Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

Joel is "a titan in Chicago's roots music scene" -AP , playing everything from jazz to honky tonk with a style that is decidedly his own.  Greg and Joel get into the gristle, covering Joel's musical journey, and also what it's like to be a guitar player in this day and age. 

2:08 - Joel’s time playing with Harmonica legend Jim Liban, and shared woes of guitars lost to impulsive trades
8:17 - Joel’s influences, and how he became the player he is today (from Rockabilly to Merle Travis)
15:17 - Moving to Chicago, making a living as a musician, and how he’s able to self-produce timeless guitar music
22:33 - Keeping the bills paid as a musician during the pandemic, and keeping the repertoire fresh
37:40 - Joel’s view on social media as a guitar player
54:25 - Loop pedals, getting old, and Honda Civics


Total Length: 80:39

One of Guitar World's Top 50 Guitarists, Gretchen Menn first grabbed everyone's attention with Zepparella, an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band that has been turning heads for years.  Gretchen's work goes far beyond Zeppelin, and today Greg and her get into the details!

2:51 - The joys of playing, being able to focus focus focus as a player during lockdown, and the art of avoiding professional humiliation
6:14 - Gretchen’s take on playing Led Zeppelin tunes live for a living — a mix of staying true to the spirit of Jimmy Page and finding her own personal voice
10:07 - Zeppelin — bootlegs, off-nights, and the greatness that was and forever will be
18:20 - Gretchen’s latest album, and her approach to composition
23:58 - The study of classical guitar, fine-tuning your practice technique, Gretchen’s foray in pilot’s school, and bringing your guitar on an airplane
47:17 - Steve Morris, Frank Zappa, The Dixie Dreggs, Jeff Beck, and the great players who pull Classical influence into Rock
54:39 - Gretchen’s touring plans

Total Length: 67:17

An incredibly influential acoustic guitarist, Andy's "Drifting" YouTube video went viral long before "going viral" was a thing. Years later, Andy has easily cemented his place as the standard-bearer for modern, percussive guitar playing (pioneered by players like Michael Hedges, Don Ross, and others, and then brought to new heights by Andy).  Greg and Andy get into the Acoustic Gristle today! 

1:58 - Andy’s current life and playing schedule during Winter ’21 with Tommy Emmanuel, and his early influences
7:07 - Andy’s unique playing style, and what drew him to utilize the body of the guitar as a percussion instrument
13:31 - How Andy approaches live performances, leaving space for dynamic improvisation, bringing guitars on tour, and playing with fanned frets
25:12 - Growing up and living in the Midwest, and life during lockdown
32:34 - The beauty of playing guitar for the sake of having fun, eating for the sake of eating, and travel
39:32 - What’s coming down the pipeline for Andy
44:10 - Andy’s new label and touring plans

Total Length: 62:26

What do Etta James and Paul McCartney have in common? The answer is Brian Ray, the talented guitarist (and bass guitarist) who has been an essential piece of both of their bands! Brian also has an extensive vintage guitar collection, so get ready for some gear talk with Greg!

1:06 - Brian’s INSANE guitar collection, and the allure and beauty of vintage guitars
8:00 - Brian’s indoctrination into Rock ’n Roll
20:21 - The blessing and importance of parents’ loving support, and Brian’s progression as a Rock ’n Roll pirate
25:20 - Etta James and Brian Ray
31:40 - The mystique of 1950-era Burst Les Pauls, and Greg’s vintage Strat & Tele
42:40 - Brian’s personal and professional relationship with Paul McCartney, what it’s like performing with the group, and so much more
59:43 - Brian’s signature guitars
63:37 - Plans for the future

Total Length: 68:20

Jazz guitar potentate Bruce Foreman is not only a monster player. He is also an extremely funny and entertaining individual with some great stories. Dig in as Greg and Bruce chew it up good!

2:12 - Monterey, California - the beauty, the mystique, and the home of one Bruce Foreman
6:26 - Where and how it started for Bruce (guitar and music, that is)
12:47 - Bruce’s personal foray into jazz, and the importance of understanding and loving the music
19:39 - Instagram, and life at home as a restless touring musician during a pandemic, and the amazing story of inheriting a legendary guitar
41:22 - Don’t hate - appreciate!  The importance of being open to different styles and sounds
45:47 - Recording guitar with Clint Eastwood
59:14 - Life on the road, and thoughts on the future of touring

Total Length: 78:46

Proudly brandishing the moniker of "Guitar Nerd", Pete Thorn is among the most revered guitarists on the interwebs, where his reviews and how-to videos garner thousands of views on YouTube and Instagram. Pete built his guitar reputation as a go-to session guitar guy with famed producer Linda Perry in LA and also spent years on the road with the likes of Chris Cornell, Don Henly, Melissa Etheridge, Jewell, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, and others.  Greg and Pete get into the gear AND the gristle!

