{"id":17636,"date":"2017-09-07T10:34:05","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T17:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=17636"},"modified":"2017-09-07T12:28:46","modified_gmt":"2017-09-07T19:28:46","slug":"video-web-exclusive-interview-eric-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2017\/09\/video-web-exclusive-interview-eric-johnson\/","title":{"rendered":"Video &#038; Web-Exclusive Interview Eric Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_17644\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17644\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17644\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-Photo-credit-Max-Crace.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: Max Crace\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-Photo-credit-Max-Crace.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-Photo-credit-Max-Crace-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17644\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Max Crace<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>VIDEO FEATURE &amp; WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1>Musician:<strong> \u00a0ERIC JOHNSON<\/strong><br \/>\nVideo:\u00a0 \u201c<strong>Cliffs of Dover<\/strong>\u201d<\/h1>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5Nd7EZ3k39s\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>ERIC JOHNSON Hurricane Harvey Relief Benefit Show &amp; Live Webcast this Thursday, Sept 7, at 8:30 PM EDT with special guest Arielle<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.concertwindow.com\/bluerock\">https:\/\/www.concertwindow.com\/bluerock<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In a feature on <em>M Music &amp; Musician<\/em> magazine\u2019s November 2014 issue we wrote: \u201cEric Johnson is a stone rocker\u2014a shredding wiz whose music incorporates myriad elements and influences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Johnson is one of popular music\u2019s most respected and renowned guitarists. A further fact sometimes overshadowed by the brilliance of Johnson\u2019s playing: The reason why he stands both out and above the rest in a world peopled with many \u201cguitar gods\u201d is that, for Johnson, it\u2019s as much about the music and the song as it is playing his guitar. \u201cHe&#8217;s an extraordinary guitar player accessible to ordinary music fans,\u201d notes the Memphis Commercial Appeal. That\u2019s because Eric Johnson plays music and not just the guitar. He is also a gifted player of the piano, his first instrument, as well as a songwriter, singer and song interpreter. Or more succinctly, Eric Johnson is a diverse, versatile and fully realized musical creator who plays guitar like no one else.<\/p>\n<p>About the current hurricane relief efforts, Eric Johnson says \u201cI\u2019ve been very saddened by the recent [devastation of]\u00a0Hurricane Harvey.\u00a0In honor of this, I will be doing a benefit show at Blue Rock Studio\u00a0that will also be streamed to help\u00a0a good cause. I\u2019ll be playing some acoustic pieces, then a set with my electric band, with special guest, Arielle. <em>All <\/em>proceeds will be donated to Convoy of Hope and Mercy Chefs for relief of the hurricane victims.\u201d Blue Rock Studio selected these organizations because of their outstanding efforts for the Wimberley community during the flood of 2015.<\/p>\n<p>In a Jan\/Feb 2011 <em>M Music &amp; Musician<\/em> magazine feature, we wrote: \u201cEric Johnson might be the world\u2019s most reluctant guitar hero. In the 1980s, as his star was first rising, the Austin native earned a reputation as a white-hot shredder. But from the start, Johnson has emphasized that technique is just part of a larger musical landscape. \u201cIf you play a show where you shred for two hours, you\u2019ll see a lot of the crowd zone out and want to go home,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd who can blame them? We\u2019ve had more than 50 years of electric guitar playing. Playing faster, more furiously, or with a more metallic tone isn\u2019t enough to keep people interested. People will be listening to Jimi Hendrix a hundred years from now not because he was flashy, but because he wrote great songs, great melodies and his rhythm playing was great.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This Thursday, September 7, we have an incredible opportunity to experience Johnson playing live in an intimate setting. 100% of the proceeds go to Hurricane Harvey Relief. This storm has landed hard for so many now on a long road of recovery.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17640\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17640\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17640\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-photo-credit-Stan-Martin.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: Stan-Martin\" width=\"660\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-photo-credit-Stan-Martin.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-photo-credit-Stan-Martin-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17640\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Stan-Martin<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Join Blue Rock Studio for a one-of-a-kind evening of music and generosity. You can <strong>watch the performance live<\/strong>, or you can <strong>watch it via Concert Window<\/strong>:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.concertwindow.com\/bluerock<strong>.<\/strong> <strong>It\u2019s a pay-as-you-wish ticketing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Performances are webcast in multi-camera HD video and pristine audio. Enjoy exclusive artist interviews between sets. Get online early. They open up cameras an hour before show time so you can test your stream connection. Here is a link for the best stream practices, to help you all enjoy the experience:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.concertwindow.com\/%3Ca%20href=\"> http:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/live\/&#8217;<\/a> target=&#8217;_blank&#8217;&gt;<a href=\"http:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/live\/%3C\/a%3E\"> http:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/live\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you get involved with Blue Rock Studio for this amazing Benefit Concert\u2014where 100% of the proceeds go to Hurricane Harvey Relief?<\/strong><br \/>\nBilly Crockett called me and it was exactly at the same time Arielle and I were thinking about something we could do. The timing was serendipitous.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is important for people to come together and help?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s always important to come together. You can\u2019t always just assume that even people that don\u2019t seem immediately involved, they aren\u2019t doing anything. Something like this has the paramount attention\u2014that if anyone has the opportunity to help, it\u2019s a privilege.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there a song that you are looking forward to performing at this Benefit?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt will be an evening of inprov that\u2019s much different than my usual set. I\u2019m looking forward to playing with Tom Brechtlein playing drums (from Robben Ford, Chick Corea), Chris Marsh on bass, and Eddy Hobizal, a really fine jazz pianist in town. We\u2019re doing kind of a jazzy fusion instrumental set with the four of us. And I\u2019ll probably play a few acoustic pieces before it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will you perform any songs from your 2016 album, <em>EJ<\/em>?<\/strong><br \/>\nI might. It will be more of an improv jazz fusion instrumental set, and a few acoustic songs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did this first all-acoustic album <em>EJ <\/em>evolve?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve wanted to do\u2014for a long time. I already had a few tracks. So I finished it up. I very much enjoy doing the solo acoustic thing. There\u2019s an intimacy about it. I will release another one\u2014maybe EP or a record. I\u2019ve already finished five or six songs. I record in my own studio\u2014where I rehearse. Something I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who inspired you to write songs?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt would probably be the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder. There are others, but those are the main influences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What made you <em>want <\/em>to write songs?<\/strong><br \/>\nJust listening to people\u2019s original compositions, and the emotional feeling I got from it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us about your creative process for writing songs.<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s really more just about experimenting and improvising. Then, you chase a certain idea that you get that seems to have enough merit to bloom into something substantial.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What songwriting tip would you like to offer?<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you have a subject matter\u2014reminiscing about something important in your life or any hopes in the future. Something you feel a connection with\u2014where you can come up with something of merit that surrounds that genuine connection. That\u2019s a good start. Getting out of your own way is important.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did the idea of \u201cCliffs of Dover\u201d come to you?<\/strong><br \/>\nVery quickly. (<em>Laughs<\/em>) It just kind of came to me. I wrote the whole song in a matter of maybe five minutes. I did spend time embellishing it, but it was just kind of floating in the universe, and I tapped into it. I had it a few years before I put it on <em>Ah Via Musicom<\/em>. I actually recorded it for the 1986 <em>Tones<\/em> record but we didn\u2019t keep that version. I re-recorded it for <em>Ah Via Musicom<\/em> [1990]. I didn\u2019t have a title for it, and a friend of mine, Vince, said that sounds like the \u201cCliffs of Dover.\u201d I liked the name. My band members always called it \u201cBanana Boat.\u201d They\u2019d always sing it (<em>sings<\/em>): <em>Banana boat, banana boat, banana boat, banana boat\u2026. <\/em>(<em>Laughs<\/em>) They\u2019d always go, \u201cAre we gonna play Banana Boat tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What instrument can you not live without\u2014that helps you write, record or perform?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy Fender Strat, and a keyboard.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What PRO are you with?<\/strong><br \/>\nBMI, but I don\u2019t have much affiliation with them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17643\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17643\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17643\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-2-Photo-credit-Stan-Martin.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: Stan-Martin\" width=\"660\" height=\"820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-2-Photo-credit-Stan-Martin.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-2-Photo-credit-Stan-Martin-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eric-Johnson-2-Photo-credit-Stan-Martin-300x372.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17643\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Stan-Martin<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Do you remember the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes, it was a Mariani record\u2014back in 1970, when I was 16 or 17 years old.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top 5 Musicians\u00a0who inspired you to become a musician?\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nJimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Wes Montgomery, Stevie Wonder.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your Top 5 favorite albums of all time?<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Music of My Mind<\/em> (1972) \u2013 Stevie Wonder<br \/>\n<em>Are You Experienced<\/em> (1967) \u2013 Jimi Hendrix<br \/>\n<em>Ladies of the Canyon<\/em> (1970) \u2013 Joni Mitchell<br \/>\n<em>Highway<\/em> (1970) \u2013 Free<br \/>\n<em>Down Here on the Ground<\/em> (1967) \u2013 Wes Montgomery<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us a \u201cpinch me\u201d moment, either recording or playing live, where you said, \u201cWow, is this is really happening to me!\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\nHanging out backstage with Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell\u2014and there I was. It was amazing to me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best advice someone has given you.<\/strong><br \/>\nB.B. King telling me, \u201cBe your own unique self.\u201d Don\u2019t try to be what everyone else is. Be you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s next?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019m putting out an EP called <em>Collage<\/em>. I want to do another acoustic record. And I\u2019ll be doing an Ah Via Musicom tour in early 2018.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where can your new fans get more info and stay updated?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialEricJohnson\/\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialEricJohnson\/<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.EricJohnson.com\">www.EricJohnson.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VIDEO FEATURE &amp; WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician: \u00a0ERIC JOHNSON Video:\u00a0 \u201cCliffs of Dover\u201d ERIC JOHNSON Hurricane Harvey Relief Benefit Show &amp; Live Webcast this Thursday, Sept 7, at 8:30 PM EDT with special guest Arielle https:\/\/www.concertwindow.com\/bluerock In a feature on M Music &amp; Musician magazine\u2019s November 2014 issue we wrote: \u201cEric Johnson is a stone rocker\u2014a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17638,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[1386,9479,5334,9514,9515,8271,9481,9482,5879,2741,9516,9517,9518,9485,9486,9487,9519,9520,9490,9521,9522,1060,1383,9523,3990,9524,9525,4067,9494,9495,9496,272,310,9499,991,10161,7566,9526,9527,9528,9529,3010,9530,7978,6458,5372,3818,9531,9532,9533,9534],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17636"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17636"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17645,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17636\/revisions\/17645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}