Biography
Electric resonator guitarist Eric Sardinas emerged from the boisterous tradition of blues boogie shaped by Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, and Elmore James and filtered through rock & roll. His attack remains forceful, relying solely on slide technique across a custom electric metal resonator dobro. Although he issues recordings sparingly, Sardinas maintains an almost nonstop touring schedule. His first album, Treat Me Right, received positive notices yet invited superficial parallels to Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood. The 2001 follow-up Devil's Train earned stronger critical notice, while 2003's Black Pearls highlighted the funkier dimensions of blues-rock. After a five-year hiatus he resurfaced with Eric Sardinas & Big Motor in 2008, revealing more seasoned songcraft and a harder-edged R&B approach. The group issued Sticks and Stones in 2011 and the Europe-only Boomerang in 2015. Nine years later Sardinas returned with Midnight Junction, spotlighting a road-honed lineup.
Born in Florida in 1970, Sardinas began playing guitar at age six. Though naturally left-handed, he mastered the instrument in the right-handed position. Early influences included Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter. As a teenager he sharpened his skills busking on the streets of Fort Lauderdale.
Sardinas relocated to Los Angeles in 1990, assembled a trio featuring bassist Paul Loranger and drummer Scott Palacios, and began performing regularly. The group soon expanded its reach from the West Coast to venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia, earning acclaim for a high-voltage live presentation that incorporated pyrotechnics reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix. Despite accumulating vast touring mileage, Sardinas waited until 1998 to release Treat Me Right on the now-defunct Evidence label. American reviewers repeatedly linked him to Stevie Ray Vaughan even though the two guitarists bore little sonic resemblance. In 2000 the showman set his instrument ablaze onstage in Sydney, Australia, resulting in third-degree burns to his left wrist.
Devil's Train appeared in 2001, again on Evidence. Self-produced and featuring his touring band plus guest David "Honeyboy" Edwards on "Gambling Man Blues," the set contained eleven originals among its thirteen tracks. European audiences embraced the raw, soaring sound, yet domestic writers remained fixated on comparisons and critiques of the songwriting. Critical focus shifted with 2003's Black Pearls. Now employing drummer Mike Dupke in place of Palacios, reviewers paid particular attention to acoustic pieces such as "Big Red Line," "Old Smyrna Road," and the title track; the album reached number eleven on the Blues Albums chart.
After nearly three years of continuous touring Sardinas assembled a new ensemble with keyboardist Dave Schulz, bassist Levell Price, drummer Patrick Caccia, and vocalist Gia Ciambotti. Operating as Eric Sardinas & Big Motor, the group signed with Steve Vai's Favored Nations Entertainment and released a self-titled album. The record drew widespread praise for its original material and covers of Elvis Presley's "Burning Love," Tony Joe White's "As the Crow Flies," and the Southern blues-boogie numbers "Find My Heart," "Just Like That," and "Door to Diamond." Sardinas & Big Motor supported Vai across Europe and the United States.
Sticks and Stones followed in 2011 through Provogue in Europe and Megaforce in the United States. The album introduced drummer Chris Fraizer and a four-voice backing chorus across eleven Sardinas originals, with the instrumental "Behind the 8" standing out. Boomerang surfaced in 2015 via Germany's Jazzhaus label, recorded by a trio edition of Big Motor without Schulz except on one track; Shooter Jennings drummer Bryan Keeling participated in the sessions and subsequent tours.
Nine years would pass before Sardinas issued another recording. He continued headlining festivals and clubs throughout Europe and Asia. In 2023 he released Midnight Junction on earMUSIC. Produced by Matt Gruber, the sessions reunited Fraizer on drums and Schulz on keyboards alongside bassist Koko Powell, formerly of Lenny Kravitz and Sheila E. Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite added harmonica to "Swamp Cooler." Sardinas composed twelve of the thirteen tracks, leaving only a ferocious rendition of Rory Gallagher's "Laundromat" as the sole cover.
Born in Florida in 1970, Sardinas began playing guitar at age six. Though naturally left-handed, he mastered the instrument in the right-handed position. Early influences included Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter. As a teenager he sharpened his skills busking on the streets of Fort Lauderdale.
Sardinas relocated to Los Angeles in 1990, assembled a trio featuring bassist Paul Loranger and drummer Scott Palacios, and began performing regularly. The group soon expanded its reach from the West Coast to venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia, earning acclaim for a high-voltage live presentation that incorporated pyrotechnics reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix. Despite accumulating vast touring mileage, Sardinas waited until 1998 to release Treat Me Right on the now-defunct Evidence label. American reviewers repeatedly linked him to Stevie Ray Vaughan even though the two guitarists bore little sonic resemblance. In 2000 the showman set his instrument ablaze onstage in Sydney, Australia, resulting in third-degree burns to his left wrist.
Devil's Train appeared in 2001, again on Evidence. Self-produced and featuring his touring band plus guest David "Honeyboy" Edwards on "Gambling Man Blues," the set contained eleven originals among its thirteen tracks. European audiences embraced the raw, soaring sound, yet domestic writers remained fixated on comparisons and critiques of the songwriting. Critical focus shifted with 2003's Black Pearls. Now employing drummer Mike Dupke in place of Palacios, reviewers paid particular attention to acoustic pieces such as "Big Red Line," "Old Smyrna Road," and the title track; the album reached number eleven on the Blues Albums chart.
After nearly three years of continuous touring Sardinas assembled a new ensemble with keyboardist Dave Schulz, bassist Levell Price, drummer Patrick Caccia, and vocalist Gia Ciambotti. Operating as Eric Sardinas & Big Motor, the group signed with Steve Vai's Favored Nations Entertainment and released a self-titled album. The record drew widespread praise for its original material and covers of Elvis Presley's "Burning Love," Tony Joe White's "As the Crow Flies," and the Southern blues-boogie numbers "Find My Heart," "Just Like That," and "Door to Diamond." Sardinas & Big Motor supported Vai across Europe and the United States.
Sticks and Stones followed in 2011 through Provogue in Europe and Megaforce in the United States. The album introduced drummer Chris Fraizer and a four-voice backing chorus across eleven Sardinas originals, with the instrumental "Behind the 8" standing out. Boomerang surfaced in 2015 via Germany's Jazzhaus label, recorded by a trio edition of Big Motor without Schulz except on one track; Shooter Jennings drummer Bryan Keeling participated in the sessions and subsequent tours.
Nine years would pass before Sardinas issued another recording. He continued headlining festivals and clubs throughout Europe and Asia. In 2023 he released Midnight Junction on earMUSIC. Produced by Matt Gruber, the sessions reunited Fraizer on drums and Schulz on keyboards alongside bassist Koko Powell, formerly of Lenny Kravitz and Sheila E. Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite added harmonica to "Swamp Cooler." Sardinas composed twelve of the thirteen tracks, leaving only a ferocious rendition of Rory Gallagher's "Laundromat" as the sole cover.
Albums
Midnight Junction
2023
Tonight
2023
Sticks and Stones
2011
Eric Sardinas and Big Motor
2008
Black Pearls
2003
Devil's Train
2001
Singles
