Eric Johnson and Mike Stern on Tour

[Firth]

2014 - USA - Tourdates
July-30 Wed Des Moines, IA Wooly's
July-31 Thu Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
Aug-1 Fri ST Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
Aug-2 Sat Columbus, OH Woodlands Tavern
Aug-3 Sun Kent, OH Kent Stage
Aug-5 Tue Cincinnati, OH Taft Theater
Aug-7 Thu Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
Aug-8 Fri Evanston, IL S.P.A.C.E.
Aug-10 Sun Minneapolis, MN Cedar Sun
Aug-12 Tue Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads
Aug-13 Wed Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
Aug-14 Thu Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
Aug-15 Fri Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
Aug-16 Sat Denver, CO Bluebird Theater

there are dates further out but not on the website. Annapolis 11/19.

[SteveSly]

I will be at the Grand Rapids show.

[Wounded Land]

They are playing in New Hampshire in November but the show is already sold out! I was really hoping to see them.

Mike Stern was the first real jazz musician I ever saw live. I went into NYC to the Blue Note to check out his band in the mid '90s and he blew me away. I got him to autograph my napkin (which had a piece of gum stuck between it, if I recall correctly...I know, the glamorous life of professional jazz musicians!). Although I've fallen away from his music over the years, he was a huge influence on me as a young guitarist. His Standards album is still essential listening, IMHO.

I also saw Eric Johnson once before, at the Middle East in Cambridge probably around 2000-2001. An absolutely world-class talent.

NP: The Beatles s/t

[progholio]

Sounds interesting. Is this a show where the 2 are together the whole time or separate bands and big jam at the end ala SRV/Jeff Beck?

[Jimmy Giant]

I got tix yesterday for Annapolis in Nov. Have seen Eric in about 25 years so really looking forward to it. I don't know if they are just doing a duo or a full band though. Doesn't really matter to me as both guys are amazing.
But I still like Eric's first recording the best.

[Jimmy Giant]

Just found this video clip on Mike Sterns website:

[progholio]

But I still like Eric's first recording the best.

If we're talking Tones i agree. I had gradually lost interest after that.
I recently listened to an Electromangets cd and it sounded so dated i couldn't make it through the whole thing.

[Shadow]

Are they still milking this teat?

[nosebone]

Believe it or not, the best Eric Johnson album isn't an album, but a VHS tape /DVD.

His first "Complete Electric Guitar" instructional tape has ridiculous jaw dropping guitar playing in dozens of different styles/techniques.

Check it out on YouTube.

[Zeuhlmate]

Isnt he somewhere between Steve Morse and Shawn Lane - just not as good or original?

[Firth]

Isnt he somewhere between Steve Morse and Shawn Lane - just not as good or original?

I don't know Shawn Lane, but Eric's tone is awesome. This Austin City Limits performance is on DVD and my favorite :

[Zeuhlmate]

If you dont know Shawn Lane (RIP) do yourself a favour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTVGi...tu.be&t=51m30s
This album is from his more jazzy period, earlier stuff is more rockorientated. His instructional videos are jawdropping.
Not that its what its all about, but I dont think aný guitarist ever played that fast (and still meningfull).

[Zeuhlmate]

Here is a German guy also with a great sense of melody and tone Ali Neander (The bassplayer is Hellmut Hattler from Kraan)

Check out Return of the folk hair rebel https://myspace.com/alineander/music/songs

[No Pride]

Believe it or not, the best Eric Johnson album isn't an album, but a VHS tape /DVD.

His first "Complete Electric Guitar" instructional tape has ridiculous jaw dropping guitar playing in dozens of different styles/techniques.

I used to have it on VHS and I agree, it was more impressive than his recorded output. He really knows a lot about playing guitar. Unfortunately, his tunes don't do much for me, with a few exceptions. When I saw him live in the '80s, I enjoyed his Hendrix covers more than his own stuff.

Isnt he somewhere between Steve Morse and Shawn Lane - just not as good or original?

Not exactly; I'd say all three have their own styles. Eric doesn't have the kind of mega-chops that Steve has and Shawn had few peers in that department.

If you dont know Shawn Lane (RIP) do yourself a favour

Yeah, he was a super accomplished guitar player and like Mike Keneally, he was as good on keyboards as he was on guitar.

BTW, I saw Mike Stern live last fall. He sounded really good, but I was more impressed with his bass player, Tom Kennedy, who was pretty amazing.

Stern and Johnson are kind of an odd pairing; Stern is more of a jazz player who dabbles in rock and Johnson is sort of the opposite.

[Zeuhlmate]

Tom Kennedy was Bill Connors bassplayer on the 3 albums in Holdsy-style - he is definetely amazing !

[No Pride]

Tom Kennedy was Bill Connors bassplayer on the 3 albums in Holdsy-style - he is definetely amazing !

I know that! What I didn't know until I saw him last fall was that he's a great upright bass player too; he switched between it and electric all night. Great chops, great groove, musicality... a very underrated player!

[Jimmy Giant]

If we're talking Tones i agree.

Yeah, Tones. Much less pyrotechnics than the material afterward, but some of the best compositions I've heard. Much more jazz rock with a bluesy feel. The mastering could have been much better though.
One of my favorite CDs.

[nosebone]

Isnt he somewhere between Steve Morse and Shawn Lane - just not as good or original?

Nah, they're all different.

SL is the fastest, but I could never get into him.

SM is the best writer, especially on the six Dixie Dregs albums.

And EJ has the best Strat tones, second only to Mike Landau.

[Firth]

If you dont know Shawn Lane (RIP) do yourself a favour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTVGi...tu.be&t=51m30s
This album is from his more jazzy period, earlier stuff is more rockorientated. His instructional videos are jawdropping.
Not that its what its all about, but I dont think aný guitarist ever played that fast (and still meningfull).

I didn't care for that type of distorted sound, Eric's sound is 100% analog. Lane's sound has that digital thrash which comes from limiting or digital effects. Pete Townsend sounds as if he is resorting it too.

[Scott Bails]

This is now coming to the Keswick Theater on Nov. 8. I love Johnson, but know nothing about Stern.

Any recommendations?

[Shadow]

This is now coming to the Keswick Theater on Nov. 8. I love Johnson, but know nothing about Stern.

Any recommendations?

Is What It Is

[nosebone]

This is now coming to the Keswick Theater on Nov. 8. I love Johnson, but know nothing about Stern.

Any recommendations?

If you've heard one Mike Stern album, then you've heard them all imo.

Great player live, but redundant studio work.

[progholio]

And EJ has the best Strat tones, second only to Mike Landau.

I respectfully disagree, the best Strat tones are found on this record right here

[No Pride]

If you've heard one Mike Stern album, then you've heard them all imo.

Well, it's sorta true, but you could say that about a lot of artists. I think Stern writes some really nice tunes. There's the more angular stuff like the example Ed (Shadow) posted above, but there's some very melodic ones too. I feel that his playing gets predictable quicker than his writing does. Not intended as a "diss;" he's very good at both. But it does all sound kind of samey after a couple of albums.

[Wounded Land]

Is What It Is

Man, thank you so much for posting that. I had Is What It Is on cassette when I was in high school and that track you posted, "Ha Ha Hotel," was my favorite song. I haven't listened to that in probably fifteen years. What a blast from the past. There is a whole bunch of little guitar things that Stern does on that track that I just realize now I've totally stolen from him. I love the way the guitar and bass drop out at the beginning of the sax solo. Great head to that tune. Funky as ^&#$.

Wow. Time flies.

NP: Caravan For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night