Buddy Guy to cap 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour

 

Buddy Guy performing live at the
Coach House in San Juan Capistrano,
CA on August 9, 2018.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

Beloved living blues rock legend Buddy Guy has just been added to the final stop on the Experience Hendrix Tour. The tour itself starts on March 11 with a date in Cincinnati, Ohio and will make its final stop in Atlanta, GA on April 12. I have been able to catch the Experience Hendrix event several times in the past and it's fantastic. In October 2014, Guy headlined the memorable date I caught at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Read my review of that 2014 concert HERE...Robert Kinsler

BUDDY GUY TO CAP 2025 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX TOUR

DAVID HIDALGO AND CESAR ROSAS (LOS LOBOS), ERIC SCHENKMAN (SPIN DOCTORS), DWEEZIL ZAPPA, JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR AMONG ADDITIONS TO CELEBRATION OF JIMI HENDRIX’S LEGACY THAT INCLUDES ZAKK WYLDE, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, CHRISTONE ‘KINGFISH’ INGRAM, SAMANTHA FISH, ERIC JOHNSON, MANY MORE

Buddy Guy, who announced his retirement from touring last year at the age of 88, will be performing on the final date of the 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 12. The blues legend is a veteran of the only official multi-artist celebration of Jimi Hendrix’s musical genius, which made a triumphant return last year after a half-decade pandemic-caused hiatus. Also recently added to the lineup are David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Grammy Award winners Los Lobos, Spin Doctors co-founder Eric Schenkman, Dweezil Zappa, drummer Tony Beard (Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Stephen Stills), drummer Sam Bryant (Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Buddy Guy bassist Orlando Wright and chart-topping British blues singer/guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor.

