First time hearing Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson and WOW (Reaction!)

[@walterlippmann6292]

"all these great guitarists you've been sending me have inspired me to pick the guitar up" well this one will inspire you to put it down

[@whatbroicanhave50character35]

Hendrix too. I just told my stepmother the other day after hearing a hendrix song together that hendrix made me pick up the guitar and inspired me as a beginner, and after 20 years he still blows me away but he now makes me want to put the guitar back down.

[@james_fisch]

@@whatbroicanhave50character35 What bro u can have 50 characters in a name? Why?? sorry that's off topic but that's pretty cool lol

[@whatbroicanhave50character35]

@@james_fisch oh, my name. Yeah what's funny is I worked it out so the name is exactly 50 characters too. Kinda cheated with the question marks but I still love it. I get compliments on it fairly regularly. Thank you. Take care bud

[@EvilMAiq]

Kek

[@traversgilfellan1854]

​@whatbroicanhave50character35 True the better you get and the more hendrix you listen to, the more you realize how insane he actually is.

[@FSAPOJake]

Eric didn't even start out as a guitarist. He started off as a classically-trained pianist and singer. You can tell just how much hard work he put in over the years to get this good.

[@nathanwilliams2152]

In terms of guitar tracks - this is my personal favourite, followed very closely by “Eruption” by Van Halen. I was looking for electric guitars on Google last night 😂 I love your reactions too! You’re really invested in everything you watch, and you’re very articulate and expressive! Great to see.

[@artmanjohn2]

I'm from Fort Worth, Texas and in around 1974/75 Eric Johnson was in a local band called Electro Magnets and I think he was around 15 years old or so, he could play like that at 15 years old, blew me away then and still does today!

[@rubetubez91]

Dallas here

[@stevefarrington5618]

he started on piano but switched to guitar. parents wanted him to be a doctor. in 1975 he was 21 years old and had already played with Carole king. he's bad ass like a mofo. his trademark sound is from alnico pick ups. I have the Eric Johnson strat like the one he is playing here.

[@artmanjohn2]

I stand corrected, your right on the age part, I was born in 1949 myself. Looking back I never really knew his age but I guess I assumed it because he looked so young at the time, he looked like a kid! Well, people who looked so young in their early adulthood look better now than the rest of us! @@stevefarrington5618

[@CabinFever52]

@@stevefarrington5618 , with that dexterity, he would have made a great surgeon.

[@davidalvarado1186]

I've seen this "virtuoso guitarist" play live twice! He was the opening acrt for Santana and then for Santana's encore Eric Johnson came out and played with Carlos.! I was blown away !!!

[@jameslutack-gk1if]

So blessed I got to see him on this tour at Atlanta Midtown Music Festival. The look of jaw dropping awa on my friends faces, having never heard him still brings joy to me.

[@jlocke78759]

Saw him a couple months ago as he wrapped up his most recent tour. What a great guitarist, and he seemed very genuine and appreciative of the audience.

[@tonkashouse]

I've listened to this song at least a thousand times. I got to watch you hear it the first time. You'll probably listen to it thousands of times now just like me.

[@dess8287]

You think his guitar playing is incredible you should hear him sing. Dessert Rose from the same show Eric Johnson ; Austin City Limits *Love ❤️ Peace ✌️ and Happiness 😃 Y'all !!!*

[@aaronherbison7316]

His version of Bob Dylan's My Back pages off the Bloom album where he sings is excellent

[@bobcombs9685]

Watch and listen to him play piano

[@billwong553]

This song makes me so happy. I love desert rose too.

[@johndeeregreen4592]

It's amazing, since he is not a natural tenor... his speaking voice is actually low baritone verging on a higher bass... but yet he sings in the tenor range very well.

[@ChrisNewton-n6k]

I wore this CD out when i discovered it.

[@meticulousgeek]

One thing about growing up (and getting old) is that you learn to appreciate the finer things in life. All those individual notes, the arpeggios, the slides, it's all just there like it was meant to be there. Maybe the best guitar performance of all time. It was fun to watch one of my all time favorite performances with you, thanks for sharing!

