You know what they say: Learn from the past so history doesn’t repeat itself. In this spirit, PG editors, the reader of the month, and guitarist Keaton Simons discuss innovations
You know what they say: Learn from the past so history doesn’t repeat itself. In this spirit, PG editors, the reader of the month, and guitarist Keaton Simons discuss innovations from guitar’s past, present, and future. Send your own thoughts to info@premierguitar.com.
Matt Hayward -- Reader of the Month
What are you listening to?
Comedian Doug
Stanhope’s The Great White
Stanhope, my friend Chad
Channing’s band Before Cars, and my own
band Lace Weeper’s new EP, Tusk, released
this month.
What era or decade do you think was
the most interesting for guitar and why?
“True art should reflect decay.” No decade
captured that more than the ’90s. Fed up
with the MTV music-video saturation of
the ’80s, I think the ’90s returned a valuable
element of rock to the mainstream
market that was essential.
Tessa Jeffers -- Managing Editor
What are you listening to?
The special, swinging
vibe of young slide-guitarist
Luke Winslow-King’s Delta-dirt-meets-gentle-folk on The Coming Tide.
What era or decade do you think was
the most interesting for guitar and why?
Reading Pete Townshend’s memoir, I’m fascinated
by the firsthand glimpse into the Wild
Wild West landscape of the electric guitar in
the early ’60s (Jim Marshall, a young drummer
experimenting with double-stack amps,
etc.). No strict guidelines or schools, anything
went—the playing was loud and raw,
authentic rock being invented.
Keaton Simons -- Guest Picker
What are you listening to?
The Wood Brothers, Ways
Not to Lose. It’s down-home
swampy blues with deep
sophistication. Gets me right in the gut
every time.
What era or decade do you think was
the most interesting for guitar and why?
The 1960s, because artists were pushing the
boundaries of electric guitar. With brilliant
people like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton,
Pete Townshend, etc. paving the way, electric
guitar hasn’t been the same since.
Andy Ellis -- Senior Editor
What are you listening to?
Frank Vignola and Vinny
Raniolo, Melody Magic.
Stunning, masterfully played
arrangements of enduring classics infused with
the spirit of flamenco and jazz manouche.
What era or decade do you think was the
most interesting for guitar and why?
The
late 1800s—when gut strings gave way to
steel strings in America. Factory-made flat-tops
and archtops defined folk, blues, and
jazz, ultimately spawning the electric guitar.
We take modern guitar sounds for granted,
but the revolution began when we started
stringing up with steel.
Chris Kies -- Associate Editor
What are you listening to?
Queens of the Stone Age’s
single “My God Is the Sun”
is making me drool like
Pavlov’s dogs for … Like Clockwork.
What era or decade do you think was the
most interesting for guitar and why?
I’d
want to be in the eye of the storm in ’71–’72 for my two fave Stones LPs, ’77–’78 to
rip power chords alongside Joe Strummer
and Glenn Danzig, and ’91–’92 to welcome
Pantera’s thrash and the Northwest
grunge assault.
Charles Saufley -- Gear Editor
What are you listening to?
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze.
Kurt and collaborators
Jesse Trbovich and Rob Laakso are masters
at converting Vile’s evergreen tunes and
sweetly sardonic turns of phrase into hazy,
drifting reveries. Pretty Daze pretty much
turns everything into lazy afternoon porch
sit. Get it before summer hits.
What era or decade do you think was the
most interesting for guitar and why?
The
future. Stoked to hear what’s next.
Shawn Hammond -- Editor in Chief
What are you listening to?
Kings of Leon, The
Collection Box. Mock the
2010 pigeon-poop gig all
you want, these five albums are still chock-full
of rad tunes, smart guitar parts, and
tasty tones.
What era or decade do you think was
the most interesting for guitar and why?
All eras have innumerable gems. Find new
stuff via friends, authoritative sources, and
cool tech gadgets. Most importantly, keep
an open mind and push yourself to listen
to new things. There are a zillion ways for
guitar to be compelling.
Rich Osweiler -- Associate Editor
What are you listening to?
Junip, Junip. The Swedish
trio’s sophomore effort is a
menu of soft, atmospheric
drone rock done right. Blending thoughtful
acoustic work with a drenching of Moog
tones and patient but driving beats, it’s the
perfect backdrop for José González’s trance-inducing
vocals.
What era or decade do you think was the
most interesting for guitar and why?
A
valid case could be made for so many
decades, but the ’60s gave us more in
terms of innovation and rule breaking
than any other.
Jason Shadrick -- Associate Editor
What are you listening to?
Josh Smith, Don’t Give
Up on Me. With his latest,
Smith’s Albert Collins-meets-Steve Cropper style is in full force,
making one of the better blues albums
released this year.
What era or decade do you think was the
most interesting for guitar and why?
My
vote would be for the period between 1971
and 1976. Just far enough away from the
psychedelic ‘60s and before corporate rock
took hold.