Acclaimed acoustic guitarist and harmonica player Tom Ball joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast. Tom reflects on the passing of Ash Grove founder Ed Pearl and the legacy of that incredible, highly influential venue. Tom attended innumerable shows at the Ash Grove and he regales us with some of his favorite memories of the venue, including one wild John Lee Hooker performance.   We also hear about Tom's new novel, Backstraw (link); how he's coping with the lockdown (Tom and Kenny Sultan famously played at Santa Barbara's Cold Spring Tavern every weekend for over four decades); his vintage guitar of choice and more.  This episode is sponsored by Izotope, Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your next Izotope order.

Podcast 315: Tom Ball

The Fretboard Journal magazine's weekly podcast, where we interview legendary guitarists, luthiers, and much more.

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Meet Sofia Wolfson, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, writer, and Fretboard Journal contributor who just released an incredible album called 'Imposing on a Hometown.' This project features a bunch of former Fretboard Journal subjects and contributors, including Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, Mason Stoops, and Harrison Whitford. Mostly though, it's a collection of great songs by an incredibly talented guitar fanatic.   During our chat, we talk about growing up in LA (and the unique venues that helped shape Sofia's music community), the beauty of the Gibson J-45, working at LA's famed Old Style Guitar Shop (where Reuben Cox famously makes rubber bridge guitar mods and started a mini-movement), the making of 'Imposing,' the influence of Margaret Glaspy and so much more. We also talk about Sofia's soon-to-be-published interview with Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker in the Fretboard Journal.   http://www.sofiawolfson.com/ https://sofiawolfson.bandcamp.com/album/imposing-on-a-hometown Give 'Imposing on a Hometown' a listen and then sit back and hear the story behind it here. It's a good one. Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)  Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)  Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 463: Sofia Wolfson

Guitarist Ethan Sherman returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his new acoustic album, 'Passages.' This contemporary bluegrass-inspired record features Ethan alongside Wes Corbett (banjo), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Thomas Cassell (mandolin), Avery Merritt (fiddle) and Ethan Jodziewicz (bass).   During our chat, Ethan explains why banjo recordings like Bela Fleck's 'Drive' were the unlikely inspiration to the album and its arrangements; talks to us about the gear that he used; gives us a follow-up on his 'String Theories' project with Adam Levy; and shares some insights from touring with Michael Bublé.  Check out Passages here: https://ethansherman.bandcamp.com/album/passages Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link)  Collings Guitars: https://www.collingsguitars.com  (Look at their pau ferro offerings:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C6_kzwmroYI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh;=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)   Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%)  Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 462: Ethan Sherman Returns

When guitarist Dr. Molly Miller isn't teaching music at USC, she's touring the world with Jason Mraz or recording with her own Molly Miller Trio. Or, as we learn today, she might be over at the tennis courts.   On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, Miller walks us through a week in her life, talks about the gear she uses, and hints at hosting a tennis tournament during the 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago. It's a fun chat with one of the guitar world's most dynamic performers.  Molly's trio has a new album out called 'The Ballad of Hotspur.' We can't recommend it enough. https://www.mollymillermusic.com  https://www.instagram.com/moodymill/ Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 461: Dr. Molly Miller

On this week's show, we have a candid chat with Seattle indie rock musician-turned-podcaster (Roderick on the Line, Omnibus) John Roderick. The Long Winters frontman was an early Fretboard Journal subject and guest on our podcast. This time around, we talk about John's break from music-making, the new songs he's been writing, the perils of pedal collecting and so much more. We also reminisce about the PNW indie rock community of the late '90s when John often shared a bill with Death Cab for Cutie, discuss the challenges of getting the band together when you're all in your 50s, and learn about the hacks that may (or may not) overcome writer's block.  We also talk gear. John is a gearhead and former employee of Emerald City Guitars. He has a unique perspective on guitars, amps, and pedal collecting and has been a friend of the Fretboard Journal since its inception. I think you'll love it.  Follow John here: http://www.johnroderick.com/ Must-listen: John on Song Exploder talking about "The Commander Thinks Aloud": https://songexploder.net/the-long-winters   John performing in our 2012 12 Days of Fretboard project:  https://www.fretboardjournal.com/video/twelve-days-fretboard-john-roderick/ Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 460: John Roderick

For the last several years, Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter has served as a touring guitarist for Dijon, Ryan Beatty, Lizzy McAlpine and others. Years ago, he was also one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest employees.   Ryan recently released his first solo project - a fascinating one-track, 20-minute long album called "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" - and on this week's podcast, we hear all about it. Ryan tells us about how this multifaceted composition came to be (with a little help from a rolling capo ad on social media), the gear that he used on it, his touring rig with Ryan Beatty, the LA guitar scene today, working with Mason Stoops, the perils of hot vocal mics, and so much more.   "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" is a beautiful and unique debut project and we hope you'll check it out.   Ryan's album on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/track/3K291dCwsQ9OJeCyv0VK4u?si=3e18abbab2ab4d32 Pre-Order the Vinyl:  https://rrmerch.shop/products/ryan-richter-as-good-a-place-as-any-vinyl Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org  Watch Ryan walk through his Dijon gear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF47JR6R4M Listen to Ryan host our G. Weller episode from 2023:   https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcasts/podcast-406-the-mystery-of-g-weller/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 315: Tom Ball

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