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Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Working with loads of experience on guitar and an assured instinct for melody, Devastation Wagon, aka Erich Specht, writes jangly pop songs that stick in the brain. "Summer Speak" is a pulse-quickening rocker with a nimble guitar line played over acoustic strumming. "Underdone & Overblown" percolates with ringing guitar and a gilded melody that makes the apocalypse sound so sweet. "Reboot" saunters with coiled tension and subdued melancholy as it describes personal rebirth and refreshment. Laura Caragher fills in the spaces with her ethereal vocals while Specht's vivid production allows his songs to shimmer in all their sunniness. (Contact: www.devastationwagon.com.) - Illinois Entertainer
As the creative force driving Devastation Wagon, Erich Specht ruminates on awkward personalities and bleak situations in jangly pop songs. The sweetness and light of his compositions, illuminated with lovely vocal harmonies courtesy of Laura Caragher, belie the often bitter sentiments of his lyrics. "Small Doses" is a sweetly chiming gem that swells with guitar washes and Caragher's luscious cooing even as it conveys frustration with an unfriendly invasion. "The Last Defeatist" rings with waves of watery psychedelia pleasantly describing an unbearable lout. (Contact: www.devastationwagon.com.) - Illinois Entertainer
Chief Wagoneer Erich Specht has been a torchbearer for romantic jangle pop for some years now; his new band leans forward into Big Star and Byrds territory. Always an engaging singer, Specht writes chunky hooks and songs that move with groovy loveliness. - The Daily Herald
Discography
Many songs are offered on the audio page of my website (http://www.erichspecht.com/audio.asp)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Erich Specht is a firm believer in “do-it-yourself.”
He began playing the guitar at the age of five and began experimenting with sound engineering at the age of twelve. A self-described control freak, Erich chooses to produce and engineer all of his recordings as well as performing all of the instruments himself, with the exception of the occasional female backup vocal, which he is not properly equipped to handle.
And while he wears many hats, perhaps his greatest asset is his songwriting talent. Specht writes clever, illustrative lyrics married with melodies that are sure to stick in your head. Erich’s engaging vocals take the listener through stories of getting out of debt or of ditching a lover set to melodies that are instantly memorable and always interesting.
Having complete control over the direction of the songs has allowed Erich to create some of the most intricate and innovative creative rock around, and it has not gone unnoticed. Specht has been featured on the local music shows on several major commercial stations in Chicago and has received high praise from music critics.
When he performs live, it becomes apparent that his main instrument is the guitar. His mastery of the six-string allows him to fill large spaces with spiraling, intelligent melodies. The sparse instrumentation of his live show offers a completely different take on Specht’s unique breed of biting adult pop/rock.
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