1:13 - What’s this about playing guitar in a vampire musical in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?
3:29 - Getting out of the house to play, perform, or travel as the pandemic winds down
6:14 - The Pete Thorn signature guitar from Suhr Guitars, and gear acquisition during the pandemic
9:13 - Pete’s interest in love with recording and audio production, and the delicate intricacies of performing live with backing tracks
31:14 - Growing up in Canada, and moving to Los Angeles to attend the Guitar Institute
40:16 - Pete’s early influences, and how his taste evolved over time
46:10 - Pete’s gear, then and now
57:50 - Thoughts on being a session player
63:06 - The near future for Pete, and all that he has planned

Total Length: 71:08

Israeli-born and Chicago-based blues and jazz guitarist Guy King has spent decades wowing audiences with his unique style and unusual approach. Greg and Guy get into his tone and many other varieties of gristle!

3:16 - The meeting of the musicians - when Greg and Guy met to jam with Nick Moss, Josh Smith, and Dave Spector, and Guy’s new record
4:33 - Guy’s tone, style, and personal flavor - how the heck does he do it, and the importance of writing music that uplifts your soul
28:40 - Dynamics when playing on low-gain, and Guy’s thoughts on amplifiers
36:23 - What Guy’s up to after the release of his record (during a pandemic)
40:45 - Playing locally versus touring
54:31 - Popular music, and where emotional and technical complexity lies within the popular arena

Total Length: 70:21

Veron has long defied guitar genres, expectations, and conventions. His explosive work leading Living Colour turned everyone's head in the age of hair metal, and ever since he has never stopped innovating and creating in new and unexpected ways.  Greg and Vernon Reid get deep into music and metaphysics in ways that only they can. Get ready!

1:30 - Upcoming tours with Living Colour, the complexities of touring during COVID, and a discussion about the in-depth social and metaphysical differences in types of music
16:47 - The evolution of guitar player, music, and audio engineering over time
24:58 - Music - it’s all about the context, and who you are as a player
34:44 - How Vernon approaches getting better at guitar after a lifetime of playing, and thoughts on improvisation
51:14 - Jef Lee Johnson, and how some of the greatest players alive can remain under the radar their entire lives
63:14 - Today’s modern politics, and cancel culture in music

Total Length: 90:25

Tomo Fujita is one of the most well-known guitar teachers on the planet, famously beloved by his current and former students at Berklee College of Music (including John Mayer). His YouTube and Instagram channels have a treasure-trove of useful lessons for guitarists of all levels, and their popularity led Guitar World to name him among "15 of the greatest all-star guitar teachers" (a list that also included the Gristleman himself).

2:57 - What drew Tomo to the guitar, the influence of Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton, and earning a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music
9:40 - Graduating from Berklee, transitioning to becoming a professor, and the early years as a teacher
13:27 - Tomo’s website ‘Guitar Wisdom’, and the importance of finding balance in your life
20:24 - How to navigate lesson plans for students who aren’t exactly excited about the material
33:20 - Performing in the US versus Japan & other countries
35:36 - Tomo’s favorite type of guitars, unique short-scale guitars, and vintage guitars
46:26 - Playing the guitar in the time of COVID
50:16 - Tomo’s relationship with Ibanez Guitars, and his work with them as an advisor to help build out better guitars for less
62:15 - How to stay motivated

Total Length: 69:25

Elliot Easton redefined what it means to be a guitar hero as a founding member of The Cars. His melodic and concise solos are absolutely essential to those classic Cars records. Elliot and Greg connect about The Cars, Elliot's early years, and his individual approach to the guitar!

1:36 - The latest and greatest with Elliot as the pandemic winds its way down (hopefully)
5:57 - A young Elliot growing up in New York and his obsession with guitar from early on
14:49 - Elliot’s time with The Cars and his approach to soloing
23:04 - The formation of The Cars
31:29 - The evolution of early The Cars arrangements, and the fashion decisions behind the band
33:21 - Elliots rig when touring regularly with The Cars
36:33 - Performing and playing as a Lefty
42:49 - Downtime with the guitar - practice versus play
46:57 - Elliot’s first show (will blow your mind)

Total Length: 58:37