Some people are singer-songwriters. Others are guitar heroes. Jacob Johnson can go either way.
The South Carolina musician is nothing short of a fretboard wizard, as you can see from multiple YouTube videos that showcase his Van Halen-level pyrotechnics on acoustic guitar. But along with that prowess, he’s also a talented troubadour whose smart, sharply crafted tunes help him stand out in the crowded Americana field. He’s not shy when it comes to putting his own stamp on a classic — just listen to his recent reinvention of The Allman Brothers’ Jessica, which he converted from a zippy Southern-rock standard to a mellow, romantic ballad (and which he premiered right HERE). As he puts the finishing touches on his next studio album, Johnson got on the Zoom from his home to talk about treating his guitars as tools, his teenage magic career and plenty more. Enjoy.
