I got to sit down with Eric back in June before a show and chatted a bit. Eric’s phone rings as I am asking the first question. Its his realtor, who had questions for him about the house he was selling and also about the house he bought(right across the street literally from his old home).

1. How are things these days with the addition of Ellis to the household?

     Things are definetly better as opposed to when we talked last back in December. I got off the Andrew Peterson Christmas tour on the 15th, Ellis was born six days later. He wasn’t supposed to come until January. He was a month early so that threw us for a loop. Seemed like a bomb went off! The first two months were pretty much a blur, um, those who have kids know what I’m talking about. Lack of sleep, not travelling, and helping Danielle with all that and trying to learn how to be a parent. But its been good, he’s almost six months old now and is way more enjoyable. Laughing and giggling and interacting with his surroundings alot more, so that makes him more human than a pet rock.

   Yeah, interaction certainly helps.

     Yeah, when he first smiled, its like the world opened up all of a sudden. It was a huge break thru for me. Before it was just a few months of just poop and so your like, come on smile or something! We actually did call him our pet rock at first. Things are great. Still trying to learn how to serve Danielle, cause my role in Ellis’ life right now…I’m not really needed, but I know my day is coming when that whole father/son bonding, shifting from mother to father is going to happen. So for me, its just been trying to be the provider right now. Here lately I’ve been trying to figure out what the heck I’m doing with my life. Is this a viable career that I’ve got or the litmus test being, is this just a pipedream or do we try to make this work. I don’t know. Still trying to figure it out.

   Well there are a lot of folks who love your music, so I say keep it up!

     I’ve always liked my songs and thought they have something to say. I do spend a great deal of time and energy writing and recording. You kinda get to the point though, where you wonder if your little cottage industry is too small to work anymore. Kinda realizing that, or wonder if its gonna grow up. Alot has been just coming to terms with reality and whether I’m ok with where I am right now. And I’m ok!

2. Scarce is such a cool album! Will you keep up the same songwriting process and style?

     I don’t really have a formal songwriting process. Usually its just me sitting with my guitar and capo and coming up with some kinda melody. From that comes a vocal melody. I rarely get into a song with a theme or idea. I tend to let the songs grow out of themselves. I don’t know what that means but, I’m not coherent enough to go into a song with a pre-concieved idea. That’s just not me. With Ellis being born, the last five or six months have been the least creative for me. I think this is just the baby phase or something. I was recently talking with Andrew Peterson, just venting about this very thing, he told me this was just a baby phase and that I’ll write again, so I’m gonna put alot of faith in his words. So hopefully there will be some new stuff coming out. I’ve been chipping away at some songs I’ve started or written well before Ellis was born. I do have an idea for a new album I’d like to try. I’ve always enjoyed writing third person songs like Bus 152 and Spare Change, songs told from the perspective of someone else or something. Its just me imagining their story and me telling it. Being their voice so to speak, so I’m pouring thru some newer older songs that have never been recorded. I’ve noticed that I’ve got a bunch of those songs!

   That should be a fun album.

     So I thought of making a record of nothing but a bunch of third person songs and try to avoid the traditional folky sound. Hopefully with the right producer, they will have a bigger vision than I might have. I don’t know if thats what I’ll do, but thats what hit me. Just seemed like a neat idea.

3. I know you’ve got some tour dates coming up this fall. Do you have any other major plans for the near future?

     No, but hopefully going to buy a new house(which has already happened since the posting of this interview), slightly bigger than our place. That will afford me to kinda build an office. At least have some space to carve an office, and space to write. So as we settle in with Ellis and he gets into some kind of pattern, then writing will occur! So for me, another album is on the horizon. I don’t want to rush into it though. Scarce is right over a year old and I started writing for it over two years ago, so it kinda feels like its time to get that ball rolling. Other than that, we’re booking shows for the fall. Beyond that I have no idea.

4. Did you have fun on the Behold the Lamb of God tour?

     Man it was wonderful! I had fun every second of it and I would say yes in a heartbeat if I were asked to do it again. It was one of the greatest times of my career. I just love the group of people. They’re all wonderful and enjoyable. Its an edifying good group of people!

5. One last question. How’s the snake business?

     Oh man! Believe it or not I have not killed any snakes this year. I think I’ve scared them all away after a couple of years of being “that” person. I’ve seen a couple, but have held back from ending their lives. I actually had one pinned and ready to go, but I just let it go. Yeah, I think I’m becoming merciful!

   Part of fatherhood maybe?

     You know, actually the snake count as it stands this year is…Eric-0, Snakes-1 1/2. They got me! Yeah I gashed my hand. A stick gashed my hand while trying to get that one snake. So I figured I would give them a point and a half.

   Once again thanks for your time!

     Go SPA dot net!! Thank you!