
Eric Johnson, the Austin, Texas based prolific guitarist, vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist, will release a new studio offering titled EJ Vol II, on February 28, 2020. To celebrate this 11th studio album, Johnson has a 55-date tour planned, spanning nearly 3-months. The tour will hit every major city across the U.S. and will also enter into Canada, for one show in Toronto as well. Locally, he will be performing at the Aztec Theatre on Thursday January 30. (Mad Ink PR, 2020)
With EJ Vol II, he presents new repertoire that combines electric and acoustic arrangements and once again represents a collection of originals with a couple of select covers. Among the new songs, there is deep meaning and messaging with each track, sometimes figurative while at times literal. On “Waterwheel,” he captures personal feelings about the gift of the flow of the spirit and synchronicity of all things under the universe in creation, utilizing the water wheel or an old paddle wheel that turns in water as the metaphorical symbolism. The song “Golden Way,” approaches finding the true higher path in life, while the poignant “For the Stars,” captures his introspection surrounding the loss of his mother as he looks up towards the sky at night wondering where she is now. Along with the 11 original songs there are two covers on the album; The Beatles “Hide Your Love Away” and Eric’s arrangement of Bert Jansch’s take on the traditional “Black Waterside.”
The new 2020 tour titled “Classics: Present and Past” will feature EJ Vol. II alongside selections from his prolific career. The EJ touring band will feature Roscoe Beck on bass (Leonard Cohen, Robben Ford, Dixie Chicks), Tom Brechtlein on drums (Kenny Loggins, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Robben Ford), and on keyboards + second guitar, Dave Scher (a rising star from the Austin music scene).
Among Johnson’s many accolades are a Grammy award for “Cliffs of Dover,” a lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats and his listing among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician. In his hometown of Austin, a city full of guitarists, the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted Eric Johnson the city’s “Best Electric Guitarist” and “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him “Electric Guitarist of the Decade” and one of the top five “Musicians of the Decade.”
“Classics – Present and Past” Tour. Complete tour available online.
January 14 Miner Auditorium San Francisco, CA
January 15 Crest Theatre Sacramento, CA
January 16 Sunset Cultural Center Carmel, CA
January 17 The Grove of Anaheim Anaheim, CA
January 18 The Regent Theater Los Angeles, CA
January 19 Majestic Ventura Theater Ventura, CA
January 21 House of Blues San Diego, CA
January 22 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
January 23 The Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
January 24 KiMo Theatre Albuquerque, NM
January 25 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO
January 26 The Lincoln Center Fort Collins, CO
January 29 House of Blues Dallas, TX
January 30 The Aztec Theater San Antonio, TX
January 31 House of Blues Houston, TX
February 1 Paramount Theatre Austin, TX
February 18 Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, OK