He makes it look easy! I feel like i can do this... Maybe after a year or two of heavy practicing! Just got to save up to buy a decent guitar then i'm golden!
i was in a great band in the late 70s in Houston, and every guitar player in Texas damn near would be in the little clubs watching Eric in amazement...wed look at each other smiling..knowing our lives had changed forever.
Great player and Eric has been a friend since 1979 ✅ Most folks don’t know that Guitar was his 2nd instrument. He’s a Classically trained pianist. His inspiration of guitar voicing and inversions are all based of Piano structures… That’s what makes Eric so unique ✅ Such a great player and wonderful person 🎸
I saw him live at antones with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon they were on a bill with Chris Duarte as the showcase artist when , my way down came out great at a small club setting.
Brannen Temple on drums, Roscoe Beck on bass, this specific version of Manhattan is, without a doubt, one of the greatest achievements in the history of music... I've been listening to it for over 20 years and it never ceases to amaze me. There is so much art, soul and technic going on, simply amazing. Thank you for your video!
He is so good..... and a huge shout out to his playing on Rick Beato's "what if" video on stairway to heaven.... quite possibly the best guitar performance on youtube
For a long time, I felt like Eddie Van Halen’s tone was the epitome of electric guitar. For me, I think that is now Eric Johnson IMHO. Incredible tone.
That's Eric at his absolute pinnacle. He still plays that song now, but it doesn't come close to this version as far as precision. It's cool to see a great player like you to be just as amazed by it as I am.
Eric is the KING of Technicality! My fellow Texan is second to none when it comes to technicalities. simply the cleanest and most unique sound of all time! Eric is truly one of the greatest of all time!!
I was very fortunate to have seen him many, many times at a Houston bar with The Electromagnets. It was very cool to sit 6 feet from him and watch him perform night after night. He truly is an extremely remarkable guitarist!
Most underrated song of Eric Johnson. Usually when people say Eric Johnson first thing that comes to their mind is Cliffs of Dover. But for me growing up one of my favorite song from EJ is Manhattan :) Also I agree to what you have said that this is a well crafted masterpiece this song definitely shows all the tricks up his sleeves. Just an amazing guitar player :) *PS: Love your reaction I have the same face whenever I watch this :)
The first time I heard Cliffs of Dover, I was sold. There is nobody else that plays like Eric does for my ears. So clean, so smooth, and very unique to his own sound.
I was in high school and some guy had the tape heard it, lost my ish, pick my guitar again, never looked back. The best tone, melodies, chord embellishments. Just plain dope
Eric learned like many musicians the piano at a younger age. One of the things that come with that, and I did too. was that there are scads of different ways to play the same chord. If you can get that, then you can get that there are scads of ways to riff off of every variation of said chords. Pulling that off on piano is fairly common. Pulling that off on a guitar is something special that not many do. JMHO.
Struggling for words to describe. I would go for 'awe' probably. EJ is one of those incredible artists that you make feel you have witnessed something that is beyond comprehension and just straight into your soul. Kudo's for not trying to take it apart. It wouldn't do the experience justice.
I don’t know about everyone else.. but I’m pretty sure that MY road to fluency on the fretboard is going to be Micky Baker’s Book of Jazz Chords.. it’s not gonna be easy..but anything worthwhile is worth the effort…
One of my favourites. Eric is a genius. I was smiling at the fact you didn’t know where to start, which was just like my first reaction. I’ve watched it loads since.
I was a metalhead and then watching this DVD made me want a strat.. and develop the ability to produce some of these tones. It's very unique but in such a beautiful way. This, SRV and Trademark are my three favourite songs from him. If you want to decode it.. Rick Graham's Lick Library DVD does a great job. But those are based on the album versions.. the live versions are something else entirely. He always improvises and changes things. This G3 1997 video is the best version of Manhattan I've ever heard. Shout out to Rick Graham for being one of the only teachers in the world who has the ability to teach this style. Sliding octave riffs, the SRV strum technique (strumming all 6 strings and muting with the left hand), hybrid picking with thumb over the neck for bass notes and picking the bass notes while finger picking the treble notes at the same time.. Pentatonic 5's during solos.. weird arpeggios.. the way he ascends and descends is so wierd and unique.. there's so much to it.. and most of all.. such a pure tone. It comes from the fingers but the amp and pickups help too. Great stuff..
I was born raised and live in Texas. I’ve seen Eric live many times. He’s fat and away the best player from the many guitar monsters Texas has produced. You just have to enjoy what Eric does. There’s not another player on the planet that does what he does.
@@scottmccaig6185 i doubt srv could play this and cliffs of dover but eric could play all srv songs ill leave it at that. music isnt a competition anyway they are diffent styles
Let in you guys in on some history I saw EJ when he was 24 at a club in bmt.tx called the "Foxy Lady" I was 18 and he was just as good then as he is now. I have live cassette tapes of him playing "live" there . We talked afterwards and he gave me his address and I sent the tape and he sent me back the original. Have not talked with him in a while ,but he is on another level and a very nice guy,great musician he also plays piano, his first instrument. Enjoyed your attempt to replay that ,will require some perusing to get it right,guitar mechanics "on fleek" keep fretting.
Your reaction cracks me up because it’s the same one I’ve had my entire life growing up listening to and watching EJ. He’s as it good as it gets. You should also check out Dave Scher. He accompanied EJ on his last tour and is, in my opinion, not only the finest guitar player in Austin (next to EJ) but one of the best on planet Earth. Here is a vid of them playing together. When EJ throws his hands up (at 16:28) you know you’re dealing with one of the very best. th-cam.com/video/nfqP7smHdkY/w-d-xo.html
15 years ago I would spend night and day trying to learn his stuff. I got to a point where I could play half of his catalog pretty well. Tablature books were a must for me to get it down. Learning Manhattan was challenging but very rewarding, especially getting the ending sequence down without mistake. Venus Isle is my favorite record with Ah Via Musicom a close second. The Tones album also has some cool jams. The stuff Eric did with The Electromagnets was ok but not my cup of tea. Now that I think about it I have all his albums lol. Great vid Michael!
The only sound from any string on his guitar is ONLY the exact sound from each and every string every time. There is no extra muted pluck from accidentally hitting an extra string. There is no fretting any string that isn't meant to be fretted. Whether he is using pick, hybrid or finger. He never misses. As I said in another comment, I watched him do 2 shows a night for 2 nights on three different tours. I NEVER saw him miss a note. He is not the fastest or flashiest but I think he is the most practiced, technical player I have seen.
Another great Video Michael. I’m also amazed you didn’t do an Eric Johnson video. What a unique player he is. Such a huge spectrum of style and music influence. He’s one player who is just impossible to imitate. He does things that sound simple and approachable but when you analyse,playing like he does is really hard to do. Manhattan is an example of this. The intro playing is way harder to perfect than he makes it seem. Keep up the amazing work Micheal and Happy Easter.
Man, that violin tone just melts me every time I hear it- that's the best description I have for it- violin tone. It's just as warm and soft as a violin and yet it's not overly compressed- and his clean tone is nothing to shake a stick at either. It's not as famous as his lead tone but- listen to it, it's beautiful. The only person I ever heard play that I thought rivaled his ability to just saturate every note with feeling, meaning, and emotion is Via. Imo Steve has mastered the ability to ring every single spec of feeling emotion out of a note- just completely turn it upside and shake out its pockets. But Eric is right there with him- both are unbelievable musicians.
This G3 video introduced me to Eric and then I heard “Cliffs of Dover”. Amazing. He reminds me of Wes Montgomery, who employed his thumb, instead of a pick. Eric once composed a song, “East Wes”. It had to be dedicated to him, it sounded like the way Wes played.
I hold Eric Johnson an Larry Carlton to be twins separated by decades. So smooth and agile, not to mention precise. Both have such beautiful phrasing and incredible note choice.
I've always hated those half-jokes people make saying "well, time to sell my guitar," because it's only doing a disservice to yourself and your own potential if only you'd put in the work. But then there's Eric Johnson, and, well, time to sell my guitar.
