See how these bad hombres bridge Texas boogie and mystic Birmingham vibes with stylish, striking 6-strings—including a signature Reverend goldtop—and boisterous British behemoths.
There's no doubt ZZ Top trademarked Texas boogie. And over 30 years later, the Sword furthered the Lonestar shuffle's legacy by darkening it.
The Austin outfit's 2006 debut Age of Winters combined the rhythmic bounce of Tres Hombres with the power and might of Master of Reality. The cross-pollination of Gibbons and Iommi continued in 2008's Gods of the Earth, with heavier right-hand picking and tempos shading towards thrash-y Priest and Thin Lizzy's "Emerald." Traces of proggy psychedelia, like 2112 Rush and late-'70s Genesis, turned 2010's concept album Warped Riders into a swirling voyage of sci-fi conquest and space exploration, with the music matching the otherworldly narrative. And 2012's Apocryphon saw the band settle into themselves, collectively cherry-picking all the things that worked on the previous three albums. Songs like "Cloak of Feathers" and the title track show their musical certainty. High Country, from three years later, showcases a once-singular-sounding band finding a home between Houston and Birmingham that could be best classified as classic mid-'70s hard rock. And 2018's Used Future—as its cover depicts—shows the band comfortably, calmly, confidently pressing the accelerator of their Bombshell Betty 1952 Buick Super Riviera and racing towards their own horizon.
This fall 2021 run had the Sword members—J.D. Cronise (guitar/vocals), Kyle Shutt (guitars), Bryan Richie (bass/keyboards), and Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III (drums)—handling double duty, with a headline tour woven around opening shows for Primus.
Before their top-of-the-bill show at Nashville's Mercy Lounge, Shutt, Cronise, and Richie showed PG how consolidating gear (and volume) has helped them sharpen their blade.
[Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
A Signature Goldtop … but Not That Goldtop
Since our last encounter, in 2014, the Sword guitarist Kyle Shutt has been honored with his very own Reverend Signature KS-1 model. The latest iteration is this eye-catching golden axe that comes with Rev's typical formula—korina body (with a maple cap), 3-piece korina neck, and their bass contour control. (The asymmetrical center block is 1" wider on the bass side than Reverend's similar Manta Ray.)
Standing it apart from other Rev doublecuts and offering some of Kyle's tonal thumbprint is the additional master volume (for stutter effects) and the inclusion of his signature Railhammer humbuckers. The bridge model has similar output and clarity to their Hyper Vintage 'bucker, but aims to add in smoother highs and a thicker tone overall. The neck Humcutter is voiced to mimic a hot P-90, but Kyle wanted it beefed up to match the output of his bridge pickup, so he didn't have to adjust settings. (In the Rundown, he mentions Tom Scholz's DiMarzio Super Distortions and 1968 Gibson Les Paul goldtop as reference points for this collaboration with Reverend.)
Kyle plugs into his Laney with a Ray Raydecker custom cable, strings it up with Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinkys (.010–.052), and is tuned to C standard.
Heads Up!
Other hallmarks of Shutt's sig is that the headstock was the first Reverend to feature an abalone inlay logo, and his John Hancock is etched into the truss rod cover. (All the previous models had the logo painted on, and most of their sig models don't have a truss rod cover.)
Burst Me, Bro!
Here's a Shutt signature Rev that backs up the Venetian gold model—finished with a metallic alpine burst.
Longtime Laney Love
Shutt states that he fired up this Laney AOR Series Pro-Tube Lead head for 2006's Age of Winters, 2008's Gods of the Earth, 2010's Warp Riders, and 2012's Apocryphon, but admits it's not his amp. It belongs to Sword bassist Bryan Richie.
Hey Cabby!
Shutt runs Richie's AOR Series Pro-Tube Lead head into a (beautifully) stripped Marshall 1960B straight 4x12 loaded with a quad of Celestion G12H Creamback 75W 12" speakers.
Shutt up and Stomp!
Kyle's pedal playland keeps it classic with just a Dunlop Cry Baby 95Q Wah, a signature Idiotbox Effects Wild Kyle distortion, an Electro-Harmonix Micro POG, and an EarthQuaker Devices Levitation reverb. A Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner keeps his Reverends in check.
JD-V
Cofounding frontman and the Sword's main lyric scribe J.D. Cronise has always been attracted to outliers. This mid-2000s Gibson 1967 Flying V reissue caught his eye while on tour in support of Apocryphon. (He believes the V was built in either 2005 or 2007.)
He's upgraded the hardware, pickguard, and adopted a set of DiMarzios (originally a Super Distortion and a Super 2, and now a pair of PAF 36th Anniversary humbuckers). Like Kyle, he rides in C standard all night and laces on Ernie Ball Mondo Slinkys (.0105–.052).Billy-Bo for Texas
When the once-all-Texas band boogie on ZZ Top's "Cheap Sunglasses" each night (a cover included on 2012's Apocryphon), Cronise struts with this Gretsch G6199TW Limited Edition Round Up Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird that was an exclusive run for Fuller's Guitars in Houston. (Very fitting, since the original tres hombres started rocking H-town in the late '60s.) It still has stock TV Jones Power'Tron pickups and carries enough swag to be a museum piece or swing all Saturday night at Billy Bob's Texas. He tunes it to Eb standard, but uses a DigiTech Drop pedal to morph it to C. For the tighter tuning, he wraps on Ernie Ball Primo Slinkys (.0095 –.044).
Decked Out
Check out some of the intricate, cowboy-and-Western-themed inlays.
And Ready to Dance
The Billy-Bo's classy golden knobs radiate in the orange finish and you can see a few of its bronze, circular rivets on its side.
Orange You Glad to See Me?
If you watched the band's first Rundown from 2014, you'll recognize JD's Orange OR100, as it's the same head featured in that episode.
It's a British Thing
Last time he was hauling a pair of Orange cabs (4x12 and 2x12), but this time Cronise opted to bring his 1990s Marshall JCM 900 Lead Series 1960A slant 4x12 that has a quartet of Celestion G12H Creamback 75W 12" speakers.
Packed Pedal Playground
JD maximizes his flight-friendly board by filling nearly every square inch with an effect. His guitar hits the TC Electronic PolyTune 3 before reaching a pair of necessary oddballs—the aforementioned DigiTech Drop and an Electro-Harmonix Freeze. The bottom row contains the basic food groups for most rockers: Way Huge Conspiracy Theory (drive), EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job (EQ), MXR Phase 90 (modulation), MXR Carbon Copy (delay), and EHX Holy Grail (reverb). The Rocktron HUSH pedal helps control any unwanted noises and buzzing.
Friends at First Sight
When bassist Bryan Richie joined the Sword in 2004, he brought this 1994 Fender MIM Jazz bass. (He was 14 at the time.) Richie's made just two improvements to his first ride: He dropped in some Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz Bass pickups and screwed in a Leo Quan Badass II Bass bridge. The thin neck and lightweight body are a pair of reasons he continues to grab it, despite a bounty of options. And he plays with Ernie Ball Power Slinky Bass strings (.055–.110).
Ample Amp
Reducing from a SVT stack and 300W Verellen Meat Smoke, Richie now travels with this Ampeg V-4B. For years Richie, would hit the road with a fridge-sized 8x10, but now he matches his V-4B with an Ampeg 4x10 cabinet.
Warp Riders on the Taurus
"Producer Matt Bayles put a bunch of keyboard shit on the record [Warp Riders], and afterwards we wondered 'who was gonna play that?'" Bryan Richie raised his hand and put his feet to work on this Moog Taurus III.
More Moog
Bryan really only has one pedal—a Moog MF Drive. The other stomps are a Peterson StroboStomp and a Radial J48 1-channel Active 48V Direct Box.
Brent Mason is, of course, on of the most recorded guitarists in history, who helped define the sound of most ’90s country superstars. So, whether you know it or not, you’ve likely heard Mason’s playing.
