Meet Taylor Johnson

1. If you could play like one person - who would it be? why them?

Django Reinhardt. I didn't start getting into his playing until my late 20's. Coming from Texas and growing up playing Western Swing it had some similarities to my ears, but it's definitely its own language. It's a beautiful way of playing all around. The phrasing, harmony, chord comping.

2. What makes you pick up the guitar? What makes you put it down?

Great question. It's always changing. When I was first learning it was to be able to play anything I was hearing. That morphed into writing songs for the bands I was in. I still use it every day for work, but the times I enjoy it the most are when I'm writing with it. 

I've spent a lot of time learning the instrument, but I'm definitely not attached to it. It's a back door sort of instrument meaning you can get pretty far with it on your own clock, but I still enjoy learning from the masters (Django, Andy Summers, Robben Ford, Bill Frisell).

I put down the guitar when I get off the road. I rarely pick it up that first week back home.

3. What's one of the worst things that's ever happened to you on stage? What's the best show you've ever played?

Worst was Coachella 2012 with Frank Ocean. We didn't rehearse at all and it was his first time using playback with a band. Icing on the cake was that we all were given welder's masks 5 minutes before we took the stage that we were required to wear. 

HA! sounds like a nightmare. -SM

Best show ever was probably a Rooney show a few years ago in San Francisco. We were about 4 shows into the tour and all on wedges. No click, no tracks, just playing. So much fun.

4. I'm trying to take my sound to the next level... help.

Another great question. Be influenced and be very cautious of who you are influenced by. 

My early influences were Hendrix and Van Halen. Some may laugh at that, but that's exactly where I'll start my kid if he wants to play. The heroes are a great point of entry. I took a deep dive into jazz/rock in my late teens and get told often I sound like Andy Summers. I'll take that! He's a fantastic player that answered a lot of questions I had about how to fit in the 4 piece band scenario (bass, drums, guitar, vocals). 

Learn someone else's thing. And then learn another person's thing. Always train your ear. After awhile you'll start sounding like yourself. If you get bored of how you sound then repeat that process of learning someone else's approach.

5. If you weren't a guitar player what would do?

In another life I would have played soccer professionally or would have pursued something in the sports medicine field. 

6. You can take one pedal and one amp and one guitar to a gig - what are you taking?

Pedal - El Capistan. It's my favorite delay in a box.

Amp - Marshall Plexi. You can leave the pedals at home with this one and go straight in! 

Guitar - I’d bring my '59 reissue Les Paul. Les Pauls have been my go to for most of my career and this '59 reissue is my favorite.