What Mirage is to Light: Acoustic Shadows

Boulder Creek based rock n’ roll outfit Acoustic Shadows was born deep in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Celebrating friend Erik Rozite and his many musical collaborations.

By Julie Horner

The Anacortes ferry plowed smoothly through gray waters in a light icy rain, the motion almost imperceptible as folds of distant horizon rolled slowly by under a bruised sky. Behind the rain-speckled windows in the shelter of the ferry’s passenger area, a dozen folk musicians vigorously played Irish jigs and reels to an accidental audience of fellow travelers who were also heading to destinations among the San Juan Islands, WA. Sitting in a nearby window seat grinning ear-to-ear, one passenger in particular caught my eye; he looked somehow familiar. They say an acoustic shadow can cause sound to be refracted to an unexpected location, similar to how light is transformed by mirage. I set down my fiddle and went over to chat. Turns out I was about to meet Erik Rozite of the band Acoustic Shadows for the first time, some 900 miles from where we both live in Boulder Creek, CA! Once back home from our respective journeys in the Pacific Northwest, the ripples widened; Infectiously affable, Erik became a good friend who welcomed me to the brother- and sisterhood of a small town that loves its music and craft beer.

When we met in 2015, the all-original jam band Acoustic Shadows had been enjoying a loyal following on stage locally and fruitful endeavors in the recording studio with four highly listenable CDs under their belts within just a few years. The band formed sometime in 2007, Erik recalled, and in the ensuing years consisted of guitarists Tim Sanz and Zac Clow, Paul Stevens on drums, William Van Kol and Bill Shaw on bass, Jim Anderson on percussion, Wendy Wilkins on flute and keys, and Brian Valentine on harmonica. The lineup of stellar local musicians filled out the Acoustic Shadows sound, an intoxicating jambalaya of solid rock rhythm and atmospheric groove. Tim Sanz said, “Erik and I met at the Boulder Creek Brewery either 2000 or 2001. After meeting and finding out Erik was a singer song writer, not more than a day later I said, let’s play.” At the time Tim was the sound engineer at Don Quixote’s, Brookdale Lodge, and later Moe’s Alley. “I knew I had Pat Travers coming and we did not have an opening band. I told Erik I knew a bassist and a drummer I would contact and we could see in one week if we could open for Pat Travers. We sounded pretty good and so I booked the gig for us. Mind you this is two weeks after I met Erik! Pat Travers and our little following liked us and Pat had us open at the Lodge each year they came. I think we did 3 or 4 of those shows. Was a few years later that we played DQs. I remember we played Joe’s and even the Surf Bowl.” The first lineup Tim remembers with Erik was with bassist Bob Ransom from the band The Reactors, and Paul Stevens on drums. Later they had Ray Cuellar on bass and two other drummers when Paul was traveling.”

A prolific songwriter and energetic front man, Erik power-whispers his lead vocals with a signature conviction, that right hand in constant motion driving the rhythm on guitar. Jammy, bluesy, and smokin’ groovy, his music is the sound of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I caught up with him over a pint (or two) at the Boulder Creek Brewery in late January of 2015 and asked him how he does it.

Everything With Passion

Erik is the creative force behind the band, writing all the songs and producing inventive, eye-catching graphics for posters and handbills to promote their shows. Because of the day job, he said he has limited time to write, but when he does, he writes music that’s similar to what he likes listening to with lyrics about his adventures and “whatever comes out and feels good.” Sometimes song writing comes “at a snail’s pace,” he told me. “I’ll get an idea or melody in my head…sometimes you try hard to make something work and four hours later you’ve got two sentences and they suck…and other times it just pours out!” He tries to make his compositions sound as natural as possible, going for “more earthy strings and less effects,” he says.

Erik’s adventures include trips he takes with his two Newfoundlands, Seamus and Shadow, giant bear-like dogs he calls “Drool Pigs.” The dogs are bred for water rescue with large mouths to retrieve floating objects, but which also results in an over-production of stringy, uncontrollable drool. Erik and his wife Maria Antonieta Paniagua bring their big dogs with them everywhere they go. And from the beach to the Sierras, Wisconsin to the UK, anyone connected to Erik on Facebook has the pleasure of enjoying the “Drool Pig Pic of the Day.” While much of Erik’s writing for Acoustic Shadows involves being out and about in his adopted home town of Boulder Creek, “talking to people…which is awesome…it’s like a twisted version of Mayberry,” it’s also the trips he takes with his dogs away from familiar haunts that gives him the head space and inspiration for new material.

The band sounds tight, they rehearse every week, so watching them on stage you can tell they’re having a blast and everyone in the room is on their feet. An expert brewer and purveyor of party times, Erik is also proud to say that this year marks the 7th annual Drool Pigs Festival, a home-gown musical showcase he hosts deep in the forest featuring local bands and local folks.

Acoustic Shadows has released several studio albums, many recorded at Ridgetop Sound in Aptos, recorded and mixed by owner/engineer Tim Prince. They’re available to stream on Apple Music: “11” (2010); “Wilson Street” (2011); “2012 Louisiana Swamp Dog Moon Brewing Company” (2011); “Buzz Pie” (2014); “Nickel Nipple Tickle” (2015). With a shiny new website and upcoming release party for their new CD, “Nickel Nipple Tickle” on Friday February 20, 2015 at Don Quixote’s (CDs are $5 at the show), the band is ready to share the “cask fermented and high times” Acoustic Shadows vibe!

On the Web: http://www.droolpigs.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acousticshadows
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/ka5KAfL36nc

Looking Back: Making Music with Friends

Ten years later after that initial interview, the music community is stronger than ever and Erik’s influence on the mountain vibe even deeper. Over the years since that serendipitous meeting on a commuter ferry navigating the Salish Sea between the state of Washington and Canada, Erik has put together a variety of bands with local friends, one of which included a recording project called Driftwood Alley; band members “Wygz” William Van Kol, Paul Stevens, Julie Horner, Jim Anderson, and David Chadwick are shown below at rehearsal in the “Drool Pig Clubhouse” at Erik’s home in Boulder Creek. Erik said at the time, “This is a studio project for now…I have been approaching this music project a little differently and am really just having a good time with a weekly jam session….featuring acoustic guitars, fiddle, hammer dulcimer, vocals, percussion and drums… rock / Americana style music.” The album was recorded and engineered by Andy Zenczak at Gadget Box Studios in Santa Cruz. Visit Driftwood Alley on Facebook, listen to the album on ReverbNation or CD Baby.

Erik’s band The Drool Pigs was a high energy Americana rock group spawned from the yearly Drool Pigs Festival and named in honor of his beloved Newfoundland pup, Gumbo. Featuring Erik on vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul Stevens on drums and backup vocals, Doug Semler (RIP) on bass and backup vocals, Annie Steinhardt (RIP) on fiddle, and David Addington on lead guitar, The Drool Pigs released an album on September 13th, 2019 called “Uncle Chicken Pockets,” another reference to his dogs and the larger brood of friends’ pooches who go crazy for the chicken treats Erik always carries in his pockets. “Everybody is good once in a while,” he always says.

Erik’s most recent effort is called Dirt Rakers. The group celebrated the release of their second album, American Seed Company on December 12, 2024. The Dirt Rakers are a “high-octane Santa Cruz mountains honey jar Americana” band featuring Erik on guitar and vocals; Jayne Williams on mandolin and vocals; Jack Hansen playing lead acoustic resonator guitar and slide; JoJo Fox on bass and harmonies; and Luisa Sandman on washboard and percussion. Guitarist Ted Porter and mandolin/guitar player Sean Woodward were also early members. The band’s debut album Foggy Forrest can also be found on popular streaming platforms, or on YouTube.

Looking back, the Boulder Creek Brewery is no longer, and Don Quixote’s has changed hands a couple of times and is now Felton Music Hall, where Erik proudly hosts occasional “Americana Nights” featuring the rockin’ side of folk music. Erik has hosted at least 10 Drool Pig Festivals all told; the 8th annual fest in October of 2016 was one for the books. Erik wrote, “Wow…. never again in October, but wow that was some fun in the mud!!!! After falling 2 or 3 times it didn’t matter anymore….Thanks so much to everyone for making this happen, the music was the best this year everyone just tore it up!…and the pulled pork slammers were awesome as well….and sorry to all those drool pig refugees who got stuck in the mud bowl parking lot…heck I’m just getting ready to go out and get one of our cars that’s still there…”

Through thick and thin in this mountain community, the music lives on. The town lost its heart and soul when the Brewery burned but Erik kept the community together with uproarious happy hours at the Boulder Creek Brewery Outpost in the Odd Fellows Building across the street and later The Sawmill Restaurant & Ale House north of town, Humble Sea Tavern in Felton, and of course Joe’s Bar in Boulder Creek. When the CZU Lightning Complex Fire ravaged the mountains, Erik was inspired to write a song when it appeared that crews were going to hold oncoming flames at Highway 9. He said, “All the firefighters’ efforts will always be remembered; if it weren’t for them holding the line, our whole town would have perished. Our gratitude is forever with them!” The haunting accolade features Erik on vocals and guitar, David Addington on acoustic lead guitar, and former member of the Brothers Comatose, Ryan Avellone on mandolin. Sound engineering by Henry Chadwick with SLV Strong artwork by Nicky Gaston. Listen on YouTube.

Hold the Line on the Nine
By Erik Rozite

They Hold the line on the nine

Spawned from the lightning strikes
On a hot rainless summer night

Five fires joined as one
Many of our homes were lost that night

They Hold the line on the nine
They Hold the line on Highway 9

Time is moving slow
The fire it burns out of control

From Pescadero to Boulder Creek
As far down as Santa Cruz

They Hold the line on the nine
They Hold the line on Highway 9

Come the dead of winter
There won’t be anymore fires

But now it depends on the few
To hold the line and kill the fight

They Hold the line on the nine
They Hold the line on Highway 9

A Legend of Cask Fermented Good Times

On Monday, April 28, 2025 the community received word from his family that Erik passed away unexpectedly at age 61. A celebration of life will be announced. And there will be many happy hours in the meantime to honor our dear friend. Like Erik always said, “Just one little one, and then we go!”

“I had the good fortune to be a part of his Acoustic Shadows project for several years, as the bass player, from 2007 until 2015, or so… in those 7+ years, we must have learned 70, 80, maybe 100 songs of his, or more! We did record 4 albums, plus several demos, so that right there is around 65 or 70 songs. I know there were many that we didn’t record…” — Bill Shaw, originating Acoustic Shadows bassist

“I met Erik when he was just forming his first band playing his original music and we became fast friends. He had the most amazing welcoming, gregarious spirit and he was a reflection of the boundless joy of his many Newfoundland dogs. It’s not a stretch to say that my life in this community of the Santa Cruz Mountains would not be what it is had I not met Erik. He created a swirl of life force and I, like so many of us, got wrapped up in it.” — Paul Stevens, originating Acoustic Shadows drummer

“We’re surrounded by other people our entire lives. And sometimes we’re fortunate enough to have one of them come into our lives with such a magnetic force that it draws us in and changes our course forever. In 2005, I was attempting to put on a solo show and needed someone to share the billing with. Along came Erik. We immediately bonded over music and realized that our paths and goals were paralleled. We both wanted to start full bands based around our original songs. And so we did… at the same time. I formed Drifting Compass and he formed Drool Pigs / Acoustic Shadows. Our two bands supported each other and shared so many shows together that some people we bumped into would confuse him for Drifting Compass and me for Acoustic Shadows.” — Dave “Nomad” Miller

“My heart is heavy with the sudden loss of my dear friend, Erik Rozite. After countless trips over the years, one of the things I always looked forward to was catching up with Erik over a beer—sharing stories, laughter, and perhaps, watching him perform. The thought that I won’t see him this time, that I won’t hear his voice or his “one more and then we go” is something I’m still struggling to accept. I first met Erik back in the White Cockade days, and my life was changed having him as a friend. He was a kind and vibrant soul, the kind of person who left a positive impression with everyone he met. Erik was part of the fabric of the San Lorenzo Valley community, someone who gave joy, light, friendship and music to so many. His absence will echo in all the places he brought to life. My heart goes out to his wife Tony, his family, and the wide, beautiful circle of friends who now share in this sorrow.” — Mike Gendimenico, friend

Featured Image: Original Acoustic Shadows Lineup at Ridgetop Studios recording their first CD.

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