It's all in fun and games for The Eric St- Cyr Band

By Jessica Cunha

cunh0005@algonquincollege.com

Eric St-Cyr has really made a name for himself. Having played in many different bands for years and seeing them fall apart, the radio broadcasting grad, decided to create his own, aptly titled The Eric St-Cyr Band.

A mix of acoustic and alternative rock, this band isn’t trying to become the next big thing, but have fun performing and practicing. “We’re not trying to do anything beyond [what we’re doing now]. We do it for fun, not to make it,” said St-Cyr.

The band members – who include St-Cyr on vocals and guitar, Eric Hitsman on guitar and vocals, Ryan Cahill on bass, Chris Zimmerman on drums, and St-Cyr’s brother Jason on keys and guitar – all agree that the faster they can get off the stage to drink and dance with their friends, the better.

They try not to take themselves too seriously and laugh about the many mishaps they’ve had.

During a Canada Day performance at the Thirsty Toad, Cahill fell off the high stage, but took it in stride. Hitsman tripped on a wire, landing on and breaking an $800 acoustic guitar. But the real winner was an inebriated fan, said St-Cyr. After continuously lifting her shirt for the band members, she jumped on stage during their encore. The band couldn’t see what she was doing, but noticed an abundance of cell phone cameras. Turned out she was having so much fun, she couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time and wet herself.

“Don’t play in a rock and roll band,” Jason said laughing. “It’s not good for your image.”

Although the band itself isn’t looking for a contract, Hitsman is currently in the works of completing his CD. St-Cyr said the law clerk grad, “is going to take the music industry by storm, [the CD] it’s fantastic.”

Aside from performing and writing music, St-Cyr’s real passion lies in teaching. Since the age of 19, he had a dream of opening his own music academy to teach others his love of music. After being turned down for a loan by the bank, St-Cyr worked hard to save his pennies.

A year and a half ago, Eric’s Academy of Music was officially opened for business. Having started teaching a dozen students out of his house, the academy boasts around 150. “People hang out here even on their days off,” said St-Cyr of his bandmates and co-workers, which include Cahill and Hitsman.

St-Cyr gave Cahill bass lessons while he was still in high school. Now completing his science degree in psychology at the University of Ottawa, Cahill is among the handful of teachers at the academy.

“We all take music pretty seriously,” said St-Cyr, who writes the majority of the bands material. “It’s personal bullshit I have to go through. Sometimes it’s just story writing ... Sometimes words just sound good together.”

“He writes the story of life,” said Jason.

With their first headlining show coming up at Zaphods on Dec. 17, the guys are excited to have all five members performing together for the first time.  “It’ll be fun to hear all five of us,” said St-Cyr.