Freddie T and the People set for The Bishop

Fred Erskine met his wife in a Chicago café eight years ago.

Three years ago, after the couple moved to Indiana for family, she brought up the idea of Erskine starting a band.

“She’s the one that pushed me to get this band going,” Erskine said, “She’s a big support, and she’s at every single show.”

After writing some songs, Erskine collaborated with some of his wife’s old high school guy friends, and soon they were officially Freddie T and the People. Erskine said it was magic.

“I have a great group of guys who are really fun, easy going, hardworking and dedicated to this amazing experience,” Erskine said.

The band has an upcoming show at 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop.

Though Freddie T and the People is Erskine’s recent project, it is certainly not his first. Growing up in Omaha, Neb., Erskine said he has also spent a good amount of time in Washington, D.C., and Chicago and has been playing music through it all.

“I don’t really have a count of the number of bands I’ve been in, maybe twenty-something, but that might be an exaggeration,” Erskine said. “But for most of the ’90s, I spent a good deal of time on the road immersed in the music world.”

Erskine said he has played bass for 25 years and guitar for 14. Currently he is lead vocalist and guitar player for Freddie T and the People. However, the band’s bassist Chris Saligoe also has an impressive amount of experience playing in bands.

“I’ve been dabbling since age 11 and in a band since age 15,” Saligoe said. “At this
point I’ve been in a band for more than half of my life.”

Saligoe said the four members were all essentially punk-metal guys and that with this new style they hope to show they’re not just “one trick ponies” by adding a melting pot of new styles, including African-inspired guitar, Caribbean, R&B and soul.

One common factor in the genre switch seems to be the influence of family.
“At this point we’re a band of fathers,” Saligoe said. “Fred’s lyrics are a lot about being a kid, having a family and that kind of stuff, and I definitely understand it in a different way now that I have a daughter.”

Erskine agreed and said though he feels like anyone who can hear it will like it, the theme of his life experiences in being a family man in the working class and having a love for life.

“This is the first time in my life I can say I fully own all of the material,” Erskine said. “I create all of the songs start to finish, and I have a great pride in that.”

With the upcoming show at The Bishop, the band has high hopes and plans to release its first LP, “People In.”

“We’re looking for double platinum and Grammys next year,” Erskine joked. “I just want it to be heard, I want it to find people.”

Saligoe said he hopes people come ready to dance and pass it along to friends afterwards.

“Those who are vinyl purists will be satisfied,” Saligoe said in reference to the band’s limited edition vinyl record. “But if they’re not satisfied with that, we’ll have free download cards for people to walk out with, too.”

The record album art, by Damon Locks, will tie together a piece of a life story by featuring a photograph collage of commuters on the transit in Chicago, the city where Erskine first met his wife and inspiration for Freddie T and the People.
 
Erskine remains a simple family man who loves music.

“It’s like walking out into the sunlight,” Erskine said. “It changes your entire mood, your entire being, and it’s something I’ll never be able to leave.”