Axe Lords

Latest Episodes:

Doug Gillard’s Battle-Worn Les Paul, GBV Riffs & Composed Solos Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

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. Follow @axelordspod for updates, news, and cool stuff. Follow Doug Gillard @douggillard Episode Highlights 00:00 – Cold Open: Paulina Porizkova, Bambi Kino & a failed pizza date 07:00 – First guitars: Sears Fireball, ’70s Gibson and Dad’s missile-silo day job 15:10 – Cleveland punk roots: Suspect Device, college radio & UK post-punk influences 24:00 – GEM, “Something to Point To” & non–Van Halen right-hand tapping 28:30 – Meeting Dave Hill, cassettes at Euclid Tavern & early Guided By Voices memories 38:20 – Glam revelation: Bolan, Ronson, Slade & choosing Les Pauls over Strats and Jazz Choruses 42:30 – Gear talk: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, relic culture & why faux-relics feel weird 56:00 – Bambi Kino explained: Hamburg-era Beatles covers only & the Paulina crossover 59:30 – “I Am a Tree” breakdown: capo tricks, Fleetwood Mac, Scarborough Fair & droning double-stops 1:10:00 – Doug’s solo albums, “Time Is Nigh” play-out & closing thanks

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lita Ford: The Warlock, the Double-Neck, and Her Signature Tone Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

The legendary Lita Ford joins Axe Lords to break down the guitars that shaped her sound — including her infamous BC Rich Warlock “Maurice,” her iconic double-neck, and the tone secrets she’s carried from The Runaways to today. She shares wild road stories, rare gear, and even plays a live performance.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej, and Tom Beaujour.

Produced by Studio Kairos. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Edited and mixed by Justin Thomas. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Axe Lords Season 2 Trailer Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Axe Lords is back with its biggest season yet—featuring guitar legends from Warren Haynes and Lita Ford to Chris Stein, Paul Gilbert, Larkin Poe, Doug Gillard, and more. Tune in on the Witz Comedy Network for the wildest, fastest, most riff-packed season of the best guitar podcast around.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej, and Tom Beaujour.

Produced by Studio Kairos. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Edited and mixed by Justin Thomas. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wicked World of Vintage Guitars with Joe Bonamassa Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Blues-rock virtuoso and legendary collector Joe Bonamassa joins Axe Lords for an episode that dives deep into the wild, weird, and sometimes downright wicked world of vintage guitars. Buckle up as Joe tries to convince Tom to stop weighing his instruments, expounds on the mythology of double-white PAFs, explains why taking a Flying V into a motel room is “sick and wrong,” and reveals that having a stage persona (and a good suit) is the true path to spiritual liberation.

Axe Lords would also like to note that, as this episode airs, Joe—who has already evacuated once—is hunkered down in his Los Angeles home, hoping that his collection and house will be spared by the wildfires devastating the region. We wish him, as well as the millions of others affected, the best of luck and, if possible, a speedy return to some semblance of normalcy.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Follow Joe @joebonamassa

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerry King's Wall of Sound: Riffs, Rigs, and Mayhem Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

The legendary Kerry King visits the Axe Lords studio and it’s raining blood - and, of course, laughs. Kerry tells us about the craziest thing he’s seen at a Slayer show, how he keeps track of his massive library of riffs, and explains the architecture of his current live rig. We talk mastering right-hand technique, Mercyful Fate, custom Kahlers, and unleash the madness of his signature Dean’s Sustaniac pickup.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej, and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Follow Kerry King @kerrykingmusic

Listen to Kerry's latest album "From Hell I Rise" https://kerrykingofficial.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unraveling Mary Timony's Guitar Sorcery: Tunings, Tone, and an Unexpected Obsession Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Since breaking onto the scene in 1991 with the Washington, DC group Autoclave, Mary Timony has become recognized as one indie rock’s most influential guitarists. Her work with Helium, Ex Hex, the supergroup Wild Flag, and as a solo artist have already earned her a spot on Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time” list, but she shows no signs of resting on her laurels: her 2024 album Untame the Tiger, was hailed by many as her best work to date. Mary joined the Axe Lords from her basement studio to discuss her collection of guitars and pedals, make a shocking revelation about her trusty Jazzmaster, demonstrate her go-to tunings, dissect her favorite Iron Maiden albums, and expound her newest obsession, playing the lute—yeah you heard that right, the lute—which she does for us in typically mind-blowing fashion. Episode note: She was kind enough to redo her lute performance after a technological bugaboo mangled her original take.

Cindy also does a quick dive into one of her guitar builds and tells us about that time she found something dead inside the wood she was cutting for a guitar.

Follow Mary Timony @marytimony

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gristletime Unleashed: Greg Koch Talks Van Halen, Vintage Teles, and Blues Mastery Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen the inimitable Greg Koch do one of his viral video instrument demos for Wildwood Guitars, shred his derrière off in one of his “Gristletime” livestreams from the Orange Room, or even learned to play reading his Hal Leonard books or watching his TrueFire instructional videos.

In this raucous episode, Greg reveals all to the Axe Lords, including tales of growing up in a sprawling family steeped in diverse musical influences and a devout Catholicism that made him fear that listening to Van Halen’s “Running With the Devil” would in itself mark his young soul for eternal damnation. He also delves into how he developed chops so prodigious and tasty that Joe Bonamassa has called his blues-and-country fusion “scary good,” and Cindy, Dave, and Tom grill him about his three Reverend Signature guitars, Fishman pickups, love of vintage Teles, and of course, his new collection of flamenco standards, Blues. No, silly, it’s actually a blues record. We just wanted to see if you were still paying attention!

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Follow Greg @gregkochmusic

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Shiflett on punk, glam, and the quest for sound Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

Even though he plays in one of the world’s biggest rock bands, is an active solo performer and hosts two podcasts (the second- and third-best podcasts ever), Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett found the time to convene with the Axe Lords to discuss his remarkable career, punk and glam-metal roots, signature Fender guitars, the relentless quest for an original sound, and why a sweaty club gig can be more nerve-wracking than playing a sold-out stadium show. Drop into our DMs if you need to know where to send those free Cleavers, buddy!

Follow Chris Shiflett @shifty71

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Brown Talks 80s Rock Glory, Push Ups, and How to Flip a Guitar Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

By the time he was old enough to drink (legally), Trixter founder and guitarist Steve Brown had put his hometown of Paramus, NJ on the rock and roll map, released a gold record, starred in a string of hit MTV videos and performed on arena tours supporting Kiss, Poison and the Scorpions. He hasn’t slowed down much since the Eighties, producing albums by such icons as Ace Frehley, filling in for both Phil Collen and Vivan Campbell in Def Leppard, touring with the Wizards of Winter, and even launching a line of super-affordable SBS guitars, one of which he should totally send us to mess around with.

We connected with Steve remotely from his home studio/man-cave and talked about how he basically lived Dave and Tom’s rock and roll dream, the mighty Ibanez Icemen, isometric exercise routines, and who would win a Hamer versus Kramer death match.

Follow Steve @stevebrownrocks

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Caws on Telecasters, Martin Flattops, and 30 Years of Indie Rock Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

Matthew Caws has been the frontman and guitarist of Nada Surf for more than three decades, during which time he and his group transcended their status as an alternative rock “one hit wonder” to become one of indie rock’s most respected and resilient bands. As a guitarist, he draws as much from Crosby, Stills and Nash as Echo and Bunnymen and has developed