Couch Riffs (Michael Squires)

Our guest this episode is Ryan "Go Time" Moore, a fella I've traveled more miles with than most other humans and a person I love deeply. Go Time is an enormously talented drummer and crushes it in Portland's Hippie Death Cult. The band has 2 releases coming in May '21, a full-length and a split, and you can pre-order it through their website HERE. 

Thank you so much for listening to Couch Riffs! If you're enjoying the podcast or our cover song videos, please support us at PATREON. patreon.com/couchriffs

Our guest for this episode is Kirk Douglas of The Roots. Kirk has probably found himself in more extraordinary musical situations than any of our guests before him. In addition to holding down the guitar position in The Roots and on Jimmy Fallon's Late Night Show he released an album last year by the name of Hundred Watt Heart. If you're a fan of nasty guitar riffs and tones, Gibson's through Marshalls, and vocals that meet eye to eye with outstanding guitar performances you should check this album out. We talked about the musicians that have influenced him throughout his career, how he landed in The Roots, his connection to Vernon Reid, and of course the infamous Prince incident. I couldn't help myself, we were already half way there in natural conversation! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much I did. 

If you like the Couch Riffs podcast and/or our videos please let the world know by leaving a 5-star rating and positive review for us! It helps us stay in the algorithm and get recommended to other folks to listen. And, that is what allows us to continue to get great guests for you. And, if you LOVE Couch Riffs, please support by either sharing our podcasts and videos, offering pledge support at anchor.fm/couch-riffs, or visiting couchriffs.com and navigating to our Etsy store to get yourself on of our trucker hats or super comfortable 100% cotton t-shirt printed by Ink Brigade in Portland OR. Thank you for listening and for your continued support! 

We are pleased to have Matt Muckle as our guest this episode, our most recent for Drummer Awareness Month. Matt thoroughly impressed me when he delivered his drums for our video performance of When Will I Be Loved (feat. Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson and Jeff Rouse). I immediately started following him on socials and watching with much delight as I revealed more and more depth to his playing, nailing every feel and groove with conviction and convincingly. We dive right into how he's able to do that in this conversation and barely come up for air. This one flew by! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast or our accompanying quarantine covers please support us via PATREON. Your support is integral in the continuing and evolving improvements for these shows. Your support means so very much to Couch Riffs. Thank You! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com

Our guest this episode is Ian Fowles of The Aquabats. Ian was a great time and we, as usual, got off on multiple tangents regarding religion, aliens, and we even managed to talk about music and guitar playing a little bit. Ian has a great story and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please consider supporting us at Patreon.com/couchriffs. Your support is what makes the podcast and our cover songs possible. Thank you so much! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com

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 this conversation if the story about his drumming that I've been telling all this time was true. It was. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Jean-Paul is at least as cool a conversationalist as he is a drummer. Thanks for listening and for your continued support!

If you enjoy the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or the videos we are producing please consider supporting us with a monthly pledge of as little as .99/month! You can do that HERE at anchor.fm/couch-riffs. Also, don't forget to visit couchriffs.com to find a hub for all things Couch Riffs: videos, podcasts, and a link to our Etsy Store where you can pick up a 100% Couch Riffs t-shirt or stylish trucker hat. 

Our guest this episode is Zia Uddin. We missed having him on for Drummer Awareness Month but since he was the drummer on our recently published performance of Wishing Well, it seemed like the perfect time to have him on! Zia is an ace human and world class drummer/percussionist playing over the years with Myles Kennedy, Mayfield Four, and now Jaws of Brooklyn, as well. I've known him since 1993 when we were roommates for a short while and he was a constant inspiration to me as someone who worked hard and played TONS of music. I'm so stoked to have him as my guest and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please consider supporting us at PATREON! Your support goes a long way in helping get our quarantine videos produced and its the only place where the cover songs can be downloaded. Thank you for your support! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com

Our guest this episode is Rusty Willoughby, one of Seattle's hidden treasures and more under-celebrated songwriters. Dating back to the pre-grunge climate of Seattle's 80s scene Rusty has been writing and putting out great, catchy and memorable music. I had a great time hearing his story in this conversation and I hope you do, too! Attention: I had a fire call in the middle of our first conversation so this is split into two parts over two days. You'll know when it happens. 

Thanks for listening and for your continued support! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please consider becoming a patron at OUR PATREON PAGE. Thanks to all who have been supporting us there. Also, check out our WEBSITE to find all our content, our cover song videos, and a link to our Etsy store where you can find our super fancy merch. Thanks! 

Toby Fresh, aka DV One, is a member of the Rock Steady Crew and an old-school b-boy and fixture in the Seattle hip hop scene, though he resides in Hawaii now. We met while we both had gigs at a casino north of Seattle and after a conversation we decided we'd trade guitar lessons for DJ lessons. Toby is also a very active jiu jitsu and fight trainer and the former DJ for the Seattle Seahawks which earned him a Super Bowl ring (almost two, you know......). I had a great time catching up with him and I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I did. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

If you enjoy Couch Riffs please leave a positive review and 5-star rating at your preferred listening platform. And, you can purchase Couch Riffs t-shirts at the Etsy link at couchriffs.com. You can also become a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month at THIS LINK or the link you see just below this description. Thanks again for listening and for your continued support of Couch Riffs. 

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My guest this episode is yet another punk rock legend: Jonny Wickersham aka Jonny Two Bags most notably of Social Distortion. Two Bags has also done many hours and miles with Cadillac Tramps, Youth Brigade, US Bombs and most recently Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. I had a fantastic time speaking with Jonny in this podcast episode and I hope that you enjoy our conversation! 

If you are enjoying Couch Riffs please consider supporting us on PATREON. Patreon is the only avenue Couch Riffs is able to generate any income from and for the podcast to grown and improve and your support there is greatly appreciated. Unpaid memberships are available, as well! But, for as little as $5 per month you can help keep this free content happening. Thanks so much! 

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Our guest on this episode is the legendary Wayne Kramer of MC5. But, there is much more to Wayne's story than simply being the guitarist and leader of one of the most important bands of all time. I cheated some before this conversation and listened to Wayne narrate the audio book recording of his 2018 published, The Hard Stuff. I highly recommend picking up the book and/or listening to him personally read his story. It is wonderful. And, I am very much looking forward to the project that Wayne hints at coming up for his next project. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! 

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and/or videos please leave a 5-star rating and a review on your preferred listening platform. And, if you really, really love Couch Riffs you can become a monthly pledge donor for as little as .99/month at the link below. It goes a long way toward helping us keep rolling and continue to get great guests like Wayne. Thanks so much for listening and for your continued support! 

Our guest this episode is a dear friend. Leif Andersen is the guitarist of Vendetta Red and LVNLVN as well as the creator and host of a new podcast called Let's Get High And Read The Bible. In Leif's new exploration into podcasting he leans on his lifelong relationship with faith and his regular practice of reading The Bible. He also gets really high and analyzes and compares verses with co-host Geoff Reading (Loaded/Green Apple Quickstep). I most definitely recommend you check it out, especially starting around episode 8 or 9 on. Look for a new album from LVNLVN in early 2022! 

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please support us at PATREON. You are helping keep us active and making this happen. Thank you so much! 

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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://daredevilpedals.com

http://theevictions.com

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast please consider leaving 5-Star Rating and Review and check out couchriffs.com to find out Etsy store link. At ancho.fm/couch-riffs you may also pledge as little as .99/mo to help support Couch Riffs and keep this train rolling. Thanks for listening! 

I'm honestly not sure how this slipped by and went unpublished until now. I mean, Shane recorded the intro that I use on every single podcast for crying out loud. At any rate, Shane Enholm is an open book and anyone willing to read the big words (and the subtext) through his many social media posts, mostly IG videos, already feel like they know him. I certainly did. But, each time that you tune in to his videos or you talk with Shane you learn some insanely interesting little tidbit about him, his life, or the things in his life that he has read up on and studied. 

Shane clearly paved a rough road in his earlier life. Unlike many others before and after him he was fortunate enough to make it through and turn himself around and tune his life up, changing his attitude and outlook. Admittedly, many of his instagram stories can be taken in a number of different ways if you only take them at face value. However, Shane is one of the realest dudes I've ever met and his stories are not brags or boasts. He states himself that he's not proud of some of the things he's done in his life. He's just telling the story. And, let me tell you there are a million insane stories with Shane. I'm happy to have had him as a guest on Couch Riffs and I'm even happier that we remain friends. 

Our guest this episode is Carrie Akre, a major fixture in the Seattle rock music scene for the past 30 years. Carrie has put out a number of solo releases as well as fronted the bands Hammerbox, Goodness, and The Rockfords featuring Mike McCready of Pearl Jam fame. Hearing her story of walking into her first band audition after cold-calling an ad from a local newspaper is inspiring! She has most recently been working with individuals as an Intuitive Life & Creative Coach and you can reach her at this link. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. 

If you are enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and video series, PLEASE support us at Patreon. This support helps us get closer to our goal of focusing 100% of our energies on producing the best and highest quality content for you that we are humanly capable of (or that we can recruit!). Thanks so much to folks who support us. 

Our guest this episode is Jarrod Goon, one half of the guitar firepower duo for the Australian punk rock band, Clowns. We met Jarrod and his bandmate Cam Rust in the summer of 2022 on tour and playing together at Hellfest in Clisson, France. We reminisce here at length. But, Clowns will be playing shows across mostly German-speaking countries in the summer of 2023 and you should go check them out if you're near and able. What a fun, killer band. I'm so happy that I stumbled upon finding them that day and connected. I hope you enjoy this podcast! 

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Our guest this episode is Pawel Maciwoda, a player who has been the bassist for German metal legends, Scorpions, since 2003. Pawel was an absolute treat to host on the podcast and to get to know throughout the Scorpions Las Vegas residency recently. See the band on tour now and in the coming year all over the world.

Thank you for supporting COUCH RIFFS on Patreon! Patreon support is the primary way Couch Riffs earns any money to support production on all of the free content we are creating. Thank you so much for being supportive and helping us make this bigger and better every year. Follow Pawel at:

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Our guest this episode is Bryan Ewald who I met during my time with PRS Guitars a few years back. Bryan is an incredibly talented musician and does a number or live and recording gigs in addition to being a featured demo player in most all of PRS' new product videos. I had a great time learning some of Bryan's backstory in this conversation and I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Be sure to check out the Couch Riffs video that Bryan is a guest on, Every Time You Go Away by Paul Young! 

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast or our videos please support us at PATREON.COM/COUCHRIFFS. There are many tiers to show your support and its the only place where you can download the audio of our cover songs. And, don't forget to visit couchriffs.com to see all of our great content and a link to our webstore at ETSY! Thank you for listening and for your continued support! 

On this glorious return to the mic we are happy to be hosting none other than our great friend Rachel Flotard of Visqueen and Neko Case. Rachel is one of the funniest, most talented humans we've ever known and this was a perfect comeback episode, catching up on 25 years of laughs together. Visqueen will be playing a benefit reunion show in Seattle at the Tractor Tavern in historic Ballard! This show is a benefit for Lilith Fund which is a reproductive rights organization in Texas. The show is sold out but please follow the link below to help support this organization in a time it needs it more than ever. Than you. 

Thank you to Variety Coffee for your continued support and to our Patreon community of supporters. If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please consider supporting us through monthly patronage or by visiting our website and buying some merch! Thanks again. 

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My guest on the Couch Riffs podcast this week is one of the earliest Couch Riffs performance guests from pre-podcast conception. Timo Ellis is an incredibly multi-talented musician with a mind tuned for thrashing convention. As always, Timo and I didn't talk about the weather when we hung out. We cover drugs, classic metal, Grateful Dead, random thoughts, and his career timeline amongst other things.  I hope you enjoy this episode and please help support Couch Riffs if you're able! Subscribe, leave messages, and pledge at Anchor.fm if you're able. 

Thanks so much. It really makes a difference! 

Our guest this episode is Sarah Carbonetti, the Brooklyn singer and songwriting force of Ess See. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering Ess See's music this past year and had a great time learning about Sarah's musical history and on-the-job education. AND, we were lucky enough to have her sing in a Couch Riffs video for our rendition of Making Plans For Nigel by XTC. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Please go check out Ess See's latest singles A Better Home and Overdrive, both released in 2020. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

If you are enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast or videos please consider supporting us as a patron at Patreon.com/couchriffs! Also, check out our WEBSITE to find all of our content and a link to our webstore where you'll find cool shirts, trucker hats and more! Thank you! 

