Bottleneck John
Ive been playing blues for a long time with different bands. It all began electric, kind of a blues-rock with lots of screaming guitars..
With age came the love for softer pure acoustic music. Acoustic blues won my heart!!
Best described as a mix of old-timey slideguitar Delta/Country-blues and Spirituals that have been heard and felt by audiences on numerous concerts and shows around the midst of Scandinavia.
The heart in the music is the genuine sound of ol'timey resonator guitars, when performing, me and my band also play piano, pump-organ, washboard, harmonica, double-bass, mandolin, kazoo and other typical instruments of the golden era! And what a wonderful sound they all make!!
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Been playin the blues for a long time..
Nowadays I mostly keep out of the band format, its easier to be on your own and if the gig requires, I put a band together.
Got lots of good friends, great musicians!
I do however have a couple of bands going: one electric, "The Mudcats" and three acoustic, "The Hot Tamales" which is a duo, "Heart & Soul" a quintet including piano and double bass, plays lots of spirituals. "Good Stuff" also a duo, piano and slideguitar, a bit like Scrapper Blackwell and Leroy Carr..
NEWS!! Check out video clips here: http://www.johaneliasson.com/videos.htm
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Oh yes!! Thats my life.. I LOVE IT!! Anywhere where theres a need for real old blues.. Ill be there!! Lately its been a constant travelling around to do gigs, solo and in bands. A highlight so far is me playing in front of nearly one MILLION people in Swedish national television!! That was something extraordinary..
Your musical influences
The old bluesmen from the Delta..
Among others: Tampa Red, Blind Willie Johnson, Leroy Carr, Bo Carter, SON HOUSE and almost every other bluesman and woman playing in the 1920's & 30's..!!
Contemporary: Eric Bibb, Taj Mahal, Corey Harris among others..!!
What equipment do you use?
I love my resonator and other acoustic guitars!! Singlecones and Tricones.. Ive got a whole lot of old and interesting guitars! My oldest playable is dating from 1840/50!! They got lives of their own..
Check my Swedish site out, more pictures and music!!!
http://www.johaneliasson.com
Anything else?
Some words said about me in the press:
"Emotional and bare with Johan Eliasson." (LT)
"Eliasson has a colourfull and emotional voice, like a smooth bourgogne with a certain roughness. " (LT)
"His greatest power lies within his nuanced voice. " (LT)
"With the right musicians around him, Eliasson will go far! Heart and soul is in his music." (Östersunds Posten)
"When You sing, Johan, You sound just like a black person!" (H.C. Boyer, Professor Afro-American music, USA)
(which for me is the same as being able to sing this music with soul)..
"Acoustic roots blues with an open soul and a big heart!" (LT)
"The Nidaros Bluesfestivals hardest working bluesmen." Norway
"You can't be from Sweden - not with that raw blues sound in your blood and in your music." (Jack Walsh) U.S.A.
If youd like to see some more photos of me and the bands, check out my Swedish site: www.johaneliasson.com
I have also the Singer/songwriter side of my music, I play mostly blues and spirituals, but sometimes when I write the songs comes out in different genres.. You know, I start writing and I don't know what the song will be like, it's exciting to see it take form on a blank paper..
Hear this material at:
http://www.soundclick.com/johaneliasson
