Jon Eric Music

If you have heard my music then you understand that I play most instruments made of WOOD.

A tree thrives and survives in ALL seasons.
The bigger the tree the more respect this living entity DESERVES.

These trees that are hand picked or selected, then cut down and have to DIE for
the instruments made out of that wood, to carry their legacy on. So many have history older than we are. Some even older than the the countries we reside in.

There is a PRICELESS gift shared when they are enjoyed, LOVED, and played to the FULLEST of their potential. Showing reverence given when we play those instruments we love or hold dear.
The wood in most instruments has a “memory” of TRUE tone.
And should be honored and respected when played.

If you love your instrument -
Give thanks (in your playing too) to the tree that gave up it’s life so you COULD play it!

And with this thought, WE begin our unlimited potential for 2013

Interested in listening to some FREE music?
“Right MEOW!” is now available!
Here is your secret link (if you like the tune)  to care, share, and be AWARE:

http://soundcloud.com/jonericmusic/right-meow/s-msyfq

This is the LEAST I can do for all the love and support each and every one of you have shown me.
You are welcome to share this link above with family or friends until New Years Day!
Why am I doing this? Because personally I feel that while “the media” (who made BILLIONS in
dividing us during the Presidential race)   is hounding you to SPEND
VERY few know that LOVE can not be BOUGHT or SOLD. And I truly believe that the
best things in life are in fact FREE!
Mostly in understanding that YOU spread the word, come to shows & taking a moment
to share your life with me- WE are down in the trenches together…
Through it all, I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you!

Whatever you “believe in” – Have a Happy & SAFE Holiday Season filled with music and celebration!

Lift your voice – spread your wings to take flight & march to the beat of your OWN drum
And those going against the grain of being “politically correct” ….

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Seeds have been planted my whole life to bring the music up to a point where GROWTH can thrive.  My “Flower of LIFE” has finally BLOOMED!

In explaining where my roots come from- using the symbols of earth,
my “Bluegrass roots” come from the Red Virginia CLAY of the Fredericksburg, VA area. After uprooting and transplanting to Iowa City where the farmers grow crops of corn in BLACK EARTH (or dirt) here in Iowa. This makes for growing good things in life. One has to understand the elements of the seasons though.
Extreme as they may be, we are called to plant good seeds if we wish a good fruit.

Many years in my life I was doing just the opposite. Planting bad seeds and reaping bad fruit. In changing my perspective and learning the “hard way”, I discovered that good seeds CAN be planted by random acts of kindness and seeking a different way of doing things. Is this right or wrong? Not really sure. All I do know (truly know nothing)   is that so far- this has worked in those we connect with.   We are ALL connected in one way or another. From the air we breath to the water we drink. Even to the soil we are all eventually buried back into- we ALL cherish LOVE when it is true. And seek an earned respect for being.

No matter what you may believe understand that you ARE loved. period

I wish to thank Kelsey Fried who has agreed to paint 12 banjo heads to be displayed one a month for 12 months. December 15th 2013 we will be giving a weekend concert/ art auction where ALL of these heads will be displayed.
Auction proceeds will benefit a charity of her choice.

When reflecting back on what this coming Thursday (THANKGIVING) means to me,
I am most thankful for LOVE, friends, and adopted family that has been there through
every step of my journey- unconditionally.

* Am also grateful my hands still work to serve musically or otherwise.

* Am thankful my most important tool can be once again used.
(spot repair to the banjo scroll down)

The next line up of shows can be found on my event page HERE

Thank YOU for being a part of my life!

The ’88 Stelling Bellflower Arch-top is now back in my lap
(I think “she” missed me a little)
The “spot repair” of the break was completed and repaired by Tom Nechville of Nechville Banjos
AND shipped back within a record breaking time (in my eyes) of only 4 days!
HUGE THANKS to Al Price (part of the West Coast branch of the Nechville team) for the encouragement of taking it to the shop- which was only 20 min away from the house hosting me for the evening!
Will still be saving up my pennies for a replacement neck down the road. Also VERY grateful to all the well wishes and donations that have come in so far & for those friends who shared my blog! ♥ u!

P/S Tonight I will be thrilled to play the Opening slot for Pert Near Sandstone
@ The Iowa City Yacht Club (9pm) 11/15/2012

Tomorrow November 16th, 2012 I am back at the BUCKTOWN REVUE  (click link for info)

See you there!

To explain with a kind cool heart of the events may take some doing

so PLEASE read carefully.

