Uptowner is kicking off the first Friday of the semester with a live performance by Edward David Anderson.

Anderson is no stranger to the venue.

His old band “Backyard Tire Fire” played at Macs’ Uptowner years ago and a few months ago, he shared the stage with Chicago Farmer, a fellow folk singer and songwriter. Anderson grew up in a musical household and was 16 years old when his dad showed him how to play the basic chords on a guitar.

He said he has not “put it down since.” He said both his Gram and Aunt Deb, who wrote and released recordings of her own, had beautiful singing voices.

“I’ve been pretty lucky. Most folks don’t get to do this for their living and I certainly don’t take it for granted,” Anderson said. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point, writing hundreds of sounds, playing thousands of shows and driving hundreds of miles.”

When Anderson hits a bump in the road, he said playing and writing keeps him moving forward. “I love new ideas, and I have always gotten a rush from performing,”he said. Anderson said he plays by himself on stage in a “one-man-band form.”

Kicking a bass drum with his right foot, hitting a tambourine with his left, playing a multiple of stringed instruments and a harmonica and kazoo, Anderson said he creates high energy, foot stomping, Americana roots music all on his own. Anderson said he draws inspiration from many musicians, including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Wilco.

If he could open for any musician, Anderson said he would pick Neil Young, his biggest influence as a writer and a musician. Anderson said music is his religion.

“The first thing I do in the morning is pick up a guitar and the last thing I do at night is put it down,” Anderson said.“It’s a way for me to try to make sense of things.”

While performing on stage, Anderson said he blocks out everything else and lives in the moment. One of his favorite places to perform is The Frog Pond at The Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL where five writers share the stage. Anderson said the crowd is engaged and silent while they all exchange stories and songs without rehearsal.

Anderson said he is huge Los Lobos fan, an American rock band inspired by several genres such as country, folk and blues. Anderson said his craziest experience during a concert was when he and his old band “Backyard Tire Fire” opened for Los Lobos and were invited back to play the encore.

“It was surreal,” Anderson said.

He said after that night, he played more shows with the band’s Steve Berlin, a Grammy winning producer and saxophone player. Anderson’s advice for aspiring musicians is that it is never too late to pick up an instrument. Students, familiar faces, and first timers can catch Anderson’s concert at Macs’ Uptowner located on 623 Monroe Ave. The concert starts at 9:30 p.m. Macs’ Uptowner’s general manager, Clay Weber, said the live music performances genres ranges.

“(It’s) anything from country to rock n roll cover bands,”  Weber said.

Weber said the crowd consists of mixed ages and groups of people.  Anderson performed at Macs’ Uptowner back in the spring, and Weber said in past years Anderson took the stage with his band “Backyard Fire Tire”.  Others who are interested in listening to Anderson’s music or cannot make it to his concert can check out his music on his website at http://www.edwarddavidanderson.com/. His website also features the music video, which was shot at his favorite venue, for his new song “Silverhill.”

Carole Hodorowicz can be reached at 581-2812 or cdhodorowicz@eiu.edu.