I moved to the Austin, Tx area in 1977. I already knew his music from WGTB in Washington DC. I went to his shows as often as possible! (and SRV to!) I saw him and his dad in the audience at a "Windham Hill" artist concert at "Paramount Theater" in the mid 1980's. They seemed to enjoy it. And at a VERY early meeting of the "Austin Songwriters Group" in support of Jody L.

I was there! Myskins right? And I did the same thing, had already seen EJ in Columbia at Greenstreets but didn’t know he was playing there. Walked by the door and saw a line, asked who was playing, doorman said EJ. As it was also my Birthday I told the people with me, “we’re going in HERE!”

That must have been a special memory to have. Lucky you. I would have loved to have been there.

I saw him with the Electromagnets in Houston for my 18th birthday, back in 'July of '75. My brain is still fried from that night.

I lived in Charleston in the 90s. That must have been really cool! Great place to hear him.

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he was a prodigy his entire life but yeah you can do anything man you just need to practice and believe

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It’s a free concert, internet is wild man

That’s how we’d learn back in the day. Play, stop, rewind, repeat

Hey Mike, I'm a big fan! Thank you for your work! ❤

Picking up Frisell too, without the detune.

I recently did a Holdsworth deep dive and never realized how much inspiration EJ derived from him. He’s even starting to look a little like him as he ages.

Also, the first album I bought as I was beginning to learn to play was After The Rain. You were a part of my musical formation. Thank you.

I think he is also getting inspiration from Doyle Dykes. For the last 10 years or so they have been hanging out when Doyle records at Eric's place. Watch Doyle play "How Great thou Art". kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nZypiqR-y8CWeGg.html

Yes, absolutely. His the improvisation is super reminiscent of the stuff off of secrets

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That's cool!

Same, as well as another great guitarist in this comment section...

Eric is one of those where the age is starting to show. He's not the lightning fast guitarist we all knew, but jesus those chord voicings are still so beautiful.

It's a testament to the standard he set in his hayday, he was so terrifyingly clean, fast and articulate that it's just not possible to stay at that level for forever.

Agreed. I’ve seen him live once in the late 80s and a few times in the 90s. He’s done so many concerts. He’s got an amazing heart and gentle spirit. To me, that was rough. Hard to watch, even. Unless we go like Jimi did, or so many other rockers, there’s a fading that occurs. I think that makes a case for reinventing yourself. Maybe the chops can’t stay, but musically and sonic creativity doesn’t always demand super virtuosic playing. Eric is still the best, in my mind. I remember hearing Cliffs of Dover the first time on the radio. I was driving a literally had to pull off the road because of how astonished I was.

Yeah, he was definitely a bit off his game. I’ve seen EJ 6-7, maybe 8 times.

@@MrJKCummings ya totally agree, i saw Eric first time in 88 or 89 in a small club and COD blew my mind. Its tough watching this, reminds me i aint so young either lol.

agreed well said

i could envision a cd of EJ just noodling and it would be tasteful and great.

You're a musician

@@alannicolle3361 thank you 🙏

Yes, me too That tone is amazing

can confirm!

Well said! As i'm fan of both Albert Lee and Eric Johnson

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Yesterday not today...

seems like he got a bit lost right before the band kicked in there - a little to much rambling should stay a bit more focused to structure cut down on the mistakes

@@steveweilhart2359 oh wow listen to you. Id like to see you say that to his face. Telling the master how to play.

@@caprise-music6722 well, the master was making a few too many mistakes. At that level. You should be playing a little cleaner

@@steveweilhart2359 come on that’s nonsense. Anything EJ shares with an audience is gospel as far as true fans go. He is inside the music and it doesn’t always work perfectly when chasing ideas. You’re watching a man tell a story with his instrument, through which he has blazed a pioneering path music and still searches for the edge of the envelope. He’s never been a perfect player, and this is ragged as hell during the main changes. So what!

@@steveweilhart2359 his lost is way above most other musicians

entire Venus Isle record is a masterpiece...

People only remember catchy. Remember that . If it's not catchy than it DOES NOT COUNT.

Not on this occasion!

Best concert you will ever see is a Butcher Babies concert. That band brings the entertainment. Eric is just playing gigs based on the success of one single/album. 30 years later. For realz dawg. This Butcher baby shit be bangin' Straight up. No gamez. No pimpin. Just straight up gangsta pimpaz. And Eric is no gangsta. Especially with that crap tone at 6:13. Did you notice that only 1 or 2 fans clapped. 1 or 2 fans is not an accomplishment. I have 1 or 2 fans every time I take a dump at the Mall.

Where in Ft Lauderdale? Sunrise musical theatre? It's in Broward but it's close! Not the Swap Shop? I'm a native Floridian and lived all over Broward . Saw some great shows at Joe Robbie (pro player stadium) and the old Sportatorium out in Hollywood, that place was a party! Saw Rush when I was 11 with my older brother and his friends and, many until they tore it down. Just curious.✌️♥️🎸🎶🙏

This is light years beyond typical "clams", and you know it. This performance is enough to raise concern about his health. I get it, things go on the decline with age, but don't pretend something isn't seriously wrong here.

@@distantstorm3808 Hard to say without knowing more, might just have been a bad night, fatigue, jet lag, a hundred other things, but of course we all wish him well and hope that he keeps inspiring us all. You might write to him with your concerns and best wishes... What else is there to do?

​@@distantstorm3808 bruh what parts are you talking about? Do you play a lot of guitar?

@@papa_pt not that I can do any better, but he's definitely playing ahead of the band enough to where its uncomfortable to listen to.

@@zentile the band only comes in the last 5 minutes I see what you're saying now. I was mainly focusing on the first 11 min of improv

Agreed, he can play this song while in a coma. I can’t imagine the strain touring places on the body and mind. I’ve been a practicing guitarist since 1974, today at 60 years old I struggle to play 45 minutes straight, what Mr. Johnson does is nothing short of amazing. I smile every time I hear him play.

@@hkguitar1984 to me it sounded like there was an amplifier issue with the lack of sustain. That can get into any players head! He's still the best Eric Johnson out there!

@@gregdewald Agreed. I've watched his Rig Rundown (an older one) and he uses a lot of vintage gear (echoplex and Fender Reverbs), any one of those components in the signal chain can cause a big problem. Like the Pro he is he played through it. Gosh, I just can't get enough of his phrasing and playing style.

Sounded like a bad cover of cliffs of Dover🤣

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Thought so to

Interest of genre matters.

Getting older, it can happen but definitely an off night. Sounds like he is fighting the guitar a bit. This is when you need to gain it up more lol.. cover the mistakes. George Lynch also suffers from this from time to time.