Few players embody the pure joy and emotional depth of guitar quite like Eric Gales. Rooted in the blues but never confined by it, Gales weaves harmonic colours and rhythmic twists into something unmistakably his own. It's expressive, fearless, and effortlessly fluid.
As he prepares to visit Australia for his first-ever full national tour following several unforgettable festival appearances, Gales arrives riding the momentum of his powerful recent album Crown and the deeply personal A Tribute To LJK record, made in honour of his late brother Little Jimmy King. Both albums showcase the depth of a player who channels history, heart, and sheer feel through every note, and who plays with the kind of relaxed confidence that only comes from living and breathing music since childhood.
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Gales’ guitar tone is so pure, so clear, and so full of detail and depth. Key to this sound is his signature Seymour Duncan Custom Shop pickups, a project that came to life through Seymour Duncan pickup guru Maricela ‘MJ’ Juarez. “That was MJ’s idea,” Gales says. “Seymour Duncan had been wanting to do a signature pickup with me for a while, and I just told her what I was looking for. She made it happen. They’re basically single-coil Strat-style pickups, but we dialled in something that really captures my sound.”
Anyone who’s seen MJ at work knows her gift. I tell Gales that MJ once built me a pickup based on the description “sounds like sunshine through a glass of beer and tastes like crème brûlée,” and she just said ‘Okay, I know how to do that.’ Gales laughs. “Yeah, that’s her. She just gets it!”
He was chasing a tone that occupied that “vintage Strat zone — fat, expressive, vibey,” he says. “I didn’t over-explain. I just said, ‘This is the sound I want.’ She sent a few options, I picked the ones that spoke to me, and that was it. Off to the races.”
That clarity and touch sensitivity extend through his entire signal chain, including his DV Mark “Raw Dawg” EG signature amp. Gales first encountered DV Mark amps in a recording studio and was immediately struck by their tone. He ended up recording his entire Middle of the Road album exclusively with DV Mark amps, which led to a collaboration with DV Mark founder Marco De Virgiliis to develop a signature head tailored specifically to Gales’ needs.
Now, with those tones under his fingers, Gales is preparing to bring them to Australian audiences on his first full national tour. “This will be my first actual tour there,” he says. “We’ll be playing a lot of material from the new record. The band’s sounding great, and I can’t wait to see how the Australian audiences respond.”
It won’t be his first taste of local crowds — Gales has already graced the stages at Byron Bay Bluesfest and the Broadbeach Festival. “The energy was beautiful,” he says. “It really set the stage for coming back with the full band for this multi-city run — spreading the music and good vibes all over.”. I tell Gales Australia’s love of the blues runs deep, often blending with our pub-rock grit. He’s eager to tap into that shared energy. “That’s great to hear, man,” he says. “We can’t wait.”
ERIC GALES TOUR DATES
Wed, Nov 19: Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Thurs, Nov 20: Memo Music Hall, Melbourne
Fri, Nov 21: Harmonie German Club, Canberra
Sat, Nov 22: Factory Theatre, Sydney
Mon, Nov 24: The Gov, Adelaide
Wed, Nov 26: Freo social, Fremantle
Fri, Nov 28: Nightcat, Melbourne
Find tickets here.
Before he hits Australian soil, Gales will also appear at guitarist Nuno Bettencourt’s upcoming guitar camp, joining a lineup that includes Steve Vai, Matteo Mancuso, and Rick Beato. “Dreamcatcher — they organise a lot of those camps — reached out and said Nuno wanted me involved,” Gales says. “I said, ‘Absolutely.’ We got it all sorted just in time for the announcement. I’m looking forward to it — it’ll actually be the first time Nuno and I meet in person.” That’s surprising, considering both players came up in the early ‘90s. “Yeah, I’ve known about him since back then,” Gales says. “I’m looking forward to meeting and hopefully jamming with him. It’s a killer lineup.”
He’s quick to praise Nuno Bettencourt’s efforts to spotlight other players. “Absolutely. I’m honoured to be part of it,” he says. “It reminds me of Buddy Guy — he’s always wanted to see the music live on. I’ve talked to Buddy about that. His wish is for the next generations not to let it die. The blues might not always be front-and-centre in the mainstream, but it’s always there. And it’s in good hands — guys like Kingfish and the younger generation are carrying it forward.” Gales doesn’t box himself in as a blues artist, though those roots run deep. “I pull from a lot of styles,” he says, “but blues and gospel are the foundation of who I am. Without that, something would be missing.”
For Gales, everything comes back to emotion. “I’m a very emotional player,” he says. “A lot of memories and feelings pass through me — things I’ve been through, people I’ve lost, random flashes that spark something deep. It all fuels the emotion behind the notes. Even when I’m just playing rhythm, it can get pretty intense.”
Improvisation is about surrender, he says. “When you reach that place where you don’t have to think — that’s magic,” he explains. “If I think too hard, I get in my own way. The best playing comes when I let go and just be.”
That instinct was there from the beginning, coming from a musical family and feeling encouragement from all around. “Honestly, from the moment I picked up a guitar at four years old, I knew I loved it,” Gales says. “My whole family played — music was everywhere — so it wasn’t something I had to question. It was just what I was meant to do.”
That sense of destiny fuels everything he does, including his recent Little Jimmy King tribute album, a deeply personal project honouring his late brother. “That record had been in my mind for a while,” Gales says. “It felt like the right time to honour him. It turned out impeccable, and I’m really proud of it.” Before wrapping up, I tell Gales that his brother would be proud. He pauses for a moment. “Thank you, brother,” he says softly. “That means a lot.”
As he prepares to bring his fiery tone and open-hearted energy to Australia, Gales is focused on one thing: connection. “I’m really looking forward to coming over, sharing the music, the vibes, and having a great time with everyone,” he says. “I can’t wait.”
For local enquiries on Gales’ signature DV Mark “Raw Dawg” EG signature amp, head here.
