Steepwater Band guitarist Eric Saylors joined the Illinois Drifter Podcast for a conversation about his musical roots, years on the road and finding a long-term home in one of the Midwest’s great blues-rock bands.
From growing up in small-town Indiana around bluegrass and country music to touring nationally with Healing Sixes and eventually joining Steepwater, Saylors reflects on more than three decades of life in working rock bands.
The conversation also dives into the upcoming Steepwater album, the band’s writing process, memorable jams with artists like Marc Ford and Luther Dickinson, and the realities of balancing music, work and family life.
⏱ Episode Timeline
00:20 – Intro: getting to know Eric Saylors beyond the stage
01:07 – Growing up in Bunker Hill, Indiana
02:10 – Early musical influences: country, bluegrass & his father’s guitar playing
03:36 – First real band: Wanted
05:40 – Henry Lee Summer years & early touring lessons
09:23 – Joining Healing Sixes & working with Jason Bonham
11:30 – Touring years, New York recording sessions & Kevin Shirley
13:27 – First meeting the Steepwater guys through shared gigs
15:28 – Telling Steepwater: “If there’s ever a fourth guy…”
17:04 – Joining the band with no rehearsal
18:44 – Finding his role alongside Jeff Massey
20:01 – Learning the Steepwater catalog & adapting parts live
21:15 – Realizing the chemistry worked
23:22 – Balancing Steepwater with work and family life
25:26 – Long-term life in touring bands
25:54 – Memorable sit-ins & playing with Marc Ford
27:17 – “Whoa” moments: backstage with Warren Haynes, Rich Robinson & Marc Ford
28:45 – Excitement around the upcoming Steepwater album
29:06 – How the new material differs from recent records
31:32 – Soundcheck riffs, writing process & road inspiration
33:06 – Relearning the new songs for live performance
34:17 – How Steepwater writes and develops material together
35:19 – Closing thoughts & future conversations
35:39 – Outro
✅ Check out
For all things Steepwater Band, go to steepwaterband.com.
For more about Doug Henthorn and Healing Sixes, go to doughenthorn.com.
🎵 Music Credit
Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their song “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” as the show theme. You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here:
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