Eric Johnson and Redd Volkaert w/ Heybale @ Broken Spoke | Austin, Tx | My Baby Thinks She's a Train

Earl Poole Ball and Dallas Wayne are two other members of Heybale along with Tom Lewis on drums and the great Kevin Smith (WIllie Nelson, Dwight Yoakum and others). Both are really great. Earl Poole Ball played piano for Johnny Cash for more than 25 years. Austin legends.
Of course, Redd Volkaert and Eric Johnson are the focus of this video, and they really make it great.
You can see more of Redd's stuff at www.reddvolkaer...
Eric Johnson at www.ericjohnson...

[@WillSnodgrass]

I can attest, folks. I was there that night. And I’m fortunate to say I once watched EJ sit in on an entire set of one of Redd’s solo shows. Yes, I was fortunate.

[@patrickbrown8540]

Eric was learning from Redd on the fly. The more they went on the more country sounding Eric became. That’s awesome! Awesome player awesome learner. Never stop accomplished or successful to learn from others.

[@roddyharrison2454]

The beauty of life music is seeing how happy players like Redd and Eric are improvising.

[@gimzoso]

Redd is holding back to let Eric participate. Such a gentleman. People may not know they are watching two of the most formidable guitar pickers around the blue and green marble.

[@chuckevol]

Props to Eric for hanging in there. Red is a monster player in this genre.

[@michellehershey2171]

And Earl Poolball on the keyboards just grinnin'

[@rcdowdy]

This is an all-star lineup playing in Austin. What a treat to see this. Eric and Redd on the same stage. Just awesome.

[@richirvine4519]

I never would have imagined Eric Johnson and Redd Volkaert swapping licks on stage but here it is!

[@rockinredneck57]

The winner is.... everybody listening and watching. Holy shit these guys are good! Completely different styles but both highly skilled professionals. What a treat.

[@LONEJOE1]

So cool that guys like Red can blend in and out and unless you are a musician .. you have never heard of him!! He is a God on guitar. What a gift to humanity.

[@michaeldelgado9250]

The second jam/solos & the duet jam was pure country Fender brilliance!!

[@tgbedini]

If you listen to the difference between Eric's first solo and his second, you'll see how quickly he picked up on the feel. As others mention, not his wheelhouse, but he is a monster, and could adapt quickly. Now, Redd, he's just unreal, and a heck of a nice guy too boot.

[@davidsafely732]

No, it's not Eric's wheelhouse, but he's so talented it didn't take long to get "in the flow of it".

[@alward5678]

Eric depends totally on practiced licks. Can’t do that in this type setting.

[@Max.Greger]

@@alward5678 for that he adopts the country style quite well and fast

[@RickMcCargar]

Eric has been in Texas for how long? Not his first time playing country music.

[@shanonbull]

Eric needs to learn not to walk on somebody else's lead...especially someone like Redd.

[@Jonathan-L]

Redd Volkaert has a really nice guitar tone ... cuts through steel!

[@likhound]

Redd is absolutely great.

[@RonDodson9]

Wow, Eric and Redd together. Awesome.

[@localseokyle]

Ron Dodson yeah, I know!

[@youKnowWho3311]

Funny in the beginning when the lady asks who's that guy and the husband proceeds..... I would tell my wife, I understand you may not know Redd, but you better know Johnson. There will be a test later. LOL

[@rogb3199]

Redd is a fantastic player, a true gentleman and a great guy in my limited contact with him. Amazing to see him and EJ stretching their fingers on this tune!

[@TEXASFENDERBENDER]

Redd didn't even get a good warm up on that tune. He was just about in park.

[@flapjackson6077]

That was so cool to see! Two legends just pickin’ and grinnin’!

[@rickfoster99]

Nice to see how redd gives Eric all the room to play. Wish Eric did the same

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

NO SHIT........EXACTLY WHAT I SAID ABOVE!!!!.......I knew I wasnt the only one that could see it and most of all.....HEAR IT!!!!!!

[@kevinanderson967]

He even overplayed during the keyboard solo, cardinal sin but I’m a guy who traveled many miles to see Eric in the 80 s and it became too much and too loud. Red in a trio setting is the real deal and Guthrie Trapp can play generously with anyone🎸

[@twangbarfly]

It's Redd's gig, he does this stuff standing on his head - a GREAT player. But props to Eric, who did a good job. It' not his bag but he got up and put some new flavours into this. Lots of negative comments, but the fact is that Eric is from another planet. Redd knows it too. But it's not a competition - it's music. I bet Eric and Redd really admire each other's playing i their different disciplines.

[@kylebailey4574]

yep. you almost quoted Eric word for word. He said that the reason he was there is bc he really respected Redd and liked to play with him whenever he could.

[@knowmusicman157]

eric can chicken pick with the best

[@sugarlife485]

Redd was and is INCREDIBLE!!

[@dustyturntable]

Nothing but pure joy and fun to watch. Only a loser would thumbs down that.

[@localseokyle]

dustyturntable ah well, to each his own, but I sure love it!

[@artysanmobile]

dustyturntable And of course, your comment just inspired numerous dislikes. When will people ever learn....

[@getwhatyougive]

[After Eric's first solo, Red was like "that's great, kid. Now let's serve the song." And demonstrated how to do so. Eric fell in line after that although his 3rd solo found him coloring outside the lines again.]

[@sir60man70]

Noticed the same thing with the 10 inch finger stretch scale runs that didn't work and never really seemed to find a groove. He redeemed himself on his 2nd solo however.

[@councilhillband]

And 26 jealous people gave this a thumbs down...that's amazing too.

[@Venetiababy1]

Redd's having fun!

[@dicryan]

just to add some info - true while Eric and Redd were on the stage there were other members of Heybale up there, This event was the Annual Don Walser's Pure Texas Band Reunion in 2015, I was there - I believe it started in 2010 and ran at least to 2017. It was always at the Broken Spoke which is a dance hall where Don would play. It would always start out with original members of the Pure Texas Band then guests would start appearing playing songs that Don liked to sing or that they learned from him. They all appear for free out of respect for Don. Poster from 2014.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

As a guitar nerd, it's hilarious for me to see people literally dancing while Redd and Eric especially are playing. LOL!

[@dicryan]

If you ask Redd when he's at the Spoke, he'll tell you he plays for the dancers-that's one of the reasons we love him! And if you think the dancers aren't listening - you're wrong - dancing to Redd's playing is improvisational

[@LyricTenor85]

​@@dicryanit's true, Redd always salutes the dancers, and often states that they are the reason he is there.

[@dickryan5673]

@@dicryan btw - I was there - both dancing and listening- it was Don Walser’s Birthday Tribute. And it says a lot that both Redd and Eric were there

[@joemichielli1908]

OMG i would have loved to have been there. Two guitar gods

[@lickbass]

Redd u are a killer guitarist no doubt. Wow.

[@jessesmit2907]

Thanks for sharing! Eric did great, really enjoyed some of those chet atkins-y turn arounds he threw in there.

[@remingtonride]

Red is killer

[@Chris-is1rd]

How the hell does Volkaert play so well with those sausage links for fingers?

[@KyleBaileyinAustin]

LOL...EXACTLY! Not to mention they're pretty short

[@Starcrunch72]

practice!

[@Guitarplayer724]

Cuz them big sausage fingers are always guaranteed to cover the fret he’s picking(along with a couple others 😂)!

[@vitkirunemaster9239]

His dad had the same size hands and Gene could play really well

[@redduketeleman]

Bit of a workout for Eric...well done for walking into Nashville...no prisoners taken

[@Burn269]

You’ve gotta love musicians. Any age plays with any age if they can play.

[@dustyturntable]

Oh and "this will blow your mind". Awesome intro, loved it!

[@localseokyle]

dustyturntable yeah, it always amazs me when I find someone who doesn't know either of these guys.

[@ronpippin1084]

That girl said “I don’t know who he is.” I bet she’ll REMEMBER who they are from now on!

[@davidsafely732]

Nice of EJ to play. Just love his sound.

[@bertram27]

Man, oh man that's fun!

[@aliensporebomb]

Can you imagine? "Hey, you want to sit in?" "Nah, I'll let Redd and Eric take care of the guitar duties this evening..."

[@robertkchampion5921]

aliensporebomb feel free to shoot me and burn my guitars just imagine if they both did an album

[@wheelie63]

no applause after these LEGENDS take a solo ? what the hell ? is Austin THAT blase' about great musicians?

[@mwooly1]

Erics already a legend he’s doing a good job here. I’ll be seeing redd play 5feb23 Melbourne. I’m looking forward to that, a real Nashville picker great voice to

[@ryuj1nj4kk4]

Wow EJ is a real genius. You can tell he was feeling his was through the first solo. He takes one look at reds fingers pins the mode down and falls right into to groove. Masters learning on the spot is a trip to see.

