Chattanooga, TN (2/7/23– If you’re like me then the name Eric Johanson may not be one you’re familiar with. Two weeks ago on 1/29/23 that all changed for me. Attending the Samantha Fish show at the Salvage Station in Asheville, NC I was introduced to Eric’s brand of New Orleans infused bluesy rock and I’ve been hooked. A random series of events led me to Chattanooga, TN this evening where it just so happened to be Eric’s last night on tour with Fish. A few message exchanges and I found myself at the Barrelhouse Ballroom with camera in hand for another show. 

I attend lots of shows and I’m consistently introduced to new artists with opening sets that I know little of or nothing at all. Many of these artists are great and some just aren’t for me. It has been awhile since someone has captured my attention like Eric Johanson has. He demands your attention throughout his performance. His guitar prowess is only matched by his singing and songwriting that further convey the intense feelings of the music. It’s easy for guitarists to get carried away and overplay adding as many notes as possible and it just becomes monotonous showboating. Knowing when to play, where to play and using dynamics are all features that make people feel your music and Eric takes you on a journey through his set. Songs such as “Never Tomorrow” and “Nowhere To Go” provide hard hitting energy that get the crowd moving while “Changes The Universe” slows it down a bit and provides a more raw emotion. An Eric Johanson concert is not just a show, it is a musical experience. 

Having a guitar in hands since the age of 5 with influences ranging from Metallica to Chuck Berry it’s easy to see the various styles of playing throughout Eric’s catalog of music. He has shared the stage with acts like Anders Osborne, The Neville Brothers, JJ Grey and more as well as stages from the Chicago Blues Festival, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia) and the Airbag Festival (Belgium). As of current Eric has released 6 albums with 4 of them reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Blues Chart. He is also a Grammy nominated artist for his guitar work on the 2021 album “Bloodstains and Teardrops” from Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. 

Visit www.ericjohanson.com for more tour dates. 

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Copyright Michael Bragg/MJBragg Photography