by Zac Johnson
The name may be a little misleading for fans expecting live versions of Eric Johnson's guitar hits, when in fact Live and Beyond is a collection of new songs recorded live on a three-date set in Austin with his band Alien Love Child. The album shifts from the spacy psychedelia of &Shape I'm In,& through the jazz chords of &Rain,& and into elaborate blues rock in songs like &The Boogie King,& &World of Trouble,& and &Last House on the Block.& Accompanying the guitarist on these tracks is drummer Bill Marsh and longtime friend Chris Maresh on bass, while Storyville vocalist Malford Milligan adds his voice to &Once a Part of Me& and &Don't Cha Know.& Live and Beyond showcases Johnson's ability to explode from one style to another, often within the same song, and still hold together a tight blues trio without resorting to the overplaying that many of his contemporaries can't seem to get out of their systems.