ALBUM REVIEW
Eric Jerardi - The Game
Eric Jerardi is a true road warrior of the blues-rock scene, known for his killer guitar chops, soulful vocals, and a non-stop tour schedule. Hailing from Ohio, Eric first started turning heads back in the late nineties with a raw, high-energy style that hits you right in the gut. Since then, he’s spent decades tearing up festival stages and legendary blues joints across the country, building a tight-knit following the old-school way. His sound is all about that sweet spot where gritty, old-school electric blues meets the classic rock grooves we all grew up on, making every live show feel less like a formal concert and more like a great night out.
Lately, Eric has been taking his music to a whole new level by heading down to the hallowed grounds of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Working side-by-side with legendary producer and bassist David Hood and the iconic Muscle Shoals Horns, he’s been cooking up tracks that are pure southern magic. These sessions blend his fluid, expressive guitar solos with fat horn arrangements and locked-in pocket rhythms that just feel incredibly smooth. Keeping things fully independent on his own terms, Eric is still out there doing what he does best—delivering honest, groove-heavy blues that reminds you exactly why you fell in love with a loud guitar in the first place.
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Opening with title track, I Don't Belong With You, a soulful ballad featuring Eric Jerardi on vocals. Cindy Walker and Marie Lewey really add a lot of richness with their warm backing vocals and Jerardi's vital punctuation on guitar turns into a tone laden solo with real grit with Michael James on guitars and Eric Colvin on keys, drums and bass. Excellent opener. A Man Ain't A Man Until His Father Dies, really has a spiritual feel with genuine reverence for the subject matter. Walker and Lewey again play a key role in accentuating the depth of the track with excellent lead vocals by Jerardi. With strong vocal presentation, super composition and overall restraint, this is a top radio selection.
Hard Being There has a understated back beat and again power backing vocals by Walker and Lewey combined with Michael James on keys, and guitar reinforcement with knife like precision. Your Birthday may be the greatest composition on the release with it's beautiful styling and presentation. It just has a special melody, sentimental lyrics and a deeply dug guitar solo. ("I've never seen that shade of blue on you" is just one of those special phrases placed perfectly...). Excellent!
Another track that has me sitting up listening in particular is Light Danced Through Your Window... just has a special glow with Jerardi on lead vocal singing the call and Lewey and Walker singing the response with the warm keywork of Colvin keeping it tight, and then the lush guitar soloing by Jerardi...masterful. Wrapping the release is uptempo, When Nature Speaks with springy vocal delivery by Jerardi and super drum work by Colvin. Solid closer.
📋 Album Credits & Production Info
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- Album Title The Game
- Artist Eric Jerardi
- Record Label Self-Released
- Release Date October 30, 2026
- Personnel Eric Jerardi (Guitars, Vocals), David Hood (Bass), Clayton Ivey (Electric Piano, Organ), Milton Sledge (Drums), Kelvin Holly (Rhythm Guitar), Cindy Walker (Backing Vocals), Marie Lewey (Backing Vocals), Rachael Schroeder (Featured Vocals), Eric Colvin (Featured Vocals)
- Studio Production Produced and mixed by Michael James; Featuring tracking by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
🎼 Track Listing & Personnel
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Featured Personnel: Michael James, Eric Colvin, Cindy Walker, Marie Lewey, Rachael Schroeder, and Eric Jerardi.
- I Don't Belong With You (4:54)
- Setting Sun (3:59)
- A Man Ain't A Man Until His Father Dies (3:30)
- Unexpected Connections (4:00) (feat. Michael James, Eric Colvin & Rachael Schroeder)
- Hard Being Here (3:45)
- Thorns & Roses (3:51) (feat. Michael James, Eric Colvin & Rachael Schroeder)
- Count On You (4:44)
- Your Birthday (3:22)
- Lies & Truth (3:38)
- Dig Down Deep (3:50)
- Light Danced Through Your Window (4:51)
- When Nature Speaks (3:09)
📺 Session Video Performance
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Watch: Eric Jerardi dynamic studio sessions from The Game
🎵 Discography & Purchase Options
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| Album Title | Record Label | Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Game | Niche Records | FAME Studios Sessions featuring Muscle Shoals Horns | 2024 |
| Occupied | Niche Records | Critically Acclaimed David Hood Production Outing | 2019 |
| Everybody's Waiting | Niche Records | Remastered Career Retrospective & Anthology Drop | 2013 |
| Had Enough | Niche Records | Raw Double-Live Power Trio Concert Album | 2002 |
| Restless | Niche Records | Driving Electric Blues-Rock Studio Record | 2002 |
| Virtual Virtue | Niche Records | Early Career Standout Modern Blues LP Drop | 2002 |
| Budweiser Presents | Independent | Breakout National Debut Blues-Rock Outing | 2001 |
My take
A smooth, soul-stirring collection of honest stories wrapped in rich vocal layers and deep guitar grooves that feel timeless.
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