The well-loved bassist and Lowell native who performed with Nathan Kalish, Al & The Black Cats and DangerVille passed away unexpectedly on Monday. A memorial celebration will take place Friday.
‘Everyone Fell in Love’ with the ‘Force of Nature’: Eric Soules, at right, with Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers in 2015. (Photo/Taylor Mansen)
FEB. 26 UPDATE: A celebration of Eric Soules’ life will take place 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday (Feb. 28) at Bertha Brock Park (Palmer Lodge) at 2311 Bluewater Highway in Ionia. The family is requesting financial donations in the name of Christi Soules.
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Well-known West Michigan bassist Eric Soules of Lowell — who toured with Nathan Kalish, Al & The Black Cats, DangerVille and other bands — passed away at home unexpectedly on Monday, sparking heartfelt tributes from friends and fellow musicians.
Praised for being a “badass” bassist, a “force of nature” and having a big heart, Soules, 35, was a graduate of Lowell High School and first made a big splash with fellow Lowell musicians in the rockabilly band Al & The Black Cats. The old-school rockers recorded albums and became a big hit overseas, touring Europe regularly and playing major rockabilly festivals.
Kind-Hearted: Eric Soules (Courtesy Photo)
Soules later left the group, eventually hooking up with Grand Rapids-area singer-songwriter and alt-country/Americana artist Nathan Kalish.
He toured the country relentlessly with Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers, telling Local Spins in a 2015 interview:
“It’s not as grueling when you’re playing with someone you work well with. We started doing the honky-tonk thing and it developed into a more deliberate thing – writing songs together and arranging stuff. It’s been a pretty life-changing experience this last year,” he said.
“I feel like we’ve all grown as musicians, like a lot, and there’s a lot of rewards you don’t really think about because you’re having a good time.”
Kalish told Local Spins that they performed at “damn near every dive and honky-tonk from Maine to California” for more than three years and “were the closest thing to two broke hobos.”
Soules, he said, “played like a man playing for his next meal, his next beer and his next floor to sleep on.
“He developed the stage show that combined the humor of John Belushi, the voice of Roy Orbison and the passion of Bruce Springsteen — all that with the punk rock idealism that he was not a star or better than anyone else,” added Kalish, who said family members told him a cause of death hadn’t yet been determined.
A ‘ONE OF A KIND’ MUSICIAN WHO LEFT MANY SAD PEOPLE BEHIND
“He was a force of nature in all respects: unpredictable, destructive yet beautiful, and one of a kind. The first time we hit the road together, we didn’t even have enough money for the tolls when we hit Chicago. We did a few shows and decided to never go home.
At Tip Top Deluxe: Eric Soules. (Photo/Dan Terspstra)
“Other players would come and go in that time, but we stuck together as chosen brothers. Eric fell in love every night, and everyone fell in love with him every night, and there are many sad people scattered across the planet that are missing him.”
Soules is survived by his mother, Christi Soules (Scott Raimer); his sister, Erin (Ondray) Rudegeair; his daughters, Madeline Jayne and Eloise Nadine; his nieces and nephews, Annie, Logan, Lucas and Lexi; and his loving girlfriend, Colleen Pelz. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Soules; grandparents, Donald and Mary Verwys and Dean and Gladys McLeod; and his aunt, Amy Luna.
News of Soules’ death spread quickly on social media, with friends and fellow musicians posting remembrances and tributes on Facebook:
• BRAD VANDERJAGT – “There’s a big hole in my heart today after hearing of Eric’s passing. Long live Al & the Blacks Cats and much love to Eric’s family. Lowell Punx and Skins forever. Hope you’re giving them all something to rock ‘n’ roll about.”
• CHRIS HEITZMAN – “As soon as I met Eric Soules, we became fast friends. He had one of the biggest hearts in the world and to say he played the shit out of that bass would be putting it mildly. If you ever saw him play, you know what I mean.”
• KAREN ANNE – “I met Eric a couple days into my first tour with Nate. I was so nervous. He left big shoes to fill, being the bass-playing Lastcaller. He showed me slap tricks, gave me my first pedal tuner and the bass case I still use today. When the stresses of being on the road got almost too much to handle, he was always there via message to tell me the stress is temporary, I’ll be fine. It’s all worth it. I’m so grateful he was in my life for a bit. I hope to someday be half the badass bass player he was.”
• HANNAH STOUT – “I will keep you in my heart forever and I will never forget your incredible talents and amazing personality. We’ve been rockin’ since middle school, my friend, and I have so many fond memories with you.”
• ROBERT WILLIAM SCHELLENBERG III – “Another great West Michigan musician and friend taken too soon. Eric Soules, you always made open mic night at O’Toole’s special when you came through. I will miss you, brother.”
DangerVille: Eric Soules, Steve Aldrich and JimmieLee Danger (Rodery).
• JACE BALEREN – “Eric was a good guy. This past winter, he was telling me about his kid seeing snow for the first time. And now my prayers go out to them, and hope his kid is in good hands. It was so sudden but I will always cherish the smiles, the laughter a friend could offer.”
• MATT GOLDPAUGH – “Seriously gonna miss this dude. Eric Soules, you were an old and beautiful soul. You set the bar so high with singing and bass playing, that I had to step up my game.”
• JIM RODERY – “My fondest memories of him all involve working out music in the practice room. Oh, and our nine-hour road trip to get his 39 Gretsch bass.”
• JUSTIN STOVER – “Eric was a good guy, incredible musician and songwriter. He and Nathan played at my wedding. Did several shows with him. One of the prettiest voices I’ve heard.”
VIDEO: Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers w/ Eric Soules (2015)
VIDEO: Al & The Black Cats w/ Eric Soules in the Netherlands (2006)
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