Afie Jurvanen (Bahamas) joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about life on the road, his 2020 album 'Sad Hunk,' Bahamas' often hilarious Instagram feed and so much more. We also talk about his gear of choice (including the Nachocaster guitar he recently purchased), the importance of walking, and the perks of ending up on all those Spotify "chill" playlists. It's a fun chat with one of our favorite artists.
During Afie's visit, we also filmed him performing two songs. Look for those soon on fretboardjournal.com.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more).
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our 50th issue. Join us by clicking on this link.
Norman Blake turns 84 this week. To celebrate, we’re joined by guitarist Bob Minner who is about to release an entire Normal Blake tribute album, From Sulphur Springs to Rising Fawn (Engelhardt Music Group). Minner, longtime guitarist for Tim McGraw and FJ contributor, recruited a who’s-who of virtuosos on the album, including Mike Compton, Chris Eldridge, Vince Gill, Trey Hensley, Kenny Smith and Tim Stafford. It’s a gorgeous album.
During our chat, we talk to Bob about the project, his visits to Norman's house, the vintage guitars used on the project, and the Martin that Norman is currently excited about (it may just surprise you). Plus a lot more...
Whether you’ve been inspired by Norman Blake like countless others or you just want to hear about this unique American treasure (and all the cool instruments he’s championed), you’ll love this chat.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more).
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our 50th issue. Join us by clicking on this link.
How far would you go for a great deal on the instrument of your dreams?
How about a 5,500 mile trip halfway around the world in the middle of a pandemic?
On this week's podcast, we meet C.J. Lewandowski, mandolinist and lead singer for the Po' Ramblin' Boys. C.J. just flew to Greece to buy a Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson F-5 mandolin, dated July 9, 1923, just like Bill Monroe's.
He recounts the leap of faith he took to obtain it, the complexities of buying an instrument overseas, the condition of the mandolin when he finally obtained it (which had likely never played bluegrass prior to his ownership), and what's next.
It's the ultimate guitar, err, mandolin safari tale... all the way to Athens, Greece and back.
The Po' Ramblin' Boys have a great new album coming out March 25, 2022 called Never Slow Down on Smithsonian Folkways. We'll hear more about that on a future FJ Podcast episode.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more).
You're going to love this hilarious and insightful chat with a true zen master of the music business, singer-songwriter Steve Poltz.
This is one of the wildest Fretboard Journal conversations we've ever had. Sit back and hear about Steve's excellent new album, 'Stardust & Satellites,' produced by Oliver Wood and Jano Rix of the Wood Brothers.
We also hear about Steve's childhood encounter with Elvis, some truly wild gigs with the Rugburns, why you should never take that gig opening for Styx, why record sales don't matter, the perils of cocaine (and elephants), and why Bob Taylor didn't want Steve to take "Smokey Joe" (his now-cherished Taylor guitar). Poltz famously co-wrote "You Were Meant for Me" with Jewel, but he continues to co-write with some of our favorite artists, including Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Anthony da Costa, and Sierra Hull. We hear about all that... and more.
"I've never quit. It gets better every year. I'm the most unjaded musician you'll ever meet..." -Steve Poltz
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more).
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts.
Musician Sam Weber joins us this week to talk about the making of his new album, 'Get Free.' The Canadian-born songwriter and guitarist crafted the album along with his partner, musician Mallory Hauser, and Danny Austin-Manning. Recorded in a Hollywood apartment, the album is full of unique old and new gear, including Kalamazoo amps, a rubber-bridged guitar built by Reuben Cox, a Partscaster and more. It harkens to the sounds of Bahamas, Blake Mills, Adam Levy and other FJ favorites, but with its own unique spin.
During our chat, we talk about the making of the album, Weber's quirky gear choices, the life of a Canadian musician, influences, and more.
Check out Weber's 'Get Free' here. https://orcd.co/samweber-getfree
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and the FJ's newest sponsor, BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts.
Singer-songwriter Aoife O'Donovan joins us this week to talk about her gorgeous new album, Age of Apathy. We chat about her relocation to Florida, her writing process, working afar with producer Joe Henry, the comparisons she gets to Joni Mitchell, and much more. Aoife also hints at a forthcoming orchestral composition that we hope to hear soon.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and the FJ's newest sponsor, BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts.
Guitarist Chris Eldridge joins us on this week's podcast to talk about Punch Brothers' new album, 'Hell on Church Street.' This project is like nothing else you've heard: a track-by-track reimagining of Tony Rice's essential 'Church Street Blues' solo album.
During the course of our talk, Chris talks to us about the music - and life - lessons he learned from his time with Tony and why the band decided to tackle his influential album now. He also walks us through some of the arranging strategies they used on various tracks. It's a unique glimpse into how one of the world's most innovative acoustic ensembles ticks and we think you'll love it.
Don't forget, beyond the magazine, the FJ now has an entire network of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording (and tube amps!): Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing; Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
*** Sorry for the occasional Zoom audio lag, but this interview was too good not to share. ***
Don't forget, beyond the magazine, the FJ now has an entire network of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording (and tube amps!): Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing; Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
Heroes' Voices is a Bay Area-based non-profit with a simple mission: To inspire and connect veterans through the power of music and playing guitar. On this week's show, we talk to Larry Chung and Richard Harrell from Heroes' Voices about their unique, distinctly grassroots organization, the free guitars and music instruction they've been offering to veterans and the partnership they've created with Gryphon Stringed Instruments. We also hear from Jesse, one of many veterans participating in Heroes' Voices today.
Happy holidays!
This episode is sponsored by Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% on their amazing software) and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Don't forget, beyond the magazine, the FJ now has an entire network of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording (and tube amps!): Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing; Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
Jake Doan is a Salt Lake City-based professional skier best known for his park and backcountry ski segments, where he turns the mountains into his personal playground. But Doan also happens to be a rabid guitarist and a member of the Pickpockets, a Utah-based Newgrass band.
He recently released a short ski film called Parallels where he merged his passions for skiing and playing music: He not only skied in the film, he performed and recorded its soundtrack. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to Doan about his bluegrass roots, the Collings OM he just picked up, the art of scoring and editing an action sports movie, and a lot more. It's a fun chat with a fellow guitar geek.
Watch Parallels here.
Support the Fretboard Journal and our podcasts by nabbing a subscription to our reader-supported magazine.
This episode is sponsored by Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% on their amazing software) and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Support the Fretboard Journal and our podcasts by nabbing a subscription to our reader-supported magazine.
This episode is sponsored by Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% on their amazing software) and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
The always-entertaining Mike Squires (Couch Riffs) joins us to talk about his unique and hilarious project spawned from the Instagram era, #2 Record. The "record" - which clocks in at under three minutes - is a collection of brilliantly executed original songs... that are all 15 seconds or less.
It's a recording that is equal parts writing exercise and social media commentary, but - most of all - it's filled with great (albeit quick) songs. "You get about 15 seconds of a [follower's] attention if you're lucky," he explains of the concept. "Why spend all that energy creating a product that will never be enjoyed? I'm going to cram it all into this 15 seconds of attention."
Squires is a prolific creator and a talented musician who has played in the Long Winters, Nevada Bachelors, Harvey Danger, and Duff McKagan's Loaded. He is one the most tireless people we've ever met: A touring guitarist who holds down a day job; hosts, produces and edits Couch Riffs (a must-watch video series on YouTube and a podcast); and hosts the Golden Shower of Hits podcast.
Mike's story is both funny and inspiring... we think you'll love it.
https://themikesquires.bandcamp.com/album/2-record-digital-book-flexidisc
https://www.couchriffs.com
Support the Fretboard Journal and our podcasts by nabbing a subscription to our reader-supported magazine. Use the discount code SMALL to save on your order.
This episode is sponsored by Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% on their amazing software) and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
We wrap up Courtney Hartman's week-long podcast takeover by interviewing her from her new home in Wisconsin. Courtney describes the influences that led to her new album, Glade. We hear about the making of her new record, the unique studio she built on her family's Colorado farm, some of the gear (and guests) on the project and a lot more.
This episode is sponsored by Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% on their amazing software) and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Courtney's website: https://www.courtneyhartman.com/home
Album Stream Links: https://link.courtneyhartman.com/GLa
Store: https://courtneyhartman.myshopify.com
Bandcamp: https://courtneyhartman.bandcamp.com/album/glade
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/2jLbcCta4ORz1pnrSR24dj
To celebrate the release of Glade, the gorgeous new solo album from singer-songwriter and guitarist Courtney Hartman, we’ve handed her the keys to the Fretboard Journal Podcast. For the last week, Courtney has interviewed some of her favorite people in the fretted instrument world.
For her latest installment, Courtney interviews Austen Hooks, best known for his Filmosound conversions and tube amp tech wizardry for Blake Mills and others. After hanging out at the first Fretboard Summit, Courtney also became an Austen Hooks amp owner.
Courtney asks Austen about how got into repairing and building amplifiers, his design process, and how he repurposes industrial and military gear to have a second life making music.
In a couple days, Jason will be back and talking to Courtney about her new album. In the meantime, check out Glade. Courtney recorded it on the Colorado farm where she grew up using an array of instruments and with some special guest cameos (including Gregory Alan Isakov). If you’ve only heard the bluegrass side of Courtney Hartman, you’re in for a treat.
Courtney's website: https://www.courtneyhartman.com/home
Album Stream Links: https://link.courtneyhartman.com/GLa
Store: https://courtneyhartman.myshopify.com
Bandcamp: https://courtneyhartman.bandcamp.com/album/glade
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/2jLbcCta4ORz1pnrSR24dj
To celebrate the release of Glade, the gorgeous new solo album from singer-songwriter and guitarist Courtney Hartman, we’ve handed her the keys to the Fretboard Journal Podcast. All week long, Courtney will be interviewing some of her favorite people in the fretted instrument world.
She started the week off by interviewing Dana Bourgeois. This time around, she talks to Idaho-based luthier Lawrence Smart. Smart describes the role the outdoors has played on his creations, why he ended up building archtops (Courtney is often seen playing one), and why he’s embraced innovations like fanned frets.
There aren't many interviews with Lawrence available; enjoy this rare treat.
Look for Courtney’s next interview installment in a few days. This weekend, Jason will be back and talking to Courtney herself about her new album, too. In the meantime, check out Glade. Courtney recorded it on the Colorado farm where she grew up using an array of instruments and with some special guest cameos (including Gregory Alan Isakov). If you’ve only heard the bluegrass side of Courtney Hartman, you’re in for a treat.
Courtney's website: https://www.courtneyhartman.com/home
Album Stream Links: https://link.courtneyhartman.com/GLa
Store: https://courtneyhartman.myshopify.com
Bandcamp: https://courtneyhartman.bandcamp.com/album/glade
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/2jLbcCta4ORz1pnrSR24dj
To celebrate the release of Glade, the gorgeous new solo album from singer-songwriter and guitarist Courtney Hartman, we’ve handed her the keys to the Fretboard Journal Podcast. All week long, Courtney will be interviewing some of her favorite people in the fretted instrument world.
To start things off, she talks to Dana Bourgeois of Bourgeois Guitars. They discuss Dana’s initial love for the guitar, his fateful discovery of the Irving Sloane book, his relationship with Tony Rice, his build process and more.
It’s an insightful chat with two of our favorite people in the Fretboard Journal community.
Look for Courtney’s next interview installment in a few days. Later this week, Jason will be back and talking to Courtney herself about her new album, too. In the meantime, check out Glade. Courtney recorded it on the Colorado farm where she grew up using an array of instruments and with some special guest cameos (including Gregory Alan Isakov). If you’ve only heard the bluegrass side of Courtney Hartman, you’re in for a treat.
Courtney's website: https://www.courtneyhartman.com/home
Album Stream Links: https://link.courtneyhartman.com/GLa
Store: https://courtneyhartman.myshopify.com
Bandcamp: https://courtneyhartman.bandcamp.com/album/glade
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/2jLbcCta4ORz1pnrSR24dj
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we chat with musician, educator, and FJ contributor Tristan Scroggins.
Two of the Fretboard Journal's favorite acoustic guitarists - Eric Skye and Jamie Stillway - join us this week for a fun chat about the making of their long-awaited duo album, 'Home on the Midrange.' The project finds these two Pacific Northwesterners flatpicking through reels, waltzes, and jigs on a pair of uniquely matched Santa Cruz guitars. We talk about the gear used to capture the album (a pair of Neumann KM184s), Jamie's forthcoming "slow, spacey" electric guitar project (which will employ her Maegen Wells archtop), plus a lot more.
Learn more about the album here: https://jamiestillwayericskye.hearnow.com/home-on-the-midrange
This episode is sponsored by Folkway Music.
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your digital or print subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing; Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
Famed guitar dealer Rudy Pensa (Rudy's Music!) joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about one of the world's most noteworthy guitar collections ever assembled, Scott Chinery's Blue Guitar Collection. In the mid-1990s, inspired by the blue Centura Deluxe he ordered from Jimmy D'Aquisto, Chinery commissioned twenty-plus archtop guitar makers to do their own take on a "blue" guitar, all using the same finish tint. Famed builders like Kim Walker, Linda Manzer, Tom Ribbecke, Bill Collings and Bob Benedetto were included, along with contributions from Gibson and Fender.
The Blue Guitars would eventually be showcased at the Smithsonian and be the subject of a book, Blue Guitar. With Chinery's passing in 2000, the guitars have been out of sight but Rudy, at the request of the Chinery estate, is now auctioning off the collection (including the D'Aquisto) as a single lot. We talk to Pensa about the guitar collection, his personal love for archtops (dating back to when he was a child in Argentina) and much more.
The Blue Guitar Collection can be seen in its entirety at Rudy's site here, including videos featuring Jason Isbell, Joe Bonamassa and David Broza playing the guitars. It's also available for viewing at Rudy's store.
https://www.rudysmusicbluecollection.com
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your digital or print subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing; Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan – the Milk Carton Kids – join us this week to talk about the tenth anniversary of their legendary debut album, Prologue. We chat about the build-up to that wildly popular record, the two guitars that they’ve based their careers on, and their songwriting process. We also hear about why they were forced to stop using a single microphone at their shows, their plans for a forthcoming album and a lot more. It’s an insightful and hilarious chat with two of our favorite musicians.
Get the Milk Carton Kids' 10th Anniversary Edition of Prologue here: https://stores.portmerch.com/themilkcartonkids/music-video/prologue-10th-anniversary-box-set.html
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your digital or print subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing;Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases and Folkway Music.
Portland, Oregon-based guitarist Marisa Anderson joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about her latest release, 'Lost Futures,' a collaboration with fellow guitarist William Tyler. We also talk about her approach to composing, her favorite guitars, the importance of space, and a lot more.
https://www.marisaandersonmusic.com/home
https://marisaanderson.bandcamp.com/album/lost-futures
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your digital or print subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing;Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
For this week only, we're sharing with you an episode of another podcast we produce... Acoustic Voices.
Acoustic Voices is a collaboration podcast between the FJ and Breedlove Guitars, but it's just as eclectic and hype-free as everything we do. Our most recent interview for that show was with Lloyd Baggs, founder of LR Baggs. It's one of the best conversations we've had about guitars, inspiration and sound reproduction... and I wanted you all to hear it.
Lloyd explains a lifetime of tinkering and inventing, describes an eye-opening experience he had with Ry Cooder's Takamine, recounts the ups-and-downs of perfecting pickups, and so much more. He's also building guitars again! (Longtime readers may remember the piece Andy Powers did for the FJ on Lloyd's one-of-a-kind guitar creations.)
Acoustic Voices: A Guitar Podcast is an all-new collaboration between Breedlove Guitars and the Fretboard Journal magazine, can be found here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/21oZrV2fkDGZPPBnDGnx1g
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/acoustic-voices-a-guitar-podcast/id1547322420
Lloyd's photography:
https://www.instagram.com/lloydbaggs_theoriginal/?hl=en
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing;Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Extra thanks to Calton Cases and Martin Guitars for sponsoring all that we do. And Breedlove!
Tod Nelson was one of the first ten employees at Amazon. He started out packing books and, by the late 1990s, served as "punk rock editor" during the launch of that site's music store. After five years of working for the quickly growing company, he left and started a family on California's Central Coast. He'd eventually serve as the first executive director of Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Beyond his work life, Tod has been a lifelong guitarist and guitar collector with a passion for all-things-Gibson. He's also a survivor: In recent years, he's had not one but two lung transplants.
Tod's love for music and musical instruments has helped carry him through his recovery, culminating in his most recent project: A Song A Day for Acoustic Guitar. He's teaching himself one new song a day for the entire year... and he's looking for suggestions on what tracks he should attempt next (his current repertoire is available as a Spotify playlist here). Feel free to shoot me suggestions for Tod via podcast@fretboardjournal.com.
I've known Tod for over 20 years, but until this conversation, I had no idea just how important the guitar was to him or his recovery. I hope you enjoy this chat. It's unlike any other we've done to date. I hope you enjoy it.
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now available. Click here to read up on it and start your subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing;Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Extra thanks to Calton Cases and Martin Guitars for sponsoring all that we do.
You don’t need to be Jewish to appreciate the audacious project that guitarist Nathan Salsburg just pulled off: An album of vocal and guitar compositions created around passages he found in his copy of a bilingual Hebrew-English Book of Psalms.
“I opened a Psalm book at random,” he says of his original writing exercise. “[I’d] find some English text that appealed to me… and then just start playing around with it. All the melodies are my own.” The resulting compositions he wrote on his Bourgeois acoustic were a far cry from the last time he heard many of these passages… at Jewish summer camp when he was a kid.
Eventually, Salsburg recruited some of collaborators – James Elkington, Spencer Tweedy, Joan Shelley, and Will Oldham, along with Israeli singer Noa Babayof – to add their touches to the final album.
It’s a record unlike any other that Salsburg has released to date and we thoroughly love it.
Order Psalms here.
Two pieces of music referenced during the conversation: Jonathan Harkham and David Brook's Darcho (Bandcamp link)
The Caretaker (YouTube link)
The Fretboard Journal's 48th issue is now mailing. Julian Lage graces the cover. Click here to read up on it and start your subscription.
Don't forget, we now host an entire family of podcasts, about everything from lutherie to home recording: Luthier on Luthier; The Truth About Vintage Amps; The Truth About Recording & Mixing;Acoustic Voices; and Sweep the Floor.
This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Extra thanks to Calton Cases and Martin Guitars for sponsoring all that we do.