Would performing in front of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and George Lynch make you nervous? Oh, and they are writing notes as you play, waiting for you to finish and critique you.
Yeah that might make your stomach a little uneasy and your palms sweat. But our friend and a top new guitar player, Eric Brewer, handled it quite well. He was chosen among 10 guitarists in the nation to compete to win the elusive “Superstar” title. He did not win, but being asked to show up is just an amazing accomplishment, and no one works harder than Eric.
Hosted by Andy Summers, the event was held September 13, 2008, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California. The backing band is Thud Factor, featuring bassist Jonathan Herrera, keyboardist Eric Levy, drummer John Mader, and guitarist Jude Gold.
Judges included Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Elliot Easton, Brendon Small, and George Lynch.
Finalists were rated on technique, creativity, charisma, and overall vibe. Prizes included a feature article in Guitar Player, and a bevy of wonderful prizes from event sponsors such as Mesa/Boogie, Moog Music, Epiphone, ZZYZX Snapjack Cables, Bugera Amps, Audio-Technica, Auralex, CAD Microphones, Carr Amps, Collings Guitars, Cruz Tools, Dunlop Manufacturing, Essential Sound Products, Fulltone, Keeley Electronics, King Amplification, Magix, Mono Cases, N-Tune Peterson, ProTone Pedals, Reeves Amplification, Reverend Guitars, Shreddies, Villex Electronics, and Westheimer/Cort.
Not too shabby. Check out Eric’s performance of his song, Victory:
And if you are interested in what the judges had to say, check out their feedback.
Click here to learn how Eric Brewer has makes his living as a professional guitar player. You can do it too!
Popularity: 4% [?]
Eric Brewer is Top Ten Finalist: Guitar Superstar Contest Featured of the Week… Guitar Player Zen Featured Artist of the Week: Eric Brewer GPZ Featured Artist of the Week: Eric Stadler Guitar Player New Years Eve Party!
7 responses so far ↓
1 Ryan // Jan 21, 2009 at 10:10 am
I often look at some shred guitarists and think ‘ok.. they are GREAT, but what practical application does it have in music/songwriting’? Its not too often that fantastic guitar playing is all that fun to listen to… but this guy really pulls it off. I’d like to see/hear more of this.
I do feel bad for the musicians that have to try to keep up with him though.
2 Jeff // Jan 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Hey Ryan that is a good point. I often find myself thinking the same thing.
Eric is a great player and plays with quite a few various acts, including songwriter types.
Thanks for your feedback, and yes, it definitely would be hard keeping up with this guy!
3 Ryan // Feb 24, 2009 at 12:13 am
weak tone….no balls, great technical ability, heard it before though…needs more soul, less vai and more son house.
4 Are You the Next Guitar Player Superstar? | GuitarPlayerZen.com // Jun 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm
[...] Eric Brewer Guitar Superstar Performance Popularity: unranked [?] Featured Guitar Player of the Week: Mike OrlandoStudio Guitar Secrets: Making Guitar Your CareerGuitar Player Zen: Einstein loved TheoryStudio Guitar Secrets: Making Guitar Your CareerFeatured Guitarist of the Week: Curtis Fornadley [...]
5 Feedguitar // Jun 10, 2009 at 12:59 pm
[...] Eric Brewer Guitar Superstar Performance [...]
6 Eric // Jun 21, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Hey Jeff, thanks so much for including me here. I hope this helps to encourage others to enter this year’s contest. Always appreciate your support! Also, thank you Ryan #1 for your kind words. As for Ryan #2, I welcome constructive criticism. I certainly feel I could have played better and showed more of my stylistic range. However, it took huge massive balls to get up on stage in front Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Andy Summers and the likes. As far as tone, we all had to use the same provided equipment and I think it sounded pretty good all things considered! Personally, I wouldn’t assess a fellow player so harsly having seen him/her play for only five minutes. We all did the best we could under the circumstances, it is what it is, man. Every player strives to play better, and that’s the point of this website. So thanks to all of you for your input. Cheers!
7 Anek // Jun 8, 2010 at 8:14 am
Tone, is not really lacking, if you look at the choice of licks involved, hes pulling the tone into them long enough to get the point out there, and as he says, using equipment that is already there and being used by many, with what ever time you do have to adjust tones and such, all in all i is well done. I have several friends in this competition, didnt know eric, but I would say he definitely made his own clearing to stand in.
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