Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

Tom Quayle is an extraordinary musician, improviser, composer, cat,instruction-app entrepreneur, and six-string visionary hailing from Leeds in the UK. A master of legato playing, he has played all over the world giving him acclaim that means he can count Dweezil Zappa, John Petrucci, Brett Garsed, Greg Howe, Andy Timmons, and Tim Miller amongst his many fans. Greg and Tom get into the transatlantic gristle! 3:02 - The latest and greatest from Tom, from video courses, new apps, and lots of guitar9:07 - Tom’s definition of a “legato” style of playing the guitar, and a few greats to help inspire your ear18:17 - The importance of alternate picking, and honing in your own personal style of picking30:30 - Tom’s formal guitar education36:03 - The importance of a good teacher, and the influence of how music in the family shapes us as players52:46 - Players who creatively combine jazz and other styles of guitar60:10 - Buc-ee’s and tacosTotal Length: 65:32

The mighty Johnny Hiland astounds with his telecaster manipulations and chicken-pickin'-fricassee par excellence.  Known far and wide for his blazingly fast and tasty playing, Johnny is a guitar veteran of the Don Kelley Band (a Nashville institution where other veterans such as Guthrie Trapp, Brent Mason, JD Simo, and more got their start), and he's also played on records for artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, Hank Williams III, and Randy Travis, just to name a few. He was signed to Steve Vai's Favored Nations label in 2004, and he's been ripping it up ever since.  Johnny tells Greg his story as they get into the gear and the gristle!2:12 - Thumbpickin’ (and how Johnny’s thumb is acting up)6:05 - The birth of MTV and being able to SEE how people played guitar, and the importance of the pick, and noiseless pickups12:40 - Johnny’s first real guitar and rig, and the glory of T and S style guitars22:27 - The influence of early chicken pickin players, B-Benders, and The Byrds27:55 - The Rockabilly Revival, Danny Gatton, and Roy Buchanan37:23 - Johnny’s decision to drop out of school and move to Nashville, and growing up an absolute fiend for the guitar47:02 - Johnny’s move from Nashville to Virginia, and knowing its never too late to make a good living as a musicianTotal Length: 67:21

Duane is an incredible guitarist and songwriter, who has forged an impressive musical career by any standard. The son of The Allman Brothers Band's legendary guitarist Dickey Betts (who named him after Duane Allman), he has readily filled those large shoes with aplomb, appearing for years with his father, and also with bands like Dawes, Jamtown (Donovan Frankenreiter, G. Love, and Cody Dickinson), Whitestarr, The Allman Betts Band, and his own projects, such as Duane Betts & The Pistoleers. Greg and Duane get into the gear and gristle! 2:16 - Greg playing with Duane and the Allman Family Revival, and digging in to Duane’s playing7:05 - Growing up a Betts, Duane’s early musical taste, and his pull to the guitar12:50 - What it was like having vintage Gibsons lying around the house, and Duane’s decision to go into music professionally18:05 - Splitting time between the Allman Family Revival and Duane’s solo material, and Duane’s upbringing as a young Floridian 26:42 - Gear, gear, more gear, and TONE!43:36 - Stage volume - then and now50:43 - Talking about The Blues and other musicians, father and son, and some tour talkTotal Length: 60:12Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

North Mississippi Allstars' frontman Luther Dickinson is a great guitar player, musician, and human being! Greg and Luther talk about their recent appearance together with the Allman Family Revival, his influences, Luther and Cody's famous father, producer Jim Dickinson, 80s rock, slide guitar, and all kinds of other fun gristle. Dig it!2:25 - Luther’s time touring with the Allman Betts band, how he linked up with The Revival, and growing up an old (music) soul11:17 - Growing up with a musically iconic father, distinguishing the differences between styles of play over the years, and integrating different influences21:25 - Luther’s transition from Memphis to Nashville, Luther’s work as a producer, and Luther’s favorite guitars28:32 - Guitar fever33:22 - The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and the legacy of improvisation44:19 - 1984 - the year of Van Halen, Purple Rain, Greg’s wet toe into Hair Metal, and missing out on quality greatness over the years54:04 - Derek Trucks, Sonny Landreth, and a thick conversation on slide guitar70:44 - The inspiration of ‘the random element’ of playing guitar, and grooving on the upbeats78:27 - The last days of Hendrix, and the favorite songs to play on guitarTotal Length: 96:10Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Johnny Stachela is the firey slide guitar player from the Duane Betts Band, The Allman Betts Band, The Allman Family Revival, and many other renowned projects, all the while sporting his SG into his Fender Super Reverb and causing mayhem. Today they talk about the Allman Brothers, Dickie Betts, gear, and gristle!2:17 - Playing with Duane Betts, and how Johnny fell in to playing with the Allman Family Revival, and early influences8:08 - Growing up a young bluesman in high school14:07 - When the SG takes hold of Johnny, and how to avoid guitar hoarding20:50 - The early days of the Fender Super Reverb (the amp world’s best-kept secret), and the pains of inflation28:41 - Playing in different tunings, hanging with the old guard of the Allman Brothers band, and vintage guitars36:16 - Dickie’s signature sound, how he achieved it, and the intricacies of different Allman Brothers parts47:33 - The Allman Family Revival set list, Johnny’s 2023 calendar, and the complexities of record deals52:12 - Johnny’s thoughts on the “music game” in 2022Total Length: 57:37Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

An astonishing axeman of the highest order, Jimmy has been revered throughout the jam-band world and beyond for decades. He's a founding member of Col. Bruce Hampton's Aquarium Rescue Unit, the longtime lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, duo partner of John McLaughlin, and he's been a member of formidable bands like Jazz Is Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Project Z, Derek Trucks Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, the Other Ones and The Dead. If that wasn't enough he also has several great solo albums to his name! Greg and Jimmy get into his story and of course, the gear! 2:14 - Greg’s early exposure to Jimmy, falling in love with him and his playing, and Jimmy’s early exposure to music10:06 - Music school, the power of good teaching, and the mysteries of Jazz20:53 - Learning parts and playing with The Dixie Dregs29:28 - Playing with Col. Bruce Hampton39:23 - The evolution of Jimmy continues - recording with Col. Bruce Hampton, Widespread Panic, and more45:15 - Gear talk!58:05 - Jimmy’s current rig, the importance of having an overdrive box on hand, and the nuance of understanding proper amplificationTotal Length: 73:21Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

You've seen Val MacCallum on stage with Jackson Browne, Vonda Shepard, Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Loretta Lynn, and others, and you've heard his studio work on countless other records! Greg and Val get into the gristle and the gear!2:50 - Val’s recent tour with Jackson Browne, and Val’s early work with some Milwaukee legends9:06 - Playing professionally with players of different leveled proficiency (say that 3x fast), and different dynamics that exist15:12 - Surprising yourself 16:49 - Val’s Firebird (and a sampling of other treats)18:50 - Guitar talk27:43 - Home improvements for guitar storage, and recording guitar31:10 - Recording professionally (in Val’s experience)33:11 - Pedals and amps and lots of drool56:42 - The subtle truths of getting work, and a few experiences along the wayTotal Length: 67:06Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Devon Allman has established himself as a band leader, writer, and guitarist who is proudly carrying the torch for his famous bloodline while also bringing those roots into a new era with a new perspective.  Greg gets into Devon's musical journey, his many projects, and of course his family and the musical congress therein!3:45 - The subtle intricacies of the Allman Brothers, ingesting material to fully understand the math, and bringing guitars on tour8:57 - Growing up an Allman, and finding your way12:19 - Honeytribe, and Devon’s dive into writing his own music15:18 - Integrating blues and jazz into improvisation, and playing with Dan Toler26:40 - St. Louis, Corpus Christi, and the family ties that bind31:34 - Was the Almighty Gregg Allman supportive of his son pursuing music?37:41 - The internet, the Golden Age of Learning, the drawbacks of social media, and carrying on the legacy51:49 - Greg growing up an Allman Brothers freak, and his attempt to convert the jam band generation62:45 - Discovering Deep Purple, the Police, and a few great books to inspireTotal Length: 74:10Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Jon Gomm is an acoustic guitar player extraordinaire and singer-songwriter of doom and destruction, along with playing a pretty wicked drum set on his guitar as well! Greg and Jon cover a lot of gristle in this episode!2:00 - That time Jon watched Greg at a clinic, and then played adjacent each out in Germany4:47 - A typical week for Jon - touring, playing, writing, and the like11:09 - Jon's touring rig15:14 - Jon's unique playing style, when different techniques were introduced, and B-Benders18:32 - Influences, and striking out on his own23:27 - Music degrees, the hordes of money they help you accumulate, and early gigs31:37 - A typical set when Jon performs33:16 - Being a showman on stage34:34 - Different tunings, and those mistakes that live on YouTube forever38:45 - Developing friendships through the love of music, and the modern influx of music education and technicality46:11 - What's Jon been listening to recently48:27 - What's coming down the road for Jon, and thoughts on physical pressings56:36 - The pressure of the modern music industry ($$$)Total Length: 65:44Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Can you imagine playing with Frank Zappa on your first gig as a young man? That's what Mike Keneally did! He's gone on to record and tour with the likes of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Beer for Dolphins, and all kinds of various complex musician luminaries. Greg and Mike get into the grease on this episode of Gristle!5:54 - What’s coming down the road for Mike: a solo band, the Zappa band, and ProgJect10:39 - Honoring the creative ideas that have been sitting on the shelf 20:10 - The interesting considerations you fail to see until you have 3 or more different projects under different names, and understanding the metrics23:18 - Frank Zappa: his improv style, his roots, and everything in between36:46 - Looking back on Frank’s work, and stepping into his band as a young professional39:17 - What Mike does to maintain his complex repertoire49:27 - Loving and respecting the music in order to keep things fresh and fun59:01 - Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar EscapeTotal Length: 65:09Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Guitar player extraordinaire and internet leviathan Rhett Shull joins Greg this week! His sensational YouTube channel is one of the most popular sources for all things guitar, but Rhett's canorous content creation doesn't stop there. You'll find him on TikTok, Instagram, hosting the Dipped in Tone podcast with Zach Broyles, creating excellent online courses, and touring the world with his band. We aren't sure when he sleeps!  Greg and Rhett cover many gristle-infused guitar and internet topics on this podcast!2:21 - Life in Atlanta, a studio build, and oiling the YouTube machine6:06 - The importance of engaging with your audience, and the power of the internet15:24 - The glory of the Les Paul, and its evolution over the years24:07 - Controversy aside, Eric Clapton holds his place his history 28:32 - Connecting the dots between your heroes, their heroes, and their heroes heroes34:34 - Being your own boss vs being the hired gun39:47 - Tone woods, and does it matter?55:17 - One must not forget Albert King, and appreciating the guitar greats of our kindTotal Length: 63:00Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Jared has been dominating the world with great rock powers and blues savagery! Greg and Jared talk about their Wisconsin roots, and they get deep into the Gristle and gear. A global ambassador for Gibson Guitars, Jared gets into the development of his signature guitar. They also talk about primal jams and tone! Feast!2:35 - Jared’s journey, from WI to LA, and off to Nashville, and running with the idea of going solo10:57 - The luck and joy of seeing the world as a traveling musician14:19 - Jared’s signature guitar - the inspiration behind it, and the journey through its development23:12 - Guitar consumption: buying, playing, collecting - what’s your poison, and understanding the assignment29:01 - Manufacturer relationships33:41 - Jared’s new single, the most recent iteration of his band (circa October ’22), and Jared’s approach to recording47:57 - PRIMAL JAMS AND TONE (are we talking about Led Zeppelin?), and the best guitar-techs in the planet58:13 - Road stories, the thrill of touring abroad, and the challenges of being a working musicianTotal Length: 79:34Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Carl is one funky individual! He's toured the world as a member of Branford Marsalis' Band and he has worked with Bill Withers, Larry Carlton, and other luminaries. Carl Burnett is a funk guitar superstar, with countless sessions, videos, and television scores to his name. He Greg the lowdown on his journey (and his gear) on today's installment of Chewing the Gristle!2:31 - Poppa Was A Rollin’ Stone!4:01 - The magic of the wah 7:31 - Carl’s time in New York, that time Greg and Carl met for some music savagery, and the Telecaster15:02 - Modern vs vintage instruments, the Branford Marsalis years24:25 - The art of improvisation vs through-composed material, Carl’s start as a musician, influences, Larry Carlton, and so much more45:18 - The power of relationships, publishing vs work-for-hire, the power of live music, and the unequivocal symbiosis of playing with other musiciansTotal Length: 65:06

A "slide guitar potentate of unparalleled proportions", Sonny's slide work is known far and wide for his signature technique. As evidenced by his influential work with John Hiatt, Landreth's amazing playing always serves the song first. Eric Clapton says, “Sonny Landreth is probably the most underestimated musician on the planet, and also probably one of the most advanced.” His own albums have featured Mr. Clapton, along with Eric Johnson, Vince Gill, and others. He tells Greg about his journey from Chet Atkins to Delta Blues and beyond in today's gristle-filled conversation.2:08 - Sonny’s relationship with John Hiatt; what brought them together, and the fun of reuniting7:52 - Sonny’s slide playing; how it developed, cool tips and tricks, and thumb pickin’16:10 - Influences and adding to that stew of tasty morsels to feast upon21:29 - The magic of Sacred Steel slide guitar25:05 - Sonny’s tone, and how it lends to his creative voice28:12 - Digging through old videos to discover the secrets of tone and creativity and the gear acquisition conundrum35:48 - TONE TALKTotal Length: 40:50Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

Paul is a legend in the guitar world known for his super-herculean chops, and also because he is a "musician with massive musicality ". You might have discovered him during his time in the mind-bending Racer X, or of course with the international MTV super-stars Mr. Big. Maybe the Power Drill Guitar technique got your attention. Paul Gilbert has kept his fans faithful for decades by delivering the best shred guitar around. Additionally, he's a hell of a nice guy who is also super-funny, which makes for a delightful conversation with Greg on the Season 4 opener of Chewing the Gristle!1:55 - Paul plays upright bass??  Plus happy mistakes, learning new things, and Van Halen10:06 - Paul’s musical journey18:53 - Improvisation; when and how Paul developed his improv chops22:46 - Paul and gear; obsession or necessity, and Paul’s current live and studio rigs31:18 - Paul on the road - how much time in a bus vs at home?35:55 - Learning, teaching, and sponging styles from the greats.38:09 - Paul’s vocal influences, slide tricks, and Paul’s signature guitar48:16 - Portland, OR, Paul’s journey to the Pacific Northwest, and familial music traits57:40 - New music: future or past, and hearing loss61:55 - What’s next for Paul, what is it about music that is so magical, and CATS.68:57 - The ZepTotal Length: 78:20Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

From YouTube to Bon Jovi, Phil X is known worldwide for his amazing guitar playing and larger-than-life persona! As one of the first YouTube guitar heroes, Phil was an internet influencer before that was even a thing. From his humble beginnings on the Fretted America website to filling the shoes of Richie Sambora to become Bon Jovi's main guitarist, Phil's story (and playing) is both incredible and inspiring!1:48 - What’s Phil up to??4:29 - From Canada to Los Angeles, and how the gospel of Phil X never changed8:53 - Phil’s rise to fame through internet videos13:26 - From stadiums to clubs, the continued trouble of COVID, and the new Phil X signature guitar25:17 - Amps and pedals!  What is Phil rocking these days, and what does he bring with him when playing with Bon Jovi34:31 - How to create your own sound while staying true to the iconic sound you hear in your head39:54 - The ES-335, and delicious, delicious vintage gearTotal Length: 56:40Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

A veteran of Glenn Hughes' band, the Alan Parsons Project, Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, and his own Cosmosquad, Jeff Kollman is a guitarist of the highest order.  Greg and Jeff talk about his journey, his gear, and his musicianship in today's episode!2:30 - Hail from Toledo, OH - we have the great and mighty Jeff Kollman!4:30 - Jeff’s jazz playing, his influences, and the importance of good teachers10:37 - Jeff’s move from Toledo to California, and the grueling life that Los Angeles can bring15:30 - Getting tied in to the session-scene, and transitioning to life on the road18:30 - Jeff’s gear over the years, and the mystery of vintage amps and guitars25:45 - The integration of digital, and a few fun stories35:02 - More stories of fun, hilarity, and rock savagery40:51 - Does Jeff have any eyes on Nashville?46:58 - Elliot Easton and The Cars, more gear talk, and the Jeff’s future touring plans55:17 - Playing with The Alan Parsons Project, the tricky decisions surrounding self-distribution as an independent artist, and the new generation of guitar players and content creatorsTotal Length: 76:38Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

You might know Mr. Tackett as Little Feat's guitarist, but Fred's contributions to the musical world are simply staggering, with literally hundreds of sessions to his credit, on mandolin and trumpet, as well guitar. Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Nicolette Larson, Barbara Streisand, Jimmy Webb, and countless others have called on Fred's musical services over his incredible career. Why? Because Fred is a monster player and genuine gentlemen to boot!  He gets into the gristle with Greg on today's episode.1:34 - Fred’s signature ‘Texas Twister’ guitar lick3:48 - Fred’s INSANE discography as a session guitar player, trumpet player, and mandolinist, and what it was like back in the heyday of session work11:26 - How Fred’s gear changed over the years as a session player, and packing days to pack the bank15:27 - Fred’s time with Little Feat - the how, the when, the where…24:46 - Transitioning from the studio to the road…with Bob Dylan34:51 - Fred’s rig while playing with Dylan36:13 - From Bob Dylan to Bob Seger37:05 - How session musicians most often get paid39:42 - Little Feat’s ‘Let It Roll’ record, balancing the line between session and tour work, adjusting band members, a few of Fred’s favorite tunes, and guitars!51:52 - Fred’s musical background growing up in ArkansasTotal Length: 68:03Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

If you follow all things guitar on Instagram, then you've likely been amazed by Nathaniel's virtuosity at some point. Often the face (and hands) in the Chicago Music Exchange videos, Nathaniel's playing is spectacular on seemingly any guitar, in any style.  Greg and Nathaniel have a lot in common, and they explore countless varieties of glorious gristle in this episode!2:35 - Nathaniel’s unique sound, and how it developed10:01 - Nathaniel’s career in soccer (football for those in the rest of the world) prior to guitar11:57 - How Nathaniel got into guitar growing up in the UKr17:07 - Eric Clapton, open tunings, records that changed our lives, the power of improvisation, and The Zep!29:44 - A typical week as a working guitarist in Chicago31:46 - Greg and Nathaniel’s upcoming show, and being considerate when sitting in with other guitar players43:19 - The power of pause and rewind when learning from the greats, and having fun online57:31 - You gotta embrace the filth, and being proud of your playingTotal Length: 71:08Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.

As the guitarist on the Voice, extreme versatility is a requirement for Justin Derrico. What sets him apart from other guitarists is the passion, skill, and personal style he brings to whatever he is called on to play. Also, as Pink's main guitarist for years, he has his road credentials as well!  Greg and Justin break it all down in today's episode.1:31 - What’s new with Justin - master classes with Fishman, playing guitar, and a whole lot of hanging out3:33 - Jimi Hendrix. Nuff said.7:22 - The blessings of the YouTube-verse, and the ability to deep dive into guitar wormholes 13:28 - A catchup with Greg Koch, Wildwood, and Fishman16:49 - Justin’s gig with P!nk and The Voice, and how his personal style carries through30:00 - A day in the life working as a guitar player on The Voice35:22 - What kind of gear does Justin play with on tour versus in the studio51:54 - Self-accompaniment as a guitar player59:08 - Les Pauls, Tele, pickups, and more!Total Length: 67:20Fishman Dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug-in. Wildwood Guitars One of the world’s premier retailers of exceptional electric and acoustic guitars.