by Abel Horwitz
Daily Lobo
While listening to the Eric McFadden Trio, it's easy to picture yourself in a dark, smoky bar, sipping whiskey and watching him perform.
New Mexico native McFadden possesses two fantastic skills that make him a true musician.
First, he's a guitar dynamo, existing at a level of talent that allows him to play masterfully in most any style he wants.
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Second, he has a rich, deep voice. The kind of voice that sounds like it belongs to a man with a lifetime of stories to tell. Because of this, he is frequently compared to Tom Waits. While vocally there are some similarities, McFadden's music is distinctly his own.
McFadden has played in eight bands since the '80s, constantly touring, writing new music and veering off into side projects. He's worked with musicians such as Joe Strummer of the Clash, Les Claypool of Primus, and he has toured with George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars.
"George is a generous, humble creator," McFadden said. "He's still brilliant, still bangin' it out, and he's contributed so much to the world in general. I love George, man, beyond what he's contributed to music. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for him."
McFadden is on tour with the Eric McFadden Trio promoting its new album, Joy of Suffering.
"Of the many CDs I've done, this one ranks pretty high. Maybe my favorite. Overall, it's a really good record and I'm delighted by it," he said.
Joy of Suffering packs a punch, where heavy guitar riffs mix with solid bass and drums. McFadden credits the other two performers in his band, James Whiton and Paulo Baldi, for the high-quality sound.
"With these two you can't go wrong," he said.
McFadden said one of his strongest influences is the music of Spain.
"I've spent a lot of time traveling around Spain and I think that gypsy flamenco music is so passionate," he said. "It's the blues of Spain. I love it. Though, by no means is this a Flamenco record."
The album's sound, like most of McFadden's work, brings in a lot of elements and musical genres.
"As with most things I do, there's going to be a fuse in there," he said. "There's a gypsy thing, a carnival thing, a blues thing. These are themes that I try to integrate into my music periodically. It's rockin', though. It's definitely a rock record."
On Friday the Eric McFadden Trio will play at the Launchpad.
"We never play the same show twice," he said. "We never go out there and go through the motions. It's a pretty high-energy rock 'n' roll show and whatever else it may be."
