Review: Eric Johanson ‘Live In Mississippi’
By Charlie Steffens
American singer, songwriter and guitarist Eric Johanson’s ‘Live in Mississippi,’ recorded at the legendary Ground Zero Club in Biloxi on August 9, 2024, captures the raw energy of this blues rock powerhouse. The 10-track live album showcases Johanson, bassist Will Repholz, and drummer Terry Scott, Jr., igniting the same stage graced by blues titans like Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush, as well as luminaries such as Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, and Paul Simon.
Johanson has explored various musical genres and developed his own style that blends blues, rock, and other influences. He has worked as a sideman for artists like Cyril Neville of The Meters fame, as well as Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, who produced his album ‘Below Sea Level.’
Fresh off a European and U.S. tour supporting his Billboard blues chart-topping album, ‘The Deep and The Dirty,’ Johanson and his band were primed to deliver a blistering Friday night performance. From the opening notes of “Nowhere to Go,” a hard-rocking 12-bar blues anthem from his ‘Below Sea Level’ album, the wildly receptive crowd was treated to a masterclass in power trio dynamics.
The visceral “Undertow” delivers a dose of down-and-dirty guitar grit, reminiscent of a certain ‘Motor City Madman’. While not having much to say to the audience between songs, Johanson and his Duesenberg Starplayer guitar unabashedly let the music do the talking.
“Just Like New” shows Johanson employing a bright, resonant blues-slide guitar sound—singing a message that being blues-hearted does not mean you can’t make music that’s upbeat.
Johanson injects a vibrant energy into The Neville Brothers’ classic, “Yellow Moon,” a song Johanson previously recorded and included on his Covered Tracks Vol. 2 album.
“Galaxy Girl” pulsates with the formidable rhythm section of Repholz and Scott, Jr., creating a sonic landscape for Johanson’s soaring vocals and electrifying guitar solos.
Johanson’s rendition of Dr. John’s “I Walk on Gilded Splinters,” a song famously covered by artists as diverse as Humble Pie and Cher, stands out as a highlight, emphasizing his ability to infuse timeless classics with his own signature style. A poignant interlude arrives with the stripped-down acoustic rendition of Skip James’ “Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues.” Johanson’s gravelly voice and heartfelt delivery pay respectful homage to the Delta blues legend, revealing his deep connection to the genre’s roots.
“Familiar Sound,” from ‘The Deep and Dirty,’ album drips with old-school blues authenticity, highlighted by Johanson’s searing bottleneck slide licks. The brooding “Changes the Universe,” from “Below Sea Level,” reveals Johanson’s mastery of tonal variation, evoking echoes of B.B. King, Alvin Lee, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
“Don’t Hold Back” closes the night with the trio’s final surge of unbridled energy. Johanson’s guitar riffs intertwine seamlessly with his vocals. The fuzz and reverb effects and the less-is-more economy with which he uses them puts him in the upper echelon of guitarists in the rock and blues scene.
‘Live in Mississippi’ is a testament to Eric Johanson’s multifaceted talent. He effortlessly reimagines his own work and breathes new life into borrowed classics, proving his mastery of the blues in a live setting. Even the casual listener will quickly recognize Johanson’s profound understanding of the blues idiom.
Watch “Galaxy Girl”
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