only include more words that give me less street cred, I will stop here and simply recommend a visit to the vineyard. If you are ever in the area (straying down route 29 from the DC area) do take a few hours and enjoy the fruited alcohol/grand mountains of DuCard Vineyards. Here is a link if you feel like taking a little look- https://ducardvineyards.com/

E

Hey everyone, 

Just writing to tell you about my recent trips. I just got back from a great show at Washington and Lee University and am now sitting in my apartment as the sound of the rain on the room overtakes the sound of the TV. Virginia was beautiful, especially the parts tucked in those Blue Ridge Mountains. If you haven't experienced it I would highly encourage you to mosey on down there...some stunning sights. Fortunately, I will be heading back down to Virginia following my upcoming show in Maryland at Get'n Grounded. Prior to the most recent Virginia visit, I was up in New Jersey enjoying some beautiful weather and wonderful people ( I can't wait to get back). As I said, I will be heading south again this coming Friday and I will be down there for around two weeks, so if you are in the area come over and hang out. That's it for now, more to come soon. As always, write me if you have something to say or some musical requests for my videos. I would love to hear from you. Enjoy the warm weather-soak it in while you can.

E

Hey Everyone,

Logitech has been cool enough to put me up on their blog-Blogitech-to endorse their new C910 HD webcam that I have been using to record my recent videos. I would love for you all to check it out http://blog.logitech.com/. Also, if you are in need of a new webcam or just really want one that is quite amazing, check out the C910. It is really incredible and I have loved using it (yes, a little bit of a plug but it's the truth!). So, check out the blog and let me know what you think. With my appearance on Logitech's blog I also put up a new original song called "Thread." That is always available at youtube.com/ReitzEric (along with other videos), and we hope to have a recording for you all soon. Until next time, I wish you the best and I will talk to you soon.

E

I recently got the opportunity to return to Drexel University to be featured for their Late Night Series. The Late Night Series is an open mic event that welcomes everything from music to comedy to spoken word. The program is student-run and brings in talent from Drexel University as well as the city of Philadelphia. One of the coolest aspects of Late Night Series is the dedication of the students who run the program. Most, if not all, of the students are majoring in music business/recording/management or event management/planning. So not only is the setup professional, but along the way the students are looking to develop their skills as sound engineers, networking moguls, planners, and everything else possible in order to better equip them form their future career.  They are all very passionate about the work they are doing and it translates onto the final product. On a Thursday night they can pull a crowd out of their dorms and into the Creese Student Center to celebrate live artistic expression. It is engaging, funny, honest, and a great way to restore faith in the future of the arts. I urge anyone who can to give Late Night Series a visit to play/perform or watch as others give what they have to offer. Either way, I feel disappointment won't confront you.

http://latenightseries.com/

Until next time, take care of yourselves

E

I recorded another one of my original songs, I hope you all enjoy "Broken In Real Time"

Here is a mashup of Oasis' "Wonderwall" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"-I hope you enjoy

Here is one of my newer songs, "Sweet Talking," that I captured on video to share with you all. I hope you enjoy!

Hey Folks, here is the most recent cover song I did of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley/ Cee-Lo Green, I hope you enjoy. E

As February comes to a close and I look to the rest of the year, I must look back at what the past few months have been. I have had a great time meeting with you all and making new friends along the way. I have met some extraordinary people and I can't express how much you have meant, and continue to mean, to me. I have lost a few family members, and a friend, recently and in times like these there is nothing more comforting than to be surround by good, thoughtful and sincere people. Even in the darkest and most desolate times there is a strength that pulls, prods, and forces movement and creativity. I will not go any further for fear of becoming too enveloped in a rant that is simply circular. However, I will default to a recent lyric of mine (I hope you don't mind) to finish my thought and how I see all of you involved with what I do: "Thread me through the light/ I don't want to say goodnight/ I don't want to be alone." I hope you all are doing well and I thank you for everything that you give me. 

E

Hey folks,

I just wanted to drop by and direct you to the new shows that have been added to the schedule! We are always working on brining the music closer to you, so be on the lookout for dates when I will be near you. Also, In-home video sessions (things like acoustic performances, songwriting sessions, footage from the studio, etc) are on the way. I am very excited to share these videos with you and I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I enjoy making them. Goodbye for now, but in a short time I will be back and loaded with some new material for your eyes and ears. I hope you all are well.

E 

Hey folks, 

I just wanted to share with you a brand new video for the Kosta Cross remix of Lunar Lonely. He did some great work and I am very happy to share this with you. Additionally, the photos int he video come from Stephen Sullivan and Margaret Cotton. I hope you all enjoy and please spread the word like wildfire! 

