Chicago’s three-day, punk-rock carnival was host to Slayer, Jawbreaker, Raconteurs, Patti Smith, Rise Against, Bob Mould, Rancid, Bikini Kill, Lucero, the Struts, and more. Here are our favorite guitar-related moments from the 15th annual gathering.
Ween’s Dean Ween
One half of the offbeat alt-rock group Ween, Dean (aka Mickey Melchiondo) pays constant tribute to his Hendrix influences by primarily rocking a Strat onstage. His Frankenstein Strat’s cavity has a ’57 route with a dowel cut in half-lengthwise and glued to the outside wall to receive the extra screw hole for a ’62 or later pickguard. It was refinished Dakota red in the early ’90s, and its neck plate dates to 1962. The guitar has a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup in the bridge and Fender Lace Sensors in the middle and neck positions. The band played The Mollusk in its entirety.
The country-punkers out of Memphis share the roadworthy gear that allows them to seamlessly blend neo-Stax soul and barroom rock 'n' roll.
Lucero’s longtime lead guitarist eschews a loaded guitar boat—that’s for his studio time—and brings out two identical Fender Highway One Telecasters. The only modification that Brian has done to either axe is adding a custom-made leather pickguard that was given to him by his friend Danny from Crazy Heart Leather Goods. Oh, and the other customization he did to his pink No. 1 is that he carved his son Henry’s name onto the side.
PG’s Chris Kies catches up with Lucero’s Brian Venable, Ben Nichols, and John C. Stubblefield before the band’s first tour date in support of All a Man Should Do at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom.
