6 minute read
Eric Lundholm
TheTahoeWeekly.com
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Eric Lundholm BROKE ON STOKE
ike a surfer learning to ride a wave, the life of an artist can be a turbulent L the life of an artist can be a turbulent process punctuated by brief moments of bliss.
Eric Lundholm grew up in Makakilo, Hawaii, where, like many island children, he learned early on to strum basic ukulele songs such as “Surf” by the Ka’au Crater Boys.
“I just went from there,” says the easygoing musician and board sports enthusiast. “I never really wanted to be a rock star per se.”
When he was 12, Lundholm’s family moved to the northern Idaho city of Coeur D’Alene near mountain resorts Schweitzer Mountain and Lookout Pass. After high school, he followed his twin passions for snowboarding and music while living in Colorado and Montana before eventually returning to the island of Oahu. e rst time he performed on stage was at Duke’s Ukes Contest in Waikiki. is led to the formation of the barhopping Salty String Band and a job with e Ukulele Site instrument builders in Haleiwa.
“I love playing small venues, breweries and bars,” says Lundholm. “ at’s a lot of fun for me — sharing my music with people. If I can make a little money doing it that’s cool, too.”
While working at the uke shop one day, Lundholm met local luthiers Tyler Joersz and Devin Price of Tyde Music who inspired him to move to Lake Tahoe. He landed a job as a snowboard instructor at Northstar California Resort until the pandemic closed everything down in March. He wrote and posted the beautifully mellow folk song “Nothing to Do” in response. en he started recording his debut EP.
“I’m kind of hoping this is a catalyst to getting together with the right people,” says Lundholm. “With the lockdown and being so new in town, it’s been hard to go out and make those connections. Although it’s de nitely giving me a lot of time to play on my own.”
Watch Eric Lundholm jam with drummer Elise Trouw at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Lundholm now works part-time on the dock at Tahoe Watermans Landing in Carnelian Bay while waiting for the mountains to open again. He started his own repair and custom build paddle and surfboard company called ELevate Board Designs. e album title, “Broke Ass,” is inspired by Lundholm’s penchant for living in expensive beach and mountain towns on a meager income. is challenge grew even bigger last year after he was bitten by a rat while working on a house in Idaho. He developed an infection that required open
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STORY BY SEAN M c ALINDIN
INDIE FOLK ROCK
Jonathan Herre
heart surgery. Without health insurance or workers’ compensation, he was stuck with the bill.
“When I play my instruments, it’s definitely cathartic,” he says. “Naturally I’m an introvert, so for me to go out and play music and perform is my way of getting myself out there. It’s my way of living a normal life and expressing myself. So it’s kind of healing in that sense.”
ISLAND GROWN, MOUNTAIN MOLDED
e ve-song “Broke Ass” EP is an eclectic assortment of alt-rock, traditional Hawaiian and ambient compositions inspired by sandy beaches and rocky peaks, the highs and the lows of Lundholm’s adventurous lifetime.
Opening track “ e Hat Song” recalls the simple, catchy hooks and indie voice of Rivers Cuomo of Weezer while expressing the passions and struggle of an artist/athlete perpetually “broke on stoke.”
“Haleiwa Shu e” is an upbeat instrumental Lundholm whipped up to show o his formidable ukulele chops. e humorously folky “Broke Ass eme Song” was written on the beach one day while contemplating what to do between jobs. Hard-rocking “Do What I Can” is about staying positive in the face of adversity. e authentic EP closes with the wonderfully ambient 7 minutes of “Insomnia.”
“I wrote that the day that I bought my acoustic guitar,” says the artist. “I just sat down started playing chords with my looper and it turned into this. It’s evolved since I rst played it. I like where it’s come to.”
As a bonus track, Lundholm is releasing an honest and heartrending acoustic version of Kid Cudi’s ubiquitous 2009 hip-hop anthem “Pursuit of Happiness” on SoundCloud.
“I feel a little bit of connection with that song because that’s what my life has been about, bouncing between surf towns and mountain towns trying to play music,” he says. “As of the last month or two it’s been pretty great. ings are lightening up. I’m hoping to collaborate with some people once life opens up again.” | ELevate Board Designs on Facebook
Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.
Live music returns to CBC
The Crystal Bay Casino announced in midOctober that it was returning to live music in the Crown Room with limited tickets due to mandates from the State of Nevada. As of press time, tickets are only being sold to parties of two or four only with a 130-person show capacity.
Upcoming shows include Petty Theft with two shows on Nov. 14 and The Greg Golden Band on Nov. 21. Tickets to the Jackie Greene shows have already sold out. | crystalbaycasino.com
Tahoe City duo releases voting song
With Election Day approaching, a North Lake Tahoe-based creative duo has released an original song and animated music video titled, “Turn The Page,” in an effort to urge and inspire citizens to get out and vote.
Written in the style and spirit of timeless protest songs of the 1960s, “Turn The Page” takes a look at the current state of the nation and the increasing dissonance, anger, rhetoric and unrest in American politics and in communities across the nation.
“This song is a call to action,” says songwriter, musician, and producer Eric T. Brandt in a press release. “It’s time to stand up and exercise the cornerstone of our democracy, our right — our duty — to vote. Ultimately, the goal of the song is to get people to vote. We, the people, all of us, have to stand up and participate in order to keep this democracy alive and true.”
The song grew from a conversation between Brandt and creative partner/animator Tamara Warren about what they saw as growing unpleasantness emanating from Washington.
“We were becoming increasingly disgusted and concerned about the rampant and unchecked growth of angry and unsettling conduct being displayed by our nation’s elected leaders,” says Brandt. “We looked at each other and agreed that it’s time to do something to help stop this increasingly grim and alarming situation. Voting is the key.”
Brandt and Warren immersed themselves in the project over the last few months, working from their home studios in Tahoe City. Both contributed to the lyrics and Brandt wrote the music and performed and produced the song. Warren, a digital artist, created the animated music video. The song also includes the talents of notable musicians Timothy Drury on keyboards and Nick South on bass.
Brandt and Warren are asking listeners to help spread the word and inspire people to vote by sharing the video and also posting a video of themselves and friends singing along to the song’s chorus, using the hashtag #turnthepage. | erictbrandt.com, text “turnthepage” to 24587
