Couch Riffs

Our guest this episode is Sam Bam Koltun of Faster Pussycat , Budderside , and most recently Dorothy . Starting at an early age and encouraged by the Rockstar INXS reality tv show he picked up the guitar and hasn't rested since, moving to LA to attend Musicians Institute at 18 and staying in Hollywood after graduating. I had a great time hearing about what an encouraging environment he grew up in...

Our conversation this episode is with Peter Holmstrom of Portland, Oregon's The Dandy Warhols . Peter is a super cool and mellow fella and I enjoyed getting to know him in this brief first meeting. We have a mutual love of Koll guitars, clearly, and he owns one of the coolest Koll I've seen, the only baritone I've seen baring the name Koll. I hope you enjoy the conversation. We did have some tech...

Our guest on this episode is Wanz who most notably was featured on Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' break out hit Thrift Shop, was featured in the song's video, and subsequently toured around the world for a few years on the back of the success of that song. Wanz has such a cool story and his willingness to say yes is a testament to what can happen when you do just that. Check out his latest video The C...

Our guest on this episode is Vashon Island by way of Austin guitar hero, Ian Moore . Ian's story is really interesting to me and I had such a great time speaking with him and learning about growing up in Austin TX around many legends of guitar music. Currently Ian is focused on getting this year's SMASH concert in order and prepping to do some more live streams, including one on Facebook Live on N...

Our guest this episode is long-time Seattle guitar fixture Danny Newcomb. Danny has primarily been known for playing lead guitar in rock bands since his early teens, playing alongside Mike McCready and the brothers Friel, but for the last 5+ years Danny has been putting out about an album per year of killer, roots/Americana, song-forward guitar music and fronting his own band. In 2020 he released...

My guest on this episode is Bill Gould of Faith No More . This guy is largely responsible for my taste for the left-of-center music, now that I think back on it (after having this conversation) and I had such a great time speaking with him and learning about his early years in music and development, stories along the way, and what he's up to as of late. Please go check out his newest releases on t...

Our guest this episode is Katie Cole , Australian musician relocated to Nashville by way of LA. She's an Americana singer and songwriter as well as a Smashing Pumpkins contributor and former Glen Campbell side-person. Currently in the pandemic she is performing $1 live stream shows with fun themes and runs a great YouTube channel that you should go visit . She released a new single, Hands Tied , t...

Our guest this episode is Kristian Bush , one half of the Grammy winning country duo, Sugarland . Kristian was such a great hang and a fun story teller. 2020 has seen Kristian working on what he's best known for as well as re-releasing the long-though lost album by his 90s band, Billy Pilgrim . And, his band Dark Water along with his younger brother Brandon,  has been releasing and working on new...

Our guest on this episode is the incredible Nels Cline . As a longtime fan of Nels, he was listed among the first names on the wishlist I created when this podcast began. Our good friends at Fretboard Journal introduced us and this episode was happening! Over the years I was too intimidated to speak with Nels when I was within arm's length, even. It turns out he's one of the easiest folks you coul...

Our guest this episode is David Knudson , former guitarist of Minus the Bear and the now legendary Tacoma band, Botch . David has one of the most intense, unique, and identifiable guitar styles around and is known for his extensive use of the Line 6 DL4 delay pedal to create and trigger loops and samples live during shows. But, he's certainly not one to use effects as a crutch. David is a monster...

Our guest this episode is Clint Lowery of Sevendust . You know, sometimes you speak with someone for the first time ever and you have such a good time that you can't believe that you haven't ever met before. That's essentially the story of this podcast episode. Clint and I fired off immediately about Jake E. Lee and it just kept on rolling on talking guitars and music, growing up poor, and being s...

My guest this episode is bassist Zuri Appleby , a massive talent from Buffalo NY and currently living in LA. I thoroughly enjoyed connecting on our mutual experience of being Marine veterans and musicians and her perspective and experience was great to learn about. She is an incredible bassist and is currently offering online bass lessons. Click this link to get in touch with her. I hope you enjoy...

Our guest on this episode is Jack O'Shea , lead guitarist of the NY Punk band Bayside . I was introduced to him by a couple of friends who toured with him way back in the day but had never spoke before this conversation. What a crazy story he has and what a good time I had speaking with him. Even if you enjoy this conversation half as much as I did you're going to love it! If you enjoy the Couch R...