[@GuitarPlaya72]

Glad I stumbled on this. That was a blast to watch!

[@Weshopwizard]

It don't get no more Texan that this!!!

[@dosanchoas]

Love those Rogers drums (& bass drum anchor!)

[@tnleverett]

Nothing but pure talent!

[@hansonmick]

great stuff

[@pskemster]

Man that’s some fine picking gentlemen! Yes. Sir!

[@Alanoffer]

Eric Johnson in a little club playing country ,what a catch

[@dennisschell5543]

Playing over his head....Redd blew him out of the water.

[@LovelyTuber0418]

@@dennisschell5543 redd did this same thing to George Lynch on a simple song.

[@11calman]

@@dennisschell5543 Haha mate, I'm looking at this video from The Great Southern Hemisphere of Auckland New Zealand and I can tell you it was the other way around mate. It only took Eric Johnson a couple of mins to adapt, and even in that 2mins he was streets ahead, Redd's OK, but EJ is all class

[@ironpirites]

Both those guys are monsters (so is the keyboard player). I like that whistling sound that Eric got during his first solo. I've never heard that before and I thought it fit in well with the moment (very much the artiste!).

[@kylebailey4574]

Earl Poole Ball is the keyboard player, longtime keys guy for Johnny Cash, monster indeed (and great singer).

[@anitavassar1]

You were so good Eric.

[@rorylewisband]

Absolutely fantastic.

[@stevenhearrell1564]

Red and Eric. That's about as good as it gets!

[@osageorangepublishing6701]

The bass player is the fantastic Kevin Smith. He's toured and recorded with Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Dale Watson, The Derailers, and the list goes on...

[@localseokyle]

+Osage Orange Publishing yeah, that guy's a monster. Really love listening to him play.

[@KyleBaileyinAustin]

+Osage Orange Publishing thanks so much for the info, btw, I forgot to say that! What kind of publishing do you do?

[@mr.wizard2974]

Danny Gatton would put all these musicians in the shade

[@soundguy5813]

But the drummer sucks !

[@rockinredneck57]

@@mr.wizard2974 not really. Danny was a fantastic guitar player but these guys are seasoned world wide veterans. Redd played many years with Merle Haggard who used only the best. Eric is very well known in the guitar player world also. Danny might have been better at some things but not others. But put them in the shade? Not a chance.

[@xpaddy01]

A side of Eric I had an idea was in there somewhere! He should do more of this! And Redd...I need to spend more time with that guy! :) Thanks so much for sharing!

[@barrysmith7710]

Eric's musicianship is legendary, but it's his MUSICALITY that really stands out. Here is at the Old Timers' Dance in Dime Box, TX on a Tuesday night before the bingo, playing his heart out. Les Paul, Beck, Setzer, Paisley, Satch alll love this man, and here's why.

[@kylebailey4574]

this is not in DIme Box, this is at the Broken Spoke in Austin, TX. But yes, his musicality is amazing.

[@barrysmith7710]

What Eric plays between 4.55 and 5.20 is mindblowing

[@Lucy-dx7vc]

yeah he needed his time to get going. Im not a big fan of Eric but this guy sure knows his onions

[@twangnut2067]

Dang! I gotta get down to Austin,TX!!

[@barrysmith7710]

This band love him too!

[@mrjessemarshall]

What a combo! So cool.

[@stevenmaddock4237]

Great to see Eric playing a small club, just needed Brent mason to come in and game over

[@jimmywalkerjr3452]

With out Redd there'd be no Brent.

[@theflatulentfreddy1]

Redd could go toe to toe with Mason anytime....😎

[@stevenmaddock4237]

Both great players

[@davel.9467]

That was tasty. Two absolute gee-tar phenoms. Redd is always Redd and Eric is the American Jeff Beck. Makes me miss Austin, TX too. And the cutie pie brunette with the pony tail takin' pictures w/her phone? Well that's just a bonus.

[@98Vols]

Fantastic!! All these guys sound great together!

[@sidmarley5058]

Well I wish I was in Austin.......mmmmmhhhh...

[@RJ4960]

Redd still got it!

[@edferguson8102]

You go eric,you got it all son

[@anthonytye2591]

This shows that you can fool most people but when it comes to country there is no fooling to be done

[@SkunkBearTK]

Imagine walking into this dive for some dancin' n' saloonin', and be hit in the face with that. Epic night out.

[@chickinpickin1]

don't get no better! R.V. E.J.

[@TomBonnell]

WOW!

[@bobboitt3126]

Damn HOT players both....thanks!

