Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

The legendary Steve Vai and Greg delve deep into Steve's early history, talking about LA, Zappa, and a whole lot more! Steve Vai's influence on the guitar world is profound, from his early work pioneering the design of "super strats" like his Ibanez signature models, to his ever-changing approach to tone and his insightful perspective on music theory. Settle in for this gristle-infused interview with the great Steve Vai!

1:04 - Steve’s new house in Los Angeles, neighborhood block parties, and Steve’s old ‘Mothership’ home studio
5:00 - Steve’s choice to stay in LA versus moving to another music city
6:27 - Steve’s early days in LA - what brought him there, the support of parents, and whether or not pursuing professional musicianship was ever a choice for Steve and Greg
19:46 - Working with and learning from Frank Zappa
25:36 - How’s Zappa’s approach to improvisation influenced Steve
36:17 - How ‘gain’ has changed over the years, the new guitar pedals from Universal Audio, and new ‘joint shifting’ technique
49:26 - Thoughts on Steve’s new music / guitar theory book, and thoughts on music education in the 21st century
58:44 - How Steve’s been spending time during the pandemic, and thoughts on the future

Total Length: 68:26

One of the 5 Chet Atkins' "Certified Guitar Players (CGP)", Steve is a country-music legend both for his amazing picking and his songwriting - he has 4 Grammy awards, over 50 charted billboard singles, 14 number 1 songs, he is a Grand Ole Opry member, and he's in the Musician's Hall of Fame just to name a few of his accolades. Greg and Steve talk about Chet, The New Nashville Cats, and Strats, along with all sorts of other glorious guitar gristle in this episode.

2:12 - When Steve and Greg first met at a Fender event, and wondering if country music and B-Bender guitars held any relevance at a Fender event
3:42 - Steve’s early years as a guitar and bass player, and growing up in Indiana surrounding by musicians in the family
7:44 - The beauty of Chet Atkins style guitar in its style and nuance - from style, articulation, and genre-blending motifs to the complexity of repertoire
13:25 - The James Burton Guitar Festival, that time Steve Wariner almost lit the place on fire with his incendiary playing, and the importance of practice
18:10 - Guitar collections - is it something Steve cares much about, or does he just enjoy picking and plucking?
26:00 - The Stratocaster and its 5-way toggle switch - does Steve swap it out for a 3-way, or keep it au naturel?
32:43 - Steve’s involvement with The New Nashville Cats
38:01 - Jack Pearson, and Steve’s experience with the Grammy awards
57:50 - When and why Steve took up singing
68:16 - A few of Steve’s guilty musical pleasures

Total Length: 73:05

Tosin is truly a 21st Century guitar-hero, leading a new generation of players into sonic parts-unknown. With Animals as Leaders, he's pushed past the boundries of progressive-metal and has helped to define a new, mind-bending world of "djent", seamlessly integrating multiple tones, time-signatures, and music-styles into something wholly new and exciting. He's also brought new technological advancements in guitar design to the masses with his Abasi Concepts guitars, which incorporate 7 and 8-string multi-scale designs. Greg and Tosin cover a lot of ground here, so buckle-up! 


1:26 - The influence of social media on modern day musicians
7:01 - The difference between wanting to play, and having to play - how to deal with creative roadblocks
9:34 - Tosin’s creative process working through varying time signatures, thoughts on improvisation, and how Animals As Leaders approaches new material
17:44 - How Tosin decided to pursue instrumental music, and the idea of the lead vocal as just another melodic element within an ensemble
27:48 - Tosin’s music and artistic influences over the years, the complexity of jazz less as a music style and more of a genre itself, and the beauty of opinion within music
54:05 - For those times when you feel like you need a break from listening to music, where to find inspiration, and the interesting evolution of purchased music vs streaming music
60:20 - Tosin’s ‘Abasi’ line of guitars, how his playing style lent to the creation of the guitar, and how improvisation plays into the Animals As Leaders palette 

Total Length: 91:12

Jason talks guitars with Greg! "Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter" is the title most frequently attached to Jason Isbell's moniker, but his fans know he is also a monster guitarist with a passion for the instrument. Greg asks Jason about his musical upbringing in Alabama, his favorite guitars and gear, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Joe Walsh, David Crosby, and Twitter!

3:25 - Jason’s new birthday present - a lovely ’65 Candy Apple Red Stratocaster to match his ’65 Tele in the same color
4:11 - Jason’s Instagram channel, and how he keeps his chops fresh
8:43 - Vintage guitars, the light-hearted regret of not investing in old school guitars in the 70s, and Jason’s evolution as a player
11:53 - Growing up in the Muscle Shoals scene, Johnny Sandlin's garage and working with Rick Hall (FAME studios)
17:44 - Jason’s personal recording setup
21:36 - The story behind Jason’s burst Les Paul, the Ed King "Red Eye"
26:09 - The glory of Jimi Hendrix stories 
28:52 - A few other beautiful pieces in Jason’s guitar collection…
36:27 - Jason’s live rig
44:46 - Led Zeppelin, bootleg demos, and Jason’s incredulity regarding Robert Plant’s appreciation for Jason’s songwriting and playing
48:50 - Joe Walsh tells Jason about giving Jimmy Page his "Number One"
52:24 - Jason on Twitter, his relationship with David Crosby, and the beauty of social media in regard to music, learning, etc

Total Length: 59:54

Greg welcomes the mighty Doyle Dykes, one of the contemporary masters of fingerstyle guitar, the nicest guy in the world, a great storyteller, and of course, a frightening guitar player. They talk thumb picks, hot licks, and the glory of gear!

1:46 - That time in Hollywood that Dolye inspired Greg to learn how to self-accompany as a guitar player, and how it’s beneficial for songwriting, performance, etc
9:50 - Doyle’s induction into the Thumb Picker’s Hall of Fame
11:47 - Doyle’s book “The Lights of Marfa”, and what it was like recording an Audio Book
13:31 - How Doyle approves various level of preparedness in performing his library of (difficult) guitar music, the legend of Merle Travis, and a bit of playing on Doyle’s old Martin
29:45 - Celebrating the music of the Washington D.C. area, and more stories about Doyle’s inspiring musical circle
34:15 - Experimenting with different picking styles, and thoughts on the use of a thumb pick
37:52 - Some of Doyle’s guilty pleasures (bands, artists, etc)
42:28 - Doyle’s favorite owned gear
46:42 - How Doyle’s been spending his time during COVID

Total Length: 54:26

The Kentucky Headhunters' Greg Martin has long been revered for his hot playing and glorious tone. He's also a gear aficionado with an impressive collection and first-hand perspective on all things vintage guitar. Greg and Greg discuss "Hank the Plank", The Allman Brothers, Cream, and 100w Marshalls, all amongst other magnificent tonal tangents.

2:47 - Greg Martin’s ‘Licks From The Outhouse’, the unparalleled glory of playing through a cranked 100W Marshall, and tons of pedal talk!
14:55 - Greg’s amp setup when playing with The Kentucky Headhunters
18:49 - An average year in the life of a Kentucky Headhunter
22:53 - The power and importance of a good vibrato
31:34 - Going down the Cream rabbit hole… 
42:04 - Greg’s ’58 Les Paul “Hank” - the story, the acquisition, and a date with Greg Koch’s ’53 Telecaster
57:27 - The Allman Brothers in all their glory, and the musical genealogy that follows their legacy

Total Length: 73:34

Possibly the most successful and prolific country session guitarist of all time, Brent is at the top of the list of Nashville cats. You've heard him playing on literally hundreds of hit records. Greg and Brent get into what it's like to be a studio musician in Nashville, Brent's journey, and of course, his guitars and gear!

1:35 - Andy Wood’s Woodshed Guitar Experience, and what it was like for Greg and Brent to perform and attend during COVID-19.
2:55 - Brent’s time playing with the Mark O’Connor and The New Nashville Cats
5:28 - The magic of the thumb-pick, how Brent came into his playing style, and depth of learning found in early country guitar.
10:18 - What inspired Brent to move to Nashville, and how his transition into session work bloomed into quick success
19:45 - When in a session, it’s important to know what type of color palette to use when going to paint, you dig?  Amps, guitars, pedals, gear - when and where how to use what.
23:47 - Brent’s telecaster that Fender replicated, how he came by it, and a few of Brent’s early guitars.
29:42 - What brought Brent to play a B-Bender
35:06 - How sessions have changed over the years
42:05 - How musicians get paid during sessions - then and now
45:34 - Touring vs studio musician, and advice for new guitar-slingers looking to make a buck in Nashville
52:00 - Some good ol’ guitar stories

Total Length: 63:56

One of the most lauded guitar instructors and authors in history, Andy literally has hundreds of books and videos to his name. You may also find him playing slide guitar in the Dickie Betts band, collaborating with Double Trouble, contributing to the Experience Hendrix tours, or fronting his various solo projects. Greg raps with the frequent Guitar World contributor about Hendrix, the Who, Cream, SRV, Mick Taylor, and all things guitar!

1:55 - Jimi Hendrix relics, owned by the good Sir Andy Aledort himself.
7:03 - Monterey, California - the legendary jazz fest, the beauty of the town, and an exciting road trip to check out the stage of heroes.
12:57 - Some good ol’ (likely-never-been-heard-before) Who stories.  Who?  The Who!
17:10 - Hendrix, Greg’s love and obsession, Andy’s shared fanaticism, the bad-ass-ery of Cream, and the esoteric draw of guitar playing.
34:16 - Andy’s evolution on the guitar, how art was always a strong influence in his life, and the way music takes each of us in different directions
53:41 - The greatness of Stevie Ray Vaughn.
78:44 - A story about opening for Mick Taylor.

Total Length: 89:30

English guitarist Matt Schofield is a proud torchbearer of the British blues guitar. He has toured internationally with his trio for decades, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting and distinctive blues guitarists in the world. Greg and Matt talk about traversing lockdown, home gear vs. live gear, and Matt's inspirations, and his relocation to the US!

2:07 - How Matt’s spent 2020 under lockdown, the difficulty of a lack of human interaction, and thoughts on the future of life as a professional musician
9:22 - Matt’s recording rig - studio vs home setup, the Universal Audio Ox, his live rig, pedals, and gear, gear, gear!!
20:47 - Revisiting old records to improve your playing, refining your tone search, and improving your ear
32:51 - Matt’s experience coming up as a young musician in the UK, tracing the lineage of blue’s and roots music through the late, great B.B. King, and discovering Robben Ford
66:41 - Matt’s decision to move from the UK to pursue music in the States

Total Length: 77:24

Joe and Greg talk about gear and the guitar life! What more could you ask for? They discuss  Joe's new signature Epiphone, Greg's new amp, practicing, Clapton, Les Pauls, Pedals, and more. Greg kicks off Season 2 with Joe Bonamassa!

4:53 - The time Greg drooled incessantly over one of Joe’s original Fender Broadcasters, and a discussion about Telecasters in general
7:41 - Joe’s first vintage guitar - a Candy Apple Red ’72 Fender Strat
14:53 - Joe’s current perspective on vintage gear
18:29 - The importance of practice, putting in your 10,000 hours, and removing your ego from your instrument
26:43 - Eric Clapton, his diversity of a player, and his undeniable gusto as a player
37:45 - When Greg and Joe first met, and how they’re getting through stay-at-home life
43:34 - Joe’s new signature Epiphone guitar, Greg’s new tweed amp from Koch amps, and a whole lotta pedal talk
56:41 - Joe’s Les Paul journey through his career, and how amps play a very important role in his playing
72:01 - If Joe was forced to chose 2 of his guitars….

Total Length: 78:49