The 2025 edition of the Experience Tour starts at Taft Theatre in Cincinnati and winds its way through the Midwest with a stop at Toronto’s famed Massey Hall and continues down the East Coast and through the South. The tour once again features a diverse, star-studded lineup of mainstays such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde (Pantera, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) and Eric Johnson, as well as Devon Allman (Allman Betts Family Revival), Samantha Fish, and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. Marcus King is a first-timer for 2025 and brings fresh, new energy to Hendrix’s timeless repertoire.    Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s soulful and pitch-perfect guitar playing has been a key component of the Experience Hendrix Tour for many years. The five-time Grammy nominee and recipient of two Billboard Music Awards commented, “I’m excited to be a part of the Experience Hendrix Tour again. This tour always offers fans a unique opportunity to see artists from multiple genres of music all honoring the great Jimi Hendrix. The diversity of the artists that take part every year only goes to show the vast reach of Jimi Hendrix’s influence.” Tour co-founder and President/CEO of family company Experience Hendrix Janie Hendrix added that there is a special significance to the line-up of guest performers: “The real tribute is in the beautiful array of incredible artists who so graciously join us each year. Every one of them is an acclaimed musician in their own right, so to have them break from their performance schedules to be a part of this celebration of Jimi and his music shows the ultimate love and respect. It’s overwhelming!”   The tribute tour is an opportunity for many of its artists to memorialize the impactful contributions of Hendrix. “Jimi has long been a big influence in my musical journey,” said Mississippi-born blues guitar phenomenon Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, who is both a Grammy Award winner and was named Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year at 2023’s Blues Music Awards. “The opportunity to join the Experience Hendrix Tour in fall 2024 was fantastic, so I look forward to hitting the stage with the Hendrix crew this spring as we bring this exciting show to more North American cities.”   Grammy-nominated world-class guitarist and songwriter Samantha Fish effortlessly blends blues, rock, and soul to create a unique sound, with live performances that testify to her status as a true musical powerhouse. Fish is on  non-stop roll: Eric Clapton invited her to perform at his Crossroads LA Festival, she appeared on the cover of Guitar World with Slash, then toured with him as part of his highly anticipated S.E.R.P.E.N.T Tour, opened for the Rolling Stones on their last North American dates, headlined Jazzfest, was honored by SheRocks at NAMM 2025 and managed to also crisscross the globe playing 250 shows. Her previous album, 2023s Death Wish Blues (Rounder Records), was a collaboration with renegade rocker Jesse Dayton, topped the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks. About Experience Hendrix, Fish stated, “2024 was my first year with the event. It’s cool to see so many stellar musicians celebrating Jimi Hendrix’s legacy and music catalog. It’s amazing that one musician can impact artists for generations, and it’s awesome to hear how everyone interprets his music. I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next year.” Samantha’s latest album, Paper Doll, will be released by Rounder Records on April 25, 2025. She will be re-joining Kingfish on the Gone Fishin’ Tour in May.   Buddy Guy has the distinction of being the only performer this year who Jimi Hendrix himself acknowledged as a significant influence on his own work. Six years Hendrix’s senior, Guy’s brand of electrified blues helped create a template on which he expanded. He commented, “Thank you to the Hendrix Tour family for bringing me back to perform at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 12. I'll never forget meeting Jimi at that club in New York in 1968, and I'm so grateful we had the chance to become friends. It's an honor to help keep his legacy alive.” Further commenting on the planned appearance of Buddy Guy, Janie Hendrix stated, “Having Buddy come out of retirement to play with us in the Atlanta show is an amazing finale. It’s a true act of friendship and mutual admiration. I can’t think of a better way to close out such an epic event. We are beyond thrilled to be able to bring this kind of energy to the stage and to our audiences.”   Among the other artists featured on the 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour are Texas blues sensation Ally Venable, vocalist Noah Hunt and bassist Kevin McCormick (both of Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band), Mato Nanji (Indigenous), blues guitar prodigy Mathias Lattin, Brazilian guitarist Artur Menezes, and vocalists Dylan Triplett and Henri Brown.    The 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour is sponsored by Marshall, Fender Musical Instruments, Epiphone and Dunlop. Marshall amps have long been associated with Jimi Hendrix and were his amplifiers of choice during his career. Fender is now celebrating the 70thanniversary of the Fender Stratocaster, the guitar most often associated with Jimi Hendrix. Dunlop makers of gear and accessories, recently launched line of Authentic Hendrix ‘68 Shrine Series of stomp boxes/effects pedals.   Visit www.experiencehendrixtour.com for artist lineups by date.   2025 Experience Hendrix Tour dates: March 11 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre 12 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre            13 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre            14 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park             15 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall            18 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall            19 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater            20 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre            21 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre            22 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre            23 – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall             25 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre             27 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium             28 – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair 29 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre              30 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Peforming Arts   April    1 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center for the Arts            2 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center            3 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom            4 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort            5 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre            6 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center            8 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center            9 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium            10 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre            11 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center Concert Hall            12 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

2018 NAMM Show Roundup

The NAMM Show was held at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Article by Robert Kinsler

Photography: Bob Steshetz and Robert Kinsler


Special concert events, under-the-radar on-site performances in merchant booths, the debut of countless new music making-related products and educational sessions make the NAMM Show an essential destination for music lovers.

This year's Winter NAMM Show was held at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 25-28, 2018, with this writer also attending the NAMM Media Preview Day on Jan. 24 to get an early and in-depth look at several highly-anticipated products. 

Here are some of the highlights of my four-day experience at NAMM last weekend.

Concerts and Special Appearances
A couple of decades ago, on-site performances at NAMM were not a focus of the event held every January. But once again this year performances were front-and-center throughout the show.

Andy Grammer performs at NAMM.

The Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage hosted three special high-profile concerts during NAMM. OK Go performed on Jan. 25; an all-star event featuring Michael McDonald, Melissa Etheridge, Marc Broussard, Nathan East, Dave Koz, Butch Walker, Lindsey Stirling, Shelea and others on Jan. 26, and Andy Grammer performed on Jan. 27. 

