Cliff Eberhardt returns to Sundilla for the first time in four years this Friday, October 7. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased for just $8 at The Gnu’s Room. If you can’t wait until Friday night to hear Cliff perform, tune in to Wildman Steve Radio at 1:00 PM CDT on Friday; it’s as easy as going to www.wildmansteve.com.
There was a time when Sundilla did almost (and sometimes more than) 20 shows each year; back in those days, we could bring a few of the more in-demand performs back on an almost yearly basis. One of those was Cliff Eberhardt; in fact, he has probably performed at Sundilla more than any other performer. That should come as no surprise to anyone lucky enough to have seen Cliff perform; his shows are filled with great songs, incredible guitar playing, and some of the sharpest humor you’ll hear anywhere. (To quote another venue, “Tie his hands behind his back, and he could still make a go of it as a stand-up comedian.”)
To emphasize the point about how great a Cliff Eberhardt concert is: though he has not performed at Sundilla since 2007, I saw him most recently last March; I traveled to Atlanta to see him perform, even though I knew that he would be in Auburn just six months later. It was well worth it, because he’s just that good.
Cliff Eberhardt knew by age seven that he was going to be a singer and songwriter. Growing up in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, he and his brothers sang together and their parents played instruments. His dad introduced him to the guitar and he quickly taught himself to play. Fortunate enough to live close to the Main Point (one of the best folk clubs on the East Coast), he cut his teeth listening to the likes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, and Mississippi John Hurt – receiving an early and impressive tutorial in acoustic music. At the same time, he was also listening to great pop songwriters like Cole Porter, the Gershwins, and Rodgers and Hart, which explain his penchant for great melodies and clever lyrical twists.
At fifteen, Cliff and his brother Geoff began touring as an acoustic duo, playing the Eastern club circuit until Cliff turned twenty-one and moved to Carbondale, Illinois. There he found space to develop his own voice within a vibrant and supportive music scene that included Shawn Colvin. After a couple of years there and a short stay in Colorado, Cliff moved to New York in 1978. Because the clubs were great (the Bitter End, the Speakeasy, Kenny’s Castaway, Folk City) and the company amazing (John Gorka, Suzanne Vega, Lucy Kaplansky, Julie Gold, Steve Forbert, Christine Lavin, and Shawn Colvin), New York was an ideal musician’s boot camp. Though he put in long hours as a taxi driver, Cliff worked steadily on his music throughout the 80’s, doing solo gigs and studio work, and playing guitar on the road with Richie Havens, Melanie and others. Singing advertising jingles for products like Coke, Miller Beer and Chevrolet (”The Heartbeat of America” campaign) allowed him to devote more time to his songwriting.
In 1990 Cliff’s song “My Father’s Shoes,” appeared on Windham Hill’s Legacy collection, leading to a deal with the label. They released Cliff’s first album, The Long Road (1990), a work featuring a duet with Richie Havens. The critical response to this debut was outstanding (The Philadelphia Inquirer called the album a “repeatedly astounding collection.” I call The Long Road” one of the very best songs ever written, and maybe the best song that hardly anybody has ever heard.) He followed with two more records on Windham Hill before releasing 12 Songs of Good and Evil (1997) on Red House Records, which stemmed from a chance meeting with Red House founder Bob Feldman at John Gorka’s wedding. Cliff recorded two more albums before his critically acclaimed The High Above and the Down Below, named the #5 album of 2007 by USA Today. Produced by legendary musician and Red House Records president Eric Peltoniemi, it was recorded in Minneapolis with noted jazz players Gordy Johnson, J. T. Bates and Rich Dworsky and was his first album after spending several years recovering from a car accident.
With a new lease on life and a fresh batch of songs, Cliff embarked on what has turned out to be an artistic renaissance. Recorded in the Texas Hill Country, Cliff’s new album 500 Miles: The Blue Rock Sessions may be his finest to date. An intimate album of powerful originals and unique covers, it features a reworking of his hit “The Long Road,” a song made more poignant after nearly two decades of touring and recording. Long one of the most respected songwriters on the club scene, his peers often mine his catalog for themselves. Cliff’s song “Memphis” was included on Cry Cry Cry, an album of collaborative covers by the “folk supergroup” of the same name (comprised of Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Shindell). Other performers who have recorded his songs include Richie Havens, Shawn Colvin, Russ Taff and Buffy Sainte Marie. And of course his recent collaboration with James Lee Stanley must be mentioned; “All Wood and Doors” started climbing towards the top of the charts as soon as it was released… and it’s still there!
There are quite a few artists out there who epitomize what Sundilla is all about; Cliff Eberhardt is not only one of them, he’s way up there near the top of the list. If you don’t know why, here’s your chance to find out. Come see Cliff Eberhardt at Sundilla this Friday, October 7. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. If you like that student price but aren’t a student, head to The Gnu’s Room and get your tickets there for that same low $8 price. Then head to the AUUF where we’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer.
And don’t forget to listen as Cliff performs LIVE in the Wildman Steve studios at 1:00 PM Friday!
For more information, just go to www.sundilla.org or www.facebook.com/Sundilla.
Cliff Eberhardt returns to Sundilla for the first time in four years this Friday, October 7. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased for just $8 at The Gnu’s Room. If you can’t wait until Friday night to hear Cliff perform, tune in to Wildman Steve Radio at 1:00 PM CDT on Friday; it’s as easy as going to www.wildmansteve.com.
(more…)
From Baily Jones: It has been a while since we featured a bluegrass group at Sundilla, but that all changes this Friday when Act of Congress takes the stage. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. You can also buy $8 tickets at The Gnu’s Room until the afternoon of the show.
