You could watch every episode of American Idol or some other reality talent show and never come across a performer as talented and authentic as Erica Blinn. Forming her first combo at 16, Erica had the natural charisma to capture a crowd with her powerful voice and stage swagger and the musical chops on guitar and blues harp to hang with the big dogs. 

“This is Midwestern, heartland rock ‘n’ roll with nods to other no-nonsense female band leaders like Chrissie Hynde and Pat Benatar. If that’s your bread, Blinn is your butter.” -The Other Paper, Done Waiting, Joel Oliphint

"She's been making her biggest strides as a singer-songwriter. Though she identifies her sound as blues rock, her rough-and-tumble rock tunes carry a whiff of Bonnie Raitt, with a saucy attitude and melodic twang that veers near to Nashville-ready country." -Columbus Dispatch, October 10, 2011 

Interview series with Brian Phillips (CD 102.5)

Building The Team pt. 1

Building The Team pt. 2

Radio/Jukebox

50 Questions with Erica Blinn: A Conversation Between Erica and Colin Gawel

CG: Who are your five favorite bands? 

EB: J. Geils (pre- "Love Stinks"), The Allman Brothers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Thin Lizzy, The MC5.

CG: Who are your five favorite solo artists?   

EB: Susan Tedeschi, Bob Seger, Linda Ronstadt, John Hiatt, Kasey Anderson.

CG: Have you ever shot a gun?

EB: yep 

CG: at what?

EB: paper targets 

CG: What are your five favorite albums?

EB: “Live Bullet” - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
"August And Everything After" - Counting Crows
“Hope and Desire” - Susan Tedeschi
“Band of Gypsys” - Band of Gypsys (Hendrix, Miles, Cox)
“Sloppy Seconds” - The J. Geils Band

CG: What are your five favorite songs?

EB: "Like Teenage Gravity" - Kasey Anderson
“Take It To The Limit” - The Eagles
“Lost Your Number” - Terry Anderson & The Olympic Ass-Kickin Team
“Young And In Love” - Madison Square Gardeners
“Synthesizers” - Butch Walker

CG: Have you ever dug a grave?

EB: yes. 

CG: at what job?

EB: Summer job at the City of Dublin 

CG: If you could sing like a combination of two singers who would it be?

EB: Don Henely & Mariah Carey. or Rod Stewart & Etta James.

CG: What guitars do you currently own?

EB: '77 Gibson Les Paul, '78 Gibson J-200, late 70s Gibson L6S, '65 & '69 Fender Mustangs, '68 Gibson Melody Maker, John Lennon signature epiphone Casino, '80 Gibson 'firebrand' SG.

CG: What guitar do you wish you owned?

EB: an old Gretsch electric hollowbody.  

CG: What amplifiers do you play?

EB: Fender Vibrolux, Fender Deluxe Reverb. 

CG: Who inspired you to play Harmonica?

EB: Delyn Christian and Magic Dick 

CG: What are your favorite bars in Columbus?

EB: Rumba Cafe, Tree Bar, Dick's Den, Woodland's Tavern, any bar that sells cans of Blatz, Schlitz, Strohs, PBR, or anything else cheap & cold.

CG: What are your favorite bars in Raliegh?

EB: Sadlack’s, Slim’s, Deep South, Raleigh Times, Kings, The Pour House.

CG: How old were you when you knew you wanted to play rock n roll for the rest of your life?

 EB: seven years old.

CG: How old were you at your first gig?

EB: fourteen.

CG: How old were you when you wrote your first song?

EB: ten? twelve?...young. 

CG: What is the most extensive repair job you have done on your motorcycle personally?

EB: I tore the engine (883 ccs) apart and had the cylinders bored out to 1200 ccs then I re-built the engine with 1200 pistons.

CG: What was your favorite Halloween costume you ever wore?

EB: My grandma made my sister and I these awesome matching Little Mermaid costumes when we were little. Last year I went as a zombie and had latex 'skin' that peeled off... that was pretty sweet. I wore it on stage with The Apple Bottom Gang.

CG: If you could go on a spending spree at any three stores where would you go?

EB: Ace In The Hole Music (CDs & Records), someplace where they sell vintage guitars, someplace where they sell vintage cars & motorcycles. 

CG: What movie do you find yourself watching over and over?

EB: Harold & Maude, The Big Lebowski, Blazing Saddles, Drop Dead Gorgeous.

CG: What would you cook if hosting a dinner party?

EB: BBQ ribs, asparagus, & mashed sweet potatoes.

CG: What is your drink of choice on a hot day?

EB: bourbon. 

CG: In a snowstorm?

EB: bourbon. 

CG: Where would you eat your last three meals?

EB: Breakfast: Nancy's Home Cooking
Lunch: My fav. sushi joint. It’d be convenient to die on a Wednesday    though cause rolls are half price on Tuesdays.
Dinner: a nice steakhouse

CG: Do you prefer the beach or mountains?

EB: Beach 

CG: What are your three favorite cities to spend 24 hours?

EB: Raleigh, NC; Austin, TX. I like Los Angeles but ONLY for about 24 hours... 

CG: What three cities would you love to visit?

EB: Chicago, Las Vegas,   

CG: What is your favorite book/author?

EB: The Bridges of Madison County - Robert J Waller. 

CG: What qualities do you find attractive in a person?

EB: Confidence, a kind heart, easy going, ability to have fun anywhere and with anyone.

CG: What turns you off?

EB: jealousy, bad attitudes, insecurities.

CG: What are your three favorite concerts you have personally attended?

EB: Aerosmith with Cheap Trick, Bob Seger, Paul McCartney.

CG: What are your favorite sports teams?

EB: is bowling a sport? 

CG: Smoke  y/n

EB: I like cigars.

CG: Drink  y/n

EB: yes please 

CG: Do you have any pets?

EB: yeah, that thorn-in-my-side nineteen year old cat that I love with all of my heart. 

CG: How many tattos do you have?

EB: two swallows (one on each shoulder blade) and a large piece on my upper arm 

CG: Did they hurt?

EB: yes. a lot. especially the shoulder blades.  

CG: What are your favorite TV shows?

EB: I don't own a television but I like to watch DVDs of Arrested Development and Flight of The Conchords.

CG: TV Stations?

EB: I'm out of touch. 

CG: Favorite website?

EB: allreceipes.com and grooveshark.com

CG: Where do you find new music?

EB: mostly from friends or local record store Ace In The Hole, sometimes from pandora.

CG: What celebrity would you like to have a drink with?

EB: Keith Richards 

CG: What would you do if you couldn't play music?

EB: restore/rebuild classic cars & motorcycles.