Saw Eric Johnson last night

[crwnedblasphemy]

It was killer. I see damn near 200 acts/performers a year, and that was the best night I’ve had in years. Tommy Taylor’s drums sounded perfect. The mix was exceptional and playing incredible. I saw Eric open for Rush on Presto tour back in 1990-91, and hadn’t seen him since. Probably just something I took for granted...my mistake.

“40 mile town” sounded beyond perfect, and you have to appreciate how the guy A/B’s between amps and sounds while playing and singing. It’s a lot to think about.

 

[gibson5413]

I've seen him too and he is just amazing live! I love Forty Mile Town...cool to hear he is playing it again. Cool stuff Rian!

 

[dfrattaroli]

I saw EJ open for Satch years ago in NYC. My buddy and I were standing with our arms resting on the stage as it was a general admission show. It was amazing. He just had a strat and a Marshall and a few pedals taped to a piece of plywood. He played with 10% of the gain most of us would use and he was perfect. I kept thinking "He's more than a guitar player or a musician. He's a real artist". It was humbling.

 

[shredhead7]

I've seen him a few times in the last couple of years and he never fails to amaze. I love that he improvises a lot of the solos, so he always is at the edge of falling off a cliff, but still pulls it back in. His clean tone, which isn't talked about as much as his lead, is just incredible.

 

[SpiderWars]

Seen him twice and amazing both times. I agree with lots of these comments.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I've seen him a few times in the last couple of years and he never fails to amaze. I love that he improvises a lot of the solos, so he always is at the edge of falling off a cliff, but still pulls it back in. His clean tone, which isn't talked about as much as his lead, is just incredible.

It’s my favorite clean sound ever. Just reverb and tape delay.

..

I've seen him too and he is just amazing live! I love Forty Mile Town...cool to hear he is playing it again. Cool stuff Rian!

Yeah Chad, he is playing all Ah Via Musicom in it’s entirety this tour. “Trademark” And “Nothing Can Keep Me From You” were awesome as well. He played that album after a quick intermission, played some new stuff off Collage first set. His new album is great.

 

[SpiderWars]

It’s my favorite clean sound ever. Just reverb and tape delay.

Mine too. When the Sun Meets the Sky is a benchmark clean tone for me. Enormous!

 

[stdio]

I saw him the other night as well and he was amazing. His tones were awesome, especially his sparkly cleans and the way he is able to switch back and forth some seamlessly. There was a lot of high end in the mix though, some of the cymbals were painful after a while. And the drummer (Tommy) was incredible as well. Also check out his 'opener' Arielle, she was great as well. She went to MI at 16 or 17 and was 'discovered' and has worked with Nuno and others. Great show all around.

 

[JConstantineLV]

Hes a god ... nuff said

 

[Wayniac3]

Thanks to this post., I'm going to see him in March.. nice small 300 seat venue.

 

[Rdodson]

The bridge/pre-chorus in 40-Mile Town is so beautiful.

 

[stratjacket]

I love EJ, he’s a really great musician that plays guitar exceptionally well. I am glad to hear it’s a great show, I plan to see him when he comes to Atlanta. I have seen him twice, once in San Diego back in 1991 and it was amazing.
I hope this doesn’t come off too bad, but I saw him about 6 years ago at a small venue in Atlanta and it was not very good. The mix was off and I think it effected his playing because he was off as well. The guitar was too forward and drowned everything, you could hear every little mistake which seemed to cause more. It was uncomfortable watching that night during some parts.

 

[Markedman]

Eric plays at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT twice a year. I tend to go often, this time for sure.

 

[Wayniac3]

That's the show I'll be at

 

[romanianreaper]

I was at a big guitar store show and he was standing in the Fender Guitars area. I didn't want to bother him but I should have gone over and just had a few minutes of small talk about gear. I saw this video of him playing my buddy's guitar pedal and made me smile. That guy can sound amazing thru anything.

 

[garey77]

EJ rips...what a stellar guitarist. I met him when he was on the first G3 tour, way back when, at a signing at my local GC. Nice guy, limp fish handshake, though.

 

[Exo-metal]

That was all good except for that last part.

 

[SpiderWars]

Saw him last night in Atlanta. I thought he played well and Tommy Taylor did as well but Kyle Brock seemed a little off. There seemed to be a PA issue with EJ's dark Marshall "300# violin" lead tone. It just wasn't cutting thru the mix at all and when they tried to turn it up it just got really muddy without getting much louder anywhere except mud frequencies. Kind of sounded like the speaker the mic was on wasn't working and the mic was only getting adjacent speakers. The other tones were good by the end of the night but took some dialing in at first. But not having that violin tone hurt imo.

The opening act Arielle was quite entertaining imo, especially when she was doing 'her thing' (solo guitar with looper and angelic vocals). Very talented.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Saw him last year in a small venue. The sound is pretty sub par in this place but he played great. Very unique player and I see a lot of his style in other players as a result of his influence.

 

[Ethn Hayabusa]

Saw him again in Seattle. He was fantastic, as was Arielle. Eric had probably the best clean tone I have heard. His lead tone was extremely muddy, unfortunately. I may have been too close to the stage, or perhaps his new Faceface just doesn't do it for me.

Still, an incredible show!