Our guest this episode is Janet Robin and we couldn't be more happy to share our conversation with you. Janet has had an amazing life in music beginning with 6 years of training with none other than Randy Rhoads. She was lead guitarist in 80s glam metal band, Precious Metal and later went on to play with with LIndsey Buckingham. Currently she leads an all-guitar quartet called The String Revolution and is working on releasing an incredibly fun and ambitious solo. album the builds upon and reimagines classic blues recordings from long lost vaults.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, because I had a blast. Thanks for listening and for your continued support. Please consider becoming a patron at our PATREON page and be sure to visit our WEBSITE if you're enjoying our content.

Our guest this episode is Kristian Dunn, one-half of the instrumental rock band, El Ten Eleven. We cover Kristian's young musical life, his influences, love of sci-fi and writing as well as plenty of El Ten Eleven history. I met Kristian and Tim (El Ten Eleven) on tour last year and got to enjoy their music almost nightly and I can't recommend enough to see them. There is so much music coming off of the stage from two musicians with no pre-recorded loops. Be sure to check them out when they tour next for an upcoming release this Fall and go out and support independent music by buying theirs where ever you like to buy music, downloads or vinyl at the record store! I hope you enjoy this episode.

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast please support us on PATREON! Patreon is the lifeblood of Couch Riffs and supports our efforts to create and publish this podcast and the cover song videos that we release on a regular schedule. Thank you so much for your support!

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Our guest this episode is NY session drummer Parker Kindred. Parker has an impressive recording and touring resume which is no accident, he's great. He is the drummer on a good portion of Jeff Buckley's final studio recordings and has played with Antony and The Johnsons, Joan as Police Woman, Cass McCombs and many others. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! We had a great time. Watch out for Parker appearing in an upcoming Couch Riffs cover song video, as well! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast and/or our cover song videos please support us at: https://patreon.com/couchriffs

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Our guest this episode is Todd Morse, a veteran musician of punk and rock scenes on both coasts of America and the bassist for The Offspring. Todd also releases solo material with a rootsy/Americana vibe and fronts the coverband Petty Cash with a crew of his bandmates from The Licks. Check out his 2019 solo album, Late Bloomer, or his multiple singles he's released since. Todd plans to record and release another solo album by the end of 2024. Let's make sure to hold him to that! 

Thanks for listening. If you are enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or the cover song series we release please consider supporting us on Patreon. All of our content is available for free for all people to enjoy on streaming sites and YouTube and your support at PATREON truly makes it a possibility. Thank you so much for supporting! 

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Our guest this episode is Lucianna Padmore, NYC session drummer who has dedicated herself to drums since she was 8. And, it shows. Luci is super bad! Not only is she ruling behind the kit but she has new solo music coming in early 2022. Be sure to check that out and follow her on social media to stay on top of her musical releases and performances she shares there. @lupadmore5/

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast and/or our cover song videos please consider supporting us on PATREON! Your support is what makes this happen and is much appreciated! 

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I was very happy to have Don Gunn on the podcast this episode. Don is responsible for a lot of great sounding recordings and mixes (some that we've worked on together, even) including some Couch Riffs performance videos as of late. He's also one of the most entertaining folks to work with in a studio environment and is always down for a laugh. Did I mention he is a great drummer? It shouldn't come as a surprise. Many of my favorite studio folks are drummers. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it! It takes us a little while to get up to speed but there are some pretty golden nuggets sprinkled all throughout! 

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and/or video series please consider becoming a pledge supporter for as little as .99/month at the link below OR at anchor.fm/couch-riffs (or just search for Couch Riffs on the site). Also, please leave a positive review and 5-star rating, it really helps a lot. Couchriffs.com has links to all of our podcast episodes and videos as well as our merchandise store at Etsy. We have some handsome 100% cotton t-shirts, trucker hats, and other goodies for your enjoyment. Thank you for listening and for your continued support! 

This episode features my guest William DuVall, most famously known as the lead singer of Alice in Chains but who had a long musical career leading up to that eventual position. We cover a ton of William's punk roots very candidly in this episode and I had an absolute Bl'ast (heh, heh) hearing him tell some great stories. There is a tiny bit of audio drop in this episode when William leaves home and gets in his car but it passes pretty quickly and painlessly. Thanks as always for listening and for your continued support! 

If you enjoy the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or its companion video series please consider becoming a monthly pledge supporter at anchor.fm/couch-riffs. You can support the podcast for as little as .99/month and your contribution will be sunk right back in to the podcast. The last year has been very good to the Podcast and your support has gone a long way toward making Couch Riffs an increasingly high quality affair. Thank you! Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and review and check out couchriffs.com for links to all the videos, podcasts, and our merchandise store at Etsy.com!

Rob Balducci was a humble and cool fella to hang with for an afternoon and a Hell of a guitarist. He has released 3 albums on Steve Vai's record label, Favored Nations, and is currently preparing material for another collection of melodic hard rock instrumentals. His sense of melody is really tasty and if you have a penchant for this kind of guitar playing I encourage you to check out his music. He's quite capable of flash and burning shred but rarely buries the accelerator. 

As always, thanks again for listening and supporting the Couch Riffs Podcast! Please leave a review and help raise our profile if you have been enjoying listening! 

Vivian Campbell has had a great career playing in legendary bands since the early 80s. Sweet Savage (as covered by Metallica), Dio's original band for the first three albums (Classic KILLERS, all three), Whitesnake (stepping in to cover John Syke's place), and for the last 27 years Def Leppard who was inducted in to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year (2019). Vivian is currently out touring small theaters and clubs with Last In Line who is supporting their sophomore release. He was a great story-teller, a great guest, and a humble guitar hero. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it. 

Our guest this episode is Richard Fortus of Guns n' Roses, The Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love, The Dead Daisies, Thin Lizzy and many others. Richard had a very busy and successful career as a studio musician in NYC before landing the Gn'R job in 2002. Richard is one of the most astounding guitarists you'll find anywhere and is a Swiss Army Knife of styles and techniques. It was an absolute pleasure to host him here and to have this conversation and I hope you enjoy! Check out Richard's new signature model Gretsch guitar on tour with Richard and Gn'R starting in Spring 2022!

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast or our cover song videos please consider supporting us at Patreon! Patreon support is what makes Couch Riffs possible and your support is much appreciated. Thank you!

