The Evolution of Eric Bachmann
Eric Bachmann has spent decades crafting an expansive and compelling musical journey, evolving from the raw, defiant energy of Archers of Loaf—a cornerstone of 90s indie rock—to the introspective, genre-defying work of his solo career.
With Archers of Loaf, Bachmann helped define a sound that inspired a generation of musicians, combining jagged guitars, poignant lyricism, and unrelenting intensity. But his work didn’t stop there. After the band’s dissolution, Bachmann carved a new path, exploring lush chamber arrangements with Crooked Fingers and later delving into starkly personal songwriting under his own name.
This Florida tour brings Bachmann full circle in more ways than one. Beyond his storied discography, he holds a personal connection to the state, having spent formative years in Pinellas County. His time there shaped his resilience and perhaps even foreshadowed the itinerant life of a touring musician. As he prepares to play for Florida audiences, Bachmann reflects on his ever-evolving relationship with his own music, the balancing act of honoring past and present, and his enduring commitment to creative reinvention. Whether performing beloved Archers tracks, Crooked Fingers’ haunting melodies, or his own reflective ballads, Bachmann approaches each show with the spirit of an artist continually searching for deeper connection and meaning.
Archers of Loaf left a significant mark on the indie rock scene. How did your experience with the band shape your evolution as a solo artist?
After Archers ended in 1998, I didn’t want to stop making records and touring. So I just kept doing what I had been doing, only without the dynamic filter of Matt, Mark, and EJ. At the time, I relished the idea of a new direction and the freedom to do whatever I wanted: less guitar, more chamber arrangements, and looping. I ended up missing our chemistry quite a bit, though, after a few years without it. For me—and my role in the band—songwriting was always important. So, after Archers, I pushed that to the forefront.
Looking back on your career, is there a particular song or album that stands out as a defining moment for you?
Not really. My relationships with my own songs are constantly morphing. Songs I used to hate playing I now like playing and vice versa. In general, I’m too self-critical to enjoy listening to any of them, which is strange because I enjoy performing them. Cognitive dissonance. And at this point I won’t play a song if I'm not currently enjoying performing it. There are enough to choose from after all these years.
This tour through Florida, how do you approach performing for audiences who may know you from different stages of your career?
I try to play at least one or two songs from each of the Archers, Crooked Fingers, and solo records. I also try to take requests. I can only hold about 50 songs in my head lyrically, though, so I have to turn a few requests down. If I can play it, though, and it’s requested, I’ll do it.
What's on your road trip playlist right now?
Mostly, I try to talk as little as possible before and after singing so as not to shred my voice for the next night. And I use the driving time by myself to write lyrics. So I don’t listen to any music while on tour if I’m by myself. Norman Mailer advised not to read any other writers while in the process of writing your own and I’ve found that to be effective for me musically as well. I just finished a record, though, so right now, at home, I’m rocking out to EELS by Being Dead. And Daisy Rickman. And Matt Berninger’s new record, which isn’t out yet, but I used my rock and roll connections to snag a copy.
What are you most looking forward to about playing for audiences in Florida? Are there particular places that hold special meaning for you?
From age 6 to 11, I grew up in Pinellas County. My parents divorced when I was 7, and we were in Saint Pete at the time. My mother moved us from place to place for a while, all over that area of Florida. It taught me how to tour, in a way. I’ve witnessed more crime firsthand in Florida than anywhere else, and I’m looking forward to no crime at the shows.
As someone with such a rich and diverse career, what advice would you give to younger songwriters navigating the music industry today?
No advice, really. The good ones coming up don’t need any advice. They already know.
Eric Bachmann’s Listening Room Show
February 9 - GFAA - Gainesville, FL
