Easy Riders truck through Carbondale

Easy Riders truck through Carbondale

By Kyle Sutton

The sounds of blues and rock ‘n’ roll resonated off the walls of Tres Hombres as the Easy Riders strolled through Carbondale.

The group, fresh off the August 9 release of their new album “Earthbound,” made the journey from Peoria to southern Illinois Thursday to showcase their vintage sound. The band, which played the show one man short, consists of lead guitarist and frontman Mike Miller, Nick Fairley on drums, Pat Connolly on bass and Steven Kaufman making a guest appearance on organ and keys. Brian Railey did not make the trip to Carbondale but plays hand percussion and provides vocals for the band.

Formed in 2007 by Miller, the band produces a sound similar to the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band, two groups they covered throughout the night alongside some of their original pieces. The music has a rhythmic feel, combining classic blues and jazz influences with vintage rock.

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The bluesy growl of Miller’s voice hovered over the venue as the band took viewers on a groovy exploration back in time. As he sang, Miller added Jerry Garcia-influenced and detailed guitar solos into the mix while Connolly and Fairley kept the foot-stomping beat alive. Kaufman used his extensive knowledge of the keyboard to fill in the spaces with blissful organ tones.

Miller said he loves to perform classic rock ‘n’ roll because of the pure format the genre comes with.

“It’s the sound, man. Everyone can play their instruments and sing. They aren’t faking it,” he said. “Now you’re hiding behind a soundboard and somebody is messing with your vocals and putting makeup all over it. It’s just so raw. It’s true.”

Connolly, who joined the band shortly after its formation, said the Riders play a style of music that served as the basis for many modern day musical trends.

“There is a magic about it and I feel those influences in almost all of the modern rock ‘n’ roll,” Connolly said. “They are the roots of some of the modern sounds.”

Kaufman has played this style of music in Carbondale for years now. While sitting in with another Peoria-based band, Art of Ill Fusion, at the 2013 Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, he had a chance to play with Miller and was asked to hop on the Easy Riders train, he said.

Kaufman said he jumped at the opportunity to travel out west with the band when Miller invited him to tour through Colorado with him last year.

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“I’m a full-time keyboard player,” he said. “If I can go play, I’m going to go play.”

Easy Riders has seen much success since its founding. As the house band for the VIP tent at Summer Camp for the last four years, the band has played with some top touring national acts; in 2013, Miller was asked to sit in on an improvisational set with bass legend Victor Wooten.

The band was selected to represent Peoria for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., in 2010 and has opened for well-known bands including The Marshall Tucker Band and the Johnny Winter Band.

In 2013, Easy Riders performed more than 100 shows across the country. The band will travel back to Peoria after playing a small winter tour through Illinois.

Kyle Sutton can be reached at [email protected] or 536-3311.

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