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Our guest on this episode is Jeff Smith, CEO of Newman Guitars. Newman Guitars has roots back to the early 70s and the founder, Ted Newman Jones worked for Keith Richards, building him multiple guitars including some famous 5-strings. He went on to build guitars for Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Billy Gibbons and more while he has a shop set up in Austin TX. Today Newman guitars is based in Washington, Indiana and carries the iconic Newman design into the future with modern building practices and comfortability tweaks that are sure to keep players happy for another 5 decades. Be sure to check out Newman's website and consider getting a custom build from them as your next collector's piece! 

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast or cover videos please consider becoming a patron at PATREON. Your support is appreciated and goes a long way toward helping Couch Riffs grow, improve and keep the gears greased. And, don't forget to visit our WEBSITE to find ALL of our content as well as a link to our merch store at Etsy! Thank you so much! 

My guest this episode is Dejha who possesses one of my absolute favorite singing voices. After being a fan and knowing each other for years, playing together here and there, we started co-writing songs at a time when we lived completely across the country from one another which is very similar to how folks are making music during the pandemic isolation now. Dejha has fronted and led many bands that I have loved over the years and The Union Gospel project is selfishly my favorite. The Union Gospel album was released digitally in 2019 and had a vinyl release in early 2020. You can stream it here and purchase the LP here. 

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and/or videos please consider becoming a pledge supporter with a donation of as little as .99/month. And, don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and positive review on the platform where you listen in. Lastly, Couch Riffs has a website (couchriffs.com) where you can find all of the videos, podcasts, and a link to our Etsy store where you can purchase our super comfortable, 100% cotton t-shirts and trucker hats which are printed by Ink Brigade in Portland, OR. Thanks for listening and for your continued support. 

The newest episode in a series with independent builders and makers in the music world! Adam Grim is not a shy man. He loves to tell a story and he certainly has some to tell. He also builds great guitar and bass amps (and has a line of pedals and builds Satellite Guitars!!!) in San Diego, CA. Check out his website: satelliteamps.com and his instagram (@satelliteamps) to see his beautiful looking and sounding creations. 

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review and remember, sharing is caring! Send 'em off to your friends to enjoy. And, check out our merchandise at Etsy or couchriffs.com

Thanks for listening!

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 November 5, 2020 at 6pm (PST). Go get an eyeball on Ian and get your mind off of politics for a moment. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thank you for listening and for your continued support!

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or video series please consider becoming a Patreon Supporter HERE. Your support is what helps keep the gears of Couch Riffs turning and improving more and more. Thank you so much! 

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Tim DiJulio has been a fixture on the Seattle rock 'n roll scene for decades and leads the charge on many guitar-fueled nights in local clubs. Tim was a member of the first band I saw perform in a club in Seattle in 1993 and I've always looked up to him so it was a great pleasure to host him on this episode of the Couch Riffs Podcast. Most recently, Tim and I have become bandmates playing together in Duff McKagan's solo band in support of his newest album, Lighthouse, which Tim tracked many of the guitars for. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed this time shared with Tim.

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Our guest this episode is Benjy Johnson, owner operator of Earthtones Recording in Greensboro NC, is a grammy nominated producer as well as a fantastic musician himself who is to release a collaborative album with partners Mike Watt (Minutemen/fIREHOSE), Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) and Scotty Irving (Clang Quartet) under the name Spirit of Hamlet. The album, Northwest of Hamuretto will be released on March 17, 2023 on Broken Sound Tapes. We cover a lot of how Benjy got started in music and developed his recording chops in our conversation and end on a long riff about guitars. Straight out of the gate I was pleased to be speaking about 80s hair metal guitarists! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 

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Our guest on Episode 89 is a living legend in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Mr Kurt Bloch has been blazing the guitar since the 70s and also happens to have one of the craziest guitar collections around Seattle. This conversation was a blast and we covered everything from his deep interest and knowledge of Coronets/Wilshires/Crestwoods to his seeing Van Halen and Judas Priest separately on the same night in 1979. I feel like I could listen to Kurt tell stories for another 3 hours and not even bat an eye. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! 

If you enjoy the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or our videos please consider becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month. You can do that at the link below (anchor.fm/couch-riffs) and don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and a great review if you see fit. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

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 the KoolArrow record label including Talking Book II (one of his own co-creations) and if you have a taste for fancy and exotic liquor keep your eyes peeled for his latest venture, importing Yebiga which is a Balkan Rakija. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thank you for listening and for your continued support! 

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Our guest this episode, Dave Dederer, is the founding guitarist of The Presidents of the United States of America. Dave has also had quite a storied career behind the scenes in the music and digital world since taking hiatus from performing with PUSA and in recent years has been playing tons of guitar around Seattle. I've known Dave for many years now and have always had a ton of fun hanging with him and I even played the first 1 or 2 Loaded shows with him on bass. What a time! I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. 

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Our guest this episode is drummer Matt Covey of Such Gold, Zombie Apocalypse, and veteran touring & recording player from New York by way of Connecticut. Matt played on a Couch Riffs video that will be (or was) released very soon after this episode is/was released and absolutely crushed it. He was a pleasure to hang with and learn about, as well. Catch him on tour after the release of a new Such Gold album to be announced soon!

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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 was a pleasure to host him on the podcast. He is an excellent story teller and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Go check out his online guitar school HERE! 

If you're enjoying this podcast and/or the videos we are producing please leave a 5-star rating and a positive review where ever you're listening. It really helps keep us in the flow of the algorithms and enables us to continue hosting great guests like Paul! If you LOVE the podcast please consider visiting anchor.fm/couch-riffs and becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month. A little goes a long way toward helping to produce this show and the videos. Be sure to go to couchriffs.com to find all of our video and podcast episodes as well as a link to purchase our trucker hats and 100% t-shirts on Etsy. All of our merchandise is printed with love by our friends INK BRIGADE in Portland, Or. 

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Our guest this episode is Taylor Locke, singer/songwriter, producer/engineer, studio owner/operator, former guitarist of pop rock band Rooney and creative force with the musical comedy "Don't Stop, The Story of Fleetwood Mac" which I'm dying to see. He recently released a solo EP (October 2020) full of tasty pop morsels called The Bitter End. Go check it out HERE. Taylor has done a TON in his career already and will certainly continue to create and thrive through covid and beyond. I had a great time talking with him, getting to know him, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. 

If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please consider supporting us at PATREON. Patreon is the only place where you can download the audio tracks of the cover songs we produce and you can get a sneak peak at what's coming up there before anyone else, too! Don't forget to check out our WEBSITE to find a link to all of our content as well as a link to our comfy, 100% cotton tees and our stylish trucker hats. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

My guest on this episode has had a number of killer gigs over the last 3 decades across all kinds of punk and rock bands including Murphy's Law, Faster Pussycat, US Bombs, and most recently LA Guns. As all Couch Riffs podcast episodes go we covered a TON of ground in this candid conversation about life, music, horror movies, dogs, and even managed to talk about guitars a little bit. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! 

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This episode features my conversation with Keith Nelson, former guitarist and founding member of Buckcherry. Keith shares his story of diligence in the music world as we catch up and talk about his going from working at Guitar Center to having a platinum selling album and owning '59 Bursts. As of late Keith has been working with a variety of bands and artists producing and cowriting a number of songs out of his studio in LA. Need some help from a very capable and talented writer? Hit him up!  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thanks for listening! 

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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 friend Greg Dulli. Along with the 2013 novel/biographical fiction release, In Case We Die, he is building quite a body of work for a full-time road manager and retired punk bassist. (I'm pretty set on getting him to appear in a Couch Riffs video, however)

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This episode features my conversation with Kevin Sepriano of LA band, Spirit in the Room. Kevin has a long history playing music in many bands going back to the 80s. His day gig is an enviable one, working for Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, etc.) and he has a great side hustle building and consulting pedal boards with his company, Anxiety Electronics. Spirit in the Room have a new EP called Famingo and it is stellar! I definitely recommend giving it a listen. I hope you enjoy this conversation! If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please consider supporting it through Patreon at the link below. Your support helps make every aspect of the podcast and the cover song collaboration videos possible. Thank you so much for that support!

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Alex Skolnick is one of the most versatile guitarists in the metal game and was waaaaay ahead of the curve when it came to shred metal guys taking a step outside of the metal world. And, being such an amazing player he is an incredibly cool and humble guy, clearly happy to be living a life creating and performing music. It might seem weird to some that I would mention a musician being absolutely happy living a musician's life but trust me, its less common than you think it is.

We talk in this episode about functional/dysfunctional band dynamics,  Alex Skolnick Trio and playing with "real jazz guys", and new Testament LP. Look for a complete and unedited version of our conversation in an upcoming Couch Riffs podcast!

Reflecting back on the middle school kid I was in the outer edges of the Bay Area in '84-'85 I can tell you that it was a thrill and an honor to have Alex in my home to do Couch Riffs with ME. Metal was everything to me and, as I've stated in the past, KVHS radio was a High School station that was almost entirely staffed by teenage metalheads promoting all the killer metal of the time. That's when I first heard Testament along with Metallica, Venom, Slayer, Megadeth, Cirith Ungol, Posessed, and tons of others. This 7th grade year was so important to me and I'm forever grateful to have had a community radio station like KVHS nearby. When they shut down each evening I was always so sad. But, that was the same year that I started building my record collection! So, I had that to fall back on. I spent so much time writing my favorite bands' names on any flat surface near me and drawing my imaginary band names on my Pee Chee folders. I wish I could remember some of those names now. "I'm sure they were all great, great names". 

Thank you so much Alex. Congratulations on the release of your amazing new album, Conundrum, and good luck in 2019 with the new Testament album. I'm very much looking forward to hearing it. 

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.  

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Our guest this episode is Charlie Starr of Atlanta's Blackberry Smoke. Charlie recounts some of his early influences, moving to Atlanta in pursuit of his musical dream, starting Blackberry Smoke and the making of their yet-to-be released new album for 2021, recorded and mixed mid-2020. Charlie will be performing SHOWS IN JANUARY 2021 through the south. Check the hyper link for dates! 

Thank you so much for listening and watching our companion cover song performance videos. Please be sure to check out COUCH RIFFS WEBSITE for all of our content. If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please consider supporting us as a patron over at the COUCH RIFFS PATREON. Thanks so much to everyone for helping to keep Couch Riffs moving forward. Happy New Year! 

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 quite the fancy lad! Be sure to check out Wolfetone's Black Friday sale this year, spanning from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. 

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Welcome back! Our guest this episode is James Joseph, front person for James and The Cold Gun. James and The Cold Gun recently opened for Duff McKagan on our European tour and when they came to the US to do a west coast run with Thunderpussy I jumped at the opportunity to catch up with James and get him on the podcast. James is charming and funny, the band is great, and I hope you enjoy this episode! Check out James and The Cold Gun's new album, Face In The Mirror, coming April 25 (2025) and in the meanwhile they've released 3 singles from the new LP: Guessing Games, Cut the Brakes, and most recently Above The Lake.

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Our guest this episode is one of Seattle's greatest not-so-secret treasures, Jeff Fielder. Jeff plays with Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) and Mark Lanegan and keeps a busy schedule doing session work, producing, original composition and performances both in Seattle and on the road and around the world. It is always a pleasure to get a chance to hang with Jeff and if the opportunity arises for you to catch him on tour with anyone he's playing with it is well worth it for you to go enjoy his playing. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast or our cover song videos please support us on Patreon if you have the means. It is absolutely what keeps us going and what makes this possible. Thank you for the support! https://patreon.com/couchriffs

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Our guest this episode is Mike Hickey, ace guitarist and guitar tech. Hickey has played in Venom, Carcass, Cathedral and Witchtaint but has also landed high-end tech positions for Joe Bonnamassa and both Hall AND Oates. Mike has great stories and can play the hell out of the guitar and I had such a great time hanging out with him for this conversation. I hope you enjoy! 

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Our guest this episode has spent many years of his career playing keyboards for a number of amazing artists but has recently focused himself on playing guitar and writing heavy, melodic rock music. Rob's band, Split Second Meltdown, recently released a new single called Big Game Hunting and has an EP and a handful of other singles in the catalog. Look for a full-length and some shows next year! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 

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Ben is 13 years old and totally crushing it already. He has a bright future ahead of him and I'm extremely excited to see what he does with his talent and opportunities. If he stays on the course he's on I assure you we'll be hearing about Ben for years and years to come. For now, Ben is using his summer between 7th and 8th grade to tour and make a record. 

A big shout out to Ben's parents and ALL parents (and adults) who encourage and nurture young folks' desires to play music or pursue any creative or interesting outlets for their energies. Being supportive of young people is incredibly important and crucial to them growing up to be the next adult that blows everyone's mind.

Our guest this episode is our longtime friend Phil Hurley. Phil spent some time in Seattle where we met before moving a couple times and finally landing in Austin TX for the last 13 years, which is very fitting considering what a talented guitarist and songwriter he is. After years of being a sideman and band guy Phil has started performing his music as The Phil Hurley Band and we should be getting an album of music from him in 2022! We'll be looking forward to this! I hope you enjoy this conversation. Phil is awesome. 

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Our guest this episode is Keith Lowe, a fantastically talented bassist from Seattle who is releasing his first solo album of his career on 1/20/23, an EP of beautiful ambient music textured almost entirely with upright bass performances. Keith has had an incredible career performing and recording with the likes of Fiona Apple, Bill Frisell, Brad, Wayne Horvitz, David Sylvian and Larua Veirs among many others. He currently teaches bass at Seattle Drum School and performs regularly with Teatro Zinzani in Seattle. 

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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 to make it a reality. Go check out his guitars after you listen to this episode! 

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Our guest this episode is Andee Blacksugar. Andee is one of the most talented and under-appreciated guitarists you'll find in the world today. Insane chops and ability to perform so many styles and with incredible form and character. Andee has been playing guitar in KMFDM since their Hell Yeah tour. Andee has released or performed on a total of 13 albums since the pandemic lockdowns began in early 2020. So, he's also prolific and we detail some of that energy and prolific work in this conversation. I hope you enjoy! I did. Thanks for watching. If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast or our cover song videos please support us at PATREON. Patreon is the only place you can download the cover songs we produce here and your support goes a long way toward making these two shows happen and moving us closer to our full and final vision for them both, too. Thank you so much! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com https://www.blacksugartransmission.com/

Our guest this episode is the endeniable King of Pentatonics, Zakk Wylde. Zakk's band Black Label Society has a new album titled Doom Crew Inc. releasing on Black Friday '21 (11/27/21) and a newly released video for the lead off single, Set You Free, which is of course drenched in the band's trademark humor. This was a super fun conversation and we covered everything from his dad's WWII experience to designing his new Wylde Audio guitar models coming soon! I hope you enjoy! 

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But 2 bags of coffee at Variety + a Couch Riffs mug, enter code: couchriffs at check out and get your mug FREE! 

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Our guest this episode is the incredible Jimi Hazel of 24-7 Spyz who last year put out their first album in well over a decade. Jimi went in deep on his process of writing this album along with the spiritual elements that helped him break his writer's block and depression. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with him, get to know him beyond social media volleys, and hear about what makes him tick and inspires him. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! 

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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 rank, rate, and share this episode and be sure to check out all of our podcast episodes. And, visit CouchRiffs.com to find all of our videos and podcasts plus a link to our Etsy Store. And, don't forget that you can be a monthly supporter for as little as .99/month. Follow the link below. If there's no link below, visit Anchor.fm/couch-riffs. Thanks for the support!

Our guest this episode is Carl Raether, bassist for Crashing Wayward and Max Fite as well as a session and gig man about town. Max has lots of touring experience under his belt and cut his teeth van touring out of the DC music scene before relocating to LA and finally Las Vegas most recently. His band Crashing Wayward is working on its debut album and is performing a number of shows coming up. Be sure to check them out if you have the chance! I hope you enjoy this episode. It was a pleasure to host Carl on Couch Riffs. 

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Our guest this episode is the incredibly talented Tim Quick, guitarist for The Bacon Brother, Gloria Gaynor, and numerous Broadway shows. Tim recently released the first single, Out The Door, from his forthcoming debut solo EP, Comin' Home. The EP showcases his diversity and firepower as a guitarist but also his strong song writing skills. Be sure to check it out and put an eyeball on the Couch Riffs episode of Run To You by Bryan Adams where Tim breaks himself off some and breaths new life into an already great song. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please support us a PATREON and/or visit our website to find our merch store stocked with shirts and trucker hats! Your support is much appreciated and is what propels Couch Riffs to grown, improve, and move toward the greater vision of its potential. Thank you! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com https://timquickmusic.com

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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 up for John Roderick's 90s band, Western State Hurricanes. 

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Our first episode is finally here! The amazing Matt Sweeney and I had almost an hourlong conversation immediately following the recording of our first take of David Bowie's "Fame". Look for it on YouTube!

Matt is an incredibly talented musician who cannot possibly be summarized in this podcast description. Please, if you're not familiar, look him up. You're most likely very familiar with a number of things he's recorded on as he has recorded and performed alongside tons of legendary artists since the 90s right up until today. 

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Matt is smart, engaging, and always down to clown about guitar stuff. 

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Our guest this episode is Per Wiberg, a Swedish multi-instrumentalist with a killer resume that includes Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Candlemass, and a couple of solo releases which are absolutely killer. Per's most recent release, All Is Well In The Land Of The Living, is an exploration of heavy, psychedelic and goth rock and will not disappoint! The vinyl is sold out (unless you can find a used copy on the market like I did) but some CDs remain and enjoy streaming this album loudly. I woke up extra early to catch Per at reasonable hours for both of us and I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast or our killer cover song videos (Per appears in TWO upcoming videos that are both amazing) please support us at PATREON! There are a number of tiers to support Couch Riffs at and it is the only place where you can download the cover songs we are recording. I appreciate your support! Thanks so much! https://patreon.com/couchriffs

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Bob Wayne does it like no one else, he does it his way. And, I admire that. I had an incredible time speaking with Bob and we tour his property a bit as well as getting the backstory of his musical progression. If you enjoy this episode half as much as I did you'll love it!

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and/or videos please consider becoming a supporter at Patreon. Your support goes a long way toward making these both happen. Thanks so much for watching, listening, and for your continued support!

Our guest this episode is Kyle Wolfe of Moon Guitars. Like many folks, Kyle started his career in guitar work as a repair tech and slowly worked into making custom builds. His designs are visually striking and very cool! Also, a very fun and funny guy to talk with who, generally speaking, isn't afraid to speak his mind and we get into a little trash talk in this episode. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs videos or our podcast please support us at Patreon! Patreon is the only place where you can download the audio from the video covers that we produce and your support goes directly to the perpetuation of this project and the constant planning and progression of moving toward the final version of Couch Riffs. Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me.

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Our guest for this episode of Couch Riffs' Drummer Awareness Month is John Sherman of Portland Oregon's Red Fang. John is a crushing drummer and world class dude. I had a great time hanging with him, learning about him coming up playing drums and talking shit about the ins and outs of touring with a band you're growing from seed. I hope you enjoy this casual sit down as much as I did! Look for Red Fang playing in Europe in Summer 2022 with more dates to be announced soon. If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast or our performance videos please support us at PATREON. Your support at PATREON is what makes all of the great content at Couch Riffs possible. Thank you so much! https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com https://redfang.net

Welcome! Our guest this episode is Craig Mabbitt, vocalist of Escape The Fate and Dead Rabbitts. I had a great time getting to know Craig and getting in to life stuff right off the bat. I hope you enjoy this conversation!

Craig recently released a new Dead Rabbitts album, Redefined, and is on the road touring with Wednesday 13 and Stitched Up Heart across North America through the end of April. Go see them! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs Podcast please support us on PATREON. Patreon is the only way we keep the lights on at the podcast studio between tours and is massively appreciated. Thank you so much! 

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Our guest this episode is a first repeat podcast guest and the musician with the most appearances in Couch Riffs covers videos (I think?), Mr Timo Ellis of Netherlands. In this episode we go pretty deep into what I think most people at least consider and probably worry about but don't really verbalize. Buckle up! I've included some links below to some of the videos Timo brings up in our conversation. We do talk about Netherlands' new album, SEVERANCE, which is arguably their best album yet. Timo is a deeply talented artist and can quite capably express his musical creativity in so many styles and genres, so when you hear the Netherlands it is never a flatlands train track you're traveling on, it is a circuit of wild, well planned trails over a mountain pass. Do go check out Netherlands' music on BandCamp and support independent musicians and artists! Do not expect convention from Timo and Netherlands, however. You can thank me later.

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https://www.netherlandsband.com/music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WX7r3R5Iv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGXDNuiz_dE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGc8DMHMyi8&t=1s

Timo adds: “after thinking about it a bit, I realize that I’d like to clarify/ nuance something important here; my anger and bitterness about “men” in general is meant as a critique of a still ascendant type of hypermasculinity…of a deeply cultural (and IMO, still near universally) ingrained cis-heteronormative ideology of male superiority + privilege…which very much still manifests, in its grosser material forms, as femicide, rape, sexual violence/ assault and harassment…and in its (only slightly!) less pernicious forms…as legalized gender discrimination, lack of access to education/ healthcare/ abortion/ workplace protections, income inequality, and professional and political representation…among MANY other things. My overall point here is that while “men“ are obviously not a static category/ monolith, I still regard the phenomenon of sexist domination not only as unequivocally still a “thing“…+ but actually of the foundational cultural malignancies afflicting humanity (and all of non-human life as well, etc) and which IMO, needs to be rooted out, and called out, as vigorously…and as soon as possible!”

Every time I think I can't possibly enjoy doing this podcast more something like this episode happens. My guest is Steve Hall who has a very different day job than most musicians. He's venture capital investor and has spent many years managing the financial investments of Paul Allen. In the last few years Steve has relaxed himself some and started pursue some more creative ventures like partnering in McSwain Guitars, consulting for Magnatone Amplifiers, and most recently producing films. Not bad, Steve. Not bad. I had a great time talking with him and, even though I know he'll always be the smartest guy in the room (certainly if I'm in that room with him), he has such a down to earth way of talking things out. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 

If you are enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or our video series please consider becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month. A little goes a long way! And, don't forget to leave a positive review and 5 star rating on your preferred listening platform. Lastly, check out couchriffs.com for links to all the videos, podcasts and a link to our Etsy store where you can support Couch Riffs and look stylish doing it in our 100% cotton t-shirts and trucker hats printed in Portland OR by Ink Brigade. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

Our guest in this episode is Alex Auxier who has an interesting job in the musical world, Artist Relations for a renowned amplifier company, Orange Amps. If you've not seen the promotional videos that Orange has been putting out for the last number of years and amp releases you should get a look. They're creative, clever, and usually very funny. Alex is a funny guy and man, we get in to a few good bits in this conversation. I hope you enjoy as much as I did! Also, if anyone out there has an OR50 reissue they'd sell me cheap I'd really love to have another one! (after all this coronavirus BS is over)

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and videos please help us keep going by becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month! That is easy peezy! Be sure to check out couchriffs.com and visit our Etsy store, as well. We have handsome 100% cotton tees and trucker hats made by the incredible Ink Brigade in Portland OR. 

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 Guitar Craft Academy, an accredited luthier training school. 2020 has been difficult for most all of us but Brian has had a particularly rough road and he chronicles his near-death experience with a sunflower seed shell in our conversation. He's on the mend now and we're glad to see him back in action. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thank you for listening and for your continued support! 

If you enjoy the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or the videos we are producing please consider supporting us with a monthly pledge of as little as .99/month! You can do that HERE at anchor.fm/couch-riffs. Also, don't forget to visit couchriffs.com to find a hub for all things Couch Riffs: videos, podcasts, and a link to our Etsy Store where you can pick up a 100% Couch Riffs t-shirt or stylish trucker hat.

This episode's guest is none other than legendary sideman, Earl Slick. Earl has been a guitarist for David Bowie, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Robert Smith, and is about to head to the UK with Glen Matlock for a handful of dates. You should definitely go check out his work on the 1985 Phantom, Rocker, & Slick album, too. The BBC produced a short documentary called "Rock 'n Roll Guns for Hire: The Story of the Sideman" and Earl narrates this with the same style and swagger he delivers on guitar. Go give it a watch! 

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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 platform called Reward Music which enables artists to connect more directly with fans and supporters without the taxing middleman model that has historically hindered musicians' ability to earn a sustainable and livable wage. Go check it out! 

If you enjoy the Couch Riffs Podcast and/or the videos we are producing please consider supporting us with a monthly pledge of as little as .99/month! You can do that HERE at anchor.fm/couch-riffs. Also, don't forget to visit couchriffs.com to find a hub for all things Couch Riffs: videos, podcasts, and a link to our Etsy Store where you can pick up a 100% Couch Riffs t-shirt or stylish trucker hat.

This episode features guest Brandon Ethridge who is, unless I'm mistaken, our first pianist/keyboardist. At least, our first with this as their primary instrument. Brandon has had such an interesting path to becoming a rock musician and such a great career once he was on that path. He's currently in Wichita KS rehabbing a home he bought during the pandemic gig-drought and will be appearing in a Couch Riffs video in the VERY near future. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please be sure to leave a 5-star rating and positive review on your preferred listening platform. And, if you are feeling generous you can very easily become a pledge supporter for as little as .99/month at the link below (anchor.fm/couch-riffs). Lastly, couchriffs.com has all the podcast and video episodes waiting for you to click play. You can also find our t-shirts and trucker hats for sale there through the Etsy Store. Thanks for listening and for your continued support! 

This is the first in a series of episodes through the end of 2019 featuring independent music instrument builders and makers.  Keith Horne has been hand building Marvin Guitars since 2015 and is doing amazing work. His website announces, "They don't make them like they used to. So I do" and its true! His list of clients include Christian Martucci (Dee Dee Ramone/Stonesour/Black Star Riders), Acey Slade (Misfits/Dope/Joan Jett), Jeff Pilson (Dokken/Foreigner), Matt Gabs (The Biters) and yours truly! If you're attending NAMM 2020 be sure to go and check out his stuff. You'll have a better time if you do! Check out his website at https://www.marvinguitars.com and his instagram feed: @marvinguitars 

Our guest this episode is the amazing Brittany Davis, a singer/keyboardist from Seattle WA. Brittany performs as a solo artist and with a number of folks around town, including Painted Shield, a project that includes Stone Gossard, Matt Chamberlain, Mason Jennings and Jeff Fielder. In 2024 Brittany released Image Issues and in May 2025 will release Black Thunder, an improv jazz album.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! If you're digging the Couch Riffs Podcast please consider supporting us through PATREON. Your support goes a long way toward making all things that Couch Riffs does possible. 

Thank you so much!

Our guest this episode Marc Ford, former lead guitarist for The Black Crowes, Burning Tree, Ben Harper, The Magpie Salute, and leader of a number of his own bands. Earlier this year (2020) the elusive  Fuzz Machine LP got a proper release and Marc has a live record releasing in January 15, 2021, Live In Germany, which is full of the same fire that his fans have come to expect. I've been enjoying it very much and know that you will, too. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Thanks for listening and for the continued support. 

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This episode features guest Kathy Moore, one of the most in-demand and active guitarists in all of Seattle. We met a handful of years ago and it is always an absolute joy to see her perform and usually we can chat briefly when we cross paths but this was a great conversation for getting to know her story. Studied in jazz and orchestral band, Kathy didn't start playing guitar until she was 21 years old! She is an absolute ripper and can cover so many styles on the guitar AS WELL AS THE KEYS! Seriously, one of my regrets of leaving Seattle is that I left without ever getting to play and perform with Kathy. Go check out The Kathy Moore Super Power Trio! 

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Our guest this episode is Chris Carlone, a musician/artist and creative juggernaut who has been creating for decades. Chris performs as Borts Minorts, described as accurately as possessing "musical concepts of The Residents with the spirit and over the top showmanship of rock legends like David Lee Roth and Iggy Pop". Borts has a new release out! A collaborative EP with friend of Couch Riffs Timo Ellis (Netherlands/Hug Victim) and video content to drive it home. Please do go check this out. It is highly entertaining high art. I hope you enjoy this conversation and Borts Minorts' music! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs podcast and/or our cover song performances please support us at PATREON. Patreon is the only place where you can download the audio recordings of these covers and you'll get early sneak peeks at the videos, as well. Couch Riffs is made possible by your Patreon support and we thank you very much for helping us keep this going. https://patreon.com/couchriffs https://couchriffs.com https://www.chriscarlonecreations.com/borts-minorts

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast please support us at PATREON. Your Patreon support is what makes the podcast and our accompanying performance videos possible so thank you very much in advance! 

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This episode's guest is Matt Gabs of Ravagers and formerly of Biters. Matt's a great hang and appeared in the Mississippi Queen Couch Riffs video alongside the party of Marvin Guitars and Daredevil Pedals wrecking crew. Nailed it! Gabs currently lives in Brooklyn and Ravagers are working on some new tunes this Spring. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for that new release as well as upcoming shows!

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs podcast and the accompanying video series please consider becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month. You can pledge at Anchor.fm/couch-riffs. Also, be sure to visit couchriffs.com, the hub for everything Couch Riffs to include every video, podcast, and a link to our Etsy store where you can vastly improve your attractiveness by adorning 100% cotton Couch Riffs t-shirts, hoodies, and trucker hats! Thanks for listening and for all of your continued support! 

Our guest this episode is the talented Adam Johnson aka Adam Patrick Johnson. Adam is a musician, content creator, music business coach and a hell of a nice guy. You can check out his personal YouTube and social accounts at Adam Patrick Johnson and be sure to check out his podcast Cover Band Confidential, as well. And, of course direct yourself over to his website linked below.

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In this episode we host Seattle's darlings, The Fastbacks. The Fastbacks have a new album coming this week titled "For What Reason?" and it is classic butt-kicking pop from The Fastbacks. I enjoyed hosting the entire band but hand in there with me as we wade through the conversation. This is the most folks that have ever appeared in an podcast episode so it was new territory.

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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 podcast please like and share episodes! I appreciate all of the support I've received, its amazing. If you'd like to support the podcast and the related video series that Couch Riffs produces please visit couchriffs.com and find links to all of the ways you can help including our Etsy store, one-time donations, and all of our podcast episodes and videos. Thanks so much! 

My guest on this episode of the Couch Riffs Podcast is Dave Hillis who transformed from 80s thrash guitarist to engineer and producer on recordings that you have most definitely heard. Albums like Pearl Jam's "Ten", Alice In Chains' "Dirt", Temple of the Dog and The Afghan Whigs' "1965".  His first band, Mace, had quite a reputation around the Northwest (and beyond!) in the 80s. You won't find it on streaming services but YouTube has some stuff that fans of thrash/crossover will certainly enjoy. In the 90s, after engineering some of the biggest albums of the decade, Dave started another band, Sybil Vane, that again made a splash beyond the Northwest landing a slot on the Empire Records Soundtrack album. Dave continues to write, record, produce and engineer in Pittsburgh PA these days. 

If you're enjoying the Couch Riffs Podcast please consider becoming a monthly pledge supporter for as little as .99/month. 99 cents! That's nothing! Also, please check out couchriffs.com for links to every video episode, audio podcast, and to our Etsy Store where you'll find super cozy, 100% cotton t-shirts, trucker hats, and turntable slipmats. Thanks so much for listening and for your continued support!