COYLE — Singer Eric Miller saw a poster in a cafe window one day.
And though he had none of his instruments with him, he slipped inside the Pegasus Coffee House on Bainbridge Island, borrowed a guitar — “and astounded us,” recalls Norm Johnson, who was host of Pegasus’ open-mic night about a decade ago.
Miller mixes music from the Great American Songbook with his own originals, “and it’s like he’s channeling Bob Dylan with a Bing Crosby voice,” added Johnson, who has since booked Miller — and his bassist Sabu Miyata — for four concerts at Coyle’s Laurel B. Johnson Community Center.
The first two were in 2011; Miller and Miyata returned in March 2013.
The duo are on the way back for another in the Concerts in the Woods series this Saturday night, with admission by donation for the 7:30 p.m. show.
All ages are welcome at the community center, an intimate venue that draws music lovers from across Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Free cookies and coffee come out at intermission.
Miyata and Miller “fill the room with the most beautiful tones,” Johnson said, and “Eric adds to the excitement by mixing up instruments . . . guitar, piano, ukulele and harmonica,” in songs that roam around the blues-folk-Americana territory.
To explore Miller’s music, visit www.ericmillersongs.com, and for directions to the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center at 923 Hazel Point Road, visit www.CoyleConcerts.com or contact Johnson via 360-765-3449 or johnson5485@msn.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
