He’s not Jimi Hendrix. He’s not Buddy Guy. He isn’t BB King. He’s Eric Gales, and that is enough to be crowned a legend.

“Voodoo Child!” yelled someone in the back of the standing room only crowd.

“Who said that?” replied blues guitarist Eric Gales. “You are the special contestant tonight who gets the special answer. I’d rather play Eric Gales. You see, I’m not trying to be the next Jimi Hendrix. I’m trying to be the first Eric Gales. So with all due respect, I don’t think there is going to be time to play any Jimi Hendrix. I’m honored that you think I’m worthy of playing Hendrix, but I’m going to play Eric Gales. I gonna play the best Eric Gales I know how.” And with that reply, Eric Gales solidified his humble pride and aspiration to be a legend, not for himself, but for his wife, his band, and his fans.

Clearly, based upon his live performances and recorded material, Eric Gales is a legendary blues guitarist at this point in his career; a career which has spanned decades. Unjustly, he was a first time Grammy nominee only just last year. The nomination was for his most recent album, Crown. The album’s title, and title track, were inspired by a comment from compatriot blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. “It’s time to claim your crown,” Gales stated, quoting the line Bonamassa delivered to him during the recording of the Crown album, as he introduced “I Want My Crown.” It’s obvious to anyone who sees Gales perform live that he is already worthy of being crowned “greatest living blues guitarist” alongside legends such as Buddy Guy. Gales embodies the kind of workmanship attitude and dedication to giving his fans, both of his records and his live shows, not only everything he has, but everything he has, perfectly. It’s as if he is still working to take his fans, and his art, to the next level, when he is already levels above and beyond his peers. Gales comes across as a man still striving to be one of the legends, eschewing the fact that he already is one. It makes his performances not only perfection, but transcendent.

Playing a show originally booked at Greenville SC’s The Radio Room, but moved to Revel (a smaller venue in Greenville that used to be The Handlebar and is now an event location) because of The Radio Room’s impending move to a larger venue, Gales and his band (which includes his wife LaDonna Gales and their miniature poodle “Crown”) delivered a powerful set of blues rock and straight up blues, mixed with splashes of funk and soul. Never setting his guitar down, and taking no breaks, Gale played for over an hour and a half, mixing songs from across his 19 albums, but playing mostly songs from Crown. Glorious performances of “You Don’t Know the Blues” and “Too Close To The Fire,” both standout tracks from Crown, stood shoulder to shoulder with his older compositions.

“I want y’all to listen to the words of this next song. Sometimes I almost collapse after performing it. I put so much into it, but it’s just me talking to you,” announced Gale before launching into “Too Close To The Fire.” Gale’s ardent belief in the power of music to “bring together all races, creeds, and classes of people” was on full display, and it was one of those rare moments when an artist lifts a crowd up and above their differences and transports their spirits to a higher level. “Too Close To The Fire” is a song that most artists spend their career trying to write, and is glorious live.

“Fuck Hendrix!” cried an overenthusiastic fan late in the show, drawing laughs from the crowd and Gales himself.

“No, no. We won’t go that far, but I appreciate the sentiment.” As Gales closed the show with a rousing version of “I Want My Crown,” Crown, the dog, seated on LaDonna’s percussion kit, barked, amazingly in rhythm, along with Gales and the band. Gales made clear that Crown, the pooch, was the “crown” he cherished most of all, but he deserves the metaphoric crown of greatest living blues guitarist, not only for his guitar playing skills, but for his message, and indomitable spirit. It’s a spirit that shines and truly lives up to BB King’s quote, “Blues is a tonic for what ails you.”

https://www.ericgales.com

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Catch him on tour:

20 Jun

Best of Blues and Rock Festival 2024 with Joe Bonamassa

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

22 Jun

Best of Blues and Rock Festival 2024 with Zakk Sabbath, Joe Bonamassa, & Di Ferrero

São Paulo, Brazil

24 Jun

Best of Blues and Rock Festival 2024 with Joe Bonamassa

Curitiba, Brazil

30 Jun

Blues From The Top Music Festival 2024

Winter Park, CO

05 Jul