Modern pop-rock, with influences including Elvis Costello, The Beatles, Neil Finn, Jon Brion, Aimee Mann, Paul Westerberg/The Replacements, Bruce Springsteen, Beck,
Jeff Buckley, U2 and Tom Waits.
“SAVING SECRET GRACE” is an energetic but thoughtful 10 song pop-rock recording ; familiar and classic in its guitar/bass/drums/keys arrangements, yet fresh and modern sounding in its clean , subtle production: an accessable and unique mix .
Eric’s music combines the elements of rock, r + b/soul, country/americana and Brit-pop to explore the subjects of personal and emotional politics of human life. Equally important is his hope of connecting to as many people as possible from the stance of a post -modern pop mutt, unique but accessable; lyrically and musically trying to link everyday chaos with everyday calm.

RECENT PRESS/REVIEWS

"The first thing that strikes you is the sound. On the fourth track, Everybody Knows, the acoustic guitar feels so crisp, so intimate, youd think it was in the same room. In fact, theres a lot of good guitar on Eric Fontanas new album, Saving Secret Grace, a record that surpassess his previous work and is one of the years most entertaining listens. Recorded, tracked, and mixed by Scott at Dream Edit in Newport, and assembled in many parts of the country, including Tennessee and Arizona, Fontana has taken a major leap in songwriting, and the advanced studio polish spotlights that growth. The sound, rootsy, and janglin in a Byrdsian/Petty kind of way, resonates with a classic vibe. Fall On You has a Roy Orbison feel, while Scattering echoes the vintage Knopfler Strat sound of early Dire Straits. On Lover Dont Let Me Down Again, Eric tones it down to an almost contemporary folk sound a la Bill Morrissey, complete with endearing rasp. And the bluesy rock of A Little Push has the unmistakable disheveled grooves of the Faces and the Stones. All of Fontanas new work is organic and melodic, and weighted with meaningful lyrics. With the help of Mike Levesque and Bob Giusti on drums and bassist Steve Mackey, the performance is tasteful, classy, and consistent. Were not sure what this accomplishment means for Fontana, but it sure would be nice if someone got behind this puppy and gave it a push. Its more than worthy of a way larger audience. In fact, it demands one."
-Bob Gulla 8/2006 , The Providence Phoenix
www.thephoenix.com

"Wish" starts things off with bouncy pop with handclaps but the rock is offset by a couple of smokey, delicate ballads. The track "Give" is in waltz time with a blazing guitar solo, and also appears on the "Rock Out With Your Tail" Out compilation (shameless plug). Whether it's Paul Westerberg-ish crafty pop, the traces of Soul Asylum, or the Graham Parker-y vocals, you got yer blues, crisp pop, honkeytonk, and swing- all styles effortlessly well accomplished."
-- mark , 9/01/06
'75 or less' www.75orless.com


dutch anyone ?
"Steeds vaker constateer ik dat Roots rock bandjes eigenzinnig teruggrijpen naar materiaal wat lijkt op legendarische rock bands uit de zeventiger en tachtiger jaren. Niets mis mee overigens, maar daar schuilt wel direct het gevaar dat je daarop ook juist word afgerekend. Met name de wat oudere luisteraar pleegt dit te doen. Kruip daarom even in de huid van deze solo singer-songwriter die nog steeds helemaal uit zijn dak kan gaan bij muziek afkomstig van Elvis Costello, The Beatles, Neil Finn, Aimee Mann, Paul Westerberg/The Replacements, Beck, Jeff Buckley, U2 en Tom Waits.Ik denk daarmee ook meteen de spijker op s'en kop te slaan als ik luister naar de derde cd: "Saving Secret Grace" van Eric Fontana. Eerder verscheen in 2000 het album "Sound Station Seven" en "Hats & Shoes" in 2003. En zoals op deze vorige platen is "Saving Secret Grace" wederom een solo album geworden, hetgeen haast mag gezegd worden want Fontana schreef en zong in zijn eentje alle songs op dit album en bespeelde daarbij ook vele verschillende instrumenten. Op deze gevarieerde plaat kan u dus elementen vinden uit rock, folk, country, Americana, rhythm & blues tot zelfs Britpop toe. De mooiste momenten zijn wel de swingende opener "Wish", het rustige "Everybody Knows" en de soulvolle afsluitende titeltrack. Absolute hoogtepunt is volgens ons wel het Chris Rea getinte "Scattering", pure Britpop als het ware. Dit album "Saving Secret Grace" heeft een modern pop rock aroma met een humeurige smaak, waaraan ik in ieder geval een buitengewone lekkere nasmaak aan over heb gehouden."
- benny, ROOTSTIME Holland
www.rootstime.com

ERIC FONTANA

Having gained invaluable experience as a touring/studio musician, Eric's first performance as a solo singer-songwriter was opening for Kristen Hirsh of The Throwing Muses. Since then, he has performed with such notables as Ben Folds, Howie Day, Anna Nalick, Tanya Donelly, They Might Be Giants, Erin McKeown, Jason Mraz, Josh Ritter, Melissa Ferrick, John Wesley Harding and Soul Coughing lead singer Doughty.
Nominated for Best Male Vocal category in the 2001 , 2005 and 2006 Providence Phoenix Music Poll, Eric has also performed on the Local Stage at the Newport Folk Festival and the Northampton Music Festival, in addition to live radio broadcasts on WHJY, WBRU, WRIU, WXIN (R.I.), WICN (Worcester, Ma.), WSMU (Dartmouth, Ma.), WERS (Boston, Ma.) and radioboston.com.
Eric's third and latest CD, "Saving Secret Grace", was recorded in 2005 at Dream Edit Studio in Newport , R.I, and features
Mike Levesque (David Bowie, Letters to Cleo, Reeves Gabriel, Jen Trynin, Juliana Hatfield) and Bob Giusti (Frank Black) on drums , with Steve Mackey (Deana Carter, Wynonna Judd, Lee Roy Parnel,
Steve Wariner, Tricia Yearwood) adding bass tracks in Nashville, Tenn.
Mastered at Headpop Digital , in Chandler, AZ. by sound engineer Scott Seymann (Motown, MCA and Sony Records, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Fox Animation Films for the motion pictures
"Anastasia" and "Titan A.E."), "SAVING SECRET GRACE" is an energetic but thoughtful 10 song pop-rock recording , familiar and classic in its guitar/bass/drums/keys arrangements, yet fresh and modern sounding in its clean , subtle production. Released in August 2006, "SAVING SECRET GRACE" is Eric's follow up to "HATS AND SHOES" (2003), and "SOUND STATION SEVEN" (2001).
Showing wide influences such as Paul Westerburg/The Replacements, Beck, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Finn, Aimee Mann, Badly Drawn Boy, Jon Brion, Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty, Jeff Buckley, Cheap Trick, John Fogerty/Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Billy Joel, U2, and Elvis Costello, Eric wrote, sang and co-produced all ten tracks, as well as playing all guitar and keyboard parts.
Nashville's Catamount Records has included "Don't," from his previous CD "HATS AND SHOES", on their HUAC2 (Hot Unsigned Artists of Americana Compilation 2) cd, featured at both the 2003 SXSW and Folk Alliance conferences in Austin, TX, as well as the previously unreleased "Hill of Fire" on their HUAC3 cd, featured at the 2004 Americana Music Association conference in Nashville, TN.
Eric's music combines the elements of rock, r + b/soul, country/americana and Brit-pop to explore the subjects of personal and emotional politics of human life. Equally important is his hope of connecting to as many people as possible from the stance of a post -modern pop mutt, unique but accessable; lyrically and musically trying to link everyday chaos with everyday calm.