Every time I play out for an audience I am overcome with appreciation for all the support I receive. For all the returning listeners/fans, I cannot help but smile when I see you back and ready for more music. My words will always fall short of what your presence means to me. And for all those who didn't know me, I get one more opportunity to spread the word. I know I am not the most talkative at the mic, which is not a choice but more fueled by my overall shyness. However, each song you all allow me to play is always, and will always be, followed by "thank you." It is an honor to play for you and I wish nothing more than to continue doing so. I hope to see you all again very soon and I wish you the best.
E

We may not always agree on everything, in fact, most of my close friends and I disagree on many of things. We yell, fight, "argue," but continue our friendship. There have only been a few arguments that ended my friendships-and each I regret. But now there are perhaps bigger arguments-arguments that will change the course of relationships, and I am not sure what that means to me. I have left a lot of friends go over a number of different issues. Time, space, opinion and a variety of other reasons get in the way and I normally don't speak up. I am not always good with keeping things consistent due to the transitory nature of my life. There are a number of people I miss and things I would love to say to those folks I no longer talk to. But revisiting almost seems impossible. Am I wrong? Maybe, but...

Like many folks around this time of year, I have ventured into the mall to find gifts for the holidays. I am not normally a mall-head, but during the months of November/December I do find some comfort in the spirit and joy that decorates the normally depressing marketplace. A few days ago, on my most recent outing, I was on my last leg of my excursion when I was attacked by a woman working a kiosk in the center of the mall. She was very sweet and well-informed salesperson. She immediately asked my name and then proceeded to tell me the origins/meaning of name in the Hebrew language. Could have been a very informative encounter. Unfortunately, in situations like this I freeze up and all my listening capabilities fail. I am thrown into a state of worry and lock up like a prison following the outbreak of a brawl. So...

Right now I live pretty much directly across the street from a firehouse. For emergencies and in times of need such a facility is an invaluable and welcomed neighbor. However, and I am really unaware of the prevalence of such a feature, mounted on the firehouse is impressively large, unnaturally loud horn. I understand that such a tool used to be the norm for firehouses in order to call all of the firefighters from the area to duty. I was under the impression that A) this had become somewhat obsolete with cell phones, etc., and B) that such devices only existed in small communities because the horn could reach all corners by blanketing the town with a very disruptive sound. Perhaps this firehouse is one of the last with a horn, or perhaps I am just naive-the latter is very possible. And I want to make it clear that I...

Hey folks,
looks like I will be starting to assemble a band with eyes on larger and larger venues. Jerome Jennings is the drummer I will be playing with in the next few weeks in order to get ready for those always popular "band shows." Do check him out at www.jeromejennings.com, he is an amazing musician, a great person, and I could not be happier for this partnership. I will be sure to keep you posted on more news about the ensemble and/or band gigs as they come. Stay tuned and I hope to see you soon.
Eric

Hey Everyone,
Each day I am working on putting together more shows in your area so I can spread the music. If you were to take a glace at my gig listings you can see that I have been covering more and more of the East Coast (and with time pushing westward). I am always trying to find new places to set up shop and strum the strings for you all and I would love your help. If you know of any places you would like to see me play please let me know. I would love your suggestions and I'm sure the establishment would welcome your requests for bringing in new music. This can also apply to events that are not bars/coffeehouses and the other little nooks one tends to find a young man with an acoustic guitar. All suggestions are happily taken and very much valued. Each...

Unsobering Satisfaction

“i lost my virginity to eggs florentine.”
She doesn’t even make sense anymore when
She speaks. just a bunch of words grouped together
in an attempt to break the smell of gas in the air—
which i’m convinced was her doing.
i gave her a faded pink monkey (she always said it was
flushed red) that she lost and i got mad at her.
i do that.
i call it “upset.”
i think it’s because she has a personality all the time
and mine only visits on the weekends (and Halloween).
it wasn’t about the faded pink/flushed red monkey—
it’s that i drink too much diet root beer to fuck up my
vision enough that I miss just outside the toilet when i pee
(standing up). i’m now relearning how to function
without a cigarette. There’s something
caught in the...

Hey folks,
Last night was another great time at the Bitter End in NYC. The cool thing about this last performance was that I now have audio and video from the show, which means I will be putting up some live footage for all to view on my site as well as on youtube and any other media outlet I can possibly find. Its going to take a little while to get the video edited and in the right shape for your viewing pleasure, but when all is said and done it should be a some very cool work. I really look forward to sharing it with you and I will keep you posted as to when it will be available on the electronic market.
Til then I give you my best,
Eric

The end of August brought a trip down south for me (as did many months throughout this summer and every summer/winter/fall/spring). I was playing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (or "Home" as I kindly refer to the barrier island) at one of my favorite spots, and I decided to make a side trip down to the small island of Ocracoke. Man, this sand field is one of the most intriguing places I have ever been. The island is probably 15 miles long (I could be wrong about that, so if you feel the need to fact-check me...google it). Although this seems like a fairly sizable island, most of it is preserved land, therefore only a mile or so is left for humans to inhabit. At the southern most end of the island is the village of Ocracoke. Those living there have most likely lived there all their lives...

Hey Everyone,
I write to tell you about the release of my brand new song, "Breaking." I already put it up on the site and I welcome any feedback. I am very excited about the song and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoy playing it. Also, be sure to "like" me on my Facebook music page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Eric-Reitz/113252190589?ref=ts. Hope all is well and I will talk to you soon.
Eric