Eric Herman has been entertaining kids across the country for years with his special brand of funny songs, which he performed with an invisible band.
At least that's the story he always told the kids.
But that invisible band isn't so invisible anymore.
Get ready meet this West Richland musician's new band, The Thunder Puppies, who will make their debut at Herman's next concert Nov. 18 in the auditorium at Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland. Showtime is 7 p.m.
The Thunder Puppies is a quartet of musicians made up of Dave Pettey on guitar and backup vocals, Chris Baugh on bass and Javier Ruiz on drums, all from the Tri-Cities, and Ben Macy on keyboards and piano is from Oregon.
On the outside, Herman might seem like a grown-up with a wife and two daughters, but on the inside, he's really just a kid himself.
That's why his concerts are always packed with kids, parents, grandparents and teachers, all agog and busting a gut because his music touches everyone's funny bone.
The upcoming concert is sort of a homecoming because Herman spent most of the summer and early fall touring the country and putting his first visible band together.
Herman became a YouTube sensation a couple of years ago when his video The Tale of the Sun and the Moon made its internet debut, capturing the hearts of children around the globe.
That song also caught the eye of the film director Greg Berlanti, who borrowed the song for his movie Life as We Know It, which starred Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.
But Herman didn't let Hollywood go to his head.
He and his family attended the film's Tri-City debut last year and stayed through to the end of the credits to catch a glimpse of his name in fine print, with the aid of binoculars, he quipped.
"I never would have imagined years ago that I'd be doing music for kids and nothing else," he told the Herald in an earlier interview. "But it's been so much fun, and I'm grateful that the positive energy I feel from creating it and performing it is also being shared by so many kids and families around the world."
Herman continues to tour the country and even his daughters -- 9-year-old Becca, and almost 7-year-old Evee -- join their dad on stage when they're not at school.
At the Nov. 18 show, the girls will be back-up singers as well as perform some comedy sketches that includes the hilarious song Steve the Superhero.
Herman fans also will hear some new music.
"In addition to this being the band's first public performance, we'll also be debuting some brand new songs," Herman said via email this week. "Including The Strange and Mysterious Fate of Mister Teddy Bear and Can We Buy a New Car: So I can Have a Balloon. You definitely don't want to miss this show."
Cost is $12 general admission, $6 for kids 12 and younger and $42 for a family of two adults and four kids. Tickets are available at the door or call 554-2620.
*Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com
Comments