Eric Johnson hits the road

I probably don't need to tell anyone this, but Eric Johnson is one spectacular guitarist. He's also a very nice guy. I interviewed him when "Bloom" was released and have caught him live several times-- well worth any ticket price! ~M

Eric Johnson will kick off a month’s worth of live dates this September, including performances in San Diego as part of the all-star ‘Love In: A Musical Celebration,’ a ‘theatrical celebration of the year 1967.’ Also appearing in addition to Johnson will be Jesse Colin Young, Buddy Miles, and Strawberry Alarm Clock, in addition to countless other artists, as well as Tony Award-winning Broadway star Ben Vereen. Eric will be performing three songs with other fellow contributors (not his usual backing band).

After his ‘Love In’ appearances, Johnson will headline a tour of his own (with his backing band reinstated), performing songs off his recent Grammy® nominated album “Bloom” as well as such fan- favorites as the Grammy®-Award winning song “Cliffs of Dover”.

These dates will continue a recent reunion of sorts for Johnson, as the rhythm section that appeared on Eric's 1986 debut, "Tones," is back on board - bassist Roscoe Beck and drummer Tommy Taylor. Both players have appeared sporadically with Eric over the years, but this will mark the first time since 1986 that all three will be on stage together. Since the trio's last tour was dubbed "Big Texans from Outer Space," the 2006 tour has been named "Return of Big Texans from Outer Space."

Roscoe (who has also played alongside the likes of Leonard Cohen, Robben Ford, Jennifer Warnes and the last Dixie Chicks World Tour) was last seen on stage with Eric circa the first-ever G3 Tour - then in support of "Venus Isle."

Johnson, who has toured steadily behind “Bloom” - which was released June 14th, 2005 through Favored Nations - is considered to be one of the most technically-proficient live performers on the scene today. In fact, Pollstar called his last routing “One of the best live shows of a rock guitarist of our time.”

An avid live performer, Johnson says that he doesn’t mind all of the touring, even after spending almost a year and half straight on the road. In fact, he is so focused on making his live performances accessible to his audience that he recently released two new DVDs—“The Art of Guitar,” an instructional video by the master himself, and "Live from Austin Texas", a never-before-released DVD and CD (New West Records) that captures the essence of the guitarist’s legendary December 14th, 1998 performance on Austin City Limits! Live from Austin Texas includes many of Johnson's hit recordings from his Grammy nominated "Ah Via Musicom" and the first release of two fan favorite Jimi Hendrix covers; "Love or Confusion" and "Are You Experienced".

"I prefer playing live because I can take the music and expand it through improvisation,” he said. “It's also great to see how the audience receives it.” If these shows are anything like his last, it’s safe to say that the fans will be eating it up, after all as Pollstar wrote, “If you love rock guitar you'll love the energy of his show. Don't miss him on this tour.”

The official dates for Johnson’s September tour include:

6/Thu - Love In: A Musical Celebration, San Diego, CA
7/Fri - Love In: A Musical Celebration, San Diego, CA
8/Sat - Love In: A Musical Celebration, San Diego, CA
9/Sun - Love In: A Musical Celebration, San Diego, CA
15/Sat - Crystal Bay Club - Crystal Bay, NV
16/Sun - The Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
17/Mon - Mystic Theatre - Petaluma, CA
20/Thu - The Canyon Theatre - Agoura Hills, CA
21/Fri - The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
22/Sat - The Canyon Club - Las Vegas, NV
23/Sun - The Margarita Scottsdale Music Fest - Scottsdale, AZ
26/Wed - Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall - Durango, CO
27/Thu - Vilar Center for the Arts - Beaver Creak, CO
28/Fri - The Soiled Dove Underground - Denver, CO
29/Sat - The Fox Theatre and Cafe - Boulder, CO

For information on Eric Johnson, visit
www.ericjohnson.com
http://www.favorednations.com/artists/ej/ej.html
www.newwestrecords.com

For more information on Roscoe Beck, visit
www.roscoebeck.com

For more information on Tommy Taylor, visit
www.tommytaylor.com

For more information on ‘Love In,’ visit
www.loveinthemusical.com