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The Des Moines Register calls them "the band that's obviously meant to play the blues." Since the early 1990s, The Soul Searchers have done just that for fans in central Iowa and across the state. Their music, rooted in traditional blues with healthy doses of rockabilly and swing, has made this three-piece combo the hardest working blues band in Des Moines.
A tribute to their musicianship, members of the Soul Searchers have "sat in" with the likes of Pinetop Perkins, Lynwood Slim, Gary Primich, Curtis Salgado, Rick Holmstrom, Johnny Dyer and R.J. Mischo. They've also appeared on local TV and radio stations and are frequently tapped to open for such blues greats as Anson Funderburgh, Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater, James Harman, Teddy Morgan and Duke Robillard.
 Guitarist Scott Eggleston--known as "Tone" around these parts--never bought into the transistor craze. He plays old guitars--a vintage Silvertone and '62 Strat--through an old Fender black-face amp powered by tubes. Other than the vibrato pedal, there are no tricks, gimmicks, gizmos or other nonsense. Just plain, old down-home blues guitar. Among Scott's six-string heroes: Jimmie Vaughn, T-Bone Walker and Freddie King.
Erich Gaukel handles the upright and electric basses. Whether he's slapping  the doghouse or laying down a soulful groove on the electric, Erich keeps the bottom end moving. He's played in such bands as Scary Toast, Baggage Claim, The Steam Boars, The University of Northern Iowa jazz band and ZoZoe. His basses include a "Fat Dog" custom electric and a Strunal 50/4 plywood upright.
Mark Grimm*, the newest member of the band, has a drum style t hat hugs the road better than a '66 Chevy Impala. He fabricates a fat, unmistakable sound from his humble stack of drums--it's that big, warm V8 sound that's a perfect fit for The Soul Searchers' old-school way of playing the blues. Mark has done time with the Drake University Jazz Band, The Accidental Sisters and The Creek Dwellers. His counts Elvin Jones, Peter Erskine and Brian Blade as his favorite drummers.
*photo of Mark Grimm by "Big Daddy"
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