You’ve got great taste.
Sign in to follow your favorite artists, save events, & more.
Sign In
Get Tickets
About this concert
For nearly 20 years Johnny A. has traveled the world effortlessly gliding through, bending and blending, musical genres to deliver his own unique style of instrumental guitar music. To quote the London Free Press (Johnny A. is) a musician who resists easy categorization and thats always cool by us. And as JAZZIZ Magazine so perfectly stated, Johnny A. has eclectic musical vision and the skills to realize itA.s music is both accessible and sophisticated. His passion began at the age of 13, when he first saw the Beatles in Boston, followed two years later by an in-person witnessing of Jimi Hendrix. From there, he was hooked, getting a cheap beginner guitar to try and play along with his early heroes which also included Yardbirds icons Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Soon enough, Johnny A. got it. By the 1970s, he was forming bands in the New England area, drawing attention from and working with several established musicians, like Derek and the Dominos keyboardist Bobby Whitlock and Doug Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Johnny A. became Music Director of J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolfs outfit, coordinating the onstage arrangements, playing on several tours and co-producing Wolfs 1996 album, *Long Line*. Whats more, he was even asked to join the Yardbirds as their lead guitarist in 2015. All this is to say that Johnny A. has the chops, and thats not to mention his prolific solo career. Spanning three full-length albums, a live double DVD/CD set and an instructional video, Johnny A. has earned a Grammy Award nomination, the honor of Boston Music Awards Blues Artist of the Year 2010 and a spot in the revered Boston Music Hall of Fame. He still fervently carries on the tradition of the legends he respected as a teen. Never content with complacency, and always up for a challenge, Johnny again takes an adventurous musical left turn to present his distinct, instrumental guitar approach coupled with his live-looping expertise for the very first time in a completely solo intimate atmosphere. With strong emphasis on melody and arrangements from the British songbook of the 60s, he will be bringing his fluid guitar style to select venues all across the United States and beyond. The evening promises to be a very special living room experience with some of Johnnys favorite songs and stories all of which have molded him into the musician and person he is today. Its no wonder that Gibson Custom and Epiphone and now Fender Custom guitars have honored him with not one but four signature model guitars designed to his specifications. Dont miss the rare and unique opportunity to see this Grammy Nominated, Boston Music Hall of Fame Inductee and one of Americas finest instrumental guitarists up close and personal.
Show More
Find a place to stay
Live Photos
View All Photos
What fans are saying
Bob
January 11th 2024
Johnny A. is always terrific in concert. He said he was suffering from food poisoning, but it didn’t affect the performance one bit. He also sang for the first time in one of the “Just Me and My Guitars” shows, opening with “Morning Dew” and singing “Sittin’ On Top of the World” later on. Really good voice. Who knew? He’s always a very engaging performer, telling stories between songs. If you like music at all, if you ever get a chance to see Johnny A., don’t even think about it, just go. And the Yoshi’s experience is always fantastic. Great food, great staff and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Oakland, CA@Yoshi's Oakland
Easily follow all your favorite artists by syncing your music
Sync Music
Share Event
About the venue
Follow Venue
Johnny A. Biography
JOHNNY A.
“Just Me …and My Guitars”
For nearly 20 years Johnny A. has traveled the world effortlessly gliding through, bending and blending, musical genres to deliver his own unique style of instrumental guitar music.
To quote the London Free Press (Johnny A. is...) "a musician who resists easy categorization and that's always cool by us."
And as JAZZIZ Magazine so perfectly stated, "Johnny A. has eclectic musical vision and the skills to realize it… A.’s music is both accessible and sophisticated."
Never content with complacency, and always up for a challenge, Johnny again takes an adventurous musical left turn to present his distinct, instrumental guitar approach for the first time in a completely “solo” intimate atmosphere with “Just Me…And My Guitars”.
With strong emphasis on melody and arrangements from the British songbook of the 60s, he will be bringing his fluid guitar style to select venues all across the United States and beyond.
The evening promises to be a very special "living room experience" with some of Johnny's favorite songs and stories all of which have molded him into the musician and person he is today.
It's no wonder that Gibson and Epiphone guitars have honored him with not one but three signature model guitars designed to his specifications.