Finally, something other than “Cliff’s.” Manhattan is remarkable as are a dozen others that get no time. All of Eric’s best licks live inside my head, rent free. Hell, I don’t even ask them to take out the trash. I highly recommend THIS particular appearance on Austin City Limits. It’s by far the better performance. Camel’s Night Out, is absolutely sick. Regards.
Manhattan is one of his most soulful songs in his catalog. I can't really play it and do it any real justice much less create such a brilliant piece of music. My hats off to eric!!
Your opinion as a professional musician carries weight. "Prepare for impact" ... "soul crushing" ... loved watching your facial expression while EJ wove his magic. I remember the first time I saw him play live at a little dive bar in Charleston SC (Myskins?) in the early 80's. In between the sets, Eric sat down on the edge of the stage (guitar in hand) and fielded questions from the aspiring musicians in the crowd. Demonstrated chord fingerings, progressions, runs, etc. all in slo-mo. One of the most humble artists you'll ever meet. I heard a rumor that his roadies called him "Ear-ache" ...lol! I'm a Dixie Dregs/Steve Morse fan since 1978. Eric Johnson and his music is a VERY close second (more like 1a/1b). Just depends upon my listening/playing along mood at the time. Some Dregs stuff I can play along to. EJ... nothing! 😅 Love your content!!!
Join the club Michael. I'm a guitar player from the Houston area and the first time I saw him I was a working musician in 1982 and the guy who built my guitars, Rick Becker, told me one day "We gotta go to Rockefeller's tonight to hear this guy named Eric Johnson from Austin. My friends in Austin say he's amazing". I said sure, let's go. $5 later I'm inside Rockefeller's (holds about 200 guys) and I look around the room and every damn person in the room is a musician that I know personally from all over East Texas. Eric comes out and absolutely DESTROYED the place. Every single song (most of them never published even to this day) get's a standing ovation and a room full of people shaking their heads in disbelief. Over the next 7 or 8 years I saw him more than 20 times. His "Tones" album came out and it was a HUGE disappointment. The producer didn't come close to capturing Eric's power or tone. Anyway, after that first time at Rockefellers I decided to go to college and become an Engineer. I'm not kidding. How can you compete with this guy who just blew away a whole room of players and he looks like he's about 20 years old (he was actually about 28 years old). Forget it, I give up. Just like you did at the end of this video. He is so far ahead of anyone else I had ever seen, why bother. Just go get a real job and admire from afar. Nuff said.... lover the videos Michael.
Hate to use the term 'best guitarist' but I really think there are two: Eric Johnson and Brian Carroll (Buckethead). Very different styles but seemingly from another planet.
Yes!! I first saw this when I was 14 and fell on love with everything with this song and performance. I started trying to learn this at the beginning of lockdown in 2020. It’s very very hard!!
Michael it was beautiful. Thanks for the Intro. You mention long practice. But you also mention that the tune is tailored to his strengths. Very interested to read the *classical piano* note. I think we each have our own bodies and brains. Most of those of us who are interested enough can through diligence learn to play well enough to keep ourselves entertained with playing, or at least practicing. Some number of us have the dedication to get *good.* There are a few who have the skills to get *perfect* or *incredible* or *amazing.* I think for that to happen there really is a *gift* of inate physical and mental abilities. Some folks could practice skillfully all day for years, and compensate well for their chsllenges. But the gift is not there and while they may play very well, they can't summit that mountain. MEANWHILE, as perfect as this music performance is, I did not feel connected to it other than through admiration. I would likely not go more than once. I would not be so captured that I would purchase and learn to play an instrument, just so I could feel part of the fun and excitement. Ya get what ya get. 💕🙋🎶
In the UK here. It took me 10 years to get a copy of Tones back then. Sooo amazing a player. I agree that his pure violin tone is just something else… almost euphoric.
His reaction to the video at 13:48 is the same as mine most of the time when I listen to or watch Eric play. Just about flawless! That's why I guess he's my favorite guitar player. I've seen him live many times and it never gets old!
He's incredible. I remember seeing him in NYC a few years ago, and your description is spot on. The confusion set in once it ended and we all left in silence. It was as if he'd found new notes on the guitar or something.
Eric used to be the opening act for the Dixie Dregs. Steve Morse once said in an interview that getting on stage and playing after Eric was not easy. A LOT of pressure. That's how good this guy is.
I read an interview where eric said it took him a pretty good while to be able to play it live. But damn what an amazing song and tone and....well you know already!
Eric just makes that guitar sing. Pure magic. He used to play at Cheatham St Warehouse in San Marcos Texas. A few college kids would try to dance, give up, sit down and just listen, because they had never heard anything like it!
This song is a sleeper and a little more laid back. Definitely not in your face likes Cliffs of Dover. A casual listener probably doesn't pick up on all the detail that is going on. I love this song. Great choice.
"Soul crushing" you said, I get that. Eric is so smooth, he's done the work it takes, he is inspirational and fantastic.
I also liked “confused”
He makes it look easy! I feel like i can do this... Maybe after a year or two of heavy practicing! Just got to save up to buy a decent guitar then i'm golden!
i was in a great band in the late 70s in Houston, and every guitar player in Texas damn near would be in the little clubs watching Eric in amazement...wed look at each other smiling..knowing our lives had changed forever.
Great player and Eric has been a friend since 1979 ✅ Most folks don’t know that Guitar was his 2nd instrument. He’s a Classically trained pianist. His inspiration of guitar voicing and inversions are all based of Piano structures… That’s what makes Eric so unique ✅ Such a great player and wonderful person 🎸
you're friends with him?
Interesting
I saw him live at antones with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon they were on a bill with Chris Duarte as the showcase artist when , my way down came out great at a small club setting.
@@kennethmeeker6369 I love Chris Duarte and that album! Seems like he hasn't released much since.
His approach to chords makes a lot more sense knowing his first instrument is piano.
Erick for me is the best guy who carries a spectacular clean in his timbre and a genius fuzz overdrive
Brannen Temple on drums, Roscoe Beck on bass, this specific version of Manhattan is, without a doubt, one of the greatest achievements in the history of music... I've been listening to it for over 20 years and it never ceases to amaze me. There is so much art, soul and technic going on, simply amazing. Thank you for your video!
Absolutely! That is Eric at his absolute best. The whole band was absolutely legendary.
Such a beautiful live performance by EJ. What tone! There's a lifetime's worth of lessons in that one song!
He is so good..... and a huge shout out to his playing on Rick Beato's "what if" video on stairway to heaven.... quite possibly the best guitar performance on youtube
For a long time, I felt like Eddie Van Halen’s tone was the epitome of electric guitar.
For me, I think that is now Eric Johnson IMHO. Incredible tone.
That's Eric at his absolute pinnacle. He still plays that song now, but it doesn't come close to this version as far as precision. It's cool to see a great player like you to be just as amazed by it as I am.
Eric is the KING of Technicality! My fellow Texan is second to none when it comes to technicalities. simply the cleanest and most unique sound of all time! Eric is truly one of the greatest of all time!!
Eris's fingers and punctuation is so precise. Hit body clock is perfect
EJ is a genius no doubt, but gotta give it up to Roscoe Beck for the harmonic contributions from his bass, as well.
Roscoe is amazing. That was such a great lineup. Hope Roscoe is on the G3 tour again.
Indeed! 👍
Andy Timmons told me face to face that Eric was his favorite guitarist on planet earth.
his guitar tone might be the best live tone of all time in my mind. there's something transcendent about it
Eric the man who can accurately tell you what brand of battery is in your pedal.
Trail of tears from live in Austin is sublime...
How good is EJ's harmonic sense? Total command of his instrument.
He's not of this world!
And he's so fluid. Everything he does seems seamless.
You remind me of me. Out of your depth.
perfectly said bro
My favorite EJ song, I had done it for my audition into Berklee. Really tasteful work especially once you dig in, purely sublime *chef's kiss*
I was very fortunate to have seen him many, many times at a Houston bar with The Electromagnets. It was very cool to sit 6 feet from him and watch him perform night after night. He truly is an extremely remarkable guitarist!