Brandon "Taz" Niederauer

Those looking for more intimate concert experiences could catch established and up-and-coming artists in booths throughout the show. My favorite event may well have been the mind-blowing performance featuring 14-year-old Brandon "Taz" Niederauer and his excellent four-member band. Performing on Friday afternoon at the D'Angelico Guitars, Niederauer displayed the flashy speed of the late Ten Years After guitar great Alvin Lee with the emotional touch of modern-day bluesman Gary Clark Jr. I have seen young guitarists impress before but Niderauer's virtuoso licks, burgeoning talents as singer and songwriter as well as bona fide stage presence rival many of his considerably-older contemporaries. His wonderful songs included "I Can't Live" (a moody, textured blues rock gem) and "Tell Me Now."

I was lucky enough to catch singer-songwriter/guitar greats Shawn Jones and Stephen Inglis performing together at the Lowden Guitars booth on Saturday. Their short and fiery instrumental set ended with a freewheeling instrumental version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Little Wing." While at the Lowden booth, I also got to check out and was truly impressed with the Northern Ireland-based company's new GL-10 Electric Guitar. Information: www.lowdenguitars.com.

Miyavi tearing it up at Taylor
Guitars on Jan. 27, 2018.

Taylor Guitars offered a number of must-see concerts. On Thursday, the El Cajon, California-based guitar manufacturer celebrated three emerging Japanese artists. Ai Fujimori, CJ Li and Natsumi Miki showcased the diversity of Japan's burgeoning original music scene and the audience packed into the intimate concert space embraced the three artists and the terrific backing trio of young players who added depth to the material. 

Fast forward to Saturday and I caught three outstanding acts at Taylor Guitars. Country music songstress Brennley Brown, who just turned 16, and Nolan Neal (both one-time contestants on NBC-TV's "The Voice") delivered strong sets in the early afternoon, while genre-defying Japanese singer-songwriter-guitarist Miyavi wowed a packed room with his finger-slapping style of guitar and intoxicating songs, especially the driving rocker "The Others." Information: www.TaylorGuitars.com.

Carl Tosten with FG-TA Yamaha.

NEW PRODUCTS: Guitars aplenty

Yamaha TransAcoustic FG and FS Guitar Series
Yamaha introduced approximately 90 new products at Winter NAMM this year. The Buena Park, California-based company's TransAcoustic guitar series definitely offers something to get acoustic players excited. Building on the success of the company's earlier models, the new FG-TA and FS-TA puts cutting edge technology into the guitar for an affordable price (the FG-TA is priced at $599). "The guitar is able to create reverb and chorus without any external devices," explained Yamaha's Carl Tosten. "It is designed to inspire people to want to play longer." 

Yamaha introduced approximately 90 new products at Winter NAMM, and the new TansAcoustic models were getting plenty of attention throughout the show. My MUSIC WORTH BUYING co-host TJR and I videotaped several segments at the Yamaha booth and will be posting those on this website soon. 

Cal Campbell holding Ovation's
the Glen Campbell 2018
American Artist Model guitar.

Ovation Guitars / Two Glen Campbell Signature Guitar Models
While country music legend Glen Campbell passed away in August 2017, his legacy lives on in ways that stretch beyond his notable recordings. Fans of the late artist's legendary skills on the fret board got an early look at two special signature guitar models released by Ovation Guitars that made their debut at NAMM this year. Campbell's son Cal Campbell was at NAMM to share the release of the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model, an acoustic guitar crafted in the Ovation Custom Shop in New Hartford, CT. 

"This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the creative relationship between Ovation's founder, Bill Kaman, and my dad," said Cal Campbell in a statement released by Ovation. "Growing up, his guitars were a fixture in our lives and it has been a pleasure to work with the artisans at Ovation to ensure the look and the sound of his original gars was faithfully recreated and it's our family's hope that they will inspire future generations of artists to play, write and create for another half century and beyond."

Perhaps even more prized than Glen Campbell's acoustic instrument was the elusive "Bluebird" model. Designed and hand-crafted exclusively for Campbell in the late 1970s, the Bluebird's design was based on the Ovation Viper solid body and was produced in both 6-string and 12-string models. The Campbell family loaned Ovation Guitars Glen's original Bluebird to the guitar maker in order to create the extremely limited run of Bluebird replicas (only 10 of the 6-string models and five of the 12-string models will ever be produced!).

Information: www.ovationguitars.com.

Eric Johnson at the Fender booth at NAMM.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation 
Eric Johnson Stratocaster® Thinline
Virtuoso guitarist Eric Johnson was at NAMM on Jan. 26 to showcase the latest edition of his Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Thinline. At an afternoon press conference, Johnson explained he began working with Fender in 2015 to co-create a new guitar that combined the tones of his favorite semi-hollowbody guitars and his Stratocaster. "To me, my go-to instrument is a Strat. But I've always loved hollow body guitars," Johnson explained. "I used it (the new Thinline guitar) last night (at the City National Grove of Anaheim) and I used it all night." Johnson's new guitar will officially be available on Feb. 20, 2018 and will retail for approximately $1,999.99.

Paul Waller: Prestige 9-Neck Guitar
No overview of new guitars spotted at NAMM would be complete without a mention of Paul Waller's Prestige 9-Neck Guitar featuring nine popular pre-CBS models and scales Fender produced before 1965. Necks featured include those from a four-string mandolin, Mustang, Jaguar, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Bass VI, Jass Bass and Precision Bass. It retails for $96,000 (yikes!). See the photo I snapped on the left; in this case, seeing is believing.

Information: www.fender.com.



INNOVATIONS
In addition to the impressive guitars I checked out at NAMM, several other products caught my attention. Stillwater, MN-based Portastand has a line of music stands that are the most impressive I've ever seen. They are not only portable and collapse into small sizes, but are durable and have the ability to serve a variety of roles on stage, in the studio or even around the office. Visit Portastand.com for more information.

Studio engineers and audiophiles should check out the Tascam DA-6400 Recorder. I met with Eric Larsen, director of marketing for Montebello, CA-based TEAC America, Inc., and I was simply blown away at the relatively small size and impressive power of the unit. It can record 64 channels of audio at 24-bit/48kHz, or 32 channels at 24-bit/96kHz! For more information visit www.teac.com or www.tascam.com.

Jim Stern, of Phoenix-based Earful Mastering, at
the Tascam booth at 2018 NAMM Show.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

Jim Stern, with Phoenix-based Earful Mastering, was at the Tascam booth and explained the many wonders of how the Tascam equipment enhances the dynamic range of recordings and reduces the compression that diminishes many modern-day recordings.

"I built a 1bit mastering lab (in Arizona). I can go 1bit to analog and back to 1bit," he explained. "1bit is as close to analog as we have come in digital...I'm an old audiophile and I love it. I love Tascam equipment."


For more information on NAMM, visit www.namm.org.



A very special "thank you" to Bob Steshetz for the use of his wonderful photography

Wide Range of Styles Showcased on New Releases

A mix of deluxe and expanded reissues as well as several exciting new albums are just waiting to be explored and discovered by new and long-time discerning listeners.

Artist: John Wetton
Title: Akustrika / Akustrika II (Primary Purpose / Red Cherry Red Records)
You might like if you enjoy: ASIA, U.K., King Crimson
Tell me more: Fans of John Wetton continue to mourn the legendary rocker who died on Jan. 31, 2017 following a long battle fighting cancer. Now the lead singer/bassist of ASIA, U.K. and King Crimson (1972-1974) is featured on a fantastic 2CD set celebrating his legacy. Akustrika: Live in Amerika  (featuring tracks recorded in October 1995) and Akustrika II: Return to Amerika (featuring a concert taped on Nov. 11, 2005) really highlight Wetton's gifts as one of rock's most emotive voices. The inspired "Voice of America," "Hold Me Now" (with Wetton's voice soaring) and a remarkable version of the ASIA classic "Only Time Will Tell" and a stirring "Battle Lines" are among this writer's favorites on the first disc, while the intimate "Walking on Air," driving "Sole Survivor" and a dramatic retelling of ASIA's hit "Heat of the Moment" are among the many standouts on the second disc. Accompanied by only his acoustic guitar or piano, the tracks on the release were selected for this collection by Wetton before his passing; Akustrika / Akustrika II is a powerful tribute to Wetton's enduring legacy. Information: JohnWetton.com.

