Review: Eric Johanson ‘The Deep And The Dirty’

Review: Eric Johanson ‘The Deep And The Dirty’

By Marc Dorian

Blues rocker, guitarist, and singer-songwriter Eric Johanson returns with his new studio album, The Deep and The Dirty out July 28 via Ruf Records. His previous four releases all reached the upper echelons of Billboard’s Blues Chart and The Deep and The Dirty will likely continue his streak of Top 10 blues albums.

Knowing his background as a protege of esteemed Delta blues artist Tab Benoit, experience as a sideman for the likes of Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers), and a love for hard rock, it’s no surprise that the album incorporates elements of rock, funk, and Americana. Johanson’s story of losing everything he owned during Hurricane Katrina, which led him to move to New Zealand for four years, adds authenticity to his down-on-your-luck bluesman persona. The Louisiana native resettled in New Orleans during the 2010s. He has since immersed himself again in the city’s vibrant musical and cultural history and feels he belongs right where he is.

The Deep and The Dirty showcases an abundance of firepower and strength in the songwriting department. Johanson is the sole writer of five tracks while collaborating with the album’s producer and fellow trailblazing guitarist Jesse Dayton on the remaining seven. The songs go beyond serving as a backdrop for guitar solos; they have memorable lyrics and singable melodies. The album features blistering electric leads and highlights Johanson’s prowess on the National Resonator guitar with impressive slide solos. However, it’s the overall quality of the songs that make them so easily absorbed.

The album starts strong, front-loaded with the first two previously released singles (both written by Johanson). “Don’t Hold Back” kicks things off with a fuzz guitar riff reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix. The verse lyrics emphasize an album-running theme of living in the present. “This moment right now/This is all we get/Got fuel for the fire/You know I stay lit.” The title track, “The Deep and The Dirty,” (which refers to the American South) portrays a southern traveler passing through for the night with a promise to be gone in a hurry. It spotlights flashes of scorching guitar licks. Johanson lays out on the second verse, bringing the volume down and leaving space for bassist Eric Vogel and drummer Terence Higgins, who complete the stellar, tight-knit power trio on all 12 tracks.

The album was recorded with the trio performing together in real-time, resulting in an elevated level of rawness and energy in the tracks. Johanson explains, “I don’t write my guitar solos beforehand, and I don’t record them separately either.” Songs such as “Stepping Stone,” with its raucous, bluesy riff, provide a glimpse into their potential to be stretched out during live shows. The song is an ode to perseverance noted with such blues-tinged lyrics as “Been tryin’ so hard/I can’t get ahead/At this rate, I might get somewhere by the time I’m dead.”

Johanson’s guitar lines create captivating hooks in the songs, complementing his already catchy vocal melodies. Notable examples include the guitar riffs underpinning the choruses of “Undertow” and “Beyond The Sky.” The instrumental sections of “Just Like New” are equally memorable. Additionally, Johanson’s skillful use of the slide on his steel resonator guitar shines in the latter two tracks.

His vocals soar over the chorus of the swampy and moody groove in “Elysian Fields.” “Galaxy Girl” brings back the crunchy, fuzz guitar, while “Familiar Sound” offers a change of pace with a slower, bluesy vibe driven by Vogel’s thumping quarter-note bass groove. Johanson sings about his object of desire in the funky, riff-driven “Gets Me High,” which practically screams hit single.

Eric Johanson just might be the modern-day hero that the blues world needs to broaden the genre’s reach. Throughout the pandemic, he strengthened his bond with fans by hosting regular live-streaming sessions, which led to two cover albums and a live release. To promote The Deep and The Dirty Johanson will remain busy on the road. Currently supporting Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton on tour, he’s poised to attract an ever-growing following of blues rock enthusiasts with this latest project.

Eric Johanson website

“Don’t Hold Back”