[@josephhaas7413]

Don’t sleep on EJ’s G3 performance; he played “Manhattan” the cleanest he ever played it. The cleanest tone EVER

[@alisonpagung8348]

I went crazy with "SRV" live in the first G3. That harmonics sounded perfect.

[@joshmontgomery9942]

He’s a fuckin legendary guitarist to say the least.

[@sizzlechestmcmurphy4365]

His interview with Rick Beato is fantastic.

[@travisadams30]

Eric Johnson is an incredible artist. However, touching on how you said he doesn't miss a note. At 5:08 in this video, you can see him hit a muted note and then shake his head. A small detail that shows he's probably his own biggest critic.

[@davidkoblentz]

he was nuts about details back then, on the more recent tours (the past decade) he looks much more comfortable (and even with his screw ups, he smiles)...

[@bigelile07]

YES, YES, YES! Very few people notice that. He was a perfectionist, but as he has gotten older he doesn't do that anymore. My favorite guitarist of all time along with SRV.

[@LilLingLing6789]

Playing 24 years didn't even notice

[@mikaelbiilmann6826]

Noticed that too right away because I have listened to that CD so many times over the years. Back when there was no internet and I bought GuitarPlayer or other magazines, Eric Johnson would tell what a perfectionist he was. Strings, numbers of windings on his pick--ups, his cables, the electric outlets in the studio. Everything. His tone is so great, and I am glad Sebs Duran mentioned the cleaner distortion. I always love Vinnie Moore's 2 first CDs from the 1980s. He too used distortion with taste and class. Just listen to his "April Sky". So beautiful.

[@masterpaine9161]

Yeah and just moments later he improvises because his fingers look to be lost for a cpl seconds @5:24

[@ElFimpo]

There are guitar players, and there is Eric Johnson. There you have it.

[@jamesmitchell8500]

And Steve Vai Joe satriani and John petrucci

[@jamesmitchell8500]

G3

[@jamesmitchell8500]

Eric Johnson is also a performer in G3

[@ianmccullough7294]

That jacket is specifically a throwback to Hendrix.

[@CabinFever52]

His hands/fingers remind me of a couple of spiders moving around so perfectly creating a couple perfect spider webs in tandem. They beautiful and awesome solo doesn't hurt, either. Hands down---my favorite guitar solo.

[@michelleosowick-mullican2204]

Wow, you are really finding the legends of guitar riffs🔥

[@janiceobernberger8846]

My first time for this artist I'm liking it! It's amazing how a great guitar player can make you feel 💝

[@kevinjennings238]

Here's the Album that this song is from, he Also Sings Beautifully on a few songs! ENJOY! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2rbm4uHrdV7nac

[@gus9482]

When this album came out I heard it front to back about a thousand times. I love his tone. Amazing solos. I saw him recently in concert and he was amazing. Listen to "song for george". Amazing acoustic guitar.

[@mikegazanchyan2423]

It won a Grammy

[@BobbyBigallo]

Same man lol when I first heard it on guitar hero it was stuck in my head for weeks

[@Efferri]

I've been practicing this song for almost a year now and I can play the first half... and not even that well!

[@JemMusic.]

You are very brave, dude. Wish you well.

[@itskylepaul]

in the same boat, i know the notes, just getting that rhythm he maintained through is such a tricky thing to master

[@CabinFever52]

I'm still impressed.

[@johndboran]

I was gigging in the Houston area as well as teaching guitar in 1982. The first time I saw EJ was at Rockefellers in Houston and I decided that night, after seeing him one time, that I was NOT going to really make a good living in music. Here was the best player I had ever seen and he was playing a sold out small club, probably making $500 for the night and he was the best I ever saw. No thanks. I don't stand a chance. So I decided to go off to college......true story.

[@terryurich4733]

I used to go out and watch Eric back in the 80's around Austin and San Antonio. It was not unusual to see other musicians with major bands in the audience reveling at his mastery. He started playing with a group called the Tones and went ballistic from there. There is no mistaking Eric's music. In my book, all around, he is the best ever.

[@janesharp4341]

I saw him play the National Anthem at an MTV charity softball game back in the 90s. He was up there with Hendrix. ❤

[@ericmclain8410]

I touched the stage twice watching him at the New Daisy in Memphis and at Juanitas in Little Rock. He was amazing both times.

[@smeghead2112]

My friends and I went to see Steve Miller about a month after this aired. The ticket just said "special guest" Out comes Eric Johnson!

[@larrywaters6127]

Thank you for, this . I have never heard of him. Wow

[@kevinjennings238]

Here's the Album, Including some Beautiful Vocal songs!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2rbm4uHrdV7nac

[@rogerdaly6326]

That dope af jacket was his nod to one of his heroes - Jimi Hendrix

[@lfjoseph]

i have to comment. you are right, now i'm 40. and when i was 10 i wanted to learn the electric guitar like guns and roses and stuff, then to heavy rock and metal. i know about this song a long time ago too but skiped it like you said. now after almost 10 years didnt play, now i bought a guitar to practice Eric Jhonson style of playing just to brush up my guitar playing once more. coz it is a very rare feel and style heard now. esp live performances.. thank you for your Video i really appreciate it. thanks youtube

[@SirLarnce-a-lot]

Love your reactions! First time commenting here. If you don't know already, the longer you go without knowing about Guthrie Govan, the madder you're going to be!!! Peace!

[@frankienier3041]

I’m literally getting ready for bed and all I heard in my head is cliffs of Dover lol. Couldn’t fall asleep for 3 hours 😂💀

[@mobilesolutionsfl]

I saw that G3 tour, House of Blues, Orlando. Was AMAZING!!!

[@victorjohnston1529]

This was from an Austin City Limits episode. At about that same time, there was another Austin guitar player featured, Monte Montgomery. There are videos of that performance out there as well as live vids from his Live at Workplay video and a live Rockplast show. Lots of what you saw there played on an electrified Alverez dreadnaught. Check him out.

[@kylekerwin4993]

I would like to take a moment and thank the camera person who captured this insanely incredible performance. This person probably knew that the close ups of his fast fingers of fury was like: Okay, if you want to play this like Eric, here is your chance. Good Luck. Have Fun.

[@shortrandoms7010]

Thank you for reacting to this.

[@gwyntx7620]

You should listen to country star Roy Clark play Malaguena on guitar. You would love it. It blew me away

[@stephentookey5519]

I had the same thing only recently heard this and canot get it out of my head.

[@2slowur]

Been trying to learn to play this for 20 years 😂 can get about halfway through at 3/4 speed. Eric is a over looked legend.

[@patrickowens2716]

IMO, you picked one of the very best solo guitar instrumentals ever done. Tone is superb. He was near peak around this time

[@PFTome]

Venus Isle is one of the few perfect albums I own in my opinion. What I love most about EJ is the variety of his music.

[@reneemulherin2899]

He is a marvel to behold. Mr. Clean Gee-tar Playin' Machine! Except he is not a machine. He is an outstandingly talented human being, and a really nice, humble guy.

[@gregmullins6927]

Sebs check out "Forbidden Kiss" by Frank Gambale,these guys are the highest standard you can get but they don't get airplay,it's a shame most people don't get to hear this amazing music.

[@beatmet2355]

I had that G3 concert on VHS. Yeah, I’m old. Lol It didn’t have Dover on it, unfortunately, but it did have two songs that are among my favorites: Manhattan and SRV, dedicated to you know who. Check those out, sometime. He has immaculate tone.

[@mowgli2071]

If I'm not mistaken this was on Austin City Limits

[@nuwavehomes1204]

Worth checking out... Taj Farrant's (14 yrs. old) cover of Cliffs of Dover. This kid is amazing!

[@ElizabethLOhrn]

Wow. First-timer here. Technically, he's obviously awesome, but I love it anyway (being a non-guitar player) because it's melodic and clean, and allows a lay person to enjoy it without having to be knowledgeable.

[@xxxyz721]

Even his tuning up sounds like poetry… :).

[@zwieseler]

I think he won a Grammy for this live performance.... Now, you'll probably have a similar reaction to Tommy Emmanuel doing similar when he plays Classical Gas on acoustic....

