Chris Edwards
Based in East Texas, singer/songwriter Chris Edwards has honed his musical vision into one that blends the old-timey folk and string band country music that his grandparents played for him as a child with liberal doses of elements out of the rock 'n' roll textbook. Love, life and loss are touchstone subjects in his lyrics, and coupled with his catchy melodies and ragged-but-right vocals, the songs become characters themselves. Through many of Edwards' lyrics, the portrait of a sensitive man ill-equipped to deal with many of life's changes comes through clearly. Having been around, and seen life from a multitude of angles, Edwards' musical endeavors have included playing everything from noisy garage band-grade punk to jazz and a few years that he refers to as "bumming around, playing tuneless, elementary rant-punk-folk stuff." His solo (in the truest sense of the word) album "Long Hard Ride" blends many of the musical influences he holds dear. It is available, currently, from digital retailers around the world and in hard copy form in select Texas music outlets (and from Edwards himself...for a mere pittance or a few rounds of cold gold). For booking inquiries: e-mail thisonegoestoeleven2001@yahoo.com
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Normally, I dig small, intimate venues; bars and coffeeshops, mostly. I also have enjoyed the outdoor festivals I've played. Those are always fun, especially when sharing a stage with someone like Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Your musical influences
I'm most influenced by the music I heard as a child. The longest lasting influences on me were those old time string bands, bluegrass groups and legends like Johnny Cash, who I first heard when I was six years old, and it's only been in recent years that I realized how much it impacted me. Over the years, I gathered many more influences and came to appreciate many other types of music outside of country, folk and old-timey music. I will always love records by Cash, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and others, but I'm also very into John Lennon, Neil Young, Cream and old bluesmen like Mississippi John Hurt.
What equipment do you use?
My main guitars onstage are Epiphone acoustic-electrics now. I just love the sound, especially of my jumbo body and the prices can't be beat. I also play Art and Lutherie.
Anything else?
Just released my new record, "The Winter Garden" and am about to start working on another one, which I've got a ton of songs to whittle down to fit the record. Tentatively, the title is "Hyperbole of Youth." Stay tuned!