Being that this was the anniversary of my father’s passing (USMC-ret. November 8, 2006) so there was almost giddy anticipation in seeing friends and fans I have not caught up with since July. Really looking forward to playing back up in Minneapolis, MN at a wonderful venue called the Whiskey Junction. Being all set up and ready to go I was approached by friends letting me know there was to be a warm up band. So I moved all the gear to the back of the stage so it was safely out of the way of the band doing music before my set. After their sound check they went upstairs to rehearse a few tunes. I went up got he stage, grabbed the banjo and climbed the stairs only to discover that the bridge had collapsed. Wondering instantly, “OK it dropped???”

Then I saw the break- 1st in the banjo then in my heart. See I had bought the banjo used out of my Mother’s memory after she had passed on as well. So doing music for a VERY modest living was about the ONLY way I found healing and loving energy in giving- Both in time & playing for ANYONE willing to listen.

Needless to say what was explained to me by the sound man was that it was a total accident after pulling back a curtain behind the banjo to access cords it toppled over and snapped the headstock on the instrument. For the record there are absolutely NO hard feelings or malice. In fact many people who came together for me that night wishing well, giving hugs, and helping where they could.

The point to all this is that eventually I will be trying to obtain a NEW neck for it as it is being temporarily SPOT repaired so that the acoustic can make it through the rest of my tour. These necks are expensive and it unfortunately was uninsured do to most of the $ going into gas, “paying dues” & bills.

IF you wish to help in donating, The button is below.
Feel free to share this blog entry with friends if you wish.
Until it gets fixed my tour and show WILL go on- but just be “modified”…

HUGE thank you to all the people coming together after Hurricane Sally.
My heart, and prayers go out to all of you on the east coast during these challenging times. If you can- PLEASE donate where needed.

Here is a video just uploaded to You Tube last night. “TOP LEFT”
Feel free to share and enjoy!

Also the UPDATED show schedule for NOVEMBER.

Hope to see all of you out and about before it really starts getting cold.

With all the bookings coming in for Jon Eric’s the fall season, here are the current updates CURRENT dates Updated as of 10/31 (THIS date gets modified on the Face Book event page)Here’s to seeing you out and about at the shows below. There are some AMAZING line up acts at the festivals, so feel free to browse the links provided for all the information you need. ______________________________________________________ BUCKTOWN Ribbon Cutting Ceremony November 2nd, 2012 @ 11:30 AM (MORNING) until ??? 225 E 2nd Street Davenport, IA This event is OPEN to the public Afterwards- They are going to allow me to play AS long as I wish - _______________________________________________________ ***Note the SATURDAY date change IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY November 3rd, 2012 ALL AGES- Children’s Program Time 10:30 AM (Morning) Televised for IPTV ______________________________________________________ Chamber Work with Winds Samuel C Biggers (conductor) Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 4PM UCC Recital Hall in the Old Capitol Mall (Location to edit) Iowa City, IA ____________________________________________________ BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY Water Lore (variety program) November 5th, 2012 6:30 pm-8:30 pm ___________________________________________________ The Whiskey Junction With Smokin’ Joe Scarpellino (of Dead Larry) THURSDAY – November 8th, 2012 ***Please note 9pm-??? ____________________________________________________ IOWA CITY YACHT CLUB November 15, 2012 W/ Pert Near Sandstone Iowa City, IA http://www.iowacityyachtclub.org/ http://www.facebook.com/events/302483773183987/ ___________________________________________________ Bucktown Revue November 16th, 2012 Davenport, IA http://www.bucktownrevue.com/ ____________________________________________________ BARNYARD BEER Jon Eric & Tyler Gregory November 23rd, 2012 8pm (CST) Lawrence, KS http://www.facebook.com/events/430701283633326/ ______________________________________________________ FIREFLY LOUNGE November 24th, 2012 9pm 4118 Pennsylvania Kansas City, MO http://www.facebook.com/events/418539558196060/ _______________________________________________________ VINYL RENAISSANCE November 25th, 2012 MUSIC starts at 3pm sharp MY set is from 4-6pm Then we are 2 doors down at the SANDBOX _______________________________________________________ Meadows Ave Tap Saturday December 8th, 2012 W/ Chicago Farmer 2000 Meadow Ave East Peoria, IL 61611 http://www.facebook.com/events/280356158749477/ _______________________________________________________

After doing so many shows this fall, it’s nice to get balance and advise from my musical friends and family as to the direction the music journey flows to.

This week is exiting with an interview on KRUI-FM this Tuesday evening
on LOCAL TUNES with Jason Larson! Jason was actually the one who coined
the phrase “BANJO NINJA” and with the solid, clean, playing accuracy &
sitting in with several bands throughout the U.S. on festivals – it stuck!

