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Guitarist amps up before release of acoustic album
Eric Johnson is turning it up to 11 on his latest tour. And he couldn’t be happier about it. “I’ve cooked up this little electric tour,” he says during a recent phone interview. “It’s the calm before the quiet storm that will take place later this year.”
Johnson is referring to his acoustic and piano album set for release in October.
After nearly a year of stripping songs down, Johnson wanted to amp things up before the current tour.
“I like both aspects of playing guitar,” he says. “There’s the ferocity of playing electric, and then there’s the beauty in playing acoustic.”
Johnson is best-known for his electric guitar skills, though he is also a highly proficient acoustic, resonator, bass and lap steel guitarist.
He is also known to not stay in one genre, often blazing through acoustic blues, jazz, fusion, folk, classical and country.
Johnson’s show at the KiMo Theatre tonight will mark the guitarist’s return to the Duke City after nearly four years.
“There’s a great energy in New Mexico,” he says. “I’m ready to bring this new show and unveil some of the new electric songs I’ve been working on.”
As one might expect of a guitar player, Johnson says he continues to practice music every day.
“If I miss too much time, I’m very sloppy,” he says. “I’ve learned to take care of my hands and keep them ready to play. I don’t do too much work around the house, because an injury to my hands would provide a huge detour in my career.”
As Johnson waits for his new album to be released, he has kept busy working on new material.
“The great thing about music is you never know what is coming out,” he says. “I’ve had songs written in five minutes. Others have taken me years. There’s no right way. I go into my studio and just jam. Ideas come together, and a song is born.”