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Eric Johnson by Kirk James I had just sat down my guitar amp and guitar case as I reached the backstage door when a voice said, "Hi, I'm Eric." He then offered to get the door for me as I walked in with my gear. "I'm Kirk. I'll be your opening act tonight." "This place is great. Do you live here?" Eric quickly rushed off to resume making adjustments to his guitar rig hours before the concert. I was booked to open the concert for Eric Johnson and his band on September 26, 2007. I stepped into the backstage of the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall in Durango Colorado. Having played in the hall a couple of times, it is always an honor to play for an audience here. Then to be the opening act for Eric Johnson made for an even bigger event to me. I first saw Eric perform in Houston Texas as he opened up for Steve Morse formerly of the Dixie Dregs. That show was in 1984, two years prior to Johnson's Warner/Reprise Record entitled "Tones." Before that time I had only read about Eric in guitar magazines. Seen his name as an upcoming musician out of Austin Texas and listed as a favorite of Billy Gibbons and Frank Zappa. Being quite familiar with Eric's material I knew what I was to expect from the night's concert, even though I hadn't seen him perform in 23 years. A virtuoso on the guitar fret board and a master of the tones and textures produced by six strings through an amplified series of tubes, speakers, cables and electronics. Backstage I watched as Eric spent an hour and a half on stage dialing in all of the knobs that refine the sounds of his guitar and amplifiers. A stratocaster played through a Marshall stack, two Fender Twin Reverbs all run through a complex line of effects and boxes that generate the electric sounds of Eric's guitar creativity. His unique style of playing and fine attention to detail was something to admire from the off stage wings. Even though we were running out of time before opening the doors of the concert hall for the concert goers to take their seats, I was enjoying watching as Eric sound checked his gear. All of a sudden, I was approached by one of the Concert Hall Volunteers. She handed me a folded piece of paper and said that it came from Jack Tallmadge, a musician friend of mine. I opened up the note and inside it was a bumper sticker. It read, "DAMN RIGHT I'VE GOT THE BLUES!" Jack's way of saying... knock 'em dead tonight. - Thanks Jack. I spoke briefly with Eric's guitar tech, Jeff Van Zandt. Jeff maintains Eric's gear while on the road and is especially knowledgeable in Fender Guitars. I showed Jeff the 2007 Eric Johnson signature Stratocaster that I obtained just six months previous. I told him that I replaced my 1981 Strat with this new Eric Johnson model. And then we spoke more about specific features on the drawing board for the upcoming model that Fender and Eric are designing. Then finally I had the chance to set up my gear and do a very quick sound check. I pulled my old Gibson guitar out of the case and was walking over to center stage when Jeff said with a big smile on his face, "You're not gonna play THAT old thing are ya?" Then Eric quickly said, "Don't listen to him. He'd gladly take that one off your hands and trade you for a some new guitar. In fact... I've got one just like that. What year is your's?" "It's a 1955." I replied. "Mine's a '58. Great guitar." Eric commented. I quickly did my sound check as the stage crew adjusted lights 30 plus feet above my head. Yelling from the side of the stage came as only to interrupt my singing through the house microphone. When done I was confident in the mix of sounds as I walked from the chaos of the pre-concert set up. Then I spoke with Eric again. Unlike many of the opening shows I have played over the years, I had a special request to ask of Eric. I asked him to sign my guitar. Seems lame but, he agreed. When he glanced at the guitar, he immediately said, "Wow, this is one of mine." Referring to the Fender Signature model. "Of course. I wouldn't ask you to sign someone else's signature model guitar." "Looks like you've played this thing a lot too." As Eric further examined the instrument. Then after he signed the guitar he said, "So, you play with your own band also?" Then it was time to start the show. Gary Pennington, who organizes the shows at the concert hall had set up with me to play a 20 minute set. He introduced me and I walked out to a warm welcoming from the audience. And the audience was more than glad to show their enthusiasm upon hearing my set. Very attentive as if they were there to hear me. I was just glad to be there too. Before the show a friend asked if opening for Eric Johnson would be intimidating. I responded, "Sure. But what a great way to remind myself to just do what I do best." Playing before a master of the guitar like Eric can be intimidating but to remember it shouldn't come to the point of not playing because the artist is so accomplished. That would be worse than playing an unenthusiastic performance. I was there to play my fingers off... in twenty minutes or less. It was a great feeling being appreciated as a local artist by friends and the avid fans who came to see the mastery of Eric Johnson. Eric Johnson with Roscoe Beck on Bass and Tommy Taylor on drums played a great 90 plus minute set. Then they came back for two encores and played the Jimi Hendrix classic "The Wind Cries Mary." For the grand finale, with an intense and extended intro they knocked out the Grammy award winning "Cliffs of Dover." Intimidating... would have been to follow an act like that.

All Rights Reserved © 2010 Kirk James

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