Now Sardinas has put his onstage lighting in a bottle for the new album Sticks & Stones, an 11-song powerhouse of his trademark slide guitar that is a vehicle to drive his inspiration from the roadhouse in to mainstream music. Sardinas’ unique mixture weaves his heavy blues and rock threads in to a flamethrower to the listener and takes them on a ride encompassing the past, present and future of what music is meant to be.
"Playing with intensity all over the world non-stop and loving every minute of it has been my inspiration," Sardinas explains. "That’s why I get up in the morning and what I live for. Making music keeps me in the moment, allowing my heart to speak to people."
More fans have heard that voice with each tour Sardinas and his band Big Motor have made, and with each of the previous six albums he’s recorded. Those discs include 2003’s live-in-the-studio Black Pearls, which was produced by Jimi Hendrix’s engineer Eddie Kramer, and 2009’s Eric Sardinas and Big Motor, helmed by Matt Gruber.
Gruber, whose credits range from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood to the Scorpions and Lit, returns for Sticks & Stones — an album that Sardinas says captures the full range of his playing and the energy and excitement of the trio’s ‘Big Motor’ sound. "It’s really about pushing myself," Sardinas continues. "My goal is to keep growing every time I play, which is why there is so much musical freedom in improvisation when Big Motor performs live."
For Sticks & Stones, the trio approached the studio with a no holds barred approach. Whether acoustic and electric, they stayed true to their live sound, recording with no rules. Levell Price (bass) and Chris Frazier (drums), join Sardinas in delivering a kaleidoscope that melds all the shades and hues of the band’s intensity. "As always, every note is meaningful and has something to say from each player," says Sardinas.
His instrument of choice is his signature electrified resonator guitar (pictured above). Sardinas modernized an instrument made famous by traditional Blues artists in electrifying the instrument, and expanding the usual spectrum of what these guitars historically deliver musically. It is Eric’s connection and homage to his roots, and in finding his own voice, comes the electrified resonator. His trademark expression and words to live by are "Respect Tradition," and the resonator is a deep part of this.
By deftly controlling his guitar’s volume Sardinas can make the resonator emote the mood he’s feeling with its acoustic energy or electrified growl, as it does during the breakdown on Sticks & Stones’ pure spirited country blues "County Line," or roar like a lion on the hard-driving "Full Tilt Mama" and "Road To Ruin." The latter features one of Sardinas’ highest flying slide solos: a sexy, sizzling break that’s a perfect fusion of gutty energy and piquant melody — two qualities Sardinas displays in spades.
The chugging instrumental "Behind the 8" puts his slide to the fore. One reason for his always-recognizable sound is his signature slide. The Dunlop company has begun reproducing a replica of the brass pipe that travelled a million miles with Sardinas. The calibration, weight, and wear of the infamous ‘preaching pipe’ has become accessible to players worldwide. Sardinas shares, "the original pipe has so much mojo on it from over a decade of worldwide travel, and being by my side through every beer soaked bar and venue the road has to offer, the original is now only used for studio. To Sardinas, it is irreplaceable. He offers, "If Dunlop offered me a million bucks for it, I’d have to turn it down."
The common thread in all the tunes on Sticks & Stones is the essence of affairs of the heart – passions, hopes and dreams are all inspirational in a positive and negative way to Sardinas. He shares, "I like writing about universal themes. The trick is to find my own unique way of expressing myself within those themes. Every breathing moment if you walk with yours eyes open, there is song there."
A Florida-born Sardinas picked up a guitar at age six. He was inspired by the energy of roots music from his mom’s soul, Motown, gospel, and early rock n’ roll collection. From his elder brother, classic rock was always being played. Sardinas reflects, "Music was always heard in the house. I woke up to, and fell asleep to it. Still do". In his teens, he submersed himself in the Blues. "That was it for me," he says. "In blending my influences, I found my own sound. I feel very fulfilled being able to make this music my life for more than 20 years now. And my goal is to keep growing and improving, and to respect this music and stick by it the way its has supported and inspired me."
Official Website: Eric Sardinas
Just Like That
Eric Sardinas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, my little girl sure likes to fuss and fight (yes, she do)
I cross my heart, things are change tonight
Just like that
Aw, yeah
Well, the devil keeps on chasin' me
Oh, I know it′s the devil that keeps on chasin' me
Stop playin' dirty, able as a man can be
Yeah, child
Just like that
Uh, just like that
Oh, yeah
I just want the best
Sure don′t need the rest
So I can′t stand around
And let this get me down
Wooh! Just like that, alright!
Just like that
Watch out!
Now my baby's cryin, "Why don′t you come back home?"
Now she's cryin′, "Daddy, please bring your love back home"
Oh, now my little girl, she's sure enough cryin′ alone
Just like that, I cry
Just like that, alright
Just like that, alright
Well my baby, know that lady
Well my baby, she's sure enough going to do me wrong
Well my baby, know that lady
Well my baby, she's sure enough going to do me wrong
Just like that
Just like that
The song "Just Like That" by Eric Sardinas talks about the frustration and pain caused by a problematic relationship. The singer is pondering why love won't treat him right despite his efforts to please his partner. He mentions that his girlfriend likes to fuss and fight, but he is determined to make a change tonight. He wants to end the problems in his relationship, but the devil keeps on chasing him. It’s an indication that despite his plans to make things better, troubles seem to follow him wherever he goes.
He emphasizes that he wants only the best and doesn't want to endure the pain and suffering that the relationship is causing him. Although he is done with the toxic relationship, his lover is still hanging on, begging for his love to return. The song highlights the difficulty of ending a relationship and moving on, as the singer is still affected by the words of his crying lover. Despite everything, he emphasizes that it's just like that, possibly meaning that things might not work out no matter how much effort he puts in—it's become an emblematic phrase to symbolize that things are just the way they are, without the possibility of changing, akin to Murphy's law.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on and tell me, why won't love do me right?
The singer is questioning why he can't find love that treats him well.
Well, my little girl sure likes to fuss and fight (yes, she do)
The singer's girlfriend causes a lot of arguments and disagreements.
I cross my heart, things are change tonight
The singer is making a promise that things will be different tonight.
Just like that
The artist is expressing that things will change quickly and easily.
Well, the devil keeps on chasin' me
The artist feels like he is constantly facing struggles and hardships.
Oh, I know it's the devil that keeps on chasin' me
The singer is certain that his problems are caused by external forces, rather than internal mistakes.
Stop playin' dirty, able as a man can be
The singer is telling himself to stop engaging in negative behavior and improve himself.
Yeah, child
An expression of affirmation and agreement with himself.
I just want the best
The artist desires the most positive outcome for himself.
Sure don't need the rest
The artist doesn't want anything else besides the best.
So I can't stand around
The singer can't just wait idly for things to change.
And let this get me down
The artist won't let his problems bring him down emotionally.
Wooh! Just like that, alright!
The singer is excited that things will change quickly and easily.
Now my baby's cryin, "Why don't you come back home?"
The singer's girlfriend is upset and wants him to come back to her.
Now she's cryin', "Daddy, please bring your love back home"
The singer's girlfriend is asking him to bring love back into their relationship.
Oh, now my little girl, she's sure enough cryin' alone
The artist's girlfriend is crying by herself and without him.
Well my baby, know that lady
The artist is accusing his girlfriend of cheating on him.
Well my baby, she's sure enough going to do me wrong
The singer believes his girlfriend will cheat on him.
Just like that
The singer is expressing that his girlfriend's infidelity will happen easily and quickly.
Just like that
The artist reiterates that his girlfriend's infidelity will happen easily and quickly.
Writer(s): Sardinas Eric C
Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.