Eric Sean Nally - Singer from Foxy Shazam

It’s not often that I get my mind blown by being exposed to anew new band in the mainstream these days. And it is even less likely that I will consider their sound to be something distinctive and that the band is taking their music in a forward direction.

This particular blend of hardcore rock’n’roll, funk and soul elements with eclectic instrumentation and sometimes bizarre, theatrical arrangements is called Foxy Shazam. A phrase which means; “nice shoes dude!” in black high schools across the American Midwest). More on that sort of thing later…

From their debut in 2005 their records have ranged from somewhat random psychadelic, HARD-rocking craziness on their first album to what appears to be a more piano based, ballad driven approach to launching their songs into some good ol’ raucous musical craziness, on their latest release Foxy Shazam. 2008 also saw the addition of additional musicians and the release of Introducing, the bands first album since signing to a record label.

The one who navigates this flaming ship of insanity is helmsman (and singer) Eric Sean Nally. And I was blessed enough to have a few minutes discussing the local music scenes in both our hometowns and the general state of everything with him...

                                       Ω ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ Ω

After we were both able to adapt to the satellite-induced delay on our telephone connection we were able to establish the fact that we are both named after famous people.

Eric was named after Eric Burdon from The Animals. Naturally I had to ask if he had ever been to New Orleans…, Which Eric said was actually one of his favourite US cities.

He recalls playing a gig there on the fourth of july one year which he says was a crazy night.

“It’s a pretty patriotic thing down in the south, but I just like the fireworks.”

I asked if buskers in the states play House of the rising sun as much as they do here in Australia?

“oh yeah man, oooooh yeah”

Eric grew up attending an all black – males high school where he was one of only 2 white boys, an experience that he says “gave him a lot of soul”.

One of the things that makes Eric proudest about his musical career is the opportunity the represent his hometown and the local musicians there.

“I feel as though it’s cool for me to stand for something (Cincinnati, Ohio) that hasn’t been put on the map yet”.

So what else happens in Ohio?, isn’t Dave Grohl From Ohio?

“Exactly! In the city that he is from they have just held a ceremony revealing a new street named after him, Grohl street.”

I mentioned that a lot of people come to Adelaide and leave thinking it is the most boring place in the world because they never got to see the awesome stuff that’s going on underground.

“Yeah it’s the same thing in Cincinatti man.”

The Fin Nally,

Something I noticed when I was watching the bands videos was some fancy mic moves, it turned out to be Eric's signature

"It’s called the Fin Nally. I just did it one day, it came to me one night, I practiced in the mirror, and I'm not taught, I don’t allow myself to be influenced by anything for my stage persona, If it happens, it happens. I don’t hold myself back from it at all"

 

(if any of you fire twirlers can out do it you should post a video to the band @ www.foxyshazam.comcoz I’m sure they would love to see it.)

Another recent musical endeavour undertaken by Eric has been co-writing songs with Justin Hawkins (from The Darkness) & Meat Loaf for Loaf’s latest album Hang Cool Teddy Bear. A process that he says was “very organic and a rare blessing and opportunity, especially for someone still young”

      The best thing I can really say is listen to their music, and immerse yourself in their videos to lock yourself into the vibes! This band is cool and they are evolving like they used to, however they want..

The band speaks for itself. They are a band that have pulled themselves up the through grapevine while keeping their roots firmly in the soil and I think a band with that kind of integrity deserves a massive rabid frenzied crowd at soundwave. 

They have never been to Australia before so tell your friends if you dig it, coz then we can be sure that the band will come back downunder during the rest of what will surely be an illustrious, long and fruitful career.

Some Songs that I think sum them up and demonstrate how kick ass they are gonna be at soundwave are Oh lord, It’s hair smelled like a bon fire, the French passion of animality circus, Introducing Foxy, yes yes yes ... and this..; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN62Ro99FT4

this is a link to a review of the show they did the night that I interviewed them!

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2010/10/foxy_shazam_at_the_rhythm_room.php

Also check out the video for A Dangerous man  to see the Fin Nally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqK1dE0FWo0