Chill Tones in Bermuda Run Saturday

Published 9:26 am Thursday, August 23, 2018

Eric and the Chill Tones will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Town Center in Bermuda Run as part of the free summer concert series, “Sounds on the Square.”.

Eric and the Chill Tones is a beach-style party music band.

“A former band mate of mine (not a huge fan of our style of music) saw one of our shows last year and said, ‘You guys are not like normal beach bands. You guys are more like going to a great rock concert. You bring that style of music to life’,” said Rick Everly, bassist and vocalist.

Bringing the music to life has been The Chill Tones’ goal since the band was formed by its lead vocalist, Eric Chilton, WFMY News 2 chief meteorologist and anchorman.

The band started with Eric mentioning to his wife that he wanted to try to put a band together to do some of his favorite songs.

Everly and  Scott Koehler, drummer for the Chill Tones, were first to be introduced to Chilton. The three hit it off and decided to start a band.  After a brainstorming session, ERS Entertainment was formed: E(Eric) R(Rick) and S(Scott). The three members threw some name ideas around until Eric mentioned the idea of “Eric and the Chill Tones,” an obvious play on his name.  He was joking, but the other two ERS members loved it and the band was formed.

Eric and The Chill Tones perform across North Carolina, mostly at town outdoor concerts and festivals. Along with Chilton on vocals, Everly on bass and Koehler on drums, the band includes Tim Blair on keyboards, Jack King on guitar, James Whitley on saxophone,  David Garrett on trumpet and Dillard Moss on trombone.  On and off the stage, the members like to enjoy life, cut up and have a good time.

The group’s close fellowship also can be attributed to similar walks of life and a desire to get away from the daily grind and jam together. They don’t have time to hit the road again or perform 20 shows a month like some of the other similar genre type bands.

“The shows they do, the group strives to make them count and give the crowd everything we’ve got.  This was obvious to the large crowd they drew at last year’s Bermuda Run performance,” said Sidniee Suggs, executive director of the Davie County Arts Council.

“When the crowd sees us having fun, they have fun,” Everly said. “We try to focus on audience participation as much as possible. And with Eric Chilton out front, it makes the band’s job much easier.  Everyone knows Eric from News 2 and really loves his stage antics and personality as a singer.”

Concert goers should bring a lawn chair and if they wish a picnic/cooler to Town Center at the end of Kinderton Boulevard (off US 158). The concert is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.  Depending on weather forecast earlier in the week, the concert may be moved to Sunday, Aug. 26. Any change will be posted on Davie County Arts Council’s Facebook site.

For more information about this or other events in September, call the arts council at 336-751-3112.