Scott Ballew is an Austin, Texas-based filmmaker and musician. For years, he’s directed unforgettable videos and documentaries for Yeti and others. In 2020, he decided to take up songwriting and recorded his first album just a year later.
This week, Ballew releases his third album, Rio Bravo. It’s an exceptional work that somehow combines Ballew’s affinity for Townes Van Zandt and other Austin legends with his love for reverb-drenched Ennio Morricone soundtracks. We love it.
During our chat, Scott tells us about his unlikely journey from football star to director to songwriter and about how filmmaking has shaped his music output. We also talk about the making of Rio Bravo, Scott’s growing guitar collection, the time he spent with Townes Van Zandt’s Gibson, and how – thanks to Pearl Jam – he ended up playing football for the University of Washington.
Scott's site: https://www.leisurerodeo.com
Recommended viewing:
Can You Hear Me Smiling: A short doc on Scott Ballew’s songwriting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEkWxtLjD-4&t=1s
My Old Man | No. 4 - Anchor Point: Scott’s Yeti doc featuring JT Van Zandt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KadKx5k6XoY
Leisure Rodeo: A Short Film by Scott Ballew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65vd-PjEBnY&t=2s
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This week's show is sponsored by:
StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a new Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal
Six-time Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer John Leventhal joins us this week to talk about 'Rumble Strip,' his long-awaited debut solo album!
John tells us why, after five decades in the music business, he decided to make a solo album. We chat about his writing process, the home studio he and partner Rosanne Cash have in NYC, the gear that he used on the album, his favorite microphones, and his go-to acoustic tuning (CGDGBE).
Also discussed are the influence of Ry Cooder on his playing, the magic found in old Gibson flattops (and '60s Guilds), and why John tries to ignore industry trends when he's working as a producer. Finally, we talk about a very special feature in the Fretboard Journal's 54th issue on a Martin that belonged to John's father-in-law, Johnny Cash.
'Rumble Strip' can be streamed now in all the usual places or visit https://www.rumblestriprecords.net/
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription
Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/
This week's show is sponsored by:
StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a new Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription
Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/
This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
This week, guitarist Julian Lage returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk to us all about his new, Joe Henry-produced album, 'Speak to Me' (Blue Note).
We talk about working with Henry, the 'Speak to Me' band (including Levon Henry), Lage’s writing process, his favorite practice hacks, the gear he used, and so much more. We pack a lot into 36 minutes.
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription
Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/
This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).