[@Bamaboompa]

Just so you know when you see a video with that set & the dome in the background, That’s from the TV series “Austin City Limits”. What that means is the production value will be perfect and the artist will be at their absolute best The series has been on for decades, and I’ve never seen an artist, give a crappy performance .

[@swoe420]

I only want to smile when i hear this.

[@VinceEmbry]

You cannot watch this and think underrated. Definitely one of the most unknown though imo.

[@cdward4893]

beautiful intro to this song. first time hearing this one it was a hard song on guitar hero only one harder to complete was dragonforce thru the fire and flames.

[@stevefarrington5618]

look up high landrons, east west, trademark and Bristol shore, only on the cd does Bristol bleed into another song but not on good ole you tube. its sounds so freaking cool

[@seta-san2149]

this song is joyful and fun.

[@Defmusicman1]

You said it. That’s no joke. It borders on the physically impossible but there it is.

[@stevemd6488]

You probably know this, but his setup at that time was completely old school, guitar was a 57 (I think) Strat, the amps were from the 60s, both the clean Fenders and the Marshalls. His effects were Echoplexes, Fuzz Face, Memory Man. Switching was analog, everything was analog. He loved Cream, Beck, Hendrix, those tones. Truly the guitarist's guitarist.

[@TRWilley]

The guitar in this video is a first production year 1954 that he named "Virginia" - he also used a '57 in some of the other songs from this show.

[@Tonesnob72]

one of the great things about EJ is in cliffs he’s shredding the major scale where as 99 percent of guys in rock focus natural minor or minor based cause they don’t realize shredding over happy major sounds are refreshing in itself.

[@jaewok5G]

i read that in 1972 he had a tarantula surgically grafted to his left hand.

[@markdemos75]

At one point in Austin, Eric and Stevie Ray Vaughan were dating 2 girls that were roommates. Many times after their shows the would go back to the house. I would give anything to hear those conversations!

[@Tune-O-matic]

EJ said "if you can only take one guitar pedal to a gig , get a golden cello guitar pedal" .. He was right..

[@AMERICANPRIDE1100]

You wouldn’t expect a concert pianist or violinist to miss why should he he’s a pro

[@kevinstiff8681]

There are so many great guitar players, but Eric has Nirvana and his fingers. When you listen, he actually will take you somewhere. High Landrones, camels night out, trademark, righteous, Manhattan, so many others. He’s definitely my favorite guitar player and has been for a very long time.

[@aleksandermachniak4158]

"Trail of tears Live from Austin, TX (1988)" is even better.

[@richardfederico9461]

EJ was always the best of the G3. He’s technically incredible and in my top 10 all time

[@Tijuanabill]

The color of that neck makes sense: It's all blood. It's the blood of mortals, shredded from the fingertips of greatness. You may rock now. Let it begin.

[@ahricchappell6937]

Died at 'Its Technically Perfect and Beautiful"

[@johnnelson3665]

Best guitar player ever imo.

[@KevinBell666]

You used to go to sleep watching the original G3 video? That’s so cool 😂 I went to that first tour, but EJ didn’t play the UK leg.

[@DDE_ADDICT]

this will be good, killer performance

[@Jims_Camera_at_dawn]

I got to see Eric live by accident. Became an instant fan.

[@nemo4907]

They're 2 (two) types of guitar players - those who are absolute BEAST (Erick Johnson and Eddie Van Halen), and those who can puck single strings to bring you to your F****N knees (B B King and Stevie Ray Vaughn). Technical or soul, how it moves your soul is the KEY! 🤘

[@MikeHudson-fb4hn]

Hey bro you might already know this,but, incase you didn't Eric made the main part of this riff up when he was 14! In 5 minutes!!!! Amazing huh. Let me know if you did or didn't know this peace out.

[@ChrisHariis]

Eric played like this in the 70's

[@Bill_Jones.]

Hey Sebs, you gave such a fantastic review of Eric Johnson’s Cliffs Of Dover that I wanted to ask if you’re familiar with Justin Johnson. He’s one of greatest guitarists I’ve EVER seen. There’s one video I’d ask you to take a look at of his that I think you’ll really enjoy and it’s “ If Seven Nation Army Was Delta Blues.” Another is his performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” He takes hundreds of songs you know and gives his incredible interpretations to them.

[@frankscarborough1428]

Listen to Folsom prison blues by Roy Clark and Johnny. Cash beautiful singing and playing

[@DDE_ADDICT]

this is a master class

[@davidkoblentz]

you went to sleep to G3 vids? damn... I feel old... lol, this is eric at his peak robot wise imo, I love now that he is much more relaxed in concert the past decade or so, at this point he was a machine, with feel, dont get me wrong but man he was a perfectionist... and was amazing... alien like

[@timp8843]

We Are Alive in this time!

[@RyanChenMusic]

According to five watt world, Eric straight up walked into his old high school and stole the marching band uniform just for this special

[@Tonesnob72]

His whole album ah via musicom is just ridiculously good and beautiful

[@billyf2833]

You said he doesn't miss a note. I like to say he doesn't waste a note. That guitar is telling us a story. He isn't just noodling like a lot of very talented guys do. We just went on a journey. Btw, it's a 1954 Strat. Niiiiice.....

[@bluegrooveracing]

Odd that anybody has never heard this before. It was the theme for Wide World of Sports for about 100 years.

[@famat161]

Ain't humans amazing

[@matthias_pitt]

I literally think I have your acoustic guitar in your background is it breedlove?

[@mhrokhum09]

Dude you forget about the bassist and the drummer.. they deserved credits too

[@nowheremankanagawa]

Eric has been underestimated.

[@Oldjohn52]

Dunno if you have seen it, but as a guitar guy you owe it to yourself to watch Stevie Ray Vaughn live at El Mocambo doing Texas Flood. A million other viewers will tell you the same.

[@chrisbanks5925]

Genius.

[@privateer0561]

His costume is "gansteresque"? It's the jacket to a high school marching band uniform.

[@toddnoom626]

High Landrons!!

[@tzh3123]

A Guitar Hero classic!!! Apparently Eric made the song in 5 minutes!!!!

[@HD-ph1dc]

Since you've gone down the rabbit hole of guitarists, you need to check out Jeff Healey and the song "As the years go passing by".

[@armandomontuy7565]

Two modern guitar heroes you HAVE to check out: Matteo Mancuso, Mateus Asato. Also, NYNY North forever 🗽 🤘🏽

[@NealB123]

EJ should be more famous than he is. He's a brilliant guitarist - one of the most technically perfect players I've ever heard. But his extreme perfectionism causes him to record new material at a glacial pace, typically many years between albums. Record labels get tired of waiting and drop him like a hot potato and he has to start over trying to find a new label to release his music. He hit it big with Ah Via Musicom just as Grunge/Alt Rock exploded and took over the radio airwaves. After that, there just wasn't any radio interest in his Blues, Rock, Jazz fusion sound and he disappeared from the radio practically overnight. He was basically a two-hit wonder with Cliffs of Dover and Trademark still popping up on classic rock radio occasionally.

[@DDE_ADDICT]

watch Gary Moore, still got the blues for you, live is epic. I am a new sub

[@kurthooker4370]

Hey Sebs. I have two suggestions for you. If you like Eric Johnson , there are two other guys I think you should really check out. One is jazz trained fusion guitarist who used to play in Miles Davis band named Robben Ford..... and a blues rock guy who has played iin everyone's bands from John Mayall to George Harrison ...and Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker from Cream(band called BBM) His name is Gary Moore. you should check out his live solo stuff first....... maybe start with The Messiah Will Come Again( a Roy Buchanan cover) or Still Got The Blues For You. You won't be disappointed.

[@williamcrockett8511]

Guitar Hero: Cliffs was on that and I think made this big.

[@mikegazanchyan2423]

Austin I believe is where this performance took place

[@Enfield-1853]

Sebs, want to hear some blues music. Listen to "Dina's Got Her .22 Again Blues" by Justin Johnson. Don't have worry about copyright. I paid Justin to create this for my wife's wedding anniversary in 2017. Told her this was the gift that keeps on giving. The whole world gets to enjoy it. Justin is very talented and he has a lot of youtube videos.

[@roszyknuke]

Wow, link please. .....