"Great economy of movement", didn't know there was such a perfect way to explain the greatness of EJ's guitar playing! He makes it look effortless
Thank you Michael, your faces made laugh so much haha!! Eric is like that hahaha smooth operator!
1. Clicked on this as fast as humanly possible
2. LOVE THE BILLY HAT
Props to Satch and Vai for taking this monster on the road with them.
Eric is a wiseman in league of guitarist
Like a knife sliding through butter... Fkn incredible. L•E•G•E•N•D•A•R•Y
The master of tasteful, melodic, harmonic invention, he just traverses the entire neck, and wrings such tone from his guitar, always been a fan.
Venus Isle is an amazing record. Incredible songwriting and solos on there.
Most underrated song of Eric Johnson. Usually when people say Eric Johnson first thing that comes to their mind is Cliffs of Dover. But for me growing up one of my favorite song from EJ is Manhattan :) Also I agree to what you have said that this is a well crafted masterpiece this song definitely shows all the tricks up his sleeves. Just an amazing guitar player :)
*PS: Love your reaction I have the same face whenever I watch this :)
3:11 100% For a real trip, focus on the thumb on Eric's fret hand. It jumps all over the place but always with purpose and confidence. Great video!
The first time I heard Cliffs of Dover, I was sold. There is nobody else that plays like Eric does for my ears. So clean, so smooth, and very unique to his own sound.
BTW, this G3 version sounds KILLER on a great stereo.
I was in high school and some guy had the tape heard it, lost my ish, pick my guitar again, never looked back. The best tone, melodies, chord embellishments. Just plain dope
Eric learned like many musicians the piano at a younger age. One of the things that come with that, and I did too. was that there are scads of different ways to play the same chord. If you can get that, then you can get that there are scads of ways to riff off of every variation of said chords. Pulling that off on piano is fairly common. Pulling that off on a guitar is something special that not many do. JMHO.
Kudos to even try and break this one down. I play the studio version and it's so fun to play. Great one to learn!
This G3 performance solidified this as my favorite EJ song, back in high school.
Eric approaches the guitar neck as if it were a piano. He's the tastiest guitar player out there.
EJ’s fingers just KNOW the way home..!!! And he stops to smell the flowers along the way…!! His playing is just….aaaaaaahhhhhh…❤️
lol!!!! I think the flowers bow down to him when he passes by!
Struggling for words to describe. I would go for 'awe' probably. EJ is one of those incredible artists that you make feel you have witnessed something that is beyond comprehension and just straight into your soul. Kudo's for not trying to take it apart. It wouldn't do the experience justice.
Hello Michael, Your commentary on Eric's playing was so very good. That's quite a song. Thank you
I don’t know about everyone else.. but I’m pretty sure that MY road to fluency on the fretboard is going to be Micky Baker’s Book of Jazz Chords.. it’s not gonna be easy..but anything worthwhile is worth the effort…
One of my favourites. Eric is a genius. I was smiling at the fact you didn’t know where to start, which was just like my first reaction. I’ve watched it loads since.
I was a metalhead and then watching this DVD made me want a strat.. and develop the ability to produce some of these tones. It's very unique but in such a beautiful way. This, SRV and Trademark are my three favourite songs from him.
If you want to decode it.. Rick Graham's Lick Library DVD does a great job. But those are based on the album versions.. the live versions are something else entirely. He always improvises and changes things. This G3 1997 video is the best version of Manhattan I've ever heard. Shout out to Rick Graham for being one of the only teachers in the world who has the ability to teach this style. Sliding octave riffs, the SRV strum technique (strumming all 6 strings and muting with the left hand), hybrid picking with thumb over the neck for bass notes and picking the bass notes while finger picking the treble notes at the same time.. Pentatonic 5's during solos.. weird arpeggios.. the way he ascends and descends is so wierd and unique.. there's so much to it.. and most of all.. such a pure tone. It comes from the fingers but the amp and pickups help too. Great stuff..
Check out Andy Wood, he is also a great EJ analyst & player extraordinaire!
Wasn't exactly sure what your reaction would be to the master... but, I feel like you nailed it. Soul crushing. Good times. 😭
I was born raised and live in Texas. I’ve seen Eric live many times. He’s fat and away the best player from the many guitar monsters Texas has produced. You just have to enjoy what Eric does. There’s not another player on the planet that does what he does.
I totally agree - but - I wouldn’t say he’s Fat! Jes’ sayin’! Love TX!
Love EJ, but don’t know if I would put him above SRV
@@scottmccaig6185 i doubt srv could play this and cliffs of dover but eric could play all srv songs ill leave it at that. music isnt a competition anyway they are diffent styles
@@scottmccaig6185 Ej is clearly the more talented player .... Stevie had more hits tho ✌️✌️
@@RUARI-mi1yt Couldn't agree with you more. Well put.
02:33 is such a fresh take on a common phrase, sounds so otherwordly just through the slight shift in timing
I met Eric after a show once and got to shake his hand. Easily the biggest/longest band I've ever shaken in my life
Let in you guys in on some history I saw EJ when he was 24 at a club in bmt.tx called the "Foxy Lady" I was 18 and he was just as good then as he is now. I have live cassette tapes of him playing "live" there . We talked afterwards and he gave me his address and I sent the tape and he sent me back the original. Have not talked with him in a while ,but he is on another level and a very nice guy,great musician he also plays piano, his first instrument. Enjoyed your attempt to replay that ,will require some perusing to get it right,guitar mechanics "on fleek" keep fretting.
Eric has that beautiful melodic vibe. Larry Carlton. Lee Ritenour.
almost seems like he's playing a different instrument to everyone else. Genius.
For me EJ is one of the most under rated guitarist of all time. I think he is one of the Top 10 GOAT in guitar.
Have you’ve done videos on Steve Morse? Another great guitar player as well.
I am not a musician but I love listening to Michael's in depth reactions. Especially Eric Johnson ----I have Eric's 1990 AH VIA MUSICOM cassett tape!
I love when you just looked at the camera and shook your head. Eric is a quiet monster
Your reaction cracks me up because it’s the same one I’ve had my entire life growing up listening to and watching EJ. He’s as it good as it gets. You should also check out Dave Scher. He accompanied EJ on his last tour and is, in my opinion, not only the finest guitar player in Austin (next to EJ) but one of the best on planet Earth.
Here is a vid of them playing together. When EJ throws his hands up (at 16:28) you know you’re dealing with one of the very best.
th-cam.com/video/nfqP7smHdkY/w-d-xo.html
Days? I heard this song in 1998, until today I still can't play even 10% as clean as he does
15 years ago I would spend night and day trying to learn his stuff. I got to a point where I could play half of his catalog pretty well. Tablature books were a must for me to get it down. Learning Manhattan was challenging but very rewarding, especially getting the ending sequence down without mistake. Venus Isle is my favorite record with Ah Via Musicom a close second. The Tones album also has some cool jams. The stuff Eric did with The Electromagnets was ok but not my cup of tea. Now that I think about it I have all his albums lol. Great vid Michael!
Hats off to you for being able to get any of EJ's music down. It must've taken tremendous dedication. 🥂
If you want your soul crushed, check out the classical "vals venezolano 3" by various guitarists.
Beautiful playing 👍🎸always loved this EJ tune!
The only sound from any string on his guitar is ONLY the exact sound from each and every string every time. There is no extra muted pluck from accidentally hitting an extra string. There is no fretting any string that isn't meant to be fretted. Whether he is using pick, hybrid or finger. He never misses. As I said in another comment, I watched him do 2 shows a night for 2 nights on three different tours. I NEVER saw him miss a note. He is not the fastest or flashiest but I think he is the most practiced, technical player I have seen.
Another great Video Michael. I’m also amazed you didn’t do an Eric Johnson video. What a unique player he is. Such a huge spectrum of style and music influence. He’s one player who is just impossible to imitate. He does things that sound simple and approachable but when you analyse,playing like he does is really hard to do. Manhattan is an example of this. The intro playing is way harder to perfect than he makes it seem. Keep up the amazing work Micheal and Happy Easter.
Man, that violin tone just melts me every time I hear it- that's the best description I have for it- violin tone. It's just as warm and soft as a violin and yet it's not overly compressed- and his clean tone is nothing to shake a stick at either. It's not as famous as his lead tone but- listen to it, it's beautiful. The only person I ever heard play that I thought rivaled his ability to just saturate every note with feeling, meaning, and emotion is Via. Imo Steve has mastered the ability to ring every single spec of feeling emotion out of a note- just completely turn it upside and shake out its pockets. But Eric is right there with him- both are unbelievable musicians.
This is a way of life. Imagine how much time you would need to learn this and how much more to stay proficient.
This G3 video introduced me to Eric and then I heard “Cliffs of Dover”.
Amazing.
He reminds me of Wes Montgomery, who employed his thumb, instead of a pick. Eric once composed a song, “East Wes”. It had to be dedicated to him, it sounded like the way Wes played.
It was dedicated to - and inspired by - Wes Montgomery.
You haven’t even stopped the video yet, and I have to comment on how quickly and easily he “stores” the pick, then brings it back…
Man, I love the Venus Isle album.
Nice one, man. Nobody out there like Eric. Sounds like a violin, a clarinet, a piano, and the heart always comes through
I hold Eric Johnson an Larry Carlton to be twins separated by decades. So smooth and agile, not to mention precise. Both have such beautiful phrasing and incredible note choice.
Unbelievable guitarist. A master of his craft!
The most lit "on hold" music of all time.
finally! an Eric Johnson reaction
I've always hated those half-jokes people make saying "well, time to sell my guitar," because it's only doing a disservice to yourself and your own potential if only you'd put in the work.
But then there's Eric Johnson, and, well, time to sell my guitar.
Copying his licks in one thing....but to be able to create a conplete song and not just a solo is ...mind blowing, I know he's an alien.
Finally, something other than “Cliff’s.” Manhattan is remarkable as are a dozen others that get no time. All of Eric’s best licks live inside my head, rent free. Hell, I don’t even ask them to take out the trash. I highly recommend THIS particular appearance on Austin City Limits. It’s by far the better performance. Camel’s Night Out, is absolutely sick. Regards.
Correction, this may be from his DVD. I recognized the drummer from the better of the 2 ACL’s shows.
Please do a reaction to his 1996 G3 version of 12 vibe 12 please! I can almost see your reactions! That video is unreal!
Manhattan is one of his most soulful songs in his catalog. I can't really play it and do it any real justice much less create such a brilliant piece of music. My hats off to eric!!
There's God, then there's Joe Satriani, then there's Jimi, then there's Eric Johnson! Great reaction!
Your opinion as a professional musician carries weight. "Prepare for impact" ... "soul crushing" ... loved watching your facial expression while EJ wove his magic. I remember the first time I saw him play live at a little dive bar in Charleston SC (Myskins?) in the early 80's. In between the sets, Eric sat down on the edge of the stage (guitar in hand) and fielded questions from the aspiring musicians in the crowd. Demonstrated chord fingerings, progressions, runs, etc. all in slo-mo. One of the most humble artists you'll ever meet. I heard a rumor that his roadies called him "Ear-ache" ...lol! I'm a Dixie Dregs/Steve Morse fan since 1978. Eric Johnson and his music is a VERY close second (more like 1a/1b). Just depends upon my listening/playing along mood at the time. Some Dregs stuff I can play along to. EJ... nothing! 😅
Love your content!!!