[@vitkirunemaster9239]

played with Redd when he was just 15 and he was a monster already, although he favoured his 57 Strat lol.

[@jonathonrich8061]

If someone ask me what are the chances of seeing Eric Johnson in a small pub playing country music with Red, I would have said Zero! What alternate dimension is this? Where's Satriani and Vai? This video made me smile.

[@michaelwoods9005]

You must not be very familiar with EJ.

[@councilhillband]

Amazing!

[@wings1856]

HOLY SHIT.

[@klausochs7006]

He has a lot funn :-) THX ....like it .

[@TheGurner1]

Whoa man, those dudes can play!

[@jonbottensolhaug7948]

Fytti hest det er bra venner.👌🏻😉🙂Love it🙂❤️💕❤️😍😉

[@kylebailey4574]

LOL...Google says this means "fytti horse there are good friends". Is that accurate??

[@knightfall9394]

i keep seeing people shitting on eric in the comment section like he was lost and this stuff is “not his bag” when there are boatloads of pieces he’s written that show off his country chops and versatility, do not write the guy off as a “shredder”or “rock guy” if you know nothing about his playing

[@shanonbull]

Not putting him down...he just needs to learn how to be professional!

[@ronnieking1025]

Eric brought a knife to a gunfight with that strat against Reds telecaster

[@knightfall9394]

Nope he brought something much more versatile

[@vitkirunemaster9239]

Redd used to play a 57 Strat when was 15. We played together when he lived in Canada.

[@sheahorton2463]

pretty f..king cool!

[@jamesquitadamo1917]

Love the stamp on Eric's right hand...Did they charge him a cover or card him at the door?

[@localseokyle]

+James Quitadamo honestly, they may not have known who he was, and he's the kind of soul that would have just gone with it. He's such a deferential guy to be such a great player. Honestly, Redd is the same. These are two really great players, and they are both truly great guys.

[@jamesquitadamo1917]

+localseokyle Amen, I met Eric back in 2011 and you are spot on! Eric, as well as his band, were approachable and great guys.

[@davidbakerscuba]

Haha, I was thinking the same. At least it wasn’t the under 21 X’s across the hands.

[@dicryan]

Just participating in the Don Walser Reunion out of resect and love - that's Austin

[@mr.wizard2974]

Ever heard of Danny Gatton...best damn guitarist who ever lived

[@Colt-fo5jd]

I would agree. One of the greatest ever. Have you checked out Lenny Breau? Holy shit dude. This guy is up there. One of Chets CGP players.

[@kevdean9967]

Oh yeah, and Steve Vai says the same thing. I met Danny in '92. Was lucky enough to have seen him twice. Jerry Reed is right up there too! Jazz, country, blues, Danny and Jerry could do it all. I'll throw Glenn Campbell and Roy Clark in the mix as well.

[@rockinredneck57]

@@Colt-fo5jd Lenny is good, but he's not a CGP. Chet, Jerry, John Knowles, Steve Wariner, Paul Yandell, Tommy Emmanuel. That's it.

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

Wow!

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Eric done great but you know when he goes home he’s gonna get a stack of country albums and start picking them apart

[@fernandes5986]

You bet.

[@kylebailey4574]

actually, this is him doing just that. I asked him about the evening, and he said "I like to get out and play with Redd whenever I get a chance. It's fun to get out and try these country licks." This was a jam far more than a concert. There was almost no one in the club, which is astounding.

[@SR-jd6qe]

@@kylebailey4574 Wow I love both of these guys playing for years. When I seen your post I got excited. Do you have anymore from that night?! Thanks.

[@kylebailey4574]

@@SR-jd6qe It honestly kills me every time I think about it. I wasn't even going to stop by the Spoke on this night. I fiddled around after a networking event, then decided to go ahead and stop by to see Redd. I walk in, with only about 15 mins left in his set, and WAITTHATCANTBEERICFREAKINJOHNSON!!!! I pull my phone out and start filming, but only got this and some of another song before the memory crapped out. By the time I found videos to erase, they were wrapping. I COULDA HAD 2 HOURS AND GOT 9 MINUTES!!!

[@garyguitar]

Both monster players...each play in several genres obviously. World class musicians here...more of Redd's specialty for sure. Eric hangs tight and plays incredibly. Pretty laughable are some of the "critics" here. Redd and Eric are more fluent in different types of music...matter of opinion. My opinion is don't rate..just watch, try to learn something. Any if you think you can do it as well, post your video up here. Love it...thanks.

