Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair

Jim Fairchild is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. For over 20 years, Jim has been a contributing member of west coast indie-rock luminaries Modest Mouse and Grandaddy . Between touring and recording, Jim has found to time to work with Gary Jarman (The Cribs), Joe Plummer (The Shins, Modest Mouse, CWK), Janet Weiss (Quasi, Sleater Kinney) and Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) on various projects....

VIOLET MAYUGBA is the guitarist, backing vocalist and a founding member of Destroy Boys, a punk rock band from Sacramento California. In this episode Zach and Violet discuss her punk rock roots, her obsession with the guitar and the catalyst behind forming the Destroy Boys. Violet tells us why she has gone from an "anti-pedal person" to a "pedal person", confesses her love for the Dookie Mod and g...

Pete Chramiec is a guitarist and songwriter living in Olympia, WA. He grew up in the 1980's Rhode Island hardcore scene where he co-founded the now re-united political hardcore progenitors, Verbal Assault . Following the closure of Verbal Assault's chapter one , he shifted his guitar wizardry to the Washington, DC based Rain Like The Sound Of Trains, an earnest and dexterous quartet with a multi-p...

"Hello and welcome to SEASON THREE OF THE ANTI-HEROES!!! Thank you all for making this possible! We start the season with a bang. Zach sits down with guitarist Ed Rodriguez from Deerhoof! Amongst his many other projects, Ed has been one half of Deerhoof's guitar wizardry for over 20 years. In this episode, we learn about Ed and Zach's mutual backgrounds, growing up "other" and finding themselves t...

Zach talks with Dan Mongrain from the seminal VOIVOD. To say he was excited about this one would be an understatement! Zach shares what Voivod meant to him and how that influence translates to his playing. They also talk about Dan's upbringing and how he went from an avid Voivod fan/obsessive to full time member. Dan explains how getting the call to replace legendary guitarist, Dennis "Piggy" D'Am...

Jon Gonnelli is the guitarist for Rye Coalition and Thin Ears. Though he grew up in the 90's in New Jersey, his influences weren't limited to east coast hardcore. He and his peers pointed their ears west to soak up the aggressive punk sounds of San Diego's Gravity records, the artful and heavy Tough and Go artists and of course the nearby community that centered around Gern Blandston Records. In t...

Today we have Blake Ibanez from the crossover thrash band,  POWER TRIP.  We  share our experiences growing up in Texas and how it shaped our perspectives on our musical lives. I finally get to declare  my admiration for him and how proud I am that we come from the same place. We discuss gear, his current set up and his musical influences.  Also, Blake tells us what inspired his new band FUGITIVE a...

 On today’s episode we get to spend time with Cody Votolato. Cody is a singer, songwriter and guitarist living in Los Angeles by way of Seattle. Cody was a founding member of The Blood Brothers and Head Wound City, recording and touring with both from the late 90’s to 2010. He has also performed and recorded with Cold Cave, Telekinesis and Anya Marina. More recently, Cody has released a record und...

Today I get to meet Sara L'Abriola! Sara was born into a musical family in 1998 in Garrison, New York. Her father is an award-winning sound designer and composer; her mother, a singer/guitarist and teacher.  Sara’s own early musical training included classical guitar at 8 years old, and at 13 she discovered and became passionate about the music of Django Reinhardt. More recently she she's toured a...

 Today is a great one! We talk to my old friend Kurt Ballou from Converge! Kurt is a guitarist and producer from Salem, Massachusetts.  In this episode we get a glimpse inside the mind of a true multi-hyphenate and polymath. Not only did Kurt invent a new style of hardcore with Converge but he's a luthier and gear designer with his own GodCity Instruments AND a successful and amazingly prolific pr...

 I'm so happy to sit down with my old friend Jesse Dayton! Jesse is a guitarist, author,  record producer and songwriter from Austin by way of Beaumont, Texas. In addition to cutting his teeth on punk rock throughout the 80's and 90s,  Jesse had a serious interest in country and rockabilly. Not only a founding member of The Road Kings, Jesse has recorded and toured extensively with Waylon Jennings...

A new Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair podcast is out! Eva Walker of the awesome band The Black Tones. From Zach: “I love this episode! I was new to The Black Tones and Eva but man, I was blown away with her energy and love for music, life and guitar! Also fun fact--Eva’s brother plays drums in her band, her husband plays bass and her MOM SINGS BACKING VOCALS!!! What?!?? Isn’t that insane?!!! It’s a tr...

" FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON TWO!!!!!!  Thank you all so much for joining me!  I couldn't be happier or more thankful to have this opportunity for another amazing season and we're starting it off with a BANG!!   Today I get to sit down with a buddy I met almost thirty years ago!  A little backstory: Chris Shiflett used to play in a punk band called, No Use For A Name in the 90's and I used to play in...

Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Dunlop Schecter Guitars

Today I get to sit down with a dear friend, ex-bandmate, amazing guitarist and all around great guy, Michael Derks! The man behind, “Balsac, The Jaws Of Death!” Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Dunlop Schecter Guitars

John Schmersal (Brainiac, Enon, Caribou): New Friends episode!! I didn’t know John before this interview but I’m glad I do now! We explore his methods, influences and gear and I try to not embarrass myself with my new friend. https://enon.bandcamp.com/ https://brainiac.bandcamp.com/ https://caribouband.bandcamp.com/ https://touchandgo.bandcamp.com/ Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Fin...

I get to sit down with the man who is probably the most influential and pivotal to modern punk rock guitar playing as we know it. Listen in as I punish Brian Baker for an hour and consistently remind him of this fact. Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Dunlop Schecter Guitars

I didn’t know Jessica or her music going into this one and I love that! I love that this podcast has introduced me to new folks and new music that I probably otherwise wouldn’t have stumbled across on my own. I can say that I’m now a fan of Jessica, her playing and her wonderful band, Deep Sea Diver. In this episode, we talk about her background, her guitar-for-hire experience, her playing style,...

Today I met a new friend and talked guitar with Dann Gallucci! We get to talk about what it’s like to write a ubiquitous guitar riff and the process behind it. Not to be missed!  Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Schecter Guitars Dunlop

What can you say about Buzz Osbourne that hasn’t already been said? I was nervous going into this one but ended up having a great conversation with one of our true modern icons and a true artist in every sense of the word.  Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Dunlop Schecter Guitars

Today I get to sit down and chat with my idol since I was 14.  Stephen is who I wanted to be when I grew up and I’m honored to call him a friend.  Listen to me chat with a true punk icon.   Support for the Anti-Heroes Podcast provided by Dunlop/MXR.   https://www.jimdunlop.com/ Explore more music podcasts at Ruinous Media. Find us on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Schecter Guitars Dunlop

Anti-Heroes is a podcast about guitar players that aren't on the covers of the guitar magazines but our host, Zach Blair thinks they should be.  Each episode we'll have discussions with players about their motivations, intentions and, best of all, their gear.  We'll talk about their careers and how they express themselves in the constantly changing world of guitar music.  Anti-Heroes is hosted by...