Don't miss this rare and unique opportunity to see Grammy Nominated, Boston Music Hall of Fame Inductee and one of America's finest instrumental guitarists, Johnny A., up close and personal.
What other people are saying…
“Johnny A. has always had such a musical approach to the way he plays the guitar. He arranges his parts sort of like a symphony orchestrator, covering counterpoints and filling out harmonic structures. The tone in his fingers is always comfortable and friendly and a delight to feel. He is a thoroughly accomplished and powerfully effective guitarist”.
3 time Grammy Award winning Artist - Steve Vai
“Johnny A. is a light in a sea of guitar players. His unique and soulful full approach and his ‘ one man band’ chops are peerless. Melody - tone taste and a trick bag of surprises and a killer choice of material makes him a must see!”
5 time Grammy Award winning Artist - Steve Lukather - TOTO
“Johnny A. is one of the finest guitarist’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to, and I always learn something when we get together. He is a consummate musician on a world class level. I’ll put him toe to toe with anyone!”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee - Elliot Easton, The Cars
“Johnny A. is one of the finest guitar players on this planet...In a league of his own to be sure!”
Bobby Whitlock, Derek & The Dominos
“Devotion to melodies, tight dynamics and succulent tones perfectly temper Johnny’s balance of fire and ice.” - Guitar World
“ Johnny A.'s magic crosses over because, like [Bill] Frisell, he doesn't just play guitar - he plays music.” - Premiere Guitar Magazine
“Johnny A. lets his guitar speak for him with eloquence and spirit.” - Washington Post
•••
Read More“Just Me …and My Guitars”
For nearly 20 years Johnny A. has traveled the world effortlessly gliding through, bending and blending, musical genres to deliver his own unique style of instrumental guitar music.
To quote the London Free Press (Johnny A. is...) "a musician who resists easy categorization and that's always cool by us."
And as JAZZIZ Magazine so perfectly stated, "Johnny A. has eclectic musical vision and the skills to realize it… A.’s music is both accessible and sophisticated."
Never content with complacency, and always up for a challenge, Johnny again takes an adventurous musical left turn to present his distinct, instrumental guitar approach for the first time in a completely “solo” intimate atmosphere with “Just Me…And My Guitars”.
With strong emphasis on melody and arrangements from the British songbook of the 60s, he will be bringing his fluid guitar style to select venues all across the United States and beyond.
The evening promises to be a very special "living room experience" with some of Johnny's favorite songs and stories all of which have molded him into the musician and person he is today.
It's no wonder that Gibson and Epiphone guitars have honored him with not one but three signature model guitars designed to his specifications.
Don't miss this rare and unique opportunity to see Grammy Nominated, Boston Music Hall of Fame Inductee and one of America's finest instrumental guitarists, Johnny A., up close and personal.
What other people are saying…
“Johnny A. has always had such a musical approach to the way he plays the guitar. He arranges his parts sort of like a symphony orchestrator, covering counterpoints and filling out harmonic structures. The tone in his fingers is always comfortable and friendly and a delight to feel. He is a thoroughly accomplished and powerfully effective guitarist”.
3 time Grammy Award winning Artist - Steve Vai
“Johnny A. is a light in a sea of guitar players. His unique and soulful full approach and his ‘ one man band’ chops are peerless. Melody - tone taste and a trick bag of surprises and a killer choice of material makes him a must see!”
5 time Grammy Award winning Artist - Steve Lukather - TOTO
“Johnny A. is one of the finest guitarist’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to, and I always learn something when we get together. He is a consummate musician on a world class level. I’ll put him toe to toe with anyone!”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee - Elliot Easton, The Cars
“Johnny A. is one of the finest guitar players on this planet...In a league of his own to be sure!”
Bobby Whitlock, Derek & The Dominos
“Devotion to melodies, tight dynamics and succulent tones perfectly temper Johnny’s balance of fire and ice.” - Guitar World
“ Johnny A.'s magic crosses over because, like [Bill] Frisell, he doesn't just play guitar - he plays music.” - Premiere Guitar Magazine
“Johnny A. lets his guitar speak for him with eloquence and spirit.” - Washington Post
•••
Contemporary Instrumental
Follow artist