Eric Goldstein
From love to loss, to good times and bad, my songs are a reflection on 50+ years of life. My style has been described as “taking Tom Petty, adding in a dash of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a couple of teaspoons of Bob Dylan, and a glass or two of fine sippin’ whiskey!”
What part of First Coast do you reside now and how long have you lived there?
I live in Nocatee and have been here since late 2018
When did you know you had an interest in music
Probably the first time I heard the Beatles as a kid. It moved me in a way that nothing had ever done before and made us want to play, write and sing.
Did you start with any specific instrument and migrate to other instruments?
It’s always been guitar for me.
Are you currently in a band (or bands)?
Not currently, these days I’m just having too much fun as a solo performer, but I’m always too jam.
Who is your favorite musician or what musician influenced you the most?
Wow, tough question! Overall probably John Lennon, but Dylan, the Grateful Dead, and Ray Davies have all played a big part in my musical journey
Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?
My song, “Open Your Heart” won a Best Song of the Month award from Akademia Music in 2018 which was pretty cool. But really, any time I play a show and I see feet tapping and happy faces, it’s a fantastic feeling!
What area bands or musicians are at the top of your list to go out to hear?
Jinxx is a great local band, Bedrock too. The Pink Paisleys and the Just Us Band also rock. Derryck Lawrence Music is an act not to miss as well along with Henry Lawrence Music and Joe Downing
Do you have a favorite venue that you enjoy playing locally?
Love playing for the folks at Nocatee and Nocatee’s Dick’s Wings. The Moose Lodge in Jax Beach and American Legion Post 129 are also a lot of fun to play.
Do you have any gigs coming up to tell our readers about?
I’m really excited to be making my debut at Whiskey Jax Beaches on June 10th and I’ll be at Island Girl Cigar Bar on Gate Pkwy on June 17th. I’m at Dick’s Wings Nocatee the last Friday of every month.
What is the best way for musicians to network?
Get out to open mics/jams, like local musicians’ FB pages and when you aren’t gigging, get out to local shows!
Are there any local venue owners/managers that you would like to rave about?
Hal Austin and Heidzalyn at Austin Entertainment Management are the best! Also, both Arianna at Dick’s and Sheryl at Veterans United Craft Brewery are awesome!
If you had a question you would like to ask another musician what would it be?
Hmm, another tough one, I’d love to sit down with Ray Davies and talk songwriting or with Zac Brown to talk about performing. It’s a long list!
What’s the best thing for you about living on the First Coast?
The people, the music scene, and the weather all rock; I love it here!
Is there anything else that you want to tell everyone?
Just to live life to the fullest and share some love each and every day!
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Mike is a native First Coaster and was a leading figure in surfing and skateboarding for most of his life. After promoting music for many years on the local music scene, Mike now brings a unique perspective to FirstCoast.Life as a contributing writer.
