Eric Johson - Austin City Limits

[bigdaddymac1]

This take of "Western Flyer" is just about as good as it'll ever get!! And what better way to start the song than with EJ's version of Jimi's "Foxy Lady" intro!!! One of my all-time favorite live cuts!!!

[spicysteve100]

As a junior guitarist emulating Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and Page, it would seem to my ears and (eyes) that Eric Johnson is the total package. Songwriting, extreme technical skills, strong melodies and harmonies. Of course there are many great (and up and coming) guitarists (Joe Bonamassa et al) but I also met Eric, and he is down to earth dude. I tip my cap to him in so many ways.

[Davide888]

Is that all you got?! Kidding of course. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen on the guitar - how he plays a run and then hits a certain part of the fretboard perfectly: 0:55. Fantastic.

[petecon58]

I like the high school majorette uniform.

[aaa567ify]

Damn that sounds good!

[MurtaghLaw]

Tone, schmone. Why is he wearing a marching band uniform? And mumbling into microphone? Why the Flock-of-Seagull wall of hair in the front? (Actually, I've been listening to this guy for 20 years and never stop being amazed on how pure the sound is.)

[ShipsAreBurned]

@MurtaghLaw dude, admit it, his hair is pretty fantastic in these videos

[MurtaghLaw]

@ShipsAreBurned = Yngwie reference?

[ShipsAreBurned]

@MurtaghLaw hell yeah! dude thats my favorite Yngwie song

[rafasounds2010]

I prefer erics fuzz tones back then

[danieldobbsmusic]

Can't really describe this as anything other than it's just really fucking good :).

[rustyknight0303]

Why does he insist on having the lamest guitar tone ever????

[hanksteelbranch]

@rustyknight0303 The lamest tone ever? Eric Johnson? Surely you jest.

[rustyknight0303]

@hanksteelbranch I mean, seriously.. It almost sounds like he's playing a frickin sitar.

[GoodMetalFTW]

@rustyknight0303

haha you're funny.

[layzsailor]

@rustyknight0303 When you can play the guitar as clean as EJ, you dont need to cover it up by an overwhelming amount of distortion.

[tamedragon66]

@rustyknight0303 Why do you insist at hating on players that are at least a thousand times better than you.. if you can even play at all?

[hanksteelbranch]

One remarkable fact about Eric is that he is essentially a '60's- '70's guitarist. Eric took things this far by playing within the rules which had been established by 1975. EJ is the valedictorian of pre-EVH rock guitar playing, who also happens to be better than all post EVH rock guitar players. In my opinion he dwarfs all of them. 

[irvpav]

@hanksteelbranch absolutely Joe Bonamassa copies him almost note for note LOL

EVH I always hate that tapping shit you can't seem to get away from in every Guitar Center

its low class and not musical.

[hanksteelbranch]

@irvpav Yeah, I agree about the whole GC scene. I actually like Joe a lot though. I'd much rather listen to him than most other contemporary players.

[MrCold768]

@irvpav tapping is a cool technique but a lot of players us it in a boring (shred) way

[fishguru73]

Mixolydian, of course, Dorian, Aeolian, and Phrygian... and damn it... I missed a bit of the Ionian. I guess it's 5 now.

[antsdick]

I agree bbyrne 16 hes is just him. I can't think of anybody who sounds like him. Trying to work out where he got his sound from. Who did he learn from anbody?

[Wiltonibanez]

@antsdick in some interviews he says who he likes, i cant remember... it might say on his facebook musician page who, but hes a perfectionist and thats probably how he's 100% crystal clear with his playing XD... oh but that doesnt answer who teached him, i'd like to know that too, hmm he talks alot about enjoying the process of coming up with good music so maybe it was mostly on his own??? . ..

[MrShreddyz]

he may be one of the greatest guitarists ever in my opinion but he also has a pretty crazy hairdo lol

[fleafarteasy]

Anyone have a post of EJ actually hitting a sour note?!?!? So good to hear a strat doing something other than blues. Great post.

[twistswitch]

Wow the major scale!

[fishguru73]

@twistswitch Major scale in which mode genius? There were 4 modes and the scales against each one were executed flawlessly and not in the major scale. You will now speak when spoken to idiot. You think you know what it takes to play like this man and run your head then show us how it's done fool. I see the comments of people like you everywhere and I realize why people like Eric Johnson don't get recognition. It's because retards are the majority.

