Erick Rudiak. Songwriter. Human.

The Annotated Scandal Liner Notes

Scandal by Erick Rudiak Get the full album on Bandcamp! Thanks to: MCR, EV, OM, LN, NS, MM, BH, SP, BF, BA. Your love and support, humor and needling, cuddles and shenanigans make it all possible and worthwhile. ❤️❤️❤️ She Reads Vonnegut / Listen to this if you like the first-kiss feeling

The annotated GIB liner notes.

Good In Bed by Erick Rudiak Get the full album on Bandcamp! Thanks and acknowledgements, in no particular order: Brandon Foster, Steve Poltz, Tim Bluhm, Steve Perron, Murray Foster, MACR, Ralph Covert, LNR, Jeff Vezain, OMR, my mom, Tucson Dave, my dad, EVR, Heather Krischel, David Pierce, Peter Mulvey, Rich

open mic

Let's Say You're In Chicago and You're Rattling Along on the El

In a previous post, I extolled the virtues of the world-class, All-Star open mic host at St. Louis' best listening room, The Lone Wolf on Tuesday nights. Without a great host, the likelihood of a magical night is slim... but it's still nothing without good performers delivering memorable renditions. Tonight,

lone wolf

What would Neil Young do?

One of the greatest joys I have listening to music is when I mentally (or literally) pause the song because I have to have an inner "I see what you did there!" dialogue with the artist. The "what five letters spell apocalypse?" line — and its payoff

mulvey

My Romance with DADF#AD

Among the many things I'll never be able to repay my mom for were the (literally) thousands of hours she spent teaching me piano. I learned my scales and my keys, how to pick notes and chords out by ear, and to enjoy performing far more than practicing. Fast-forward to

open mic

Shine on, Lone Wolf, shine on

Moving to a new city three years ago meant trying out all the open mics, hoping to find a "listening room" where the open mic was the attraction, rather than a distraction (ha!) from what most of the clientele wanted to do (eat, drink, be merry, etc.). It

ralph covert

Jeune fille in a white sundress

I've been pretty lucky - more than most - to have had a series of mentors adopt me over the years and give me the tools and the confidence to do more with whatever raw materials I've had at my disposal than I would have squeezed out on my own.

shows

Nostalgia

You can fly as far as you want to, I'll be waiting for you at gate 27-C Terminal Love In 1997, I acquired two hobbies: picking up my girlfriend at ORD and writing songs. That year yielded the Baltimore Sun/Terminal Love/Laura & I trilogy (which should not be