Bill & Eli Perras: Home
Guitah' Bill (on left) and Ms. Eli (on right)
Bill & Eli Perras are Performers of Original Inspired Acoustic Folk, Blues and Activist Music from DeLand, FL.
The many inspired lyrics given to and interpreted by Eli, combined with Bill's expertise bluesy finger-style guitar playing create a very uniquely modern take on true Americana music in its purest form. Receiving much recognition for their tightly woven musical creativity, and having opened for some long time musical masters such as Bill Staines, John Gorka, Jack Williams, Anne Feeney, Scott Ainslie, Emma's Revolution, and Paul Geremia; they humbly remain true to their personal values. They continue to speak out with strong heartfelt lyrics accompanied by soulful genuine pentatonic rhythms against social injustices, corporate greed, and daily follies in everyday life. They can grip your heart, search your soul, change a mindset, or softly strike a funny bone, all the while leaving the audience with a sentiment for the common good we desire in all mankind.
THIS JUST IN:
From Sing Out! Magazine
Vol. 52 No. 1 - Spring 2008 - Page 110
BILL AND ELI PERRAS CD - "Runnin' Outta' Georgia"
After listening to this release from the Perras' I would have selected "I Had a Dream" as the title cut, as it speaks to their dreams for change, the need to make good of bad, right of wrong. "If only my dreams could come true," they sing. Their songs of protest . a magnifying glass applied to our society and a marker underlining the issues that require discussion and debate. Each has its own unique sound and groove, its own mission, and all creating an interesting mix.
One of the strongest messages comes with "Front Page News," Bill's slow, loping guitar blues about the Katrina disaster, venting all of our frustration and anger over the aftermath of the storm and the lack of response. With frustration closer to home, "Housewife Blues" is Eli's response to all of those who question the workload of the housewife, a little tongue and cheek but speaking truth to word, giving ammunition to those who feel the need to defend their good work. The similarities between modern times and the times most of us boomers grew up in seem to go unnoticed by many, but the déjà vu feeling I have doesn't escape the Perras family. They've resurrected a Country Joe McDonald ode to peace, "Free Someday," a ballad the band used to sing outside White House during the Vietnam war era. "We'll all be free someday" they hope.
Even closer to home is the heart and Eli's unaccompanied ballad, "Julia Buttefly", is a tribute to their granddaughter who passed away far too soon. It reaches us all deep inside and speaks to the sorrow that gives birth to the blues. Even though the melody resembles an early-American hymn, it is draped in the spirit of the blues. "Tribute to a Friend" is equally as poignant and personal as they deal with the loss of a close friend.
Throughout, the duo is assisted by a collective of musicians they call the Florida Acoustic Segue Orchestra, playing stand-up bass, piano, banjo, percussion and slide. Of the performers, I was driven most to the slide work of Steve Rinker. His Dobro solo on "Housewife" is sweet and soulful with just enough sass, and his riffing with electric (lap steel?) slide on "Florida Blues" and "Paid Your Dues" really caught my ear. Great tone and sustain in all the right places. Stan Geberer's phrasing on harmonica on "Tribute" adds another sad voice to the mix and really helps set the mood of the piece.
This is a collection of topical songs that point to the social issues that frustrate us every day, from corporate injustice to the homeless, from political inaction to stereo-types, and prejuice. Each song thoughtfully brings the human condition to light and most offer a silver lining, the possibility of change if we get off our butts and reach out to each other. Their website is BluesGotUs. Hopefully their "blues" will get us. --- RDG
Clip from house concert in Ormond Beach, FL
Some of the venues where Bill & Eli have shared their music are:
All That Jazz Cafe - Cocoa, FL
Barberville Pioneer Days – Barberville, FL
Barrington Coffee House - Barrington, NJ
DeLand Original Music Festival – Deland, FL
FairGrinds Coffeehouse - New Orleans, LA
Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice Pick-In - Hampton, FL
Florida Folk Festival – White Springs, FL
Folk's Cafe - Wilmington, NC
Freedom Blues Festival – Tallahassee, FL
Gamble Rogers Folk Festival – St. Augustine, FL
Great Hudson Sloop Revival - Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Kerrville Folk Festival - Kerrville, TX
Koolbeanz Coffeehouse – Cocoa, FL
Lake County Folk Festival - Eustis, FL
Leu Gardens Concert Series - Orlando, FL
Mosaic Concert Series - Lake Helen, FL
Neutral Ground Coffeehouse - New Orleans, LA
Rose Garden Restaurant & Pub - Upton, MA
Sacred Grounds Coffee House - Tampa, FL
Sailing Squadron - Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Folk Festival - Sarasota, FL
Skipper's Smokehouse - Tampa, FL
South Florida Folk Festival – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp – St. Petersburg, FL
Will McLean Music Festival – Dade City, FL
"Eli and Bill are very soft-spoken, humble people. Musically the stuff they do is quite polished. It's about as close as anyone, here, comes to recalling, in our time, the authentic sound of traditional American Music." – Sir Charles Atkins
"Thank-you for your deliberate contribution to better society." – Stetson Kennedy
"Bill's guitar courts Eli's voice so lyrically, caresses it, sustains it, supports it, enriches it, and yet the words come through so clearly, the soul flourishes in the sound. I am so jealous." – Ann Thomas
"Good going, Bill & Eli! Keep on changing the world one song at a time." – Amy Carol Webb
"The songs are all very pleasing and you guys obviously have a lot of talent and a good presence musically. I love Bill's ideas on the guitar." – Steve Gillette
"I like your CD alot. Good solid guitar playing and great topical songs sung with verve. Keep singing your dreams." – David Massengill
"The entire CD flows with a sense of love, and insight into the plights of life, and Florida. I would point out my favorites, but I love them all!" – Jak Kelly
"Honest, direct and unpretentious. The sound is pure, homegrown folk with that signature Perras blues feel. Crisp and clear throughout." – Doug Spears
"Having produced a lot of CDs over the years I can say that the playing, singing and production are fine and the songs are beautiful and really inspiring. Keep up the good work." – Michael Falzarano
"I don't usually deliberately listen to other people's stuff, but I'm glad I made an exception. There is a sweetness and honesty, in this record that speaks volumes, but sweetness and honesty in music are hard won in other places than "the woodshed". The players couldn't have been better, had you gone to the ends of the earth to get them, and you used just enough on each song. Good sequencing, good playing. Great mixing, too!" – Panama Red
