2 minute read
Music: Hudsy
from News4U July 2021
HUDSY
Tri-state's busiest performer preps release of "Life Is," aims to hit the road in the coming months
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Before the pandemic came along and spoiled the party, local musician Eddie Hudson - aka Hudsy - was playing upwards of five shows a week, scoring regular gigs at hotspots like Bokeh Lounge, Carson's Brewery, The Landing, The Rooftop, Ghost Quesadilla, Prime Time Pub & Grill and Jennings Street Public House. He made his living that way, in fact, but then it all went sideways as the tri-state locked down and months of bookings suddenly evaporated. But Hudson didn't give up - he's just not that kind of guy. You see, six years before Covid pulled the rug out from under him and stymied his momentum, the Canadian transplant received a harrowing diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis. "After a two-nighter [performance] in a Winnipeg Pub I started to limp and couldn't figure out why," Hudson explains. "It didn't hurt - I just couldn't lift my foot." He consulted several doctors and endured numerous exams - but it
would take several months to solve the mystery of a growing list of odd physical symptoms. Remarkably, rather than deter Hudson, MS only strengthened his resolve to pursue music; he lived harder than ever before, putting everything he had into making his dream a reality.
Now Hudson is proving his resilience once again, striving to get back on track and reclaim his status as the tri-state's busiest performer. A recent packed gig at Bokeh Lounge - during which he effectively opened for himself, playing an acoustic set before returning to the stage to headline with a full band - signaled that he hasn't lost a step, musically speaking. Patrons lapped up his covers of Matchbox 20, Harry Styles and more but also dug pop-based original tunes like the sultry "Blue Dress," the ultraaddictive "Tennessee" (a clever re-working of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'")
and the revelatory "Life Is." It's the latter song that Hudson's targeting for release, having hired industry great Emily Lazar to master the recording (it was mixed locally by Gregatron). But while the production is pristine, lyrically, "Life Is" is a lot messier - but entirely relatable. "It's all about getting in a fight with my wife," Hudson divulges. "We both have issues here and there and we try to struggle through it. The idea came to mind that during those bad moments it crosses your mind that this person's crazy - and then you're thinking that they think I'm crazy, too. Really, the idea is that life is crazy."
Hudson hopes to put "Life Is" out in September and back it with a structured promotional plan. But the big push is for a full-band tour after the single's release. "I'm trying to develop that - to hit the road and play original music with a light show and everything; that's the ultimate goal."
