In their five months as a band, The Eric May Band has won a battle of the bands, played at the Casper Events Center and are consistently booked through the end of the year.

This, at a time when most bands have scarcely ventured outside a basement.

"It's almost unbelievable what potential we have in this band," said singer May, who lives in Gillette, as do the band's drummer, Jeremy Malli, and lead guitar player Chase Cassidy. Bassist Shea Ward resides in Casper.

May said the band's sudden success can be attributed to energetic shows and their avoidance of a lonely, twangy country sound in favor of "more of a rock edge." The music we play is country with more of an attitude," he said. "We're definitely not the kind of country you would come and listen to and cry over your beer."

The 120 miles between the Gillette band members and Ward in Casper makes their sudden success even more amazing. According to May, the distance isn't a big deal.

"We like to take requests from the audience," said May. "Whenever there's a request we don't know, I try to write it down. I'll download it and send it out to the guys. We'll all work on it individually, and next time we're together we'll just throw it together and play it."

Though The Eric May Band currently plays mostly covers, they're beginning work on a single and album. May said he and Cassidy have two songs written, but they're thinking of taking some help from a Nashville songwriter to speed up the process.

"We had so many requests for (an album), there was no way we could write ten songs and have it done in time," May said.

Tonight and Saturday, the band returns to the site of its battle-of-the-bands victory, Cowboys Saloon and Dancehall, 1910 Talc Rd. The music begins at 9 each night; there's a $3 cover charge. For more information, call 234-7476.

Local News - Gillette, Wyoming

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Concert will benefit injured 4-year-old

Eric May has never met Stacia Adkins, 4. But a few weeks ago he learned that a fundraiser for the girl had not raised much money.

The story about the girl, whose spleen was removed after an ATV accident in May, tugged at his heart strings and he wanted to help.

The Eric May Band will perform a benefit concert Friday for Adkins. The band plans to donate all profits from the cover charge, donations and auction to the Adkins family. It is something that seemed easy and right to do to help, May said.

Adkins was visiting her great-grandfather near Pine Haven on May 6. The two were riding an ATV when she was thrown from it and through a fence.

She was taken by air ambulance to Rapid City Regional Hospital, where she stayed in ICU for almost a week. Her growth plate was crushed and her spleen removed.

For the rest of her life, Adkins must take four pills a day for her spleen, said her mother, Marlene. Stacia is getting used to the pills, which cost $55 for the first five days, especially because her mom hides them in applesauce for her.

Mostly Stacia misses swimming, swinging and riding her bike, which she still can't do.

Marlene, a manager at Fantastic Sam's, doesn't have health insurance and now has a debt of more than $50,000. She had planned on making payments until it was paid off.

“It's all you can do,” she said.

She was shocked when she heard May, a stranger, wanted to help.

“It's wonderful, yet it's hard because you can't do it on your own,” Marlene said.

- By Kelsey Dayton, News-Record Writer