Eric Johnson performing "Rocktopus" featuring Chris Maresh and Tommy Taylor, from his Vanguard Records DVD "Anaheim Live". Check out ericjohnson.com and officialericjohnson for Merchandise, Tour Information, Music and More!
I would also like to add that I worked on the stage with over 300 major recording artists in Dallas. I had the pleasure of working with Eric and bantering with him at the Majestic Theater and what used to be called Starplex. He was one of the nicest, most down to earth artists I encountered.
That doesn't surprise me, having seen him live a couple times and many recordings as well as a few interviews; people reveal their nature and his is, like many great artists, just as you described; kind and down to Earth.
I have just come across this song, didn't totally realize that Eric had so many bangers that weren't noticed by the public eye. Amazing, just amazing. Keep rockin' Eric. And keep rockin' all of you out there. Have a good day yall.
Maybe if he keeps practicing he will be able to play one day ;) I had the pleasure of meeting EJ many moons ago. One of the nicest, most humble persons I've ever met, you wouldn't have known you were in the presence of one of the best guitarists to ever walk the planet.
I’ve been playing guitar a long time but never had a chance to dive into Eric Johnson as much. Lately I really impressed . I heard good thing but didn’t realize he was this good. I’m kind of happy I get to discover him now . I’ve been through all the greats and this is like a hidden treasure box I just never opened.
He masters the guitar at a very, very high level. and he masters the most complicated chords in the world. He wins on pedals with the wand. His amplification company does a perfect job here!. And he himself sounds perfect!. He's something unique. The best show in town. This. is Eric Johnson!🤩🤩🤩🤩
Any explanation of this falls short of how great EJ's artistry is. Mind blown, game over. I can't get enough of his guitar playing. So tasteful and tone for days!
Eric seems to have amazing mind control over that guitar - like he is communicating with it telepathically and the guitar is cool with where he takes it. Phenomenal.
Yup, a Chris Maresh composition. I truly think EJ has the greatest technical virtuosity of any guitar player alive today. He gets things out of a guitar you just don't hear from anyone else....
I absolutely LOVE this tune. I really wish they also recorded it in the studio where Eric could really emphasize all that harmonic majesty with multiple rhythm and lead parts, but this is still amazing.
I do not believe he would have done better in a studio setting. Most musicians can't perform in the studio as well as Eric can perform live, even if you give them a million takes. You would think that if this is true, his studio work would be superhuman, but I don't think it is. He seems to be such a compulsive perfectionist that he obsesses over things that most of us can't even hear. As a result, I consider most of his studio recordings to be wildly overdone and overproduced, though of course they are technically perfect. If you disagree with me, please don't give my opinion any more weight than should be given to the opinion of one man's musical taste. I don't want to impede or berate the opinion of anyone who enjoys the musical genius of this man.
What an awesome 👏 band...everyone is technically experts...I love every person in this band. What a dream it would be to play in a band like this...thanks to you all and a big kudos to the playing ability you all possess!
I don't think I have seen an Eric video where he plays so physically. He is really putting his whole body into this song more than I have seen with other songs. It really helps the song be epic!
I could be wrong but this piece was not recorded on any studio album that I can remember. What a treat to hear this now. Wonderful fuzzy sound and who needs a pick to sound awesome (Right, Jeff Beck?) Always the best tones and effects. Chris and Tommy sure do provide the beat space to go wherever EJ wants to go.
If Eric walked into my house and slapped me, I would assume it was for a good reason and thank him for doing so. Of course, he should be careful to make sure I know who he is before he slaps me, lest he die. But as long as I'm sure it's him, he can slap me even if it's just for the sake of, "I wonder if I can get a good tone off this guy if I slap him just right?'
The hardest part of being a fan of Eric Johnson is overriding the urge to stop breathing for fear of not hearing a note in its full glory. Some of his videos aren't that great, but for most of them, I have to listen at least 3 times to be sure I have absorbed everything.
If you set the playback speed to 1.25, it will still sound good, but I personally got motion sickness from trying to watch Eric play faster than is humanly possible.
Thanks for confirming that, I had that feeling, & it seems to me he's overly considerate of other guitarists when he's jamming w/them almost to the point of being self-effacing. He avoids "showing others up", & often makes himself appear less of a guitarist than when he's alone. You can see his consideration of other people, even if they're not holding back at all, & are trying to outdo him! I guess he doesn't need to prove anything... More details about your interaction w/Eric would be cool!!