[@wesdavis8797]

+garyguitar Eric has been my childhood hero. I watch Redd every Saturday (or as many as I can) at Continental and he blows my mind how fluid he is in this style.

[@KyleBaileyinAustin]

+Wes Davis you stated my position perfectly.

[@garyguitar]

Both world class...Best bargain for guitarists is to find where Redd is playing and get there. Also David Grissom sometimes at the Saxon Pub, Of course, Eric is in a class himself...seen him live several times and my young son and I watched him check out a vintage Strat in a booth at the Dallas Guitar show (after hours when no one was there but us three.

[@wesdavis8797]

+garyguitar I just miss EJ's old sound where he wasn't shy of being loud and used the dumble/100 watt plexis. I never got to see him live during that era unfortunately.

[@dallashomeremodeling6238]

he actually still plays that sound, but just not all the time. I saw him at 121 bar in S Austin a couple of months ago, and he was ROCKIN.

[@GregsGuitars]

ha ha 5:22: "what's your name again?" .... :-)

[@kennethmeeker6369]

Use hangout at the broken spoke , Kenny grimes is another local bad boy on country 👍

[@frank1672]

There were two gigs going that night

[@pauljenkin1742]

So cool! I EJ was epic. and hey look, Negan from The walking dead is on the drums.

[@RickDanner]

Christ Eric can blaze country also ? shit that man is great !

[@mattroggenkamp6717]

+Rick Danner Check out 'On the way to love' live Anaheim...amazing

[@patboudotlamot]

extra la joie de jouer ¡

[@thebountyhunter2783]

Red is the one of all the rest.

[@murrayelliott9956]

Redd is a monster but this is bang on his genre .....he does this stuff every day (and superbly well ) Eric is a guitar genius but it's not his goldfish bowl and I think he made a bloody good show of himself ......not many could just dip in to this .......and it's fast ......probably 160bpm doesn't give you a lot of thinking time unless you are doing it automatically by muscle memory because you do it all the time . The only Country boys that can run at this pace are Redd ,Gill and Hiland .......it's not Brad's thing especially Sounds show how a tele is the tool not a strat.

[@machooey]

Mason and Trapp

[@charlesderose310]

Don’t forget Danny Gatton nor Scotty Anderson when it comes to telecasters 😎

[@massimofamularo1976]

go to sleep...

[@rockinredneck57]

There's a kid in Nashville playing at Robert's, Luke McQueary who can absolutely hang with all of them. Check him out with Kelly's Heroes.

[@Venetiababy1]

Eric's Strat sounds good!

[@enlightenedchristian3183]

Incredible playing all round here,but the Tele rules for country ….no question imho....

[@2mdallas]

kuddo's to EJ @ +- 5 minutes .... didn't let go of it ... then RV rolling out a symphony of insanity at 5:45 mins ... AWESOME ! .... one I'd have liked to have seen live for sure ....

[@dalethomas6125]

Redds showing Eric how it's done

[@guitar78ish]

+Dale Thomas Not really Eric's genre...let see Redd play Cliffs of Dover!

[@zensutraguitar]

+guitar78ish Son let me tell ya I've seen Redd play Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, and SRV perfectly on a Strat! Hell I think he can handle cliffs of dover. I play Cliffs of dover perfectly and it's not genre either.... ;)

[@guitar78ish]

Jc Cacchio I was totally unaware of this..thanks!

[@zensutraguitar]

No problem, Redd is madly talented guitar player. That's why Eric is there to be with people he looks up to and helps him to keep growing as a musician.

[@johncruz1811]

+Jc Cacchio it's easy to copy something that's been done.. EJ has a unique sound. Red is an awesome player.. But the same can't be said of him...

[@kenkriepke531]

And doin' a Leroy Preston song to boot!

[@LovelyTuber0418]

You should see George Lynch on stage with Redd...same type of deal. I was very shocked that Lynch couldn't play tasty phrases like Redd. Clean amp, straight forward melody no distortion.

[@sir60man70]

I believe it. I watched a video with Brian May and James Burton.....same type of thing with May not having a feel for that type of music and seemed to be struggling to play something that fit. Burton always seems to nail his solos as if he just did a guitar solo on a studio track in one take. Take away the stacks of amps, effects and distortion and some of the heavy rockers struggle with it.

[@notedx10]

cool

[@deathlesshorsie]

Jesus give Eric a break people - he wrote SRV for christs sake....

[@joe1969812]

Eric almost sounded human lol. Still the best around. Redd is a monster too