Guitarist Doug Gillard breaks down his iconic black Les Paul, his tone secrets, early Cleveland punk roots, composed solos, and the gear behind “I Am a Tree.”
Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Nada Surf) joins the Axe Lords to dissect his signature sound , explain why why he’s one of the few “indie rock guys” running a Mesa Dual Rectifier and—bonus!-gives the A-Lords a guided tour of his battle-worn ’76 Les Paul Custom.
Doug — who also played bass in Dave’s Band Valley Lodge — breaks down his approach to composed solos, the harmony and capo tricks behind “I Am a Tree,” and how Cleveland punk, college radio, glam, and right-hand tapping shaped his style. Along the way: how annoying Tom is to work with in the studio, early guitars from Sears and Gibson, Cleveland-scene lore, surviving GBV’s marathon shows, and the most intense comedy monologue since Andy Kaufman shuffled off this mortal coil.
Axe Lords is presented in partnership with Premier Guitar. Hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas at Revoice Media. Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.
Anygig has unveiled the AGE TE Travel Guitar, a compact, full-scale electric guitar that redefines portability and performance. Priced at an exceptional $249.99 USD, the AGE TE embodies Anygig’s mission to deliver a design focused purely on playability, aesthetics, and compactness — free of unnecessary or ambiguous features. Its lightweight, headless design makes it the perfect companion for musicians on the move.
Unlike typical travel guitars derived from modified full-sized models, the AGE TE features a stylish, original design conceived entirely by Anygig. Its comfortable neck shape and smooth fret access stem from years of guitar-making experience, ensuring a natural feel and ease of playability. Despite its portable dimensions, the guitar boasts a 25.5” standard scale, delivering the same response and tension as a traditional instrument — which is ideal for players who demand full-scale performance wherever they go.
The latest Anygig model's adaptive design includes the new attachable ‘Flow’ Arm and Leg rests for improved playing posture, bridging the gap between compact design and ergonomic comfort. Fully compatible with the growing range of modern headphone amps, it gives players the freedom to practice and perform anytime, anywhere. Each AGE TE Travel Guitar ships with a travel-size gig bag, fret protector sleeve, Flow leg and arm rest, guitar scale booklet, pick, strap, digital tuner, and Allen key, providing everything needed for an immersive, portable playing experience. .
Dimension of Gigbag, Included Guitar & All Accessories : 91cm x 18cm x 10cm ● Net Weight: Fully assembled around 2.1 KG / 4lbs
The Anygig travel guitar is built around a minimalist, ergonomic design that emphasizes portability without sacrificing comfort or control. Whether you're practicing at home or touring across the globe, its slim profile fits wherever you need it to go. Available from $249.99usd on our Website www.anygigguitar.com , Amazon and Reverb.
Lamb of God return to the road this March for what promises to be the heaviest tour of 2026, with the North American trek, produced by Live Nation, featuring support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg.
Tickets for all shows are on-sale this Friday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. local time. An artist pre-sale launches today at 12 noon eastern. Tickets and VIP packages will be available at Lamb-of-god.com/tour.
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the loudest, proudest, floor shakin’-est, earth quakin’-est, ear-splittin’-est, mosh pittin’-est, undiluted, undisputed HEAVIEST tour of the whole damn year,” Mark Morton declares. “Is this the largest collection of RIFFS ever assembled under one roof? It would seem so. Lamb of God, Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Do not miss this shit.”
The tour news follows the recent release of “Sepsis,” the band’s first new original song since 2022’s Omens, and now the #1 song on the U.S. metal radio charts. Produced by longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur, the track celebrates the Richmond underground and the bands Lamb of God performed alongside during their early years. The band also shared a live video for “Sepsis,” capturing the electrifying live debut of the song at Aftershock Festival.
Consequence named the three-and-a-half minute track its “heavy song of the week,” describing the single as “crushing” while Revolver spotlighted “Sepsis,” calling it a “rock-solid addition to their ever-crushing canon.”