Artist: Eric Johnson
Title: Live From Austin TX (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa, Jimi Hendrix
Tell me more: Widely (and rightly) ranked as one of the best and most creative rock guitarists of all time, Eric Johnson has released a number of memorable albums since his critically-acclaimed 1990 album Ah Via Musicom. But the new Live From Austin TX" Johnson title serves as a monumental reminder how great and groundbreaking Johnson has been all along. Recorded and filmed in December 1988 and originally aired in 1989, the newly-issued CD/DVD combo release is truly thrilling from start to finish. Just listen to Johnson race through the countrified instrumental "Steve's Boogie" or artfully weave dynamic guitar textures amidst the arching and ambitious "Trail Of Tears." Johnson performs plenty of his original gems (including "Cliffs of Dover," which won Johnson a 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and the jazz instrumental "East Wes"), as well as versions of two Jimi Hendrix classics ("Love Or Confusion," "Are You Experienced?").  Information: NewWestRecords.com.

Artist: Guided By Voices
Title: Live From Austin TX (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices
Tell me more: Near the end of Guided By Voices' initial 21-year run in 2004, the Dayton, Ohio-spawned outfit performed as part of an episode of "Music City Limits." The Robert Pollard-led troupe performed more than 30 songs over the course of 97 minutes before an intimate and enthusiastic audience. While many of the songs played at the session were never shown on the original broadcast of the episode, all are showcased on two audio CDs and an accompanying DVD on the Live From Austin TX combo release. The lo-fi music heroes turn in a loose and customarily-freewheeling performance, including grating art damage cuts ("Let's Get Down To Business"), jangly melodic rock ("Girls Of Wild Strawberries," "Gold Star For Robot Boy"), progressive alt rock ("Redmen And Their Wives") and rapid fire guitar-driven lo-fi cuts ("Exit Flagger").  Information: NewWestRecords.com.

Artist: Flat Duo Jets
Title: Wild Wild Love (Daniel 13)
You might like if you enjoy: Lee Rocker, Tiger Army, the Blasters, Michael Ubaldini
Tell me more: The Stray Cats and the Blasters were not the only artists to tap into 1950s as part of the bona fide rockabilly revival of the 1980s. A number of other great artists such as the Kingbees also mined new creative pay dirt out of the past with phenomenal results. Add to that distinguished list Flat Duo Jets, a group formed by singer-guitarist Dexter Romweber and drummer Chris "Crow" Smith in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1984. The new retrospective Wild Wild Love compiles Flat Duo Jets' exhilarating self-titled debut and a number of outtakes, as well as the (In Stereo) EP the duo released on cassette in 1984. It's simply impossible not to get swept up as the Flat Duo Jets roar through spirited rockers such as "My Life, My Love," "When My Baby Passes By" and "Tribute to Gene." The Flat Duo Jets' joyful version of Fats Domino's "Strut My Stuff" also doubles as a tribute to the recently-lost New Orleans legend. On the second disc outtakes abound, including the buoyant instrumentals "Minor Swing" and "Penetration 1," the Jerry Lee Lewis-styled "You Made Me Cry - 01" and bluesy "Look Down 2." Information: Daniel13.com.

Artist: The Hangabouts 
Title: Kits & Cats and Saxon Wives (Futureman Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Fountains of Wayne, The Beatles, The Zombies
Tell me more: This writer only recently discovered the tuneful and infectious songs of Michigan pop trio the Hangabouts. The group's latest album Kits & Cats and Saxon Wives is bolstered by top-notch songwriting, great harmony vocals, a nod to the troupe's '60s and '70s heroes and a winning spirit that comes across throughout the 13-track disc. There is baroque pop (the Mellotron-adorned "Sinking Feeling" and lovely "Twelve Songs"), psychedelic rock ("Cricket Time," "Selling Out"), soaring power pop (the intoxicating "Evelyn Wood" and decidedly wistful "Taking You to Leave Me"), an Everly Brothers-meets-Crowded House nugget ("Follow the Sunshine") and gorgeous acoustic ballads ("Too Hot to Sleep," "Sensation Overnight")  — all of it adding up to a terrific album. Information: Hangabouts.com.

Artist: Diamond Hands
Title: Diamond Hands (Kool Kat Musik)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, Big Star, Badfinger
Tell me more: Los Angeles-based Diamond Hands' self-titled album (released in 2016 on vinyl and cassette, but only recently on audio CD) offers a batch of terrific songs written and recorded by Jon Flynn and Joel Wall. There are sonic ghosts of some of rock's greatest melodic voices here (just listen to the Beatlesque "Not the Same" and "Just Another Day"), but there is also a contemporary urgency to the material that confirms this is no mere exercise in nostalgia. The rollicking "Nothing Left to Lose," Big Star-worthy "See You Again" and defiant alt rocker "Old Man" elevate "Diamond Hands" for listeners who like a not only power pop but other melodic-minded rock styles too. Information: KoolKatMusik.com.


Robert Kinsler

Eric Johnson to perform 'Ah Via Musicom' in its entirety on US Tour in 2018

Eric Johnson is one of rock's most talented guitarist, and has just announced plans to perform his celebrated album 'Ah Via Musicom' in its entirety at a string of upcoming concert dates. You can read a preview of Eric Johnson's performance at the legendary Coach House that I wrote back in January 2009. Because his performance at the City National Grove of Anaheim is during the 2018 NAMM Show, I'm hoping the famed guitarist might be playing at an event during that event too! Robert Kinsler

ERIC JOHNSON ANNOUNCES PLAN TO PERFORM

CELEBRATED ALBUM 'AH VIA MUSICOM' IN ITS

ENTIRETY AT DATES ACROSS THE U.S IN 2018

Run Begins At Tucson’s Rialto Theater on January 23 with Arielle As Direct Support

Eric Johnson / Photo © Max Crace

Austin, TX – Eric Johnson has announced plans to perform his celebrated album AH VIA MUSICOM in its entirety at dates across America in 2018.  Johnson shares, “I listen to the fan feedback and comments as I plan my projects and tours.  That's how I got into the recording and subsequent tour with Mike Stern. Same thing with the acoustic recording and tour because I kept hearing ‘Hey when are you gonna do that acoustic record you've been talking about for years’. But by far, the most feedback I've been getting from fans is to play the entire Ah Via Musicom record live so I figured I've put this off for too long.  The time is now, and the timing worked out for Tommy Taylor and Kyle Brock to be involved too so here we go.”  The tour will begin on January 23, 2018 at Tucson’s Rialto Theater and continue through March 16 in Milwaukee.  A complete itinerary follows below.

The guitar has been very good to Eric Johnson, earning him international renown as a player, composer, recording artist and live entertainer as well as an ever-growing audience of admirers. And Eric Johnson has been very good to the guitar, spotlighting its myriad melodic, sonic and lyrical splendors, paying homage to its heroes and innovators, collaborating and playing with many of its finest contemporary talents, and fostering its continuing vibrancy as a primarily instrumental genre in popular music.

The pivotal event in Johnson's rise to becoming, as Guitar Player says, “one of the most respected guitarists on the planet," was his million-selling, now-classic 1990 album Ah Via Musicom (which loosely translates as "communicating through music"). It was his second release, following Tones, his 1986 major label debut.

Musicom yielded three Top 10 singles – "Cliffs of Dover," which has become Johnson's signature song and won a Best Rock Instrumental Grammy, and "Trademark" and "Righteous." It made him the first artist to ever score three Top 10 instrumentals. Now, 28 years later, he revisits that landmark recording with a 2018 tour on which he will play the album – hailed as a "masterwork" in Amazon.com's review – in its entirety.

The years prior to Ah Via Musicom and since are rich with accomplishments. Over the now five studio albums that have followed it – Venus Isle (1996), Bloom (2005), 2010's Up Close (and its revised European version Up Close – Another Look, now being issued in the US), EJ (2016) and the latest – Eric has broadened and enriched his rock guitar palette and further delved into his love for blues, jazz and country. He's earned six Grammy nominations, has topped or been listed high in countless greatest guitarist lists in music publications, and been featured on the cover of most every guitar magazine, many more than once.

The Austin, Texas-based Johnson closes out 2017 with a new album, Collage, that combines five new original songs with five covers that reflect both his inspirations and range: An acoustic version of Jimi Hendrix's "One Rainy Wish," The Beatles classic "We Can Work It Out" in a Caribbean groove, B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby," the surf rock classic "Pipeline" and Stevie Wonder's 1966 #3 pop hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)."

Once Ah Via Musicom hit, the Los Angeles Times noted how he had already "been compared with rock's immortals." But Eric himself modestly demurs. "I don't think I'm a rock god. I just keep playing. It's fun, and I'm glad people enjoy it."

Confirmed appearances include:

1/23     Tucson, AZ                                                     Rialto Theater

1/24     Ventura, CA                                                    Ventura Theater

1/25     Anaheim, CA                                                  Grove

1/27     San Diego, CA                                                House of Blues

1/28     Los Angeles, CA                                            Regent Theater

1/30     Santa Cruz, CA                                               Rio Theater

1/31     Sacramento, CA                                              Crest

2/01     Portland, OR                                                   Aladdin Theater

2/02     Seattle, WA                                                     The Triple Door

2/03     Spokane, WA                                                  Bing Crosby Theater

2/06     Albuquerque, NM                                           Kimo

2/08     Ft. Collins, CO                                                Lincoln Theater

2/09     Denver, CO                                                     Paramount Theater

2/13     Lubbock, TX                                                   Cactus Theater

2/14     Dallas, TX                                                       House of Blues

2/15     Austin, TX                                                      Paramount Theater

2/16     Houston, TX                                                   House of Blues

2/17     San Antonio, TX                                             Aztec

2/20     Ponte Vedra, FL                                              Ponte Vedra Music Hall

2/21     Clearwater, FL                                                Capitol Theater

2/22     Ft. Lauderdale, FL                                           Amaturo Theater

2/23     Orlando, FL                                                    Plaza Live

2/24     Atlanta, GA                                                     Centerstage

2/25     Raleigh, NC                                                    Lincoln Theatre

2/27     Charleston, SC                                                Charleston Music Hall

2/28     Charlotte, NC                                                  McGlohon

3/02     Washington D.C.                                            Fillmore

3/03     Glenside, PA                                                   Keswick

3/04     New York, NY                                               BB Kings

3/06     Baltimore, MD                                                Rams Head Live

3/07     Albany, NY                                                    Cohoes

3/08     Boston, MA                                                    Wilbur Theatre

3/09     Derry, NH                                                       Tupelo Music Hall

3/10     Norfolk, CT                                                    Infinity

3/11     Lancaster, PA                                                  Roots & Blues Fest

3/13     Cleveland, OH                                                House of Blues

3/14     Cincinnati, OH                                                Taft Ballroom

3/15     Chicago, IL                                                     House of Blues

3/16     Milwaukee, WI                                               Turner

3/17     Bloomington, IL                                              Castle Theater

Eric Johnson Online:

www.facebook.com/OfficialEricJohnson

www.twitter.com/EJUpClose

www.ericjohnson.com

Additional appearances will be announced as confirmed. Details about his date at the City National Grove of Anaheim (a venue near me) are below...

CITY NATIONAL GROVE OF ANAHEIM

Eric Johnson

ON SALE             Fri., Oct. 27 at Noon

SHOW DATE      Jan. 25 at 8:00 PM

TICKET PRICES   $35.00 / $25.00