Guitars Sing in Ramona
Story and photos by Stephanie Pillar
RAMONA, January 24 -Texas guitar slinger Eric Johnson and American jazz
guitarist Michael Stern gave a command performance of instrumental rock at the
Ramona Mainstage on Saturday night.
The Taz Taylor Band, with UK born Taz Taylor on guitar, Barney Firks on bass
and Val Trainor on drums opened the show to a sold-out crowd, some coming to
Ramona from as far away as Anaheim where the annual NAMM events were taking
place.
Also opening that night was Points North, a progressive, instrumental rock
band out of the San Francisco Bay area, fronted by guitarist Eric Barnett, played
a phenomenal set, as anyone who has heard this band before can attest, they
always do! Their very dexterous bass player Uriah Duffy is a former member of
Whitesnake, and drummer, Kevin Aeillo, also has an impressive history in the
music scene having played with numerous, classic Blues acts such as Etta James and
the Paul Butterfield Blues Band prior to joining musical forces with Eric and Uriah
in Points North.
Guitarist Eric Barnett cites Eric Johnson as his favorite guitar player and primary
musical influence. You could see how much this evening meant to him during
his passion-filled, performance of the song, “The Source“. after his heartfelt and
inspired performance he wrote in his Facebook page that Eric Johnson is “the man
who’s tone inspired me to play instrumental music and try to make the guitar sing”.
Well, I have to say, both Erics made their guitars more than just sing that night!
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Boogie Magazine 14