Eric John Kaiser
Hailing from Paris, France and singing in both and French and English, Eric John Kaiser has a sound which forms a mélange of folk, rock and funk.
Eric John Kaiser is fast becoming known in Portland for his unique French Rock and his high-energy, exciting, and danceable live performances. April 07 he returned from two weeks overseas in support of his European CD Release, L'ODyssée, in Ireland and France (where he was also interviewed by Philippe Labro on national television).
As soon as he got home to Portland, his title track was selected for the 2007 PDX POP NOW! Compilation. His songs have also been broadcasted on Kink Fm, OPB and Kboo radio. Keeping his music rolling, his Trio played a sold-out Portland CD Release show at Chez Machin lin June 07, just before kicking-off their Oregon CD Release McMenamins Tour a week later. In addition to playing Seattle's Bastille Day, the band has played Portland's own Bastille Day on July 14 as well as the Oregon Lavender Festival on July 7 and 8, 2008. Eric’s a singer/songwriter with dual US/France citizenship who moved from Paris to Portland only a year and a half ago.
Previously, Eric gave over 300 live performances in France - like at Le Festival Solidays with Portland’s own Dandy Warhols. He also played gigs in Saint Croix, Australia and Hong Kong. He enjoys posting short videos of his musical journeys on his website.
Eric feels incredibly lucky with the generous response he's gotten so far to his French Rock playing at Dante's, Reed College, PSU or in Salem, Troutdale, Eugene, Corvallis and Forest Grove. He also just returned from a solo tour from Portland to San Francisco last November before heading out to Québec in December 2007.
Last summer, Eric met with, a young German director, Uli Beutter who's production crew, Sandymontana (www.sandymontana.com) has done videos for other local Portland artists such as the Decemberists and Echo Hellstrom...
This « European » video adventure started when Uli saw an add Eric had posted on the web looking for a director for his new video « Le Puzzle ». She immediatly loved the song and wanted to work on this project. After presenting « Le Puzzle » to his Portland crowd at Holocene, Eric John Kaiser headed back to Paris on April 4th, 08 to do a concert release party of that same « home made Oregonian European flavorful video » at La Scene Bastille in Paris. At this occasion, he was also interviewed on French National radio (France Inter).
In June 08, he has just toured the West Coast from LA to Seattle with a mutli gold recording French artist called Tété (http://www.teteonline.com) and Scott Fisher (www.scottfishermusic.com) for a « Celebration of French Music Tour ». The 3 artists played in Front of a crowd of hundreds in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland...(see the diary of the tour at : www.myspace.com/ericjohnkaiser).
Last September 19th, he also supported the Stereophonics (http:www.stereophonics.com) at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland.
Press Quotes :
“The Parisian has kept (the) innocent coolness of (his) freshman years which gives him wings to fly away and stay grounded at the same time...far from being conventional, he enjoys writing in French as well as in English.” Rocksound
“Urban troubadour, Eric John Kaiser, Parisian expatriate and fresh Portlander, sports a unique folk/rock/funk sound paired with both French and English lyrics that surfs the musical vibes of Paris, Portland, Australia, Hong Kong, and all the oceans along the way.” J. Charles Waldron, The Oregonian
“Seeing as we've managed to snag these continental talents, let's enjoy 'em!” Cary Clarke, Portland Mercury
