Guitar Gavel

This is episode four with Brian leading into the April 2nd debut of his latest album, "New World Rising".We take a deep dive into the album discussing the remaining six tracks with regards to the song's inspiration, meaning, and a mini-version of "rig rundown".It's a special conversation hearing from Brian what the songs mean to him, while understanding how the listener is free to interpret they lyrics any way they see fit. That's the power of music!You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services.For those closer to New Orleans, Brian's record release party and performance is April 30th at Chickie Wah Wah- https://chickiewahwah.com/calendar/#/events/93737https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltzSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPRAbout Brian:Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994.His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few.  Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

This is episode three with Brian leading into the April 2nd debut of his latest album, "New World Rising".We take a deep dive into the album discussing the first six tracks with regards to the song's inspiration, meaning, and a mini-version of "rig rundown".It's a special conversation hearing from Brian what the songs mean to him, while understanding how the listener is free to interpret they lyrics any way they see fit. That's the power of music!We cover the remaining six tracks in the next episode with Brian that drops on April 2nd in tandem with the release of "New World Rising".Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltzSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPRAbout Brian:Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994.His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few.  Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

Leading up to the April 2nd debut of Brian's latest album, "New World Rising," this is the second in a three-part conversation with Brian in which we focus on the first half of his career. Brian and I discuss his early musical interests, a blend of pop, R&B, soul, blues and how the culture of New Orleans and southern Louisiana influenced his style. He tells us about his introduction to The Neville Brothers and shares memories of the near decade he spent touring and recording with the band. For the uninitiated, Brian also offers insight to the rigors of recording an album. "New World Rising" was recorded in Sweet Mix Studio in Slidell, LA which is where Brian joined the podcast from. Brian provided us with the foundation and flavor of this project and in the next episode we'll look at the album in its entirety.Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltzSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPRAbout Brian:Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994.His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few.  Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

In this episode I sit down with solo artist, faithful band member, and prominent session guitarist Brian Stoltz.This is the first of a few episodes we’re doing together leading into the debut of his newest album, “New World Rising”, out April 2nd. Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few. His go-to guitar right now? A 1984/85 white MIJ Stratocaster with a scalloped neck that he bought new in Tokyo. For better or worse, I took Brian all over the place in this interview, but we had a blast! Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. Thanks to our friend Chris Kelly for the introduction (and his soon to be guest appearance)!https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltzSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPR Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

In this episode I have the honor of sitting down with Falcon Eddy of the Galveston Guitar Lounge. He takes us through his guitar journey that properly began as a teenager at Gibson's department store when he bought a Teisco Del Ray, amp, and case for $29. Falcon Eddy moved up quick... next a Gibson SG and then a Gibson Dove. He even managed to trade a bass for a car!A lot of his journey revolved around the harmonica... there's too many guitar players :-)Falcon Eddy then walks us through the history of his shop, the Galveston Guitar Lounge, and it begins with driving 30 miles for a pack of guitar strings. Like many brick and mortar music store owners their lineage through the business is filled with twists and turns. But adversity makes you stronger and along came the Fowlcon Guitar Company, their own line of guitars. The next step? Elissa Guitars, guitar bodies built from the deck floor of the 1877 ELISSA, a  tall sailing ship and one of only three in the world that is still in operation and based in Galveston. How did Falcon Eddy get his name? Watch and find out. Thank you Falcon Eddy for your time and friendship. For those that know you, and those that watch the show they'll get it... you are one good dude. Shop Galveston Guitar Lounge- https://galvestonguitarlounge.com/The Guitar Lounge- https://www.facebook.com/guitarloungeGalveston/Galveston Guitar Lounge- https://www.facebook.com/groups/162897634345446Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/guitar.lounge/?hl=enFowlcon Guitar Company- https://www.facebook.com/fowlconguitars/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

In this episode I have the honor of sitting down with Kevin, straight from his amazing Star Wars guitar room and man cave. Kevin starts with his guitar origin story beginning with his dad's influences, his first guitars as a young kid, and the impact his brother and grandmother had on his musical interests. We talk about extensively about EVH, cracking the code on his guitar parts, the reason for his book and more EVH! And of course Kevin has an aresenal of EVH replica guitars for show and tell, plus some fancy fretwork and tips on Eddie's style. The last fifteen minutes of the show Kevin shares his own reflections on Eddie as a human, his legacy, and the personal impacts Eddie had on Kevin's life. It's a beautiful conversation and I cannot thank Kevin enough for his time and sharing Eddie's life with the world. Side note: Kevin's important parenting advice to get your kids playing the guitar- force it on them from the day they are born! :-)Please excuse the audio glitches when Kevin is playing the guitar!Buy Kevin's book- Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biographyhttps://www.amazon.com/Edward-Van-Halen-Definitive-Biography/dp/146205482XKevin's past articles on the Van Halen News Desk- https://www.vhnd.com/author/kevin-dodds/Allen Garber's EVH Playing Techniques Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635190633471979/Allen Garber's definitive Eruption transcription- https://www.soundslice.com/slices/YvtMc/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

