Wreckless Eric Played The Saint w/ Ron Santee (The Battery Electric) and Paul Rosevear, 6/24/14 (PHOTOS)

Wreckless Eric at The Saint

Songs and Stories

A singer and a guitar. Sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric. That was last night's show at The Saint, and it made for an intimate evening of songs and storytelling.

Readymade Breakup's Paul Rosevear got things started and played his songs about family and fatherhood for many of his own friends and family members who were among the crowd for his set. Rosevear charmed, peppering his set with some of the stories behind his songs. The Battery Electric's Ron Santee did songs ranging in style from rock to rocksteady to soul and also had several friends in the crowd. He lamented not being an expert storyteller like so many other singer-songwriters, but his story of the inspiration behind the song "Maybe" -- seeing a best friend for, perhaps, the last time -- gave some weight to the intimate number.

Wreckless Eric took the stage just after 9:30 and played, what he called, the songs he's written that nobody likes. His set drew from his mid-80s work with the Len Bright Combo and his 1993 LP, The Donovan of Trash, as well as some of his earlier work. Everyone in the small crowd sang along when he played his very first, and most well-known, song "(I'd Go) The Whole Wide World."

He spoke of how Asbury Park always reminded him of his home back in Newhaven, England and warned how success and development could end up changing it. He talked -- and sang -- of how the records produced by Joe Meek changed his life as a boy. There were observations about traversing the US late at night by car and seeing 5-mile long, chemically-laden freight trains and SYSCO trucks. The crowd laughed and shouted back at the stage. Mostly, though, there were songs -- many of them darker, wittier, more experimental than the simple two-chord pop of his classic hit.

When it was done, Eric came down from the stage to a few cries for an encore. Never a fan of the music business and its conventions, Eric told us he wouldn't be leaving the stage just to come back for one more. He did sign records and chat with the remaining crowd, though. Then, I guess it was back to the car for another late-night drive to the next stop.

Here are some pics. More at Flickr.

Show Preview: Wreckless Eric, Ron Santee (The Battery Electric), and Paul Rosevear (Readymade Breakup) TONIGHT at The Saint

Photo: Ted Barron

...You Only Have to Go to Asbury Park

Stiff Records. In the late 70s, the label's roster included Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, and Nick Lowe. Also part of that group, signed in 1977, was Eric Goulden -- better known as Wreckless Eric. Eric's first song for the label, "(I'd Go) The Whole Wide World" didn't make much noise at the time; but it has since been recognized continually as one of the best singles of early alt / punk rock. In the years since its release, "(I'd Go) The Whole Wide World" has been covered by The Monkees, Elvis Costello, Paul Westerberg, The Proclaimers, The Wedding Present, and Mikal Cronin along with many others.

Goulden has continued to release songs and albums over the last 35 plus years -- as Wreckless Eric, with The Captains of Industry (which included members of The Blockheads) and other bands, under his own name, and with wife and current co-performer Amy Rigby. Tonight he brings his show to The Saint in Asbury Park.

Joining Eric for the show will be The Battery Electric's Ron Santee doing a solo performance and Paul Rosevear of Readymade Breakup. Make sure you arrive early so that you can catch a couple of great local performers along with a living legend.

Doors for the show open at 7:30, and 12 bucks gets you inside.