American Idol contestant performs in New Albany

When your fan base turns out to hear you in sub-freezing weather, you must be doing something right.

The Eisenhauer band returned to New Albany on Friday, January 22nd to perform concerts at the Cine and at the Basement. The band has been playing events in New Albany since 2014, and is a popular part of the New Albany music scene. Apparently, the people of New Albany have good taste in music, because Amelia Eisenhauer, the band’s featured performer has been tapped to compete in the last season of the American Idol competition. She is currently involved in that competition.

At age 15, Amelia Eisenhauer was named a YoungArts Merit Award winner, which identifies her as being among the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts fields.

Sam and Amelia, intent upon making music

The young artist was joined on the stage by a seasoned performer who has already achieved fame and honor in his chosen field–New Albany’s own Grammy Award winner, Sam Mosley. Sam always shines, and the intimate venues of tonight’s performances gave his fans an extra special treat. Among the high points of the Cine performance was Sam and the Eisenhauers singing Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me”.

The band, which is made up of Amelia (vocals, violin, mandolin and bass), Rhonda (her mother, on vocals and guitar), her younger brother, Andy (banjo) and producer Bryan Ward (bass, percussion, guitar) is known for its unconventional musical style. They performed a wide variety of music from Cole Porter’s classic, “Don’t Fence Me In” to a somewhat blue-grassy version of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” to their own take of “It’s All About the Bass” and many more.

Sean Johnson, New Albany’s Director of Tourism, helped coordinate tonight’s performances, and encourages Amelia Eisenhauer’s numerous local fans to support her efforts in the American Idol competition.