[jaluman]

@fishguru73 Preach brother!!!

[fishguru73]

@jaluman Hallelujah and amen.

[Wiltonibanez]

@fishguru73 Because everyone's a jelous pig and doesnt like it when someone is humble and kicks ass at what they do like Eric. No one can touch how eric plays

[Wiltonibanez]

@fishguru73 what were the 4 modes?

[jeditenor1]

I don't know a doggone thing about Guitar but when I saw this program when it was originally aired I knew I was hearing and seeing one the greatest guitar players God put on this earth.

[blackfrancis55]

welcome to gay town. we have guitars.

[mrblujet]

Visit Austin sometime and become a little more enlightened..............and a little less ignorant.

[roscolbar]

Yes, fantastiquissimo but is just me or is he always pushing the beat?

[defakty]

incredible must listened lot of mahavishnu sounds like a violinist jerry goodman often smetimes like ian hammer that is real plaing not w.......g like someg3 stars

[jpdidit]

What is this song? Ive gotta learn it!

[Fishies125]

This set was great but how come no one ever has the video from the other time he played at Austin City Limits? I love that one.

[metalfatigue217]

@Fishies125 :There seems to be some kind of copyright issue with that one, which is too bad because that version is the best one i've ever heard.

[quinn127]

it is western flyer

[kpgpwi64]

whats the name of this song

[bbyrne16]

You can't fit his playing into a genre, it's just EJ

[blahman178]

it's great. he's one of my favorite guitarists. and a lot of technical and stylistic things that I have picked up from him have made me very versatile. one of the best guitarists ever no doubt.

[Jamengalls13]

Picking doesn't have anything to do with whether his playing is legato or not. Legato is about notes flowing together.

[tighttritenight]

Actually it does. A person who uses a lot of legato does not pick every note like john petrucci, but rather most of the work is done with the left hand creating that smooth, flowy (i made that up) sound.

[ebealienhead]

This DVD is a must own! i've watched so many times i can't count...great camera angles...

[Lockstep290]

keagan, Eric actually rarely legatos... He mainly uses the pentonic scale and alternate picks almost all his fast runs (Occasionally doing pull offs).

And Hendrix's rhythm work actually used a lot of legato.

[joebrassmonkey]

Eric uses alot more than the pentatonic scale. His playing is almost Jazz-infussed. He uses every available note on the fret board.

[Jamengalls13]

I'm not sure that you know what legato means, because most of what he is playing he plays legato. And he is using much more than a pentatonic scale, a lot of his licks are based off minor (possibly harmonic minor) or modal scales.

[FlamencoPassion]

eric's playing is most definitely not a legato style of playing. He almost always picks each note, for his playing style to really be legato there would be hammer/pull-offs linking each note.

[asdjfasdfasdf]

legato for guitarists (mostly in a shred context) means something completely different than the legit music definition.

so you're both pretty much right, EJ does use alternate and hybrid picking extensively, but just because he attacks each individually doesn't make his playing staccato

[stratdem]

simply a brilliant player

[vergeharget]

SVR redux, want to hear more of this guy, maybe with a few less notes.

Itzik Basman

[newyorkcityted]

He's been since before SRV was famous. different circles musically. So no he's not an SRV redo at all. He's original and great as was SRV. Just different. You prefer SRV. Cool

[vergeharget]

Thanks for the clarification.

Itzik Basman

[dragknuckle]

Which notes did you have in mind?

[vergeharget]

The ones that are too many.

Listen to Ronnie Earl or Ed Bickert for examples of tasty playing or sVR himself.

Itzik Basman

[fendertexas]

great music here

[seantyler]

Anybody know where I can get a video of EJ and SRV playing together? Wow that would be awesome!!

[layzsailor]

My fav... most versatile Guitarist in the world. Too bad many people believe Hendrix is the best :) Shows what they know

[smitty54017]

Hendrix gets all of the "mainstream" publicity. Eric got some fame in the early 90's when SRV, Danny Gatton, and other blues/rock guitarists were getting a lot of attention. There's a lot of players out there who put Hendrix to shame but most people will never hear them.

[Jhey172]

Thats SO True man..Too bad..People Think Guitar Players such as Herman Li..Are The BEst...Lol..

