Bigger opportunities await Eicher

By John Benson

JD Eicher said opening for big names feels ‘like a motivating nervous.’

A little more than three years ago, JD Eicher made his singer-songwriter debut performing for his classmates at his 2005 Canfield High School graduation ceremony.

As far as career aspirations were concerned, one could hardly ask for a more conspicuous beginning.

Today, the Canfield native is about to take the next step forward with his band JD Eicher The Goodnights.

“We’re kind of an alternative-indie band,” said Eicher, who was born in Youngstown and reared in Canfield. “We do acoustic music, that kind of thing. I had been playing as a solo performer but I just decided with the band it gives you a lot more opportunities, and I just kind of wanted to fill out the sound.

“When I played solo, I would hear a lot of other instruments and things that could be added. So finally I just broke down and went through the motions [to put together a band]. I think our vibe is somewhere between the Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab for Cutie, Damien Rice and John Mayer.”

Not only does the rock act kick off its first two-week Midwest and East Coast tour with a free acoustic show planned for Thursday at the Rosetta Stone in Youngstown, but the band also scored a side-stage opening gig for the Rod Stewart-Bryan Adams show Saturday at Blossom Music Center.

The latter date, which came as a result of being handpicked by Cleveland weekly Scene Magazine, is naturally something special.

“This will probably be our biggest show yet and obviously we’re really excited about it,” Eicher said. “It’s going to be a fun experience. Yeah, we’re nervous, but it’s a good nervous. It’s kind of like a motivating nervous.

“They said that with Rod Stewart’s music, just keep it upbeat. It kind of has that similar sensibility to it, but we’ll just see where it goes. I like Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams. Even that’s exciting, just to get to play for somebody you like.”

With more than 30 live dates to its credit, JD Eicher The Goodnights — Eicher, Jordan Graham (bass, guitar), Louis Simeone (violin, electric mandolin) and Ryan Kirk (drums) — recently finished recording a five-track demo that includes band favorite “You Are,” which is uptempo and features a wall-of-sound motif.

With plenty on his calendar, Eicher isn’t shy about his aspirations for not only his band’s future but also the Northeast Ohio music scene in general.

“I love the area and the Youngstown scene,” Eicher said.

“It’s finally really starting to grow, and it’s really coming around. So I’m really excited about that, and I’m excited about the band. We just need to keep rolling and moving. I think after we go on tour, and after Rod Stewart, there’s kind of like, ‘We just did this, now how can we move in the right direction?’

“So just keeping that going will be the hardest part. It always is.”