Jay Leonard J: Fuzz, Ghosts & Speedos—A Guitarist’s Midlife Crisis (Kinda)

What happens when a guitar wizard stumbles face-first into Hollywood? JD Simo is back, and this time he’s not just laying down licks. He’s coaching movie stars, babysitting vintage synths, and fixing million-dollar screwups the prop department didn’t even notice. He walks us through how a phone call from producer Dave Cobb turned into a full-blown creative rescue mission on two major films: the Elvis biopic and the upcoming Bruce Springsteen flick. Along the way, JD accidentally invents a job, teaches Jeremy Allen White to fingerpick from zero, and nearly loses his mind syncing fake guitar playing with Dolby Atmos perfection. We’re talking full-set nerdery. Telling Oscar winners their mic stands are in the wrong place. Sneaking into “video village” and somehow not getting kicked out. And yes, it all started because this man cares about the details. If you’ve ever screamed at the TV because the guitarist’s amp wasn’t even plugged in, this one’s for you. Check out all things JD on his website HERE https://simo.fm/ Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Way back in the sepia-toned past of podcasting (circa 2016), I sat down with Joel Korte of Chase Bliss Audio — before the blinking lights took over the world and before I fully understood how microphones work. Can you believe that this episode is almost a decade old? What a wild ride it's been! This episode has it all: – Engineering nerdery – Emotional whiplash – Mild Midwestern awkwardness – And at least one questionable Paul Reed Smith tangent – Strollerblading! Joel shares how a stint at a major guitar company, and one very big life detour somehow led to building some of the most innovative pedals on the planet. And I mostly just try not to say anything too stupid. It’s clunky. It’s charming. It’s full of chaotic origin-story goodness. Basically: if you’ve ever wanted to hear a future pedal wizard in larval form, this is the one. Check out everything Chase Bliss on their website HERE https://www.chasebliss.com/ Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Leonard J turned 40 and decided to do everything all at once. Theater? Check. NAMM emcee? Check. Launching a new Yamaha Pacifica? Sure, why not. Recording a full-length album in the middle of a life tornado? Of course. In this episode, Blake catches up with his longtime pal and one of the internet’s finest tone freaks to talk about the wildest year of Jay’s life. It involves getting choked onstage in Cambodian Rock Band, haunted guitars that randomly drop into drop D, wig malfunctions, high-pressure NAMM gigs, surprise birthday parties, and an album born in the middle of absolute chaos. Also covered: Fuzz pedals and spring reverb in musical theater Why robots can’t replace sweaty humans with bad wireless units Sneaky old-school NAMM tactics and “my buddy Scott” espionage Vitamin D megadosing: the unsanctioned NAMM survival strategy Jay’s new album Aw Man and why his kids named it (literally) This one’s equal parts gear talk, therapy session, and backstage musical mayhem. Buckle up. Check out the first single off of Jay's new record Aww Man HERE https://open.spotify.com/album/6piMmwA3qauXbHo70CwhOn?si=hIg10vwtQy60_4lkzy2WsA and make sure to grab the whole thing when it drops on June 20th! Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From anonymous attic guitars to Travis Tritt’s guest room, Dillon Weldon’s story is a country song in the making. Blake sits down with the host of The Drifting Cowboy Podcast to talk about how a kid with no industry connections, a busted Taylor, and a Johnny Paycheck cassette somehow wound up at the heart of Nashville's old-school revival. They cover everything: going viral on TikTok (by accident), how a single prayer led to a million views, and what it’s like when country legends like Gary Gentry, Bobby Braddock, and even Travis Tritt start calling you. This one’s about persistence, storytelling, songwriting, and chasing something real—whether you’re holding a Telecaster or telling stories on TikTok. Also: Nashville hot chicken, and why aging punk rockers inevitably fall in love with country music. Whether you’re a guitar nerd, country fan, or just someone trying to make something happen… this one’s for you. Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Blake sits down with legendary singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier for a deep, honest, and surprisingly gear-heavy chat. Mary didn’t pick up songwriting seriously until her mid-thirties—after years as a Boston-based chef, restaurant owner, and, as she puts it, a total mess. But once she got sober and started hitting open mics, everything changed. They talk about her early love for Taylor guitars, her eventual obsession with the low-end growl of vintage Gibsons, and how she’s more about tone that serves the song than flashy technique. Mary shares the story behind her breakout song “I Drink,” explains why emotion always trumps complexity, and offers a masterclass in the art of getting doors to open in Nashville—even if you have to sneak in through a window. You’ll also hear: The connection between fear and fog (and how to burn both off) What it's like to share a stage with John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams Why you should never underestimate the power of a good crust (yes, pizza crust) A crash course in humility, persistence, and the power of being kind This one’s a gem. If you're a songwriter, storyteller, or just trying to figure out your path—hit play. Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Tone Mob, Blake hangs with bassist Zephyr Avalon—a man whose musical journey started with jazz camp and ended up on stadium stages... with a few detours through punk bands, upright bass trauma, and a destroyed childhood guitar along the way. They cover Zephyr’s early years surrounded by classical music, gigging through college, touring with Haley Reinhart, and stumbling into the rocket ship that is Zach Bryan’s rise. There's gear talk (OC-2 forever), rig rundowns, custom basses, and why upright bass and stage monitors are natural enemies. Also: pizza philosophies, Instagram hustle, and why the music industry is a lot like bad sushi—if you’re drowning it in sauce, something’s probably wrong. 🎧 Plug in and prepare to nod, laugh, and maybe question your pedalboard choices. Lets go! Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blake is joined once again by Nick Diener—founder of Oneder Effects and guitarist/vocalist for The Swellers—for a wide-ranging chat that hits everything from vintage SGs and Freebird lore to dad life, Discord burnout, and the existential dread of messy workspaces. Nick shares stories of playing Gary Rossington’s actual guitars, visiting Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, building pedals in cluttered chaos, and trying to stay creative in a post-pandemic industry hit hard by tariffs and uncertainty. They also dive into martial arts, musician mental health, content fatigue, the pros and cons of podcast video, and why dog-related GoFundMes might just bankrupt us all. Whether you're here for the gear, the laughs, or some philosophical dad-core, this episode’s got a little something for everybody—especially disorganized pedal nerds with too many unfinished projects. Check out Nick's work HERE https://www.onedereffects.com/ Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tone Mob Podcast, Blake Wyland is joined by Amico Demuzio—pedal steel guitarist and multi-instrumentalist for Charles Wesley Godwin’s band. They dive into Amico’s unexpected journey from welding school dropout to full-time touring musician, fueled by a love for lap steel, vintage Peavey amps, and weird-sounding pedals. If you’re a gearhead, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into: Boss Slicers, Jerry Garcia tones, Kernum pedals, amp plugins that sound freakishly real, and why the pedal steel might be the most emotionally charged instrument in modern music. They also explore the joys of analog gear, silent stages, DIY tone shaping, and whether or not Peavey amps deserve their crusty-but-beautiful comeback. Plus: cold pizza, mushroom foraging (the sober kind), and a few tips for getting started on pedal steel without throwing your back out—or your wallet. Whether you're into country, indie, Americana, or just love a good underdog story, this episode delivers music talk, gear insights, and laughs in equal measure. Give Amico a follow HERE https://www.instagram.com/amicodemuzio Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Tone Mob Podcast, Blake is joined by Jesse and William of Top House for a conversation that starts with a ghost in the machine and ends somewhere between band mythologies and pizza philosophies. They unpack the chaotic beauty of songwriting, the grimy reality of touring (spoiler: pee when you can), and why having a fake country band called “Cornfield Boys” might just be the secret to creative freedom. The trio riffs on everything from the dark arts of social media algorithms to the metaphysics of string tension, with stops at Nashville pizza joints and an unsolicited tribute to the Boss tuner pedal. It’s part gear talk, part life advice, part fever dream—with enough practical nuggets and absurd detours to keep both your left and right brain happy. Whether you’re a musician, a fan, or just someone who appreciates that fine line between genius and nonsense, this episode delivers. Check out the band on their website HERE https://tophousetheband.com/ Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Tone Mob Podcast, Blake Wyland sits down with Steve Cobucci — guitarist, gear junkie, and founding member of Wolves at the Gate — to talk about the beautiful mess that is making music for a living. Steve kicks things off with the story of his first guitar: a classical hand-me-down from his mom, followed by a hard-earned Gibson Les Paul — because if you're gonna make noise, you might as well do it right. From his beloved B-52 tube amp to his first Tube Screamer, Steve proves that chasing tone starts early and never really stops. Blake and Steve rip into the realities of starting a band in college, the rollercoaster of recording in a real studio, and why having a good drummer is like finding a unicorn. They don’t shy away from the sticky stuff either — managing egos, screwing up communication, and how growing up (just a little) changes everything you thought you knew about music and life. They swap war stories about live shows, argue the merits of production quality, and marvel at how revisiting old albums can hit you harder the second time around. Plus, Steve drops some hard-earned wisdom about why you should find your own sound, keep it loose, and remember: if you’re not having fun, you’re probably doing it wrong. Whether you’re a guitarist, a music nerd, or just someone trying to make a little magic without losing your mind, this episode’s got something for you. Check out the band on their website HERE https://www.wolvesatthegate.com/ Support The Show And Connect! The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577 You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from ⁠Tonemob.com/reverb⁠ ⁠Tonemob.com/sweetwater⁠ or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from ⁠Tonemob.com/stringjoy⁠ Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to ⁠Tonemob.com/distrokid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices