"Fender Nocaster: Eric Shea." Somewhere on tour between Oakland, CA, U.S.A. and Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 3 August 2017.
"Playing Dunajam fest with Hot Lunch on the sand dunes of Sardinia to bookend our European Tour was like crossing something off a bucket list that I didn't even know I had."
It All Started When...
I believe it's always wise to expose yourself to ideas outside of your own immediate bubble, and I find this to be especially true when it comes to culture and music. Otherwise, how can we learn about different ways of seeing the world, to grow and expand our horizons, and gain empathy for others?
Eric Shea works at Pandora as our lead curator for the Rock genre—he's one of the alchemists who's responsible for the magical moment when you hear that perfect track, when it feels like Pandora just gets you. I'm always delighted when I read his carefully-crafted monthly digests about music in the catalogue, new and old, as it's a moment when my immediate bubble is popped and my sonic horizons expand.
Eric took some time out of his busy touring schedule—oh yeah, he also plays in two bands, Hot Lunch & Sweet Chariot, in addition to his day job curating the Rock catalogue for Pandora—to answer some questions about the role music plays in his life and co-curate a playlist, "Fender Nocaster."
Those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area can check out Eric with Hot Lunch headlining an all-ages show at Slim's this Saturday, August 19th (learn more on Facebook and in this CBS SF feature from Monday). Enjoy!
What's your passion/hustle/profession?
For the past four years, I've held the position of Lead Curator and Rock Programmer for Pandora.
What kind of music helps you focus at work?
Doom and drone bands like Nadja, Jesu, Oren Ambarchi, Sunn O))) and Boris.
When you’re winding down?
I like listening to '70s Americana like Neil Young, Guy Clark, Willis Alan Ramsey, Clarence White era Byrds, and Bobby Charles.
Working out?
Reagan era skate punk and hardcore. Lately I've been revisiting those '80s Oxnard "nardcore" comps.
Cooking?
I like listening to comedy when cooking alone but I'll switch it to my UK shoegaze station when I'm cooking with my wife. She recently turned me on to this Japanese psych band Kikagaku Moyo, so we listen to those records a lot when we're cooking.
Kickin’ it with friends?
Hard 70s rock, old power pop, friends' bands like Golden Void, Lecherous Gaze, Pushy, Tarnation, Bart Davenport, GospelbeacH.
What’s your most memorable musical moment? This could be a live show or festival that really stuck with you, meeting a music icon, etc.
Playing Dunajam fest with Hot Lunch on the sand dunes of Sardinia to bookend our European Tour. It was like crossing something off a bucket list that I didn't even know I had.
Favorite love song?
"Want You To Know," by Rotary Connection.
Slow jam?
"O-o-h Child," by Valerie Carter (maybe it's because hers was in the 1979 soundtrack to my favorite movie Over The Edge, but I like her version better than Five Stairsteps).
Between the sheets track?
"Planet Caravan," by Black Sabbath.
You need to hype up the crowd at a house party real quick. What do you put on next?
"Low Rider," by War.
If you were stranded on a desert island with only one album, which would it be?
Bob Dylan & The Band. The Basement Tapes.
Best format? Cassette tape, CD, iPod, Vinyl, etc.
Vinyl, of course!
What’s the most prized album/mixtape/musical memento you own? Your home is on fire and this is the only thing you can grab before it all burns down. (Sorry, that one’s grim.)
I inherited a Fender Nocaster from my late friend and bandmate Paul Tyler. We played, recorded and toured in the band Mover together for seven years. He also produced half of the first Sweet Chariot album. Lost him to cancer a few years ago, but I still play a few of his old songs. I rarely take this beautiful old relic out of its tweed case, but when I do, I can still smell his essence in the leather strap, the well worn fretboard and the dinged up body of this old Telecaster prototype. If my place burned down, this would be the first thing I try to save (after my wedding photos).
Dinner with any artist, dead or alive. They're paying. Whom do you choose?
George Harrison, so long as he doesn't mind my ordering the short ribs.
What's your go-to karaoke jam?
Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" is always a crowd pleaser. It's a bit long, though.
Merçi, Eric!
*mobile-only.
"Fender Nocaster" Track Listing
- Willis Alan Ramsey. "Northeast Texas Women." Willis Alan Ramsey, Capitol Records, LLC., 1972.
- Slowdive. "Sugar for the Pill" Slowdive, Dead Oceans, 2017.
- Kikagaku Moyo. "Tree Smoke." Kikagaku Moyo, Kikagaku Moyo, Captcha Records (HBSP-2X), 2014.
- Golden Void. "Atlantis." Golden Void, Golden Void, 2017.
- Rotary Connection, Minnie Riperton. "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun." Chess Psychedelic Jazz And Funky Grooves, Universal-Island Records Ltd., 2005.
- Valerie Carter. "O-o-h Child (Album Version)." Just A Stone's Throw Away, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1977.
- Weezer. "El Scorcho." Pinkerton - Deluxe Edition, Geffen Records, 2010.
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. "Ohio." So Far, Atlantic Recording Corp., 1974.
- Neil Young. "Down By the River." Greatest Hits, Reprise Records for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside the U.S., 2004.
- Alabama Shakes. "Don't Wanna Fight." Sound & Color, Alabama Shakes LLC under exclusive license to ATO Records, LLC in the United States., 2015.
- Nada Surf. "Popular." High/Low, Elektra Entertainment, 1996.
- War. "Low Rider." Why Can't We Be Friends?, Far Out Productions, Inc, 1975.
- America. "Ventura Highway." Homecoming, Warner Bros. Records Inc., 1972.
For more of Eric's music, learn more about out Sweet Chariot and Hot Lunch on their Facebook pages. Those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area can check out Hot Lunch headline an all-ages show at Slim's this Friday, August 19th.
Photo credit: Michael Baca.