Professional transcriber Levi Clay has done the deepest of dives into Brent Mason’s hotshot licks. At one point, he undertook the massive project of transcribing and sharing one of Mason’s solos every day for 85 or so days. Mason is, of course, on of the most recorded guitarists in history, who helped define the sound of most ’90s country superstars. So, whether you know it or not, you’ve likely heard Mason’s playing. Levi shares the insight he gleaned from digging deep, and he tells us what it was like when they shared a stage last year. Plus, Levi plays us some great examples of Mason’s playing.
For the first time ever, two guitar greats, John 5 and Richie Kotzen will be heading out on the road this year. The tour will launch October 16 and run through November, hitting markets across the U.S.
Find the full tour itinerary right plus a link for tickets & VIP, including additional dates featuring John 5 only. Reserved seating tickets will go on sale Friday May 16 though a fan presale will begin today at noon local time and fans are strongly encouraged to buy early to get the best seats.
Meet and Greets for both artists will be available. For John 5 please go to: https://john5store.com/collections/vip.
Today, John 5 also announces more details of his anticipated new album. Called The Ghost, it will be released October 10 and is led by the new track “Fiend,” featuring Kenny Aronoff.
John 5 continues running public tours this month for his Knights In Satan’s Service Museum of KISS Memorabilia in Los Angeles, California. Guided tours are open to the public for one month only (with a possible expansion). Current dates available are May 12-16, May 19-23 and May 27-30. Each will be led by John 5 himself who will provide tons of rich detail and answer any questions. Secure your place HERE.
JOHN 5 continues to tour with Mötley Crüe including an upcoming residency in Las Vegas in 2025.RICHIE KOTZEN &
JOHN 5 FALL 2025 TOUR
October 16 El Cajon, CA @ Magnolia
October 17 Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing Arts
October 18 Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
October 19 San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
October 21 Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
October 22 Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre
October 24 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 25 Leander, TX @ The Haute Spot
October 27 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
October 28 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
October 29 Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street Lawn Club
October 30 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
October 31 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
November 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
November 2 Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre
November 4 Richmond, VA @ The National
November 5 Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
November 6 Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
November 11 Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
November 12 Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
November 13 Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & Stage
November 14 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
November 15 Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace Theatre
November 16 Columbus, OH @ The King Of Clubs
November 17 Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
November 19 Wyandotte, MI @ District 142
November 20 Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
November 21 Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
November 22 St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
November 23 Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theatre
November 25 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
November 29 Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's*
*John 5 only
AEROSMITH guitarist and songwriter JOE PERRY is set to return to the road for a series of August performances with THE JOE PERRY PROJECT. The 8-date run kicks off August 13 in Tampa, FL and wraps August 23 in Port Chester, New York, with an August 19 performance in PERRY’s Boston hometown (see the itinerary below). For the North American trek—which marks the first solo shows for PERRY this year—the legendary guitarist will be joined by his Aerosmith bandmates Brad Whitford (guitar) and Buck Johnson (keys), along with The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson (vocals), and Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert DeLeo (bass), and Eric Kretz (drums).
“Well…it’s time to let the music do the talkin again,” PERRY says. “I’m really excited about the JPP line up this year!!!! Most of these guys played with me at The Roxy in L.A. at the debut event for my latest solo album [Sweetzerland Manifesto] in January 2018. They’re all busy as hell but thankfully they’re able to carve out some time for this run. And I’m not only lucky enough to have Brad Whitford onstage with me but Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes! [who sang ‘Fortunate One’ on Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII], Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz from STP!!! and Buck Johnson who plays keys and sings with Aerosmith, the Hollywood Vampires, and is also a solo artist in his own right.”
For the shows, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee says “the set list is gonna include my fav JPP cuts, STP, Black Crowes, and with Brad we’ll be hitting the Aero hits and some deep cuts and then ya never know!!!! Gonna be a BLAST, and if you’ve ever been to one of my shows you know the words GARAGE BAND on STEROIDS come to mind! See you there!!!!”
