Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair

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ED RODRIGUEZ-DEERHOOF May 11, 2023

Show notes

"Hello and welcome to SEASON THREE OF THE ANTI-HEROES!!! Thank you all for making this possible! We start the season with a bang. Zach sits down with guitarist Ed Rodriguez from Deerhoof! Amongst his many other projects, Ed has been one half of Deerhoof's guitar wizardry for over 20 years. In this episode, we learn about Ed and Zach's mutual backgrounds, growing up "other" and finding themselves through music. They discuss Deerhoof's varied musical influences and their both intricate and simple approach to song writing. Zach asks Ed about the signature model Deerhoof guitar from Eastwood and we hear a tune from Deerhoofs latest, Miracle Level . Thank you so much for tuning in and making it possible for us to bring you another season!"

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

The latest from Deerhoof here https://deerhoof.bandcamp.com/album/miracle-level

https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/miracle-level?_pos=5&_sid=61a3d972f&_ss=r

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

DAN "CHEWEY" MONGRAIN - MARTYR, VOIVOD Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Zach talks with Dan Mongrain from the seminal VOIVOD. To say he was excited about this one would be an understatement! Zach shares what Voivod meant to him and how that influence translates to his playing. They also talk about Dan's upbringing and how he went from an avid Voivod fan/obsessive to full time member. Dan explains how getting the call to replace legendary guitarist, Dennis "Piggy" D'Amour, (due to an untimely passing) changed his life. They also discuss Dans devotion to Voivod's innovative music and the importance of bringing it to guitarists all over the world in the form of definitive tab books. NOT TO BE MISSED!!

https://www.voivod.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

JON GONNELLI-RYE COALITION-THIN EARS Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Jon Gonnelli is the guitarist for Rye Coalition and Thin Ears. Though he grew up in the 90's in New Jersey, his influences weren't limited to east coast hardcore. He and his peers pointed their ears west to soak up the aggressive punk sounds of San Diego's Gravity records, the artful and heavy Tough and Go artists and of course the nearby community that centered around Gern Blandston Records. In this episode Jon shares his experience touring with The Foo Fighters, why he looked beyond New Jersey for guitar inspiration he tells us of the virtues of guitars made out of aluminum. Zach and Jon discuss his new project Thin Ears and we learn about Jons guitar set up over the years.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

BLAKE IBANEZ-POWER TRIP, FUGITIVE Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Today we have Blake Ibanez from the crossover thrash band, POWER TRIP. We share our experiences growing up in Texas and how it shaped our perspectives on our musical lives. I finally get to declare my admiration for him and how proud I am that we come from the same place. We discuss gear, his current set up and his musical influences. Also, Blake tells us what inspired his new band FUGITIVE and hints at next steps for POWER TRIP.
https://powertripsl.bandcamp.com/music
https://fugitivetx.bandcamp.com/album/maniac

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

CODY VOTOLATO-JR SLAYER, BLOOD BROTHERS, HEAD WOUND CITY Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode we get to spend time with Cody Votolato. Cody is a singer, songwriter and guitarist living in Los Angeles by way of Seattle. Cody was a founding member of The Blood Brothers and Head Wound City, recording and touring with both from the late 90’s to 2010. He has also performed and recorded with Cold Cave, Telekinesis and Anya Marina. More recently, Cody has released a record under the moniker, JR Slayer. In this episode, we discuss his experience playing guitar in a seminal hardcore band, being in a band with Nick Zinner and the catalyst for his solo effort as J.R. Slayer. We hear a couple tunes and of course, discuss gear.
https://jrslayer.bandcamp.com/
https://www.thebloodbrothers.com/
https://headwoundcity.bandcamp.com/album/head-wound-city-ep

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

Sara L'Abriola- Hank, The Overcoats, Samia Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

