Elliot Holden Special to the Savannah Morning News

By John Stoehr
For the Savannah Morning News

Elliot Holden has a hard time remembering when he didn't play guitar.

For the past 14 years, the Augusta native has shredded in numerous bands, including First Born, the trip-hop outfit that made its name touring with G. Love and Special Sauce. His sonic mastery on the guitar has also accompanied the likes of Derek Trucks and Col. Bruce Hampton.

But now, the 28-year-old virtuoso is on his own, trying to build a name for himself in the often treacherous world of booking, management and promotions.

"Now I'm doing my own thing," he said. "We pretty much play every place we can."

IF YOU GO WHO: The Elliot Holden Group When: Tonight and Nov. 6; Mellow Mushroom in Statesboro on Nov. 7 and Dingus Magee's in Statesboro on Nov. 8 Where: J.J. Cagney's, 912-305-307 W River St. Call: 233-2444 Info and music: elliotholden.com

Touring most of the Southeast -- venues in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas -- Holden has brought his brand of instrumental rock fusion to audiences young and old. So far, he said, fans seem to be digging it.

"I write all my own material," he said. "It's rock with a jazz thing happening inside of it."

One of the reasons for a growing fan base is Holden's distinctive sound. Harking back to the pure rock days of Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson, Holden presents a rich palate of neo-classical and jazzy metal sonorities on his self-released debut record.

"We Be Delicious" is at times light and fanciful and at others robust and earthy. Complex, colorful harmonies complement penetrating and acrobatic melodic lines, without a sense of showing off. Holden's command of his instrument is impressive, if not stunning.

But his knack for extended soloing (finger-tapping and "out" development) and tight song structure calls to mind the mid- to late '80s, and the nutty proficiency of Steve Vai and other Satriani proteges. All that's missing are ripped denim and a wind-blown mullet.

But Holden is unconcerned about appearing out of date.

"I think that's great," he said. "People distinguish me from the contemporary music they hear on the radio. For young kids, they've never heard a guitar-driven sound before, so they get interested. Older folks dig it, because they've heard Hendrix and Clapton already."

Holden is an Army brat by birth, which may explain his need to ramble. Unlike many working musicians, Holden has never had a backup plan, a scheme to settle down if things went awry. He got some training in computer networking (he's always been interested in technology). But that's the extent of it, he said. He's always worked in a band.

Last year, after years of wood shedding, he made his break for independence.

"I stopped everything to pursue music and since then, it's pretty much been all me," he said, noting his trio rotates regularly, but has been working with the same drummer (Mike Pulaski) and bassist (Colin Hesip) for some time.

Holden said he never thought about playing the guitar until he was 14 when he saw the movie, "Crossroads." It's a story of a talented, young classical guitarist named Eugene, who wants to find the lost song of blues legend Robert Johnson. Johnson was fabled to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for otherworldly prowess on the guitar. The movie ends with a fiery guitar solo showdown between Eugene and the Devil (played by, appropriately enough, Steve Vai).

That was enough to get Holden's fire started, but it was six-string wizard Eric Johnson who kept it stoked. Eric Johnson was most famous for his magnum opus of pop guitar repertoire, "Ah Via Musicom," featuring one of the only instrumental Top Ten hits, 1990's "Cliffs of Dover." Holden admits his solo style owes much to Johnson's baroque perfectionism, but Holden doesn't share Johnson's noted eccentricity.

"He is there," Holden said admiringly of Johnson. "But he's on the nutty side of guitar playing. The number of sacrifices he made for that kind of art is amazing."

Elliot Holden puts on an understated show, he said, but every note comes from a man who enjoys his work.

"It's dynamic with lots of improvisation and extended solos," said Holden. "We do some Johnson covers and Hendrix covers. I don't jump around a lot, but I get into what I do."