Our guest on this episode of Couch Riffs podcast is Dweezil Zappa . Dweezil has kept Frank Zappa's music alive on stage for the last 14 years or so with Zappa Plays Zappa, celebrating different eras of Frank's catalog and absolutely nailing the spirit of his father's intensely original music and distinct guitar style. On the day that this podcast episode will publish Dweezil will launch a new web...

Our guest on this episode is Jeff Schroeder, guitarist in Smashing Pumpkins. This conversation was super fun and dipped its toes deep in the waters of 80s metal and shred guitar territory as we shared stories of guitar heroes and vintage shred machines that we covet. Jeff even revealed some crazy shoegaze/noise guitar secrets and showed a piece of gear off that helps him achieve some of those tone...

This episode features Kyle Shutt, the mighty guitarist of Texan crushers The Sword. Kyle is a down to earth guy who humbly bounces back and forth from the biggest stages on earth to a working family guy life in Austin, TX. He's currently working on funding a book project called, Written In Stoned, at Kickstarter and PLEASE GO VISIT THAT LINK HERE . The project sounds super fun and amazing. I hope...

This episode features our friend and special guest Dave Rude who, after 14 years, is still the new guy in Tesla. A phenomenal guitarist and sweet guy, he's an easy hang a very casual conversationalist. He was also one of the earliest guests on the first version of what Couch Riffs used to exist as and absolutely shredded the Slash solo on Always On The Run by Lenny Kravitz. Dave Rude teaches guita...

Our guest for this episode is John Oates and I couldn't be happier. John has been living in Nashville and exploring his roots music roots for some time now. He has a live album coming out September 18 (2020) and it was recorded at the legendary Station Inn in Nashville, which you've all heard me talk about on the podcast in the past. I recently finished John's 2017 autobiography, Change of Season,...

Our guest this episode is Brian Nutter , former first-call Nashville studio and touring ace guitar player who most notably worked with Keith Urban for years. He's also toured with Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, and a list longer than my house improvements to-do list. These days Brian is building Nutter Guitars in his shop outside of Nashville and teaching building skills at the Musician's Institute...

Our guest on this episode is the incredibly cool and immensely talented Jean-Paul Gaster, the drummer of Clutch. I had the pleasure of watching a string of Clutch shows from side of stage and this experience got me re-excited about the band and specifically I was blown away by Jean-Paul's powerful drumming. I've been talking about that month's experiences for 10 years and finally got to ask him in...

Our guest this episode is the incredible Mark Holcomb of Periphery and Haunted Shores. Mark opened up about about sobriety in 2020 and we spoke about his early years as a player and growing pains with a band as you gain popularity and pressures build from within and from the outside. What a great time I had in this conversation and what a kind and humble guy Mark is. I hope you enjoy this conversa...

Our guest for this episode is the perpetually cool Terry Date, producer and mixing engineer for bands such as Soundgarden, Pantera, Deftones, Slayer and the list goes on. Terry's track record is very impressive and when it came time for my band, Loaded, to make an album with him a few years back I was well nervous. But, what an easy guy to work with and a man with legendary stories! I was happy to...

Our guest for this episode is Doug Kauer of Kauer Guitars out of Sacramento CA. Doug's embrace of technology to help him create and build consistent and great guitars is something we admire greatly at Couch Riffs. Did we mention that they're beautiful, too? And, if that wasn't enough Doug has a heart of gold and has done a number of charity guitars this year during a time when it would be very eas...

Our guest on this episode is Jack Bates of Smashing Pumpkins and also Peter Hook & The Light. We talk a bit about sports for a while, which is a first on the podcast I'm pretty sure. Then, we get around to talking about music, playing bass, touring, and life in the time of Covid. I had a great time speaking with Jack and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!  If you enjoy the Couch...

Our guest on this episode is the infinitely impressive and equally humble Paul Gilbert . Paul was in to the spotlight at a young age as a hyper-technical shred guitarist, GIT instructor, and leader of Racer X and later Mr Big. Over the years Paul's playing has evolved, matured, and continues to impress players and music fans all over the world. He continues to be a huge inspiration to me and it wa...