Eric Jerardi – The Game
Blues-rock guitarist and songwriter Eric Jerardi returns with ‘The Game’
Eric Jerardi – The Game
Format: CD / Vinyl / Digital (streaming and download)
Label: Alternator Records / Niche Records
Release date: October 30, 2026
American singer, songwriter and guitarist Eric Jerardi released his new album ‘The Game’ on October 30, 2026, through Alternator Records / Niche Records. Blending blues, soul, rock and Americana, the record grew out of a simple challenge: write twelve songs in twelve weeks, following a different prompt and deadline each week.
The idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when cancelled performances left musicians searching for new creative outlets. Encouraged by his friend Todd Clemmer, Jerardi joined the songwriting exercise. What began as a way to maintain his creative discipline gradually developed into a deeply personal collection of songs about loss, mortality, relationships and the passage of time.
Much of ‘The Game’ draws on Jerardi’s own experiences, although the writing challenge also encouraged him to explore fictional characters and unfamiliar perspectives. He estimates that approximately 60 to 70 percent of the material is autobiographical.
One particularly personal composition is Hard Being Here, written in response to the death of a close friend. Elsewhere, Thorns & Roses finds Jerardi stepping outside his usual approach by telling a story through an imagined character.
While Jerardi established himself as a blues-rock guitarist, his musical interests have increasingly moved towards soul-influenced songwriting. Artists such as John Hiatt and Tom Waits have also influenced his appreciation of storytelling. On this album, he places greater emphasis on vocals, composition and concise guitar passages rather than extended solos.
‘The Game’ was produced and mixed by Michael James, whose credits include work with Robben Ford and Edwin McCain. Jerardi handles lead vocals and guitar, with additional contributions from Michael James, Eric Colvin, Cindy Walker, Marie Lewey and Rachael Schroeder.
The album follows a recording career that includes ten nationally distributed albums since 1997, among them ‘Occupied’ from 2019, produced by David Z and recorded with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section.
Website: https://www.ericjerardi.com/
Tracks:
01. I Don’t Belong With You
02. Setting Sun
03. A Man Ain’t A Man Until His Father Dies
04. Unexpected Connections
05. Hard Being Here
06. Thorns & Roses
07. Count On You
08. Your Birthday
09. Lies & Truth
10. Dig Down Deep
11. Light Danced Through Your Window
12. When Nature Speaks
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