Eric Barnett Performs at Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar 2008

ERIC BARNETT, of Sonoma, CA, shows his explosive and dynamic guitar stylings at the 2008 Guitar Player Magazine Guitar Superstar competition. Hosted by Andy Summers, the event was held September 13, 2008, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California. The backing band is Thud Factor, featuring bassist Jonathan Herrera, keyboardist Eric Levy, drummer John Mader, and guitarist Jude Gold.

The Grand Prize winner -- Guitar Superstar 2008 -- was Vicki Genfan,

Judges included Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Elliot Easton, Brendon Small, and George Lynch.

Finalists were rated on technique, creativity, charisma, and overall vibe. Prizes included a feature article in Guitar Player, and a bevy of wonderful prizes from event sponsors such as Mesa/Boogie, Moog Music, Epiphone, ZZYZX Snapjack Cables, Bugera Amps, Audio-Technica, Auralex, CAD Microphones, Carr Amps, Collings Guitars, Cruz Tools, Dunlop Manufacturing, Essential Sound Products, Fulltone, Keeley Electronics, King Amplification, Magix, Mono Cases, N-Tune Peterson, ProTone Pedals, Reeves Amplification, Reverend Guitars, Shreddies, Villex Electronics, and Westheimer/Cort.

THE 2008 FINALISTS:

Eric Barnett
Sonoma, CA

Eric Brewer
Erie, PA

Mark Christian
Los Angeles, CA

Vicki Genfan
Fairview, NJ

Makana
Honolulu, HI

Daddo Oreskovich
Chicago, IL

Michael Orlando
Staten Island, NY

Dan Peters
Morton Grove, IL

Ben Robinson
Jacksonville, FL

The Guy
Norwalk, CT

Category:

Music

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[SBPStudio]

This guy is good but I think he lost some of the judges with his shredding. He plays much better slower.

That being said, I wish i was 1-1,000,000th as good!

[muddywood]

THe slower parts were MUCH better than the attempts at shredding

[class5308teacher]

This looks nothing like the Eric Barnett of Iron Butterfly 1998 Toronto Gig. That guy was very very thin! With totally different moves on stage, a different presence! Wow!

[samson19541]

Is this the same guy that appeared with Iron Butterfly doing Butterfly Blues this guy is insane... Iron Butterfly Reunion 2008 was very cool check it out.

[paultrombetta]

I'm happy to say I saw Eric last night and he was a million times better than this.

totally different player.

[realrockerjb]

@muddywood trust me ive seen this guy a bunch of times and he is a crazy shredder. but im sure erics performance was hindered by the amp he was using (you dont get to use your own.)

[iajackass41]

i'm ashamed to have the same name as this guy.

[6gpower]

I know it takes alot to get up there and perform and pull off what you practice at home or in the studio. The amps they use in these competitions, suck . I have watched pretty much all of these vids and have yet to really feel what these guys are putting out. There are loads of time issues and music composition. This guys shredding was so sloppy and out of place. Anyway, competitions are only really good for one thing and that is to make the sponsors, more money and popularity.

[jelleepit]

i've heard better sounds coming out my dogs ass when its asleep, anyone in that audience that cheered was obviously cheering becoz it was over or they are severly hearing impaired.

[sjhuk]

this guy is over on guitarwar. The studio version of this song is off the chain good. The main problem here is that the tone of the rig is not very forgiving at all.. which is a bit of a shame :|

[noisenet]

Extremely tasty - man, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being in the contest the year BEFORE I was, LOL!

[guitarkis49]

the song established some nice melodies, but the shredding just didn't fit later on...should have just gone from the heart....I do love the beginning of the song however.