Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair

Latest Episodes:

GREG NORTON- HÙSKER DÙ-ULTRABOMB Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Zach talks with bass player Greg Norton! Greg is former bass player of the great Hûsker Dû. Since Hûsker Dû disbanded in 1998, he founded the band Grey Area and has continued to perform and record with various projects including Gang Font, Porcupine and most recently UltraBomb. Zach and Greg discuss his early bass playing, his gear choices, influences, and life after Du. Greg shares his current gear setup and talks about the importance of originality in bass playing. He also reflects on his experiences touring and the challenges of keeping gear safe on the road. Greg talks about his current band, UltraBomb, and their plans for recording and touring in the future. The two commiserate on their love of music and we hear a couple tunes.

UltraBomb

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Episode support by Thunder Road Guitars

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

JESSE MATTHEWSON-KEN Mode Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

Zach talks with new friend Jesse Matthewson. Jesse is singer and guitarist for Winnipeg based band KEN Mode. The two talk Jesus Lizard, Canadian Content Laws, and the wonderful music that Winnipeg has produced over the years. Zach and Jesse bond over playing in bands with their siblings and the glory of the touring in vans. We hear some special guitar nerdery and hear a few tunes.

#jessemathewson #kenmode #jesuslizard #riseagainst #antiheroespodcast #jimdunlop #distrokid #thunderroadguitars

KEN mode

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Episode support by Thunder Road Guitars

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

ROBB FLYNN-MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Robb Flynn is the guitarist of heavy metal legends, Machine Head. Not only does Zach love Machine Head, but he's an absolute fanboy of Robbs previous band VIO-LENCE!! He's worn out many copies of what he considers their seminal record, Eternal Nightmare, and finally, Zach meets Robb. The two discuss Robb's choice to exclusively play baritone guitars for the bulk of Machine Head's career and how that influences his amp preferences. Robb tells Zach an amazing James Hetfield story reveling that Robb is still a metal kid at heart, bringing this interview full circle.

Machine Head

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

ALEX GEHRING- RINGO DEATHSTARR-NUCLEAR DAISIES Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

In this Ep Zach talks with longtime friend and fellow Austinite, Alex Gehring. Alex is the bass player for shoegaze heads, Ringo Deathstarr. Zach and Alex share their experiences of joining bands in their youth, the world of wonders and downsides of never-ending tours and how they their seasoned selves see touring these days. Alex tells Zach how her stepfather’s influence started her rock n roll journey why she still plays the bass he gifted her in college. The two commiserate on their Texas upbringing and Alex tell us about her new band, Nuclear Daisies.

Alex Gehring

Ringo Deathstarr

Nuclear Daisies

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Episode sponsored by Thunder Road guitars

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

TIM MCLLRATH-RISE AGAINST Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

Season debut of Anti-Heroes starts off with a bang with Zach's "guitartner" and longtime comrade Tim Mcllrath from Rise Against. Zach forces Tim to talk about gear and all the nerdy stuff that usually elicits an (understood) eyeroll. Even though they have spent most of their days together for 17 years, they don't ever really talk about their approach together, as players, how they divide up parts and what their individual roles are in Rise Against. In discussing how the Rise Against sausage is made, the two learn some new things about themselves and their process. We hear what brought Tim to the guitar and how 90's guitar music shaped his signature approach. This is a true heartfelt conversation with someone Zach respects and admires deeply. Enjoy!

RISE AGAINST

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Episode sponsored by Thunder Road guitars

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

ZACH BLAIR- THE ANTI-HEROES SEASON FINALE Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

This week on The Anti-Heroes Podcast it's just Zach! He gets intimate. He opens up. He dishes and he pontificates. Zach talks about the past year, he reflects on this past season, looks to the next season and he laments the loss of an icon and idol, the inimitable Geordie Walker from Killing Joke. Last, Zach thanks you for all your support and invites you back for another season. Happy Holidays and enjoy!

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

DALE CROVER -THE MELVINS-ALTAMONT-REDD KROSS Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Anti-Heroes Ep 32 is up! Zach interviews Dale Crover, greatly influential drummer for the Melvin’s, Nirvana, Redd Cross and founding member and guitarist for Altamont. Zach see's Dale not only as one of rock n rolls all-time greatest drummers but world class guitarist and songwriter. Dales shares his influences, his favorite guitar players, some of his favorite guitars and why making solo records is important to him. He talks about the time he met Neil Young, while dressed as Neil Young, while starring in a Neil Young Video playing Neil Young!! Yes, this is true. Dale tells how he's dealing with some temporary physical setbacks, and we hear a few tunes.

The Melvins

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

PAUL D'AMOUR: MINISTRY, TOOL, LUSK, FEERSUM ENNJIN Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Today on Anti-Heroes! Paul D’Amour! Paul is a multi-instrumentalist, engineer, and producer. He has recorded and toured extensively with Ministry, Lusk, The Replicants and is a founding member of Tool. Though bass guitar is his main "live' instrument, he sees himself simply as a musician who wants to make interesting art and he'll play any instrument he can to make that happen. Zach and Paul talk about his solo work, his move to Ministry and the why his connection to the band is based in fan-ship as much as membership. They discuss writing the bass line for Sober, arguably one of the most ubiquitous bass riff of all time and Paul shares how NOMEANSNO bass player Rob Wright influenced his approach and tone. They have some laughs and hear a few tunes.

Ministry

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

Ian MacDougall and Fadi El-Assad - Riverboat Gamblers Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

This is a special episode for Zach. He gets to sit down with two of his closest friends, Ian MacDougall and Fadi El-Assad from the Riverboat Gamblers. They been through thick and thin; terrible jobs, health scares, successes, failures and all the ups and downs of a tight, long-time friendship. In this episode, Fadi tells us how dad taught him guitar basics and how finding punk in North Texas changed everything. Ian shares his experience being introduced to counterculture music via his young parents and how a chance encounter with a rock titan led to a job teching for big bands and eventually playing in one of them. The trio commiserate about their shared experience in a small northern Texas town and how their paths eventually cross. Where hear a couple RG tunes and have an all-around love fest.

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

DONIVAN BLAIR - TOADIES, ONLY CRIME, HAGFISH Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

"ITS ZACH'S BROTHER, Donivan Blair!!! This is both the first "sibling" and the first "bass player" episode of Anti-Heroes. Donivan has played bass for Hagfish, Only Crime and is now the bass player for The Toadies and has toured and recorded extensively for over 25 years. He also holds a first degree black belt in Taekwando. In the episode, the two talk Donivan's tenure with The Toadies and he shares a secret from his audition and how he nailed the gig. They reflect on their old bands, their upbringing and escape from a terrible Texas town and why they wouldn't change a thing. The Brothers Blair also talk about how their father 's great taste in music and guidance that led them to a devoted career in music. Donivan confesses an obsession with the great Rickenbacker bass guitar, and they get into a typical brotherly argument over a guitar that makes for a spicy "one that got away" segment.

The Toadies

Rickenbacker

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars