John Erikson

Updated: Thu, Nov 10, 2005



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Check out this Blockhead
Whether he's flying solo or playing out with his band, Blockhead, John Erikson knows how to rock a crowd all around Newport. Chances are, if you frequent any of the popular watering holes around the city, you've experienced Erikson.

"I am genuine, just like my songs," Erikson says. "I am an open book. Anybody that knows me knows that what they see is what they get."

And what they get is a lot. Erikson has been a fixture on the Newport nightlife scene for about a decade and he is currently in the process of debuting his first solo CD. While it may be his first shot at recording, Erikson is no stranger to the music business. He started taking keyboard lessons at age 5 and had taught himself how to play the guitar by age 12. By the time he graduated high school, he had picked up a number of other instruments, including drums and bass. When he started Rhode Island College as a music major, he began to hone his talent with his favorite instrument of all — his voice.

"I became interested in a music career in high school, I guess, and considered pursuing it seriously at that point, but I've wanted to be a musician for as long as I can remember," Erikson says.

Fitting, since he says his ultimate dream is "to be a rock star."

Erikson considers his music style to be a mixture of alternative and modern rock, and would liken the style to rock acts like Creed, Fuel or Three Doors Down. "Different, of course, but in that genre," he adds.

Surprisingly, the 39-year-old father of two goes on the record to say that his least favorite musical performer is Bruce Springsteen, while Audioslave tops his list of favorites.

"Chris Cornell has been my favorite vocalist for years. He has an incredible control over his voice, the tone, range and his lyrics and song writing ability, to me, are incomparable," Erikson says.

Erikson brings a bit of the local flavor to his performances in Newport.

"I have only lived here (full-time) for a few years, but before that I lived here every summer," he says. "I've wanted to live here for as long as I can remember. I've been performing in venues here for over 10 years, and that's a big part of the desire to live here."

Of performing in Newport, Erikson says he loves the fact that there are different faces here every year that come to his shows.

"Salve students, tourists, Navy personnel, summer vacation folks — it's a great variety of people," he says.

Erikson says if he could do one thing for the rest of his life, it would be to sing.

"Most of the time when we are covering other people's music, people say that they can't believe how much I sound like anybody we cover. I guess it's a special talent. I appreciate it more when they ask for original songs, and like my voice in general," Erikson admits.

Check John Erikson out this and every Wednesday at the Pelham when he plays solo. He joins Blockhead on Thursdays at the Pelham. Visit www.blockheadrocks.com for schedule and photos.

By Beth Bottis

bbottis@newportthisweek.net

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