SXSW Survival Guide
This year I had the awesome opportunity to tour down to SXSW with my band and another band on our label. Having gone to school for music business and playing in bands for the better half of my life, I’ve been familiar with the fest for quite a while, but have never bit the bullet and […]
‘The Life of Pablo’ As Imagined By A Japanese Producer
Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo is supposed to be a deeply personal, impenetrable, and massive work-in-progress presented as a released album. I mean, at least that’s what I’ve heard. Myself, I haven’t heard it personally. Unless you’ve had access to Tidal and/or money to burn at the iTunes store, most likely the only way you’ve had a chance […]
Nick Jonas Solo Reminds Us We’re All Human
On Sunday night, Nick Jonas did something every guitarist has done likely in the hundreds of times. He flubbed a solo. For Nick though, it didn’t happen in a garage around friends or at a bar with a dozen already buzzed patrons. It was at the 51st Annual American Country Music Awards held in the […]
Four Tips to Make the Most of Your Fuzz Face
When you’re talking about great guitar tone, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of buzzwords and nostalgia. The word “iconic” gets thrown around a lot, but in the case of Jimi Hendrix, there really isn’t a better term. Hendrix inspired generations of guitarists in his tragically short career, and also expanded the palette […]
Year of the Supercharged Guitar: Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass & StingRay
We’re always looking for trends at the NAMM show and this year there were quite a few. One big trend we noticed: 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for progressive guitars. Recent and upcoming releases from major players like Fender, Gibson, D’Angelico, and Ernie Ball Music Man are adding hot-rodded parts and upgrades — some […]
Episode 39 – Spike Slawson
Listen in as Chris and Spike Slawson, singer of punk rock supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, sip espresso on the back porch and chat about Pittsburgh, dive bars, and the delicate process of choosing songs to cover with Me First.
Sound of Ceres Talk Nostalgia for Infinity
Karen and Ryan Hover don’t just make music together, they explore. Their hikes and expeditions into Rocky Mountain National Park, a short hop from their home in Fort Collins, CO, inspire their musical output. Since 2009, the duo recorded as Candy Claws, releasing a series of albums that established their hazy psychedelic sound with a sort of smudged […]
Interview: Victor Skamiera of Fero Lux Talks No Rest
There are only a few bands that can hit me emotionally while simultaneously creating intricate and original compositions. Fero Lux achieves this gracefully in No Rest, their first release since 2013 and first full-length album since 2012. They have always been a band that walks the line between technical and accessible, but this album takes it […]
Even Thieves and the New New Wave
Before I listened to Even Thieves perform at their practice space in Chicago’s The Music Garage, the posters on the walls gave me plenty of insight into their influences: Morrissey’s charmingly smug grin, Interpol posing in sharp suits, a promo for an appearance by Duran Duran at a local Best Buy. Even Thieves’ sound is equal parts the influence from their new wave […]