Lamb of God tour dates:
March 17 National Harbor, MD The Theater MGM National Harbor March 19 Montreal, QC Bell Centre March 20 Toronto, ON GCT Theatre March 22 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre March 24 Minneapolis, MN Armory March 25 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom March 27 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium March 28 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Center March 30 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds March 31 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater April 1 Vancouver, BC PNE Forum April 3 San Francisco, CA The Masonic April 4 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater April 5 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre April 7 Albuquerque, NM Revel Entertainment Center April 10 Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater April 11 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory April 12 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall April 14 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium April 15 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre April 16 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater April 18 Reading, PA Santander Arena * April 19 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome April 21 Buffalo, NY Buffalo RiverWorks April 23 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount April 25 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena * April 26 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
*-Not a Live Nation show
2026 Festival Performances May 14 – 17 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival July 24 – 27 Plovdiv, BG Hills of Rock July 27 – 31 Râşnov, RO Rockstadt Extreme Fest August 1 Wacken, DE Wacken Open Air August 5 – 9 Lisbon, PT Vagos Open Air August 6 – 9 Kortrijk, BE Alcatraz Open Air August 7 Walton-on-Trent, UK Bloodstock Open Air August 12 – 16 Dinkelsbühl, DE Summer Breeze August 13 – 15 Sulingen, DE Reload Festival August 14 – 16 Eindhoven, NL Dynamo Metalfest October 30 – November 3 Miami, FL Headbangers Boat
Tickets to the band’s previously announced dates, including the 2026 edition of their annual Headbangers Boat cruise, are on-sale now via their website.
Levy’s Music has introduced two new additions to its popular Amped Leather Series, expanding one of the brand’s most recognized strap collections.
The M26PD-BLK-MAT brings a sleek matte black finish for players drawn to a rugged, understated look. The strap is adjustable from 43”–51" in length and its no-gloss finish highlights the natural texture of the leather. It carries a street price of $32.99.
The M26PD-BLK-XL extends the series’ best-selling black leather strap to suit taller musicians and lower playing preferences. Adjustable from 55.5"–63" in length, it provides an enhanced fit and added comfort for a variety of playing styles and carries a street price of $34.99.
Handcrafted in Nova Scotia from genuine top-grain leather, the Amped Leather Series is known for its 3-inch-wide design and soft ¼-inch foam padding wrapped in garment leather for long-lasting comfort.
Both new models carry forward the craftsmanship and comfort that define the Amped Leather Series, reinforcing its status as a go-to choice for musicians seeking reliability and style in equal measure. Each strap is proudly handcrafted in Nova Scotia, Canada.
To learn more about Levy’s guitar straps and music accessories, please visit levysleathers.com.
Spector unveils the Limited Euro LX Series, a striking new take on the beloved Euro LX bass formula. Drawing inspiration from the Spector Custom Shop, each bass features a maple fingerboard, adding brightness and that signature maple “pop”, a rarity for the Euro line. Other standout features include a matching figured maple headstock and three stunning gloss finishes.
Crafted with precision, these limited models boast a fully curved figured maple top with European alder back, paired with a neck-thru 3-piece North American maple neck and fingerboard, adorned with Spector’s signature Mother of Pearl Crown Inlays.
“This Limited Euro LX series is a celebration of our legacy and a bold step forward,” said John Stippell at Spector. “These basses combine the craftsmanship our players expect with fresh design elements that make a statement on stage and in the studio.”
At the heart of this bass is the Spector Legacy preamp, developed in collaboration with Darkglass Electronics. This preamp, paired with EMG pickups, captures the legendary “Spector growl” heard on countless iconic recordings, while offering modern tonal flexibility.
Available in four (34”) and five-string (35”) configurations, with three eye-catching gloss finishes – Black Cherry, Ultra Violet, and Black Stain – topped off with a matching headstock for a cohesive, high-end look. Gold hardware adds a touch of elegance, staying true to the classic Spector aesthetic.
The Black Cherry and Ultra Violet Limited Euro LX basses are available now at select authorized Spector dealers. The Black Stain basses are available exclusively at Sweetwater.
Experience a new take on a classic with the Limited Euro LX basses from Spector.