Eric Schaffer was heading home from a gig in Flagstaff when he turned to his wife and made a crazy proposal: Let's get lost out here on the road.
Hence was the inspiration and the opening sentiments of Shaffer's new Eric & the Troublemakers' CD, "Crazy Road Trip," which he is releasing with a gig Wednesday, June 20, at Monterey Court.
Schaffer, an East Coast native who's lived in Tucson just short of a dozen years, goes south of the border on the Latin-flavored "Beer Tastes Better in Mexico" and straddles the line between country and Western on "Right Day," a song that takes a "whew dodged that bullet" attitude about going on the wagon.
Schaffer has been described as a folk singer, but his style falls more squarely into Americana, the hodgepodge of styles that borrows from country, folk, pop and rock with strong regional accents. The love song "Even Now" is straight up 1970s radio pop, and his cover of "I Need You," which Tim McGraw and Faith Hill turned into a hit a few years back, feels warm and familiar in Schaffer's well-worn, emotive baritone.
He's an award-winning songwriter whose lyrics are rich and tight, painting pictures of a couple dancing a waltz in "One Two Three," featuring the talented Tucson vocalist Liz Cerepanya, and bringing out the earthy red hues of Sedona in the fiddle-rich "Tangled Empty Sheets." The album closes with crunchy rock guitars and a bit of hallelujah when "the gospel choir sings amen / I feel amazing grace again" and "pray that tonight / love wins."
Eric and the Other Troublemakers β Schaffer, Alvin Blaine, Jaye Parks and Duncan Stitt β go on stage at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile. Admission is free.Β
On Thursday, June 21, they play Skybar, 536 N. Fourth Ave., beginning at 8 p.m. There is no charge.Β Follow Schaffer on Facebook.