THIS Thursday October 4th, 2012
Iowa City Yacht Club
from 8pm-11pm (all ages)
5.00 cover

Those wearing a Banjo Ninja or Peace Love Banjo shirt get in FREE!
Feel free to share or bring friends to this RARE solo Iowa City show.

Other Press on this show includes the URL links below:

FACEBOOK event page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/405448092847327/

KCRG / Cedar Rapids Gazette – Hoopla section
http://events.hooplanow.com/event_recurrences/38436-banjo-ninja-jon-eric-solo-show-yacht-club-iowa-city

The Iowa City Press Citizen
http://search.press-citizen.com/localevents/event//26175-Jon-Eric

After an amazing set of shows 9/19/2012 in Grinnell (played from 9:30ish until 3pm) at Saints Rest Coffee House
Then shot over to Grinnell College and KDIC radio- also played in front of the Student Union  for a few tunes while they passed out FREE cds. Then played at Bob’s Underground Cafe from 8pm on. Such a great time was had and I wish to come back SOON!

After that on 9/20/2012 I rode out to Omaha, NE for Tribal Equinox which was also one of the last festivals of the year outdoors in the mid-west. We started seeing the weather get a bit colder- there were also celebrations of seeing old friends and making new ones too. The bands there were amazing and the line-up was adventurous. Everything from Jam Bands to Bluegrass! HUGE thanks to all the volunteers and to BLUE MARTIAN TRIBE for hosting/planning such a fun 4 days on 4 stages!

There IS Video from my set and sitting in with several bands there
So stay tuned for videos to hit my you tube site soon!

As for the updated gig schedule, it keeps evolving as our daily lives do- here is the updated game plan.

__________________________________________________

The Red Stone Room (River Music Experience)
September 26, 2012
Davenport, Iowa
OPENING slot for The Blackberry Bushes & Tall Grass
My set starts at 8pm SHARP
http://www.rivermusicexperience.org/Upcoming-Events/Calendar-of-Events/The-Blackberry-Bushes-Stringband.aspx
___________________________________________________

RESERVED- 6:30 AM
Washington, IA
September 27th, 2012
___________________________________________________

HOUSE PARTY (invite only)
With Roster MaCabe Acoustic/Chris Freir + Greg Glenn
September30, 2012
Des Moines, IA
___________________________________________________

KRUI University of Iowa Radio Interview for Local Tunes
September 25th, 2012
Iowa City, IA
___________________________________________________

Iowa City Yacht Club
October 4th, 2012 (8PM-11PM)
ALL AGES * SOLO SHOW
Iowa City, IA
http://www.facebook.com/events/405448092847327
_____________________________________________

Private Birthday party
October 13th, 2012
Moline, IL
___________________________________________________

RESERVED for PRIVATE party (Wedding)
Friday October 19th, 2012
Iowa City, IA
____________________________________________________

RESERVED for SURPRISE show TBA
Sunday Oct 21, 2012
____________________________________________________

Reserved
Saturday Oct 27th
____________________________________________________

BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Water Lore (variety program)
November 5th, 2012
6:30 pm-8:30 pm
___________________________________________________

The Whiskey Junction
With Smokin’ Joe Scarpellino (of Dead Larry)
November 9th, 2012
9pm-???

____________________________________________________

IOWA CITY YACHT CLUB
November 15, 2012
SOLO show
Iowa City, IA
http://www.iowacityyachtclub.org/
___________________________________________________

Bucktown Revue
November 16th, 2012
Davenport, IA
http://www.bucktownrevue.com/
____________________________________________________

BARNYARD BEER
November 23rd, 2012 8pm (CST)
Lawrence, KS
Jon Eric & Tyler Gregory
http://www.facebook.com/events/430701283633326/
______________________________________________________
Feel free to SHARE this URL link where ever you wish… TYTY!

 

Tomorrow’s game plan in Grinnell, IA Wednesday 9/19
Lunchtime: Jon Eric at Saints Rest Coffee House

5:30 PM: Interview/On Air in Studio
(KDIC | Grinnell College Radio)
6:00 PM: Home-style meal with student musicians
7:00 PM: Set up at Bob’s Underground Cafe (Grinnell College)
8:00 PM: Jon Eric performs SOLO at Bob’s Underground Cafe

****Bring your French Presses & Favorite COFFEE CUPS

Go ahead and leave the homework at home OR you can tell the professors that the Banjo Player ATE it!

Then from Thursday 9/20 – Sunday 9/23 I will be at TRIBAL EQUINOX
in Omaha, Nebraska at Riverwest Park

Spread the word- Much ♥!