Couch Riffs

It was my pleasure to host Mike Byle in episode #51! I struck up a fast friendship with Mike while we were both working for PRS Guitars and bonded over our military pasts and punk rock music. But, we had PLENTY to talk about in this episode. Mike is a fantastic builder and creates incredible guitars and has a knack for intricate and beautiful inlay work. This is an absolute marathon of a conversat...

I was so stoked to have Scotti Hill of Skid Row as my 50th podcast guest! What a guy! What a player! I've seen Skid Row a couple of times, once in the early days and once recently and they are still kicking ass and playing their asses off as they always have. Scotti is a genuine human that is on a healthy and positive path and that lifestyle has elevated his entire game. Do go see Skid Row play! D...

This episode features the amazing Robb Benson of Seattle's Stereo Embers and the band we both spent a good portion of the 90s in, Nevada Bachelors. Robb's current and longest running band, Stereo Embers, has two great albums and a 7" single out on Hockey Talkter, Mike McCready's label. Nevada Bachelors will be reuniting and playing 2 shows at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle on February 7/8 opening u...

This episode features guest Danko Jones from Toronto. Danko is a longtime torch carrier for rock music and has expressed his passion for music in many forms, most notably by fronting his own, Danko Jones, band but also by producing a couple of podcasts (The Official Danko Jones Podcast and The Regal Beagle Podcast), publishing a book (I've Got Something To Say) writing articles for a number of pub...

This episode features guest Graig Markel of Seattle's Recovery Room Effects and Recovery Room Recording Studio . Graig spent a good portion of the 90s fronting the great New Sweet Breath before beginning to make solo records on his own, performing most or all of the instruments. These albums had a huge impact on me as they were released and I'm a big, big fan. A pedal he created, the Sound Destruc...

Our guest this episode (and last episode, listen and find out what this means exactly) is Wes Geer of (Hed)Pe, Korn, and most Rock to Recovery . We met about 8 years ago in a festival catering tent and hit it off and hung and talked a lot of times at festivals that summer and the next. We've stayed in touch and it has been really exciting and inspiring to see Wes develop Rock to Recovery since his...

My guest on this episode is Aaron Mlasko, builder of Mlasko Drums and former touring stage manager/tech for numerous bands including my band, Duff McKagan's Loaded. Aaron's resume is pretty impressive and I feel like one could mine him for hundreds of stories given the right setting and amount of time. Aaron is currently focusing his time on working at Memphis Drum Shop as a resident tech and buil...

The guest on this episode is Gabe Rowley of Rowley Guitar Co. This young luthier has been turning out beautiful guitars for 4 or 5 years now and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him in Alberta, Canada and beyond. We had a good go on the phone and covered lots of ground! I hope you enjoy our conversation.  If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast please consider auto-downlo...

This episode's guest is Luke Hilton of Stone Deaf FX out of the UK. Designed and built in the UK, these pedals are worth checking out. I have enjoyed using their flagship pedal, the PDF-1 , for about 7 years now and it is one of few pedals that ALWAYS is considered and often finalized on one of my pedal board versions no matter the genre or style.  If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please...

My guest on this episode is the finely focused and driven Jefferson Angell, best known as the frontman of Walking Papers . As a 20 year friend and fan of Jeff's body of work it was a treat to have him as a guest. We riffed about more stuff than I can possibly recount and list here. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed having the conversation. I believe it is a record-length episode. ...

This episode's guest is Scott Parker, former record label guy, (my) former band manager, and former manager of Foo Fighters' studio, 606. From a record store to the label mail room and onward Scott has seen a bit of action over the years. Let us hydrate you with these juicy tales! If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast please like and share episodes! I appreciate all of the support I've receiv...

Joining us for this episode is New York musician Kelsey Warren of Blak Emoji , a dark and sexy electro-pop band from NY, NY. The new album, Kumi , is about to get a deluxe re-release in 2020 with new tracks and remixes. Kelsey and I talked about his music school and jazz background, how he was detained at UK immigrations once, and a bunch more. I hope you enjoy!  If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs...

This episode's guest Danny Bland recently published his third book, We Shouldn't Be Doing This , a collection of his dark and unique haiku with a long list of contributions from his fancy friend guest photographers. This new release builds further upon his 2nd book, I Apologize In Advance For The Awful Things I'm Gonna Do , a collaborative collection of haiku and photography with his longtime frie...

This episode's guest is a double-whammy! Builder of Rock 'n Roll Relics Guitars AND guitarist in Jetboy , Billy Rowe hopped on the line for a long conversation with Mike Squires and covered LOTS of basses. Including being a humbled worker, space alien conspiracy theories, his earliest guitar builds, and how cool Jeff Beck is. Listen in to hear about a whole lot more! If you are enjoying Couch Riff...

This episode's guest is Bart Rose of Fort Worth Sound in Dallas/Ft Worth TX. I've know Bart since grade school but his early impression on my musical journey began in high school when he showed me how to play an Outfield song while he sang it. That was a lightning bolt moment for me. He was always a talented player and singer and began recording on a 4-track early on, focusing on making things sou...

Our guest this episode is NY native and man about town, James Carbonetti. James builds the beautiful and unique Carbonetti Guitars , plays guitar in Caveman , and operates The Guitar Shop NYC , an awesome store and workshop with a focus on smaller and independent builders and used gear. They host events in their impressive space and if you have the opportunity to attend one of these, I wholehearte...

This episode of the Couch Riffs Podcast we have Portland's finest, Hutch Harris of now defunct band, The Thermals . I've probably spent more hours listening to The Thermals than any other Portland band. Possibly any other NW band, to be honest. Anyway, you get the idea. I loved The Thermals and was sad to hear that they broke up last year. Hutch released a solo album earlier this year and is curre...

This episode of Couch Riffs our guest is Steven McSwain of McSwain Guitars . Absolutely ridiculous, intricate industrial/art guitars that do not disappoint! This man is responsible for my notorious Gold Sparkle Fretless Flying V as well as the intensely opulent Chrome Hearts Les Paul we commissioned for Duff McKagan's birthday one year. Pretty much anything you can imagine, this man can find a way...

This episode's guest is the one I've known the longest of any (so far), Wolfe Macleod of Wolfetone Pickups in Seattle WA. Wolfe and I grew up in the same small town and both left early in life, even as beautiful of a place that Granite Falls is. Wolfetone Pickups are hand built by Wolfe in his shop in North Seattle where he also houses his collection of swords, fantasy art, and Porsches. He's quit...

This episode's Couch Riffs guest hardly needs an introduction if you're a person in the guitar building community. Jon Sullivan of Sully Guitars has been around for years making guitars and friends in the guitar world because, well, he's really charming and likable. Oh, and he builds really killer guitars influenced by some of his favorite things: KISS, Randy Rhoads, Sparkles, and making sure some...

This episode of Couch Riffs features Toronto-based guitar maniac, Robb Cappelletto . If you aren't familiar with Robb's brand of prog/jazz/rock writing and playing, do yourself a favor. Go find him on Spotify , iTunes, or band camp . He's a monster! And, we enjoyed a long conversation about his death metal roots and transition in to the jazz world. His new solo album, Double Red, is due November 2...

This episode of the Couch Riffs Podcast features guest Dallas Seger of Seger Guitars out of Bangor, Maine. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, "The Seger YG model has the sickest carve you will find anywhere". I'll stand by that, too. Go check out his beautiful guitars online and on instagram and any chance you have to play one, take it.   If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast...

This episode of Couch Riffs Podcast features guest Tony Reed, the creator of one of my all-time favorite albums, Mos Generator's " The Late Great Planet Earth ". If you've never heard this album, do yourself a favor and give it a spin with a good set of headphones on. I've included the link for you above. You won't regret it.  But, Tony is a busy man in the studio and on the road so to minimize hi...

This episode features independent pedal builder and musician Johnny Water of Daredevil Pedals , The Last Vegas, and The Evictions who are about to record a new album. Started in Chicago, Daredevil Pedals is putting out some of the coolest pedals you will find around today including The Atomic Cock, The Earl Slick Signature Octave Fuzz, and the Ron Asheton LTD Edition Real Cool Fuzz.  https://dared...

This episode features guitar amp builder Derek Springer of Rola Amps in Tacoma, WA. If you've seen a rock show in Seattle in the last 8 years or so there is a pretty good chance you've seen and heard a Union Jack or Rola Amp delivering the goods. They're owned and played by a literal who's who of Seattle rock musicians and they certainly seem to be finding a wider and wider audience.  Be sure to g...