Eric Johnson maybe my #2
Srv is 1 for me
Join the club Michael. I'm a guitar player from the Houston area and the first time I saw him I was a working musician in 1982 and the guy who built my guitars, Rick Becker, told me one day "We gotta go to Rockefeller's tonight to hear this guy named Eric Johnson from Austin. My friends in Austin say he's amazing". I said sure, let's go. $5 later I'm inside Rockefeller's (holds about 200 guys) and I look around the room and every damn person in the room is a musician that I know personally from all over East Texas. Eric comes out and absolutely DESTROYED the place. Every single song (most of them never published even to this day) get's a standing ovation and a room full of people shaking their heads in disbelief. Over the next 7 or 8 years I saw him more than 20 times. His "Tones" album came out and it was a HUGE disappointment. The producer didn't come close to capturing Eric's power or tone. Anyway, after that first time at Rockefellers I decided to go to college and become an Engineer. I'm not kidding. How can you compete with this guy who just blew away a whole room of players and he looks like he's about 20 years old (he was actually about 28 years old). Forget it, I give up. Just like you did at the end of this video. He is so far ahead of anyone else I had ever seen, why bother. Just go get a real job and admire from afar. Nuff said.... lover the videos Michael.
Hate to use the term 'best guitarist' but I really think there are two: Eric Johnson and Brian Carroll (Buckethead). Very different styles but seemingly from another planet.
Another guy from the same town as Eric is Andy Timmons. Well worth a look. Cry for you,Ibanez clinic or, sgt. Peppers
His best song by far, g3 version is special
I have always found Eric playing some of the notes like playing piano.
Yes!! I first saw this when I was 14 and fell on love with everything with this song and performance. I started trying to learn this at the beginning of lockdown in 2020. It’s very very hard!!
Couple of my buddys saw him in the late 80s / early 90s … one of my buddies “ RIP Tim “ cried … lol
Teacher flabbergasted. What I learned is this man is WAY out of his league, soorrreèe michael
That's what I say every time about EJ, "slick".
Sometimes it easier to not play guitar, and just immerse yourself...
If my guitar teacher was as hot as Michael, i would never miss a lesson, so glad i found this channel
Michael it was beautiful. Thanks for the Intro. You mention long practice. But you also mention that the tune is tailored to his strengths. Very interested to read the *classical piano* note. I think we each have our own bodies and brains. Most of those of us who are interested enough can through diligence learn to play well enough to keep ourselves entertained with playing, or at least practicing. Some number of us have the dedication to get *good.* There are a few who have the skills to get *perfect* or *incredible* or *amazing.* I think for that to happen there really is a *gift* of inate physical and mental abilities. Some folks could practice skillfully all day for years, and compensate well for their chsllenges. But the gift is not there and while they may play very well, they can't summit that mountain. MEANWHILE, as perfect as this music performance is, I did not feel connected to it other than through admiration. I would likely not go more than once. I would not be so captured that I would purchase and learn to play an instrument, just so I could feel part of the fun and excitement. Ya get what ya get. 💕🙋🎶
In the UK here. It took me 10 years to get a copy of Tones back then. Sooo amazing a player. I agree that his pure violin tone is just something else… almost euphoric.
His reaction to the video at 13:48 is the same as mine most of the time when I listen to or watch Eric play. Just about flawless! That's why I guess he's my favorite guitar player. I've seen him live many times and it never gets old!
At 7:00 too !!!!
He's incredible. I remember seeing him in NYC a few years ago, and your description is spot on. The confusion set in once it ended and we all left in silence. It was as if he'd found new notes on the guitar or something.
Thats about as cool as Angela's Theme!
Eric used to be the opening act for the Dixie Dregs. Steve Morse once said in an interview that getting on stage and playing after Eric was not easy. A LOT of pressure. That's how good this guy is.
Got to grow up in an incredible time for guitar. 54 and retired now, 45 yrs playing. Always and forever a student.
I read an interview where eric said it took him a pretty good while to be able to play it live. But damn what an amazing song and tone and....well you know already!
EJ's everything is just so damn good
Hey Michael, can you do a Blues Saraceno appreciation video???? 💙
Eric just makes that guitar sing. Pure magic. He used to play at Cheatham St Warehouse in San Marcos Texas. A few college kids would try to dance, give up, sit down and just listen, because they had never heard anything like it!
This song is a sleeper and a little more laid back. Definitely not in your face likes Cliffs of Dover. A casual listener probably doesn't pick up on all the detail that is going on. I love this song. Great choice.
He's called the " Tone Ranger " for a reason!
WOWWWWW!!!!