• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Eric Johnson and Buddy Guy tour

Just saw EJ for the first time in Michigan.
Vintage marshall stack, two brand new Fender twins and a strat.
I was 8 rows back. Fenders were always on, and when the marshall was engaged, you know it... very beefy.
He had "Bonamassa sounds" that were very good... although I'm sure JB would say his sounds are EJ sounds... lol
EJ didn't smile much, didn't entertain... but he did dazzling fingerwork with crystal clear note expression. The mix wasn't the best, I couldn't hear his voice well... most would say that part of his show wasn't necessary anyway.

Buddy Guy was the SHOW.
He was very entertaining for a 78 year old... you wouldn't have thought he was that age for how well he got around and played. He channeled Muddy, Jimi, Sonny, Stevie, Ray Charles, Clapton, and others. He wasn't afraid to crank up the drive and shred blues either. He did some guitar playing with a towel, a drumstick, and even his abdomen to make the guitar talk. Overall very entertaining. When he covered songs about 19yr old girl... he say between measures "I didn't write the m*f ing song." to shake any of the weird looks seeing an older guy singing about a girl so young.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: St. Charles, IL
  • Registered: 2013-08-01
  • Posts: 636

Re: Eric Johnson and Buddy Guy tour

Cool review! I still have yet to see either of them live, but really want to! Buddy using a towel to play? Now that would be a sight to see ha!

  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Eric Johnson and Buddy Guy tour

Good review. EJ's a voice isn't what you came for. Those liquid runs are his stuff. Timeless Buddy is always a good show. He's an entertainer plus.
Rick

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
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  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Eric Johnson and Buddy Guy tour

Nice review, Nick. Having seen both separately in London, I can relate to your experience. In a nutshell, I'd see Buddy again anytime, EJ I'd think twice about. I'm not a player although, of course, I do appreciate skill and talent (otherwise I wouldn't be here wink ), but EJ left me cold.

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Eric Johnson and Buddy Guy tour

Wooders wrote:

I can relate to your experience. In a nutshell, I'd see Buddy again anytime, EJ I'd think twice about. I'm not a player although, of course, I do appreciate skill and talent (otherwise I wouldn't be here wink ), but EJ left me cold.

Phil

I've seen Lyden Moon and other soloists before... EJ in comparison was definitely more melodic. But for my taste I start tapping my watch if I have to listen to a solo for more than a few minutes. It might be a shame, but I'd like to hear songs - not "look what I can do." EJ does a good job of making his instrumentals sound like songs through melody, but the extensive soloing for 55 minutes wears me down. And I'm a guitar player!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool