CHAMBERS OF ROCK: Rock News for Monday 25th October, 2010

ERIC JOHNSON RELEASES EXPANSIVE NEW ALBUM, UP CLOSE,

ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2010

Includes Guests Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Lang & Sonny Landreth

Hits Road with Acoustic Guitar Masters Package & Experience Hendrix Tour

Guitarist, songwriter and singer Eric Johnson brings listeners Up Close to his stunning musicality when the Grammy winning artist releases his sixth studio album on his own Vortexan Music label (via EMI Distribution) on December 7th 2010. The 15-track disc presents 14 new Johnson compositions plus his version of the Electric Flag song “Texas,” and features guest appearances by fellow master players Jimmie Vaughan and Sonny Landreth on guitar and vocals by Steve Miller, Johnny Lang and Lyrical themes of reflection, emotional revelations, personal growth and fulfillment are underscored on the album by Johnson’s most daring, urgent, progressive and at times raw and fervent guitar work to date. As with all of Johnson’s work, his all-encompassing style draws from rock, blues, pop, country, jazz and classic to exemplify his stature as “an extraordinary guitar player accessible to ordinary music fans” (Memphis Commercial Appeal). Malford Milligan as well as Johnson. It returns him to the EMI family where Johnson enjoyed his greatest record success with the albums Ah Via Musicom and Venus Isle.

Praised by All Music Guide as one of the “very few musical artists [to] achieve a true signature style which makes comparisons to other musicians impossible,” Johnson expands, deepens and enhances his sound on his first album release since Bloom in 2005. The title reflects the revelatory and spontaneous performances on Up Close as well as its sonic immediacy thanks to a mix by legendary veteran engineer Andy Johns.

“I decided to let go a bit and allow things to happen and just go with the flow,” explains Johnson of his approach to the album. “I like my work to have a high proficiency, but I also wanted to go for the energy and magic of the performances.” He precedes the album’s release with a special acoustic Guitar Masters tour alongside acclaimed players Peppino D’Agostino and Andy McKee in October, and follows it with his second appearance on the Experience Hendrix tour later this year and another leg of the Guitar Masters tour in January 2011. Lyrical themes of reflection, emotional revelations, personal growth and fulfillment are underscored on the album by Johnson’s most daring, urgent, progressive and at times raw and fervent guitar work to date. As with all of Johnson’s work, his all-encompassing style draws from rock, blues, pop, country, jazz and classic to exemplify his stature as “an extraordinary guitar player accessible to ordinary music fans” (Memphis Commercial Appeal).

Track Listing:

1. AWAKEN

2. FATDADDY

3. BRILLIANT ROOM (Malford Milligan -vocal)

4. TEXAS (Steve Miller –vocal, Jimmie Vaughan - guitar)

5. GEM

6. TRAVERSE

7. AUSTIN (Jonny Lang - vocal)

8. SOUL SURPRISE

9. ON THE WAY

10. ARITHMETIC

11. THE SEA AND THE MOUNTAIN

12. VORTEXAN

13. A CHANGE HAS COME TO ME

14. CHANGE - revisited

15. YOUR BOOK (Sonny Landreth - guitar)

Johnson burst into the musical main- stream with his landmark 1990 album Ah Via Musicom, which won him a Grammy, yielded a record three Top 10 instrumental hits like “Cliffs of Dover” from a single LP release, and earned him platinum sales status. Enshrined in Guitar Player’s Gallery of Greats and named one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician magazine alongside numerous other awards, Johnson’s career has been marked by his gift for writing songs with vivid and indelible melodies and lyrical, concise and adventurous playing that focuses on melody and the song rather than six-string gymnastics. A frequent collaborator with other guitar legends, he has continued to explore the myriad possibilities of guitar-based musical artistry since his debut major label release in 1986, Tones, that landed him on the cover of Guitar Player magazine.

Up Close is energized by Johnson’s continuing focus on broadening and enriching his work “I wanted to bare myself a little further and show myself more,” he says. “I want my music to always grow and have more of a profound meaning and impact.”

Tour dates for the Experience Hendrix Tour are as follows:

October 2010

Oct. 26 - Pittsburgh - Benedum Theater

Oct. 28 - Toronto, ON - Sony Center

Oct. 29 - Quebec City, QUE - Grand Theatre

Oct. 30 - Montreal, QUE - Place des Arts

November 2010

Nov. 01 -Ottawa, ON -National Arts Center Southam Hall

Nov. 02 - Buffalo, NY - Center for the Arts

Nov. 03 - Morristown, NJ - Community Theatre

Nov. 04 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand @ Foxwoods

Nov. 06 - Albany, NY - Palace Theater

Nov. 07 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater

Nov. 09 - Hershey, PA - Hershey Theatre

Nov. 10 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

Nov. 11 - Baltimore, MD - Hippodrome

Nov. 12 - Richmond, VA – Landmark Theater

Nov. 13 - Atlantic City, NJ - Caesars Casino

Nov. 16 - Columbus, OH- Palace Theater

Nov. 17 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater

Nov. 18 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater

Nov. 19 - Merrilville, IN - Star Plaza Theater

Nov. 20 – Indianapolis – Murat Theatre

For more information, visit http://www.ericjohnson.com/

SPECIAL LIMITED HALLOWEEN PRICE OF $35*

Former Founding Members of YES and TOTO First Los Angeles Concert:

YOSO Headlines “HUMANITY THRU MUSIC” Green Carpet

Charity Concert

ROB ZOMBIE – STEVE VAI – PAUL GILBERT – ALICE COOPER – MARKY RAMONE TYLER MANE – DEREK MEARS – GEORGE LYNCH, RICHIE KOTZEN and MORE

Signed Guitars and Drum Heads For Silent Auction

Saturday, November 6th @ Musicians Institute Music Corridor and Amphitheatre in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, CA (October 24, 2010) – What do Rob Zombie, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Alice Cooper, Marky Ramone and so many other rockstars have in common? They all love animals and have signed guitars and more to help support the upcoming concert HUMANITY THRU MUSIC and the building of a No-Kill animal sanctuary. Right now you can get your ticket for $35 as a special Halloween price – Just go to Paypal to donations@furfeather.org and get yours now!!!

Come wag your tail and rock-out in Hollywood on November, 6th at the First Annual “Humanity Thru Music” concert and paw-sta dinner in benefit of Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary a 501c3 dedicated to much needed animal welfare in California. Come help save the lives of our homeless animals from having to enter shelters and face needless euthanasia by supporting the building of Southern California’s first full NO-KILL animal sanctuary, medical and educational center.

The night will dazzle you with bright lights and stars as you cross the green carpet to the corridor off of Hollywood Blvd for fun, food and a paw-stompin concert with Platinum super-group players from YES and TOTO – YOSO - playing hits from both bands Roundabout, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, Rosanna, Hold The Line and so much more!!

Join celebrities and rockstars at the vegetarian Paw-sta buffet bar then trot over and chase your tail around one of the largest silent auctions full of the best treats, including guitars signed by Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, George Lynch, drum heads signed by Marky Ramone, weekend trips, Hi-end spa weekends, signed sports memorabilia, autographed Star Wars memorabilia, Two Brunches at the House of Blues, Tickets from the LA Philharmonic (winter season) and Hollywood Bowl tickets (summer season), a Two Night Stay at the beautiful Carmel By the Sea, Cypress Inn - part owned by Doris Day and pet friendly. The list of auction items is endless and all proceeds go to Fur and Feather Animal Sanctuary to further their goal of building in 2011.

NIGHTS SCHEDULE: Will-call opens at 5:30 pm to check in and purchase tickets with the Green Carpet and silent auction starting at 6:00 pm. The vegetarian paw-sta buffet starts at 6:30 pm with a martini and wine bar. 8:00 pm is your cue to go rock-out to classic rock in the amphitheater for the concert that will start at 8:30pm. The concert will end about 11:00 pm in which the guests will return to the corridor for the last chance to bid on the silent auction before the winners are announced. At this time, coffee and dessert will be served.

ONLINE ADVANCE SALE: General Admission seats, dinner and dog tags (festival seating) is $50, VIP seating, dinner, dog tags and commemorative book is $100 (guaranteed first 5 rows), $195 VIP Backstage (First 3 center rows seating guaranteed

VIP Lounge

After-Show Meet and Greet

Special YOSO Gift bag), Platinum group seating for 10 includes all above* $1250.

TO BUY TICKETS – Go to http://www.ticketfly.com/ Paypal at http://www.furfeather.org/ OR Paypal direct with ticket seat-type and quantities to music@furfeather.org – You will be provided with a confirmation page you will bring to will-call night of the event. Will-call starts @ 5:30 pm sharp!

WALK-UP (day of show): General Admission seats, dinner and dog tags (festival seating) is $50, VIP seating, dinner, dog tags and commemorative book is $100 (guaranteed first 5 rows), VIP Backstage not available.

The term “Super-Group” describes a band rising out of two of the most creative bands of the past 30 years: YOSO is formed out of TOTO’s brilliant lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the creative force of former YES members, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood, thus equalling the magic of YES with the voice of TOTO. However, YOSO is much more than a combination of two classic rock groups. The band’s debut album “Elements” will debut this Fall in the USA on Frontiers Records. This long awaited release comes with a bonus live CD where the band plays some old and new classics. Their musical blend presents a fascinating combination of the sound of YES ("90125"/"Big Generator" era) and TOTO, with a very interesting and original sound that truly encompasses the styles.

*General Admission Ticket only

Press Release: Two Fires - Is It Any Wonder videoclip