For Immediate Release

January 17, 2013

ERIC JOHNSON'S UP CLOSE (ANOTHER LOOK) HI S E!RO"E ON #$RCH 1% S&e'ial Edition on #as'ot Re'ords Features Re(ised ) Remi*ed ra'+s Features ,uests $&&earan'es -y Ste(e #iller, Jimmie .au/0an, Jo0nny 1an/ ) Sonny 1andret0 (Austin, TX) Guitarist, songwriter and singer Eric Johnson brings listeners Up Close to his stunning musicality when the Grammy winning artist releases a custom European version of his si th studio album in Europe on !arch "#, $%"&' The "&(trac) disc, titled Up Close (Another Look), presents "$ new Johnson compositions plus his version of the Electric *lag song +Te as,, and features guest appearances by fellow master players Jimmie -aughan and .onny /andreth on guitar and vocals by .teve !iller, Johnny /ang and Austin, Te as local favorite !alford !illigan as well as Johnson' 0e will follow the album1s release with European tour dates in !arch and April' 2raised by All Music Guide as one of the +very few musical artists 3to4 achieve a true signature style which ma)es comparisons to other musicians impossible,, Johnson e pands, deepens and enhances his sound on his first album release since 5loom in $%%#' The title reflects the revelatory and spontaneous performances on Up Close (Another Look) as well as its sonic immediacy than)s to Johnson1s second loo) and revisions on si songs plus mi es on the seven others by legendary veteran engineer Andy Johns' +6 decided to let go a bit and allow things to happen and 7ust go with the flow,, e plains Johnson of his approach to the album' +6 li)e my wor) to have a high proficiency, but 6 also wanted to go for the energy and magic of the performances', The many live shows he's performed in various configurations since the album came out in America in 2010 and the songs he's already recorded for his next album prompted Johnson to replay some tracks and revise and remix them to make what the Austin Chronicle praises as a disc that brings out the best in him even better! The whole premise of this new record "'ve started making is to perform with more of a live feel in the studio# he explains! $o when " got this %uropean deal# " listened to the Up Close record and heard a few ways " could do that with this album! After refining his techni&ue and tone to masterful levels over the course his recording and performing career# "'ve found that the music happens more naturally live and that's what " am trying to address more in the music " record! The album has already earned high praise in the music press! 'uitar fans ( prepare to be da))led# raves MusicRadar!com! All Music Guide notes how Johnson continues to find interesting ways to hone his specific craft on Up Close# and Guitar Player maga)ine observes# *espite the esteemed company# however# it is Johnson+s spectacular guitar work that elevates the record to empyrean heights! /yrical themes of reflection, emotional revelations, personal growth and fulfillment are underscored on the album by Johnson8s most daring, urgent, progressive and at times raw and fervent guitar wor) to date' As with all of Johnson8s wor), his all(encompassing style draws from roc), blues, pop, country, 7a99 and classic to e emplify his stature as +an

e traordinary guitar player accessible to ordinary music fans#, as the Memphis Commercial Appeal observes! Johnson burst into the musical mainstream with his landmar) "::% album Ah Via Musicom, which won him a Grammy, yielded a record three Top "% instrumental hits li)e +;liffs of <over, from a single /2 release, and earned him platinum sales status' Enshrined in Guitar Player8s Gallery of Greats and named one of the "%% Greatest Guitarists of the $%th ;entury by Musician maga9ine alongside numerous other awards, Johnson8s career has been mar)ed 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 si (string gymnastics' A fre=uent collaborator with other guitar legends, he has continued to e plore the myriad possibilities of guitar(based musical artistry since his debut ma7or label release in ":>?, Tones, that landed him on the cover of Guitar Player' Up Close (Another Look) is energi9ed by Johnson8s continuing focus on broadening and enriching his wor) +6 wanted to bare myself a little further and show myself more,, he says' +6 want my music to always grow and have more of a profound meaning and impact', (&%(