Mercury Blues - by Johnny Hiland at the 2016 Dallas International Guitar Show

Mercury Blues - performed by Johnny Hiland at the Dallas International Guitar Show
Johnny Hiland (guitar & vocals), Mike Barrow (guitar), T.J. Armstrong (bass), Bruce Guthrie (Drums)
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Johnny Hiland
Johnny Hiland’s breathtaking guitar skill is made that much more impressive when you realize he was born with a condition called Nystagmus, an eye disease which renders him legally blind. Though this certainly must have been a hindrance to initially learning to play, he took up the guitar at the very young age of 2. He won the “Talent America Contest” in New York City when he was only 10. Until he turned 15 he played in a band bluegrass with his sister, Jodi, and brother, Jerry. They called themselves “The 3 J’s.”
In high school his taste in music broadened as he became interested in the great rock guitarists, among them Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satriani. He then attended the University of Southern Maine while studying history. The pull of performing music professionally turned out to be too strong to resist and he dropped out after 3 years to move to Nashville. Soon after arriving there he attracted attention while playing local clubs. He was the first Nashville musician to be offered an endorsement deal from Fender without being signed to a label.
In addition to his love of performing, Hiland has found a passion for teaching others to play. In 2014 teamed up with Truefire to release a series of instructional videos titled “Ten Gallon Guitar”. He owns a studio that he uses to produce other musicians as well as record session guitar tracks for various artists.
Thanks to his manager calling Steve Vai and leaving one of Hiland’s demos on Via’s voicemail, Hiland earned a record deal on Vai’s Favored Nations record label. He became a successful session guitarists for well-known artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, and Randy Travis. He worked for two years preparing his self-titled debut album, which was comprised of country and rock instrumentals and released in 2004.
You’re sure to see in these performances from the Dallas International Guitar Festival in 2016, that Hiland is on a level all his own. He is the modern king of chicken pickin’ guitar playing.
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[@DINGOBAND]

Giant Toyota truck on the backdrop. “I’m crazy ‘bout a Mercury”. 🤣

[@captainzeb1969]

That is hilarious! I notice that too.

[@steviesanders4994]

I was at this performance. It was absolutely killer and one if not the nicest and most humble performers I've ever met in the music business. 🎸🎤🎼🎶🎵☝

[@kc7154]

This man can play anything....country, rock, blues...and of course slide. Amazing guitar player!

[@garydupuis2796]

What a MONSTER guitar player! He blows me away every time!

[@marcblum5348]

What a killer guitarist. Very precise rhythmic phrasing, perfect bends.

[@bchant19]

Holy smokes Johnny was on fire 🔥 totally slayed that fret board 👏

[@R_Thomp]

Holy shit he sings too?!?! He sounds awesome! I can listen to Johnny Hiland all day man!!!

[@walterbriggs272]

He certainly knows where all the notes are hiding! Really good stuff

[@kubel83]

This dead beat crowd don’t deserve this stellar and epic music.

[@rainerostermeier3351]

one of the greatest guitar players I´ve ever heard . his chicken picking is a legend ! .... I like Jonny Hiland as a person very, very well ! This Band is amasing in groove an loudness variety ! many thanx and good vibes from Bavaria ( in Germany ) Rainer Ostermeier

[@michaelharrington5914]

A cross between Stevie Ray and Junior Brown! Awesome!

[@kylepicks8624]

One of the best, if not THE best guitarist out there right now...

[@DigitalLoom]

What ever he turned on at 2:14 was LEGENDARY !! that note went right into the galaxy and beyond!!!

[@patrickkirby7612]

Wth was that reverberish ring and volume swell? Reckon his foot was on a pedal?

[@milandamjanovic1213]

Nice comment!!!

[@martin8uq]

FOH mix Engineer pushed his guitar channel up.

[@erickluca6249]

a tip : you can watch series at Flixzone. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies lately.

[@carlosbode8830]

@Erick Luca Definitely, I have been using flixzone for since december myself =)

[@scottlance2447]

Such talent. What a guitar picker. He plays the dog snot out of it. Love it.

[@mikelliteras397]

Johnny is just amazing

[@CulturaJaliscoMexico]

Awesome musicianship!

[@bluegrassbassing3790]

Johnny is a master at so many kinds of playing and I just found out he can sing

[@LuizBraido]

Great!!!!

[@sotiristsallis]

Just as good as someone can get....as a musician and a person.. i wish good health and love to Johny and everybody.....

[@charleschurch8379]

Him, Emmanuel, And Mason... the worlds best. HIghland is monstrously good.

[@TheGurner1]

Wonderful! My long-lost uncle Johnny!

[@alexstixx]

This is so sick I think it just got to make a wish... wow, blown away, Hiland should be more well known, he is an absolute beast on the guitar. He's playing notes that guitar doesn't even have frets for. Absolutely amazing.

[@leovoz9295]

Great !!! Show !!!!!!°°

[@arnarne]

Awesome!

[@abqkm8845]

Absolutely sweet to hear

[@travgpeters1]

JH is awesome !

[@JasonFerguson1283]

Great shuffle!

[@spca663littleb9]

Very impressive performance. 👍

[@flakkito]

The drummer is bad ass!

[@GMan269]

Johnny dropped it right in the pocket! Amen, man.

[@roberthunt1540]

Stevie Ray just sat up in his grave!

[@massimodigaetano]

WOOOOOOOOWWW

[@dennislong9358]

Johnny makes it look so easy....

[@leswagstaff4908]

Wow...

[@richardneubauer4395]

Dang!

[@cwyblu7293]

Dang he reminds me of Bugs Henderson.. Must be the air in Dallas...Wow..

[@henriknissen9931]

👍 Wow just Great here from Denmark

[@natelloyd6312]

Johnny: I’m CRAZY bout a Mercury! Toyota in backdrop: Well this is awkward... Amazing playing brother! Love it!

[@Ken0la]

Dam, I gotta get me a mercury!

[@kgeddes7356]

The best guitarist ever???👍👍👍

[@milandamjanovic1213]

A r&r version with no c# minor chord. Excellent played

[@user-gp5cs4pq5y]

Красавец гитарист экстра

[@leovoz9295]

Showwww

[@kimmolingonheimo]

and I dont even have a drivin licence...yet. ...still i have my hundred songs for close society...and tree strat cope is for to discover if im allergic to electric gtr or water all together rites now ILY (I Love Y )

[@leovoz9295]

SHOW............

[@derekmoller483]

check out his other version playing PRS of this toon.....

[@rangidowns3217]

Mean mongrel

[@bconigliaro]

Mike Durham on the second guitar.

[@JustAGuitarPlayer]

Mike Durham is the correct name for sure on second guitar.

[@kubel83]

I think I found my new guitar God!

[@equinn2434]

1:50, 1:08

[@fonzimendoza1979]

While there a Toyota behind him...

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

irony...love it

[@CBGypsy03]

Crazy about a Toyota no ??

[@davidgallucci4255]

Mercury Blues played in front of a Toyota poster! Oh the irony! Lol.

[@rRichmoo7]

haha. SRV just asked, who ripped off my song Pride and Joy?

[@Imw101]

Nah! He's not even in Rolling Stone's 100 Best Guitar Players 🙂

[@leswagstaff4908]

Wow...