Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair

Latest Episodes:

STEPH CARTER-LYONESS-GALLOWS-MARHSALL AMPS Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

In Ep 28 of Anti-Heroes Zach chats with his dear friend, Steph Carter. Steph is not only the guitarist for Lyoness and Gallows, but head of education at Marshall Amplifiers. The two discuss early touring days together, particularly a world tour that took them to Australia, Japan and Europe. Steph shares Gallows unexpected instant success and the difficulties navigating it with his sibling, singer and tattoo artist, Frank Carter, which ultimately led to his departure. Steph talks about starting a band with his wife (Lyoness) and the journey that led from the road and band life to working with the legendary amplifier company. Zach and Steph have a proper nerd-athon on Marshal and its incredible legacy, Zach gives a proper Marshall deep inquiry and we hear some rippin tunes.

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Gallows

Steph Carter

Marshall

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

GINA GLEASON-BARONESS Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Baroness guitarist series continues this week with Gina Gleason! In addition to Baroness, Gina has toured and performed with Cirque du Soleil, Brendan Smalls ((Dethklock), Jon Anderson (YES), Carlos Santana and Jello Biafra. She is also a founding member of Misstalica and Queen Diamond. Gina shares her amazing and unique background playing guitar in a Cirque Du Soleil production and how she navigated herself from that world into a touring guitarist in one of the world’s most interesting and heavy bands, Baroness. Zach and Gina discuss her calculated choice of using single coil and p-90 pickups for maximum riffage. Gina explains how a chance online purchase of a boutique pedal led her to meeting Baroness mastermind John Baizley, and she tells us about the rewarding and creative partnership it has spawned. The two discuss the virtues of seeing live music and how it still has the power to inspire their playing.

Baroness

Gina Gleason

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

JOHN BAIZLEY-BARONESS Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode 1 of Season 4 is upon us! John Baizely is the rhythm guitarist and singer for Savannah, Georgia based Baroness. He is also and prolific painter and has contributed works to a wide range of artists (Kylesa, Metallica, Pig Destroyer, Gillian Welch, Flight of the Concords) on posters, t-shirts and record cover design. In this episode the two discuss Johns's musical background and how that has shaped him to be the guitarist, singer and artist he is today. John shares the idea behind self releasing his work and his why he is driven to break the mold of "metal" with alternate approaches to gear and songwriting. They dig into some Les Paul talk and we hear a couple tunes.

Baroness

John Baizely

Episode support by Distrokid and Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

JOSH NEWTON-SHINER-THE DAMNED THINGS Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

This week Zach talks with Josh Newton of Shiner and super group The Dammed Things. Not only is Josh a ripping guitarist, but he’s also a sought-after guitar-tech for the likes of Fall Out Boy, Kings of Leon and Band Of Horses. Zach couldn't be happier to sit down with one of his favorite guitarists from one of his favorite bands. Josh shares his experience as a "lefty", the two discuss the power of EGC guitars and and Josh tells our how he navigates a parallel career guitar teching for some of the biggest names in the business. Josh hares shares the story behind the Shiner reunions, and we hear a couple tunes.

Episode supported by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

Jim Dunlop

Shiner

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

RANDY RANDALL-NO AGE Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Randy Randall is the guitarist, co-producer and founding member of No Age. In this episode, Randy tells us what it's like to be guitarist that covers both bass and guitar duties. He shares what he's gleaned from non stop touring and his method for band longevity. The two talk about the wonders of the POG pedal, Randys set up and we hear a couple tunes.

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

Jim Dunlop NO AGE

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

YVETTE YOUNG-COVET Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Yvette Young is the singer, guitarist and founding member of the band Covet. On this episode Zach and Yvette discuss her classical piano background, her other life as a visual artist and how originally picking up the guitar was a way to cope with some personal struggles (something that she and Zach have in common). Yvette also shares the evolution of her band Covet, her view on amp modeling and what she needs for an ideal creative space.

Covet

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

Jim Dunlop

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

BRYAN GILES-RED FANG Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Bryan Giles is a guitarist and song-writer for the ultra-heavy Portland based Red Fang. From the crushing riffs to the intricate song structure, Red Fang is a band after Zach's own heart. In this episode, , Zach and Bryan discuss the riffage duties of the two Red Fang guitarists and how that lends to their overall sound. Zach and Bryan share their guitar influences and the significant role that metal plays in their own playing. They do a Bryan rig run down and most importantly they discuss his affinity and acquisition of the weirdest guitar in metal!

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

Jim Dunlop

Red Fang ARROWS ins out now! Red Fang

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

JIM FAIRCHILD-GRANDDADDY, MODEST MOUSE, ALL SMILES Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Jim Fairchild is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. For over 20 years, Jim has been a contributing member of west coast indie-rock luminaries Modest Mouse and Grandaddy . Between touring and recording, Jim has found to time to work with Gary Jarman (The Cribs), Joe Plummer (The Shins, Modest Mouse, CWK), Janet Weiss (Quasi, Sleater Kinney) and Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) on various projects. More recently he has collaborated with Temme Scott under the name Grace Meridian and he continues to release new material under his solo moniker, All Smiles. In this episode, Zach and Jim discuss his journey with Grandaddy and how they've remained a family through dark times. Jim shares his experience playing with Modest Mouse, his favorite guitars over the years and how he celebrates the power of simplicity in song writing. We hear about his newest efforts, his gig as an A&R agent for Dangerbird Records and why working with young bands has been rewarding for him.

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

Jim Dunlop

Grace Meridian

All Smiles

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

VIOLET MAYUGBA-DESTROY BOYS Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

VIOLET MAYUGBA is the guitarist, backing vocalist and a founding member of Destroy Boys, a punk rock band from Sacramento California. In this episode Zach and Violet discuss her punk rock roots, her obsession with the guitar and the catalyst behind forming the Destroy Boys. Violet tells us why she has gone from an "anti-pedal person" to a "pedal person", confesses her love for the Dookie Mod and gives a rundown of her current set up. Violet shares "the one that got way" and we hear a rip roaring Destroy Boys tune.

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

https://www.destroydestroyboys.com/

https://www.marshallforum.com/threads/marshall-2204-dookie-mod-clone-green-day.128797/

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

PETE CHRAMIEC - VERBAL ASSAULT, RAIN LIKE THE SOUND OF TRAINS May 25, 2023

Show notes

Pete Chramiec is a guitarist and songwriter living in Olympia, WA. He grew up in the 1980's Rhode Island hardcore scene where he co-founded the now re-united political hardcore progenitors, Verbal Assault. Following the closure of Verbal Assault's chapter one, he shifted his guitar wizardry to the Washington, DC based Rain Like The Sound Of Trains, an earnest and dexterous quartet with a multi-pronged political/counter consumerism mind expanding message. In this episode, Zach explains whybeing a metal and punk kid from the 80s and 90s one HAD to listen to Verbal Assault and why he was no exception. Pete and Zach discuss the early hardcore days and what "crossover" meant to them and their playing. Pete shares the history of his set up, his prominent influences and what the catalyst was for VA's reunion after over thirty years. Also, the CRAZIEST "one that got away" segment so far!

Episode sponsored by Jim Dunlop and MXR. Visit https://www.jimdunlop.com/ for all your guitar gear needs.

https://verbalassault.com/

https://www.bicyclehomebuilding.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop