I LOVE Eric Hutchinson. Really, this song gets stuck in my head. There is something to be said about an album whose first single, “Watching You Watch Him,” was a Top 10 hit at Triple A and a Top 20 hit at Hot AC radio. He performed the song on Letterman, Leno and Conan. The first leg of his 50 city national tour sold out in almost every city.
“Backed by a tight and happy three-man band (plus two horn players on various tunes), he opened the show on keyboards with the jaunty, optimistic ‘Best Days’ before switching to electric guitar for the funky ‘You Don’t Have to Believe Me,’ where the energetic vintage-Prince vibe was bolstered by a snatch of Naughty by Nature’s “O.P.P.,” said the Orange County Register. “By the encores, the whole place was standing for ‘Rock & Roll’ and a frenetic take on ‘The Basement,’ where Hutchinson & Co. were in old-school rock ‘n’ soul revue mode…an exhilarating finish.” Cannot wait for this show!
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
My first concert was Paula Abdul with opening act Color Me Badd. It was pretty epic. My uncle took me. I had never heard of an encore before and tried to make him leave. He said “but she’s about to play her best song!”
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
I was on tour with Kelly Clarkson and we were playing the Minnesota State Fair. She got sick last minute and couldn’t do the show and they asked me to do a full headlining show. It was amazing! The crowd was awesome and I had a blast.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
Prince on the Musicology tour in 2004. It was so so so so great. I danced the entire 3 hours!
Gig you would most like to play?
I’d love to play Bonaroo and Coachella.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Me opening for Stevie Wonder, Prince, Paul McCartney & Elvis Costello. I could get done early and then watch their shows!
See Eric Hutchinson Saturday, Dec. 1st at Center Stage!