DATE | LOCATION | VENUE |
Wednesday, August 13 | Tampa, FL | Seminole Hard Rock - Tampa |
Thursday, August 14 | Hollywood, FL | Seminole Hard Rock - Hollywood |
Saturday, August 16 | Toronto, ON | HISTORY |
Sunday, August 17 | Muskoka, ON | Kee to Bala |
Tuesday, August 19 | Boston, MA | Wang Theatre |
Wednesday, August 20 | Hampton Beach, NH | Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom |
Friday, August 22 | Mashantucket, CT | The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino |
Saturday, August 23 | Port Chester, NY | Capitol Theatre |
A sample page from the author’s analog log.
Seasonal changes are tough on your acoustic. Here’s how you can take better care of your prized instrument.
As you read this, spring is in bloom in most of the US, or maybe it has been for some time. I’m timing this column specifically to ask acoustic guitarists, in this season of increasing humidity and comfortable conditions, to prepare for what’s coming. It’s never too soon, and time flies. Before you know it, we’ll be back to the maintenance phase and you might be blowing up the phones of your local guitar shops, luthiers, and techs. I’m here to encourage a decidedly old-school approach to preventative guitar maintenance, and yes, it starts now.
Why, you ask? Well, as the lead luthier at Acoustic Music Works, I can tell you that in my nearly 15 years in this position, this was the worst winter ever for preventable repairs on acoustic guitars. Fret sprout, bridge lifts, top sink, soundboard cracks, back cracks, loose binding, general malaise… These hit us very hard in the winter that spanned 2024 and 2025. Am I complaining? On the one hand, no. This is part of how we make our money. On the other hand, yes! Repair schedules related to dryness and humidity issues can stretch into weeks and even months, and nobody wants to be without their favorite instruments for that amount of time. With a little thoughtfulness, however, you might get through next winter (and every one thereafter) without hefty repair bills or time apart from your musical companion.
Our preparation is going to start with an unlikely but very important guitar accessory: the humble notebook. Plain, lined, grid, day planner… it doesn’t matter. We all need to actively participate in our instrument maintenance, and in my experience, fancy apps that track humidity via Bluetooth breed a kind of laziness, a feeling of safety that might prevent us from actually physically looking in on conditions. Better we keep an analog, well, log, so that we know where things stand, and I suggest checking in daily.
“This was the worst winter ever for preventable repairs on acoustic guitars.”
Track your relative humidity, both in the case and in the room where your instruments mostly reside, but also take notes on your action height, top deflection (StewMac has some great tips for measuring this) and anything related to playability that you believe you can observe empirically.
Dryness is the root cause of most guitar issues that manifest in the fall and winter months. Symptoms of dryness include sharp fret ends, falling action and dead frets, sunken top around the sound hole, and cracks and bridge lifts. With your trusty notebook, you’ll get a feel for the sensitivity level of your instrument, and that knowledge is power!
A few other basic implements will not only assist you in your observations, but may also satisfy your need to buy guitar-related things (at least for a minute). Getting quick and comfortable with a fret rocker is a great skill to have, and is invaluable in diagnosing buzzes due to high frets or frets that have come unseated due to dryness. A well-calibrated relief gauge might seem luxurious, but it can prevent you from making unnecessary or extreme truss rod adjustments. A string action gauge, or even a simple machinist’s rule or set of feeler gauges, will help you keep track of your action. Get a three-pack of hygrometers so you can average their readings, rather than depending on one.
Lest we forget: A guitar can not only be too dry, it can also be too wet. By beginning your maintenance diligence in the spring/summer, you’ll also be able to tell if your instrument is the victim of a too-humid environment. The signs of over-humidification are subtle: Your action may rise from a puffed-up top, and in extreme cases, glue joints could begin to fail. In my experience, an over-humidified guitar will suffer from dulled tone, almost like a sock in the sound hole. If you’re sensing a lack of clarity in your guitar all of a sudden, start with new strings. If it persists, it might be due to over-humidification, and you may want to introduce a desiccant to the case for a time. The more lightly built your guitar is, the more sensitive it will be to seasonal changes.
By getting into these habits early, you’ll be empowered by knowing your instrument more intimately. You’ll understand when and why changes in tone and playability might have occurred, and you’ll hopefully save on repair bills year-round. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Who knows? I might just send you a notebook with an AMW sticker on the cover!