[keagankeagankeagan]

hendrix was all about tone and soul. not skill or legato bullshit like this guy, who i love, bytheway.

[thefanster87]

Plus it's hard as fuck to play guitar when you're thoroughly blazed and have 400 micrograms of Blue Cheer coursing through your body.

[BabbelYou]

Stylish hair, stylish jacket, music nonsense. Only a poor boy tryin to make some money.

[blahman178]

Does anyone know what amps he's playing out of? Are the Marshalls 50 or 100 watts?

[bluesdoc333]

Its a 68 watt 100 watt plexi head, bottom basketweave cab with 25 watt green pre-rola celestions, tube screamer.

[pmarchino]

Drummers, when your uppity guitarist needs to be taken down a peg or two, have him/her watch this!! =D

[aasquirrelaa]

I love it when EJ just decides he's going to burn, still melodic. Thats why he's one the greats

[lesmorrison]

Fabulous - what is the name of this tune please.

[ledguitar231]

This song is called western flyer

[999manman]

Tone to the bone!!!

[mellymoo000]

oh my god i just cant get over that riff from 2:00-2:05 INCREDIBLE!!!!!

[eruption013]

how bout the run from 230 -235

just nuts

[rvhawkeye]

best of the best

[Davide888]

It doesn't get any better than this.

[jtoms3]

I believe the song is "Western Flyer" from the CD of the same performance.

[keltoid]

You are indeed correct!

[BradSpead7]

Anyone know the name of this song?

[spareflair]

Does anybody have his earlier Austin City Limits performance? It's nolonger on youtube, the one from 1983 or so.

[keltoid]

You can buy it on Amazon, the whole thing that was on ACL plus.

[stratotanker518]

He has so many sounds. Sometimes it sounds like a violin. Sick.

[kellysamsgtr]

this has to be one of the coolest instrumentals i've ever heard

[o7levi]

2:29 - 2:34 ... OMG

[dandaman6007]

hes the chris thile of the electric guitar

[kimboisamonster]

Eric was put on this earth for one thing only. He has the fingers of God!!!

[tbone187187]

greatest fuckin tone ever. you cant even hear the pick hit the strings like most players. its all smooth and flawless. pure genius

[guitarguy1985]

How does he get the violin-like sound...there's no pick attack at all on some parts

[hotgoalie11565]

Was that a smile I saw from EJ at 2:17?

Great song and great tone from Austin's Mr. Johnson. I saw him at a club in Minneapolis in 1990 and I can tell you it was a borderline religious experience. Thanks, EJ.

[jesdome]

"Was that a smile I saw from EJ at 2:17? "

-yes hotgoalie, it was...

Right after he shot a look that could kill at the drummer, likley concerning the tempo !

[drewpy400]

This song is great...but what kicks it up that extra couple of notches is the drum major from space shirt and the flock of seagulls hairstyle...

[ulistrat75]

erics playing is moody. hipowered,and done with alot of feeling! and with his sound one of the best! and it is done with a strat,twin,and marshall!!!

[RizzoTheRat121]

wow, it really peaks and swoops as gracefully as an eagle. (his hair that is)

[prsguru]

Damn he is relentless, he is beatn that axe

One of the best

[merryberry1234]

really great player, saw him in Dallas in 1984 and he did Tears of a Clown and Daytripper, it rocked!!!

The fast and cool club in Dallas on Greenville AVe, anybody there 1984 or 1985?

[kenzshimokawa]

merryberry1234,

Saw him in 1982 there - Nick's

[jesdome]

meryyberry, I was there the night SRV got up and jammed with him. Remember that ? Wow !

[marshall1959now]

yeah, I remember that one and my neighbor, who grew up with SRV - said that also, unknown to the paying public, ERIC CLAPTON was upstairs in disguise for the show.

[jeffreyjames3333]

Oh my GOD is Eric freaking awesome. He jumps strings at 90MPH with no effort whatsoever.

[b24warbaby]

Whats up with the school band outfit ?

Looks like he is turning into Michael Jackson wanta be.

[ahvaimusicom]

manitor shut up

[Manitor]

You mean that little easy ass penatonic run?

[amreed2]

Thanks for the post! This is an awesome display. How about that sick Hendrix-esque lick at :55?? The hairs on my neck stand up...

[n2motocross]

Eric paints a musical landscape of epic porportions on this medley of Texas tones aka "Western Flyer"