Today I get to meet Sara L'Abriola! Sara was born into a musical family in 1998 in Garrison, New York. Her father is an award-winning sound designer and composer; her mother, a singer/guitarist and teacher. Sara’s own early musical training included classical guitar at 8 years old, and at 13 she discovered and became passionate about the music of Django Reinhardt. More recently she she's toured and recorded with the likes of Samia, The Overcoats, Cold War Kids, Gus Dapperton and her own project Hank. We discuss her hired gun work, her affinity for Django, and how this influence seeps into her current playing and projects.
https://linktr.ee/thisishanksmusic
https://hank.bandcamp.com/album/call-me-hank

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Mentioned in this episode:

Dunlop

Schecter Guitars

Kurt Ballou-Converge Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

Today is a great one! We talk to my old friend Kurt Ballou from Converge! Kurt is a guitarist and producer from Salem, Massachusetts. In this episode we get a glimpse inside the mind of a true multi-hyphenate and polymath. Not only did Kurt invent a new style of hardcore with Converge but he's a luthier and gear designer with his own GodCity Instruments AND a successful and amazingly prolific producer at his own GodCity Studios in Salem. This guy will make you feel lazy no matter how hard you do whatever it is that you do (at least he makes me feel that way). Enjoy!
https://kurtballou.com/
https://godcitystudio.com/
https://www.convergecult.com/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

JESSE DAYTON - THE ROAD KINGS, GLEN DANZIG, ROB ZOMBIE, WAYLON JENNINGS, SUPERSUCKERS Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

I'm so happy to sit down with my old friend Jesse Dayton! Jesse is a guitarist, author, record producer and songwriter from Austin by way of Beaumont, Texas. In addition to cutting his teeth on punk rock throughout the 80's and 90s, Jesse had a serious interest in country and rockabilly. Not only a founding member of The Road Kings, Jesse has recorded and toured extensively with Waylon Jennings, Rob Zombie, X and Johnny Cash to name a few. We get to talk about our shared experience growing up as weird kids in small town Texas and how that informed our outlook and our careers. Jesse also shares his experience backing up some of the most iconic artists in history and embarking on a successful solo career and author.
https://jesse-dayton.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.jessedayton.com/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

Eva Walker (The Black Tones) Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

A new Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair podcast is out! Eva Walker of the awesome band The Black Tones.
From Zach: “I love this episode! I was new to The Black Tones and Eva but man, I was blown away with her energy and love for music, life and guitar! Also fun fact--Eva’s brother plays drums in her band, her husband plays bass and her MOM SINGS BACKING VOCALS!!! What?!?? Isn’t that insane?!!! It’s a true family band and I AM HERE FOR IT!! We talk about being from Seattle and the overwhelming influence of Hendrix on a guitar player from there (even influencing her guitar choice), navigating being female and black in a rock guitar band and we also discuss her record, “Cobain and Cornbread” (genius title) and the Sub Pop single The End of Everything.
Thanks to Dunlop for their episode support!

DON’T MISS THIS EPISODE!!!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop

Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

" FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON TWO!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for joining me! I couldn't be happier or more thankful to have this opportunity for another amazing season and we're starting it off with a BANG!!

Today I get to sit down with a buddy I met almost thirty years ago!

A little backstory: Chris Shiflett used to play in a punk band called, No Use For A Name in the 90's and I used to play in a punk band called Hagfish (also in the 90's...which is crazy because I'm still 25).

Our paths used to cross all the time because we were on the same label (Fat Wreck Chords) and played shows together all over the place but it wasn't until one night at the famous, Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, Chris came out to see us play and him and i just hit it off. We realized we had a lot in common. From heavy metal to our love for the same guitars and gear and even the same players. We also both had older brothers that also played and had showed us both everything we knew. It was like we'd know each other forever and we've been close friends ever since.

I called him immediately after I'd heard the news that he'd joined one of the world's biggest (if not THE biggest) bands. I was so happy for him and proud of him. He's also been a major inspiration for me to always keep pushing and wanting better for myself.

He's just the best and I love the guy.

He deserves everything he has ten-fold.

He's also a hell of a player and we talk about all of that and so so much more.

I could keep going on and on but you'll hear me do a lot of that!

Once again, thank you for tuning into my first episode of my second season of this thing that I love so much. I couldn't do it without you all and I hope you enjoy!" -Zach

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Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Dunlop