After years of playing music with various bands, including gigs with Blue
Mountain Groove, Sound Scope and the Midnight Spaghetti & the Chocolate
G-Strings, Eric Kallio landed a job running the Reed College ski cabin on
Mount Hood in 2009. The cabin - utilized by the college’s students, alumni and
staff and set in an undisclosed location on the mountain - made for a solitary
setting for the musician, or as he describes it, a “hermit lifestyle.”

“It’s kind of cut me off from opportunities I’ve been used to having,” Kallio
said, in particular noting he’s missed out on his friends and playing music in
bands. “I love it, actually. It’s a great job. Great people, great community.”

But the solitude also inspired the guitarist and bassist to start playing some
solo music, while adding to his instrumental collection, including a resonator
guitar and a square neck Dobro. Those instruments, Kallio noted, made his
older music richer and “a better version of itself,” and helped rekindle his
passion for music.

Now, Kallio is about to release his first solo album, “Glass, Wood & Steel,”
featuring 11 songs with sounds from Americana, a little bit of soul and a little
bit of country jam that were honed at the cabin.

“Living up at this cabin made me realize that music is something that kept me
happy,” said Kallio, who grew up in Virginia and started playing guitar at the
age of 13. “If I don’t have it, I’m not a whole person.”

Last fall, Kallio got motivated to get the album done, and with the help of a
loan from his brother, was able to record at Sean Flora’s “Rock N Roll BNB
Recording Studio,” a residential recording experience, on Sauvie Island. Now,
Kallio has launched a Kickstarter campaign to finish raising the funds
necessary.

Kallio hopes to raise $6,000 and release the album, with themes of struggle
and the natural world, in March. He noted this music is much different than
what he created when he was younger.

“My earlier days, I was always trying to make complicated and technical
things I would make myself better by doing,” Kallio said.

“I think I’ve simplified a lot,” he added. “It’s clear, your ideas are very defined
because you have to limit them.”

Want a sneak peak? Eric Kallio will also perform from 6-8:30 p.m. Sunday,
Jan. 31, at the Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545 Highway 26 in Zigzag. No cover.
Kallio’s music is also available on Youtube.com and at erickallio.com.