In this podcast I have the pleasure of hosting a conversation with artist and guitar maker Robert Randall XI, yes the eleventh. He is a fantastic guy, super passionate and articulate, and his stories and lessons make for a great show. If you are a fan of "the process" and how unique artistry intersects guitar, then you don't want to miss this episode. Robert's guitar journey began at age 10 when he started taking lessons and ended with his parents selling his guitar a couple of years later. Fortunately Robert was reintroduced to the guitar (and various other instruments at age 14. He's been tinkering, building, and playing ever since.Generally speaking, Robert's instruments are non-traditional shapes and deploy as much artistry as functionality. Yes, there is his use of locally reclaimed woods for the neck and body, plus a signature feature of trying to include some bits of blue pine, but the artistry goes well beyond the use of local resources. And that is what our conversation boils down to, Robert tries to convey an art history perspective through his instruments in addition to it being a tool. It's the story Robert manifests into his guitars, a reflection of the process from that journey, and the beauty in the final artwork. Each instrument has a piece of Robert's personality and you can totally feel it in the podcast. To learn more about Robert's instruments or inquire about purchasing one you can find Robert's work on his website and social channels:http://www.rsrandall.com/https://www.youtube.com/@robertrandall9089https://reverb.com/shop/roberts-boutique-1019https://instagram.com/r.s.randall?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==Music: https://rsrandall.bandcamp.com/album/rsrandall-xi Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

There is so much goodness in this episode with Pete Flynn that I really struggled to write a concise, yet comprehensive summary of his story. At the end of the day what I wrote did not do our conversation justice and nor was it concise, so here’s a “from the gut” synopsis: Pete is a world class nice guy, a world class guitar player (and drummer), guitar tech, and now a world class pickups builder. His stories go on for days and include a long list of household names that he's done work for, built pickups for, or played with.  Recording this show with Pete on a Saturday night was the highlight of my week. If you take the time to watch or listen I promise it’s time well-spent. Quest for tone:After a 40-year mission to find the “perfect” amp was complete, Pete moved on to finding the perfect pickup. (He shares his amp setup in the show)It started with a 1950 Broadcaster Pete owned and his desire to build a clone. He finished the replica in about a year, but after experimenting with five sets of custom pickups the original Broadcaster tone remained elusive.So he decided to make his own proper set of Broadcaster pickups and managed to unlock the magic. Next up, recreating a 59’ PAF and once again, mission accomplished. Pete goes into depth on his pickup builds and how he conquered the task. The pickup business is relatively new, but Pete’s initials are PAF... enough said.  I cannot thank Pete enough for being a guest. It was truly a privilege.  Here’s where you can find Pete: Website- http://www.pickupsbypeteaflynn.com/Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@peteflynnPAF/featuredYoutube pickups page- https://www.youtube.com/@pickupsbypeteaflynnFacebook- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084563897669 Instagram- @peteflynnmusicPete’s current band- www.pettyunion.com  Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

David’s guitar journey began on a Behringer strat style guitar when he was 13, his foundation being metal and blues (an influence from his dad). The Behringer also became a sacrificial lamb when David decided to explore the guts of an electric guitar. From there, David started building his own guitars as a teenager furthering his home-grown knowledge, and setting the stage for becoming a professional luthier. Tinkering with pedals was a natural extension of the guitar repair business and that journey began in earnest in 2016. Overtime, David decided having his own product to offer was a welcomed challenge, plus he saw the need for a custom option to improve upon some of the pedals in his arsenal. So David introduced his first pedal a year ago, the Winter Storm, and now he’s onto his second build… the Spellbook. It’s a self-oscillating fuzz and distortion pedal, which can also be used as a stand alone synthesizer. To help fund the Spellbook, David has a Kickstarter campaign and will deliver pedals this summer, but there's still time to get the pre-production deal! Check out his YouTube channel to see David demo the Spellbook and describe the technical aspects. Thanks for being such a wonderful guest David! You are onto something big and I look forward to watching what you do next! Links: Kickstarter- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidrossmusicalinst/david-ross-musical-instruments-spellbook-guitar-pedalCompany page- https://davidrossmusicalinstruments.comhttps://www.instagram.com/davidrossmusicalinstruments/https://youtube.com/@davidrossmusicalinstrumentshttps://www.facebook.com/davidrossmusicalinstruments Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.

In this podcast I sit down with Jerry Cherry- guitarist, singer/songwriter, and guitar instructor extraordinaire.We talk about his guitar journey beginning at age 12 and how was super fortunate to be a member of an incredible band before he could drive and how that set the stage for the rest of his musical career. Key takeaways:At age 17, being one guitar lesson short of really starting to understand musical theory and playing for another 25 years before the next lesson made it all click. What struck me the most about Jerry's career is that he's a perpetual student. In some ways that's not necessarily profound, and frankly it's the way each of us should be in life. At the same time, however, how many of us can truly say that?Video Notes:Growing into his voice as a singer, being patient and comfortable in your skin, and believing in yourself. 26:00Content creation for his social channels. 41:00Jerry's best suggestion for learning a song, start slow! 54:00Jerry's tools of the trade. 60:00This episode is a little longer, but it's a beautiful conversation with so much goodness I had to publish the entire thing. This inspiring journey is a must listen no matter your skill level, from bedroom players to professional guitarists.   Jerry goes live every Sunday at 12pm EST on his YouTube channel and just introduced a new YT program called, "What's The Hook?", where he explores and breaks down the hooks of your favorite songs. Connect with Jerry Cherry on Social Media: https://jerrycherry.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JerryCherryBand https://www.instagram.com/thejerrycherry/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-cherry-1ab49b1b/ https://twitter.com/jerrycherry https://www.tiktok.com/@jerrycherryband Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channelDo your research, visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories.