ERIK BALKEY: While the Paint Dries

Erik Balkey

While the Paint Dries

© 2004 Erik Balkey

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Contemporary folk singer-songwriter, acoustic poet, storyteller and wordsmith.

tracks

1 Give Love, Amen
2 Like Billy the Kid
3 Baseball in my Blood
4 Silent Night
5 Time To Go
6 God's Poet Now
7 How Does this Poem End
8 Chase My Blues Away
9 We're Only Friends
10 Can I Make a Home
11 Livin in Lesserville
12 Someone to Call
13 Silent Night (acoustic)

notes

An engaging mix of honesty, intimacy and humor. An agile voice accompanied by sparse and deliberate guitar work. Dirty Linen Magazine says, "Balkey's confident delivery and sparse arrangements frame the songs with uncommon poise."

Erik Balkey has spent the last three years on the road. Keeping just a post office box in Philadelphia, he has taken to the road with his guitar and notebook as well as paint brushes and rollers. He picks up interior house painting jobs to sustain his travels, and performs over 200 times annually.

Prior to chosing a life on the road, Balkey began songwriting as part of the Red Bank, NJ music scene in 1994 before a four-year stint in New York City. Among the songwriters in the city, Balkey listened and learned as an active volunteer and performer as part of the Fast Folk Cafe scene of the nineties.

Gathering from his experiences and from his work on songwriting craft, Balkey wrote and recorded his debut album, "Negotiations & Compromise," in 2001. Michael Tearson of SingOut! Magazine wrote, "These songs are literate, exacting portraits in amber... Nicely played and beautifully recorded, this is a very rewarding album." In July 2003, Bakey released a seven-song EP,"God's Poet Now," as a benefit project for the Dave Carter Memorial Fund. Buddy Mondlock says of this collection of songs, "heartfelt songs about real emotions, gracefully portrayed."

His most recent release, "While the Paint Dries," was released in September 2004. The album contains songs that have garnered Balkey recognition in over a dozen songwriting competitions across the country including being named Kerrville New Folk Finalist (TX) and two-time selection as a Mountain Stage New Song Festival songwriting competition finalist (WV).

Balkey's albums have been played on radio stations across the country, each "charting" on the Folk DJ playlists with "God's Poet Now" peaking at No. 6 for most played album in July 2003. Radio deejays who have played his music include Gene Shay at WXPN in Philadelphia, John Platt at WFUV in New York City, Rich Warren at WFMT in Chicago, and Marilyn Beyer at WUMB in Boston. His tour stops include the Tin Angel in Philadelphia; the Six String Cafe in Cary, NC; Makor in New York City; Jammin Java in Vienna, VA; Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse in Dallas, TX.

Balkey is a member of the Folk Alliance and BMI. He writes the "Songwriter's Tour Guide." He has held volunteer positions with the Fast Folk Cafe (NYC), Music Among Friends (Hoboken, NJ), the Philadelphia Songwriters Alliance, and Nameless Coffeehouse (Cambridge, MA).

reviews

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  • Everyone should listen to this Guy sometime in their Life
    author: Mike Heeley, England

    This was my intro to Erik Balkey. This album has blown me away with its beautifully constructed tunes, lyrical brilliance and mood. Every song is first rate - the only CD like this since Fleetwod Mac's "Rumours" - can't stop playing it..

  • Amazing lyrics, smooth delivery, touching songs
    author: Amy Szarkowski

    This CD is wonderful! I have played it repeatedly since it arrived. The more I listen, the more the depth I can hear in these songs. This music is pure and real. Erik Balkey is a great folk singer.

  • Wonderful Album!
    author: J. A. Lowe

    "While the Paint Dries" is a beautiful album! I love the folksy sound and Balkey's lyrics are very poignant. "Baseball in my Blood" is a personal fave.

  • What a great album
    author: Ian Charles (IanCharlesPhotos.net)

    Bought this album after listening to the samples. What a great album for late nights or for relaxing to. Erik has a great voice and his songs are brilliantly crafted slices of life. You must buy this album, and I must check out his other work. (BTW I'm no relation to the other Ian Charles - I'm in the UK and a photographer)

  • Another great disc by Erik
    author: Ian Charles

    The fact that Erik has really found his voice's essence on this fine ,fine album is just touching the surface of whats happening with the performances. I think in years to come this will be looked at an early classic and will be looked at as a contemporary milestone for him. An artist with class, passion, and lyrical precision. My favorite folk disc of 2004.

  • you've gotta get this!!!
    author: Tommy Jay

    Erik Balkey's CDs keep getting better and better. This one sneaks up on you. You might not "get it" the first time you hear it, but the more you hear this, the more you enjoy it. Erik really expresses a lot of humanity in his lyrics. If there is any justice in the world, pretty soon he won't be a "well kept secret" anymore.

  • The continuing legacy
    author: Jack Charlman

    This is a wonder of a Cd from this prolific voice in the singer/songwriter genre. Truly a new folk artist. In touch with his own human-ness as much as the outside worlds. A joy to listen to. The opening song, "Give Love, Amen" is perfect. The rest of the cd doesn't let up in it's greatness. Love it. Baseball songs are nice too.

  • A true singer-songwriter with no pretensions
    author: david fiorenza

    A true singer-songwriter with no pretensions. Erik works hard touring and writing and this shows positively on his newest CD. I like the progression and maturity of his music from the prior CD's.

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