Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast after a standout performance at Danenberger Family Vineyards in New Berlin, Illinois — a unique venue tucked into Central Illinois farm country that delivers a surprisingly intimate live music experience.
In this conversation, Eric talks about growing up in Louisiana surrounded by music, finding his voice across genres, and how New Orleans’ deep improvisational culture shaped the way he approaches playing and songwriting.
We also get into his journey after Hurricane Katrina, time spent in New Zealand, building his career back in New Orleans, and working with artists like Tab Benoit and Luther Dickinson.
⏱ Episode Timeline
00:22 – Intro: discovering Eric Johanson & deciding to attend the show
02:03 – Welcoming Eric & first impressions of Dannenberger Family Vineyards
02:33 – The unique “middle of nowhere” venue experience
03:25 – Comparing indoor vs outdoor setup at Dannenberger
04:14 – Growing up around music in Louisiana
05:15 – Early jam sessions, recording experiments & studio exposure
07:06 – Musical influences: blues, rock, metal & improvisation
09:56 – Hurricane Katrina: losing everything & shifting direction
12:25 – Moving to New Zealand & personal reset
13:30 – Realizing what makes New Orleans’ music culture unique
15:49 – Finding (or not finding) a music scene in New Zealand
18:07 – Returning to New Orleans & rebuilding through live music
19:50 – Forming the trio & stepping into a bandleader role
21:41 – Meeting Tab Benoit through the New Orleans scene
23:07 – Recording Burn It Down & first major collaboration
24:48 – Touring with Tab Benoit (with Tab on drums)
27:01 – Blues in My Blood with cousin Tiffany Pollock
29:36 – Connecting with Luther Dickinson & recording Below Sea Level
33:48 – COVID era: live streaming & Covered Tracks
37:31 – Building fan connection during COVID
39:53 – The Deep and the Dirty & evolving sound
43:42 – Live show experience & connecting with fans
46:30 – Age perception & authenticity in music
49:03 – Band members & building the trio lineup
52:22 – Sobriety, lifestyle & life on the road
56:15 – Musicians, personality & going “full throttle”
58:11 – Live album & capturing improvisation
1:00:00 – What’s next: touring, new music & future plans
1:01:31 – Albums vs singles & the value of “deep cuts”
1:04:10 – Outro
✅ Check this out
👉 For more on Eric Johanson, including new merch — an awesome shirt featuring his Gibson Explorer, visit: https://www.ericjohanson.com
👉 For more on Danenberger Family Vineyards, including upcoming shows, go to: https://danenbergerfamilyvineyards.com/
🎵 Music Credit
Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their songs:
“We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme)
“Sweet Vermillion” (bumper music)
You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here:https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu
