Singer-songwriter Suzanne Santo joins us on the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about starting out in music, moving to New York City (by herself!) at 16, her work in HoneyHoney, the decision to put out a solo record and much more.
This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music.
Jim Herrington is one of the most accomplished music photographers of our time and the guy behind iconic shots of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and other legends of country, blues and rock & roll. He’s been a longtime contributor to the Fretboard Journal; you may remember the incredible short story and photograph he contributed on tracking down Mickey Baker in rural France.
Herrington has his first coffee table book out and, no, it’s not on music heroes. The Climbers is a photo-laden book that features unforgettable portraits of the icons of the climbing/mountaineering world. On this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to Herrington about his start in photography, his techniques for getting these incredible shots of artists and athletes and his plans for another book based on music. It’s an enlightening and fun chat with one of our favorite contributors.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music.
We talk to a lot of unique individuals on this podcast and luthier Larry Pogreba is certainly no exception. Pogreba divides his time between homes in New Mexico and an off-the-grid homestead in Montana and builds resonator guitars, Weissenborns and acoustics that often feature recycled / reclaimed metal, bullet casings for inlays and all sorts of other adornments that harken to American steel and the Wild West. His instruments have landed in the hands of Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, David Lindley, Cindy Cashdollar and others. In fact, one of the most prolific Pogreba instrument collectors around is the acclaimed Darrell Scott, who is featured in the new Fretboard Journal #41. On today’s podcast, we talk to Larry about how the Danny Ferrington book got him turned onto guitarmaking, how he splits his time between two homes/workshops, his unique guitar (and cannon!) builds and much more.
This episode is sponsored by our friends at Dying Breed Music.
On this week’s podcast, we talk to legendary singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. Bruce was featured back in the Fretboard Journal #25 and he offers plenty of updates on his career, music and projects during our conversation. We chat about his Linda Manzer-built instruments (including the electric charango that she built for him), his memoir Rumours of Glory and the full length documentary on his life, Pacing the Cage.
This episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Dying Breed Music, where you can find a bevy of great acoustic guitars from the Golden Era.
On today’s podcast, we talk to the members of legendary bluegrass band Hot Rize: Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Forster and Bryan Sutton. The quartet—currently celebrating their 40th year performing as a band—talks to us about the early Colorado bluegrass scene, the instruments they’re currently using, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, songwriting and more. It's an enlightening and hilarious chat with four bluegrass icons.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music.
On today’s podcast, we talk to Earnie Bailey of Wire Instruments. Earnie is a jack-of-all-trades who went from running a cafe in Seattle to being a guitar tech for Nirvana (and the Foo Fighters) and eventually building his own instruments. We talk about what makes his Wire Instruments unique, the inspiration he gets from unlikely predecessors like builder Dave Bunker and what the life of a guitar tech is like.
This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music.
Use the discount code PODCAST when you order an FJ subscription and save $5.
Today we're talking to Brooklyn-based guitarist and Matador recording artist Steve Gunn. Deeply inspired by John Fahey and the entire primitive folk movement, Gunn is equally talented as a singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and wild improviser. We talk about his background growing up in Philadelphia, the influence of Jack Rose and John Fahey on his music, his Gunn-Truscinski Duo recordings and, of course, gear.
For a limited time, subscribe and get three years (12 issues) of the Fretboard Journal for just $99. Click here.
On this week’s podcast, we talk to bluegrass icons Del, Ronnie and Rob McCoury of the Del McCoury Band. We chat about Del's Martin's, including his dark top D-18, Ronnie's Loar mandolin, the rigors of touring and much more.
This podcast was recorded backstage at Seattle’s Triple Door venue.
This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
On this week's podcast, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn stop by the Fretboard Journal and interview each other!
This episode is sponsored by RetroFret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music.
Need a last minute gift? Head over to fretboardjournal.com and use the coupon code PODCAST when you buy a gift subscription and you'll save $5 off your order.
On this week’s podcast, we talk to filmmaker Drew Roller, the mastermind behind the new documentary ‘Acoustic Uprising.’ Roller tells us how, thanks to YouTube, he discovered the new guard of fingerstyle guitarists such as Andy McKee and Jon Gomm; what it was like to attend Thomas Leeb’s Austria Guitar Boot Camp; the enduring influence of Michael Hedges; and much more. He also recommends a handful of contemporary fingerstyle guitarists we all should check out.
This episode is brought to you by Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Links mentioned:
https://www.acousticuprisingfilm.com (now available for purchase/download)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7GnAq6Znw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LquLVh1Cec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
Need a gift this holiday season or just want to splurge on yourself? Don't forget to check out our webstore: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com
Kurt Bloch is a legendary figure in Seattle’s music scene since his formation of the Fastbacks in the late ‘70s. On this week’s podcast, we talk to Bloch about growing up in Seattle, the creation of his first bands, how he began tinkering with guitar gear, his work with Alejandro Escovedo and a lot more.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Guitars.
On this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to the amazing guitarist Joel Paterson. Joel has just released a new record of instrumental Christmas songs called Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar (Bloodshot Records) that we can’t recommend enough. We talk about the making of the album, the insane amount of work that went into it, some of the gear that Joel used and the huge influence that Les Paul and Jørgen Ingmann had on his own playing.
This episode is sponsored by our friends at Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Links:
https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/hi-fi-christmas-guitar
Few guitarmakers travel the globe as much as Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars. On any given day, he may be at Taylor’s massive El Cajon factory, at his ebony mill in Cameroon, on Hawaii replanting koa trees or offroading in Baja. On this week’s podcast, we catch with Bob (who was thankfully at home in California) to get his thoughts on CITES and the state of the guitar industry as a whole. We also hear about a guitar he recently built entirely by hand, learn about the impact that Andy Powers continues to have on Taylor’s product offerings and much more.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music.
Back in the 1980s, Lindy Fralin didn’t set out to be one of the world’s most-trusted pickup winders, he just wanted to earn a living as a guitarist. With a tight budget, he’d buy cheap guitars and fix them up for himself or do minor repair work for friends. Eventually, though, the pickups took over. Today, Fralin has seven employees, a growing product line of guitar and bass products and a bustling pickup repair shop. On this week’s podcast, we talk to Lindy about his early days, some of his latest creations, the intricacies of pickup winding and much more.
This week’s podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars, who happen to have a brand new website. Check it out!
Today we’re talking to guitarist Steve Marion, aka “Delicate Steve.” When his old band’s major label record deal imploded, Marion invented his Delicate Steve persona, crafting over-the-top rock instrumental records loaded with great playing, a ton of effects, humor and plenty of references to the musicians and genres he loves. On this week’s podcast, we talk to Delicate Steve about how these albums come together, why he prefers guitars that make him feel uncomfortable and about the time he was asked to play alongside Paul Simon.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music.
On today’s podcast, we talk to stellar singer-songwriter Amy Helm about growing up in a musical household, working alongside her dad (Levon Helm of the Band), her forthcoming Joe Henry-produced album and much more. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music.
On today’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to the amazing guitarist Luke Doucet of Whitehorse. Doucet tells us about his upbringing in Canada and his relatively late start into the world of guitars, along with the fateful day he met his original guitar teacher in Winnipeg. We then hear about how Doucet is turning his own young son Jimmy onto music and guitars and how Jimmy (at the ripe old age of three) inadvertently helped shape the sound of Whitehorse’s 2017 album, Panther in the Dollhouse.
We also talk guitars, including Doucet’s Gretsch White Falcon, his Fender Custom Shop Jazzmaster, his Creston Lea offset and others.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
The Fretboard Journal Podcast welcomes its first professional athlete, tennis player / coach Murphy Jensen! Murphy and his brother Luke were considered the rock & roll duo of tennis during their heyday, eventually winning the French Open in 1993. Jensen tells us about his childhood growing up in Northern Michigan; his early love for rock & roll; his rise as a professional athlete; and why so many pro tennis players gravitate to the guitar. We also hear about the annual “Wimbledon Jam;” Serena Williams’ love for Nirvana; the time Jensen brought Roger Federer to the Bowery Ballroom the night before his US Open match; working with Val McCallum and much more. Trust us, it’s a great guitar chat even if you don’t know anything about tennis. Jensen also talks to us about his new Seattle-based healthcare technology company, Weconnect.
Links:
http://www.murphyjensen.com
https://www.weconnectrecovery.com
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
On this week’s podcast, we check in with legendary guitarmaker Ken Parker. The archtop creations that Parker has built over the last decade are truly works of art (in fact, one example is in the permanent collection of the Met). Parker was the subject of a mammoth two-part Fretboard Journal feature in both the FJ #38 and FJ #39, penned by author Joseph Skibell. On this week’s podcast, we catch up and hear about some of this builder’s more recent developments. He tells us about the importance of hide glue in his instruments; we learn about a new pickup he’s using that was developed by Bob Palmieri; and we hear about his recent acquisition of some wood from the famed “The Tree” and what he plans to do with it.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Singer-songwriter (and former Men at Work frontman) Colin Hay is addicted to guitars. “Once the bug hits… you keep finding guitars that you can’t seem to live without,” he says. On this week’s podcast, he talks about his growing guitar collection, which includes not only Martins and Gibson but numerous luthier-built guitars. We also talk about songwriting, the music industry today and much more.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music.
This week’s podcast is a banjo double-header of sorts: First up, we talk to musician Laura Baird (the Baird Sisters) about her debut solo album, I Wish I Were a Sparrow. This mesmerizing album features both traditional and original ballads featuring just voice and banjo. Next up, we talk to author Richard Jones-Bamman about his new book, Building New Banjos for an Old-Time World. The book is a scholarly take on the contemporary world of old-time, open back banjo makers and their place in banjo history.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music.
Next week, we’ll talk singer-songwriter (and Men at Work founder) Colin Hay. Subscribe via iTunes to make sure you don’t miss it.
RIP Tom Petty.
Links:
On this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, we’re joined by fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian. Michael is talking to us from his new home in Paonia, Colorado and offers us an insightful, thought-provoking glimpse into the life of a working musician. He tells us about his childhood and the impact that Middle Eastern music had on his own compositions. We also talk about his time with John Fahey, Michael Hedges and Robbie Basho and the sad downfall of Takoma Records. Michael also explains why so many great guitar players have come out of Minnesota, talks to us about his choice of acoustic guitars (built by frequent FJ contributor Todd Lunneborg) and much more.
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Retrofret Vintage Guitars.
Michael Gulezian's official site.
This week’s podcast is a bluegrass double-header. First, we talk to the one-and-only Billy Strings. He’s about to release his first solo album, Turmoil & Tinfoil and we talk about the making of the record, his guitars of choice (he recently switched from his Noble dreadnought to guitars made by Preston Thompson) and a lot more. Over on fretboardjournal.com, you can hear a stream of “Pyramid Country” from the new album right now.
Next up, we talk to the IBMA’s Paul Schiminger about the organization’s mission, it’s annual World of Bluegrass festival (happening later this month) and the future of bluegrass.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music. Check out their offerings and tell them the Fretboard Journal sent you.
Next week, we talk to fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian!
This week’s podcast is a bluegrass double-header: First, we talk to the one-and-only Billy Strings. He’s about to release his first solo album, Turmoil & Tinfoil and we talk about the making of the record, his guitars of choice (he recently switched from his Noble dreadnought to guitars made by Preston Thompson) and a lot more. Over on fretboardjournal.com, you can hear a stream of “Pyramid Country” from the new album right now.
Next up, we talk to the IBMA’s Paul Schiminger about the organization’s mission, its annual World of Bluegrass festival (happening later this month) and the future of bluegrass.
This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music. Check out their offerings and tell them the Fretboard Journal sent you.
Next week, we talk to fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian!
https://www.billystrings.com
https://ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass
Use the coupon code PODCAST when you subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine and you'll save an extra $5. Click here.
Singer-songwriter Pieta Brown has had quite the journey. On this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast we talk to her about unique upbringing (her dad is famed folk musician Greg Brown), her early attempts at songwriting and the fateful day her father showed her a vintage guitar. She also talks about Postcards, her 2017 album that features collaborations with Mark Knopfler, Calexico, David Lindley and others. Watch for a video with Pieta soon on fretboardjournal.com.
As an added bonus, we share a quick story David Rawlings shared with us about his Epiphone Olympic, featuring luthier Joe Glaser.
This episode is brought to you by Retrofret, Adam Levy’s Guitar Tips Pro and Dying Breed Music.
Use the coupon code PODCAST and save $5 off any Fretboard Journal subscription or order.
Our guest on today’s Fretboard Journal Podcast is Chris Young, founder of Union Tube & Transistor. Chris walks us through Union’s history, his current pedal lineup and the story behind his pedal collaboration with Jack White. We also hear about the time he gave a pedal to Tom Waits and about some of Union’s latest products, including their new Lab compressor pedal.
While Chris was in Seattle, we also took him to Johnny Sangster’s Crackle & Pop studio to do a quick video demo. Watch it on fretboardjournal.com.
This podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Adam Levy’s new Guitar Tips Pro, where you can get great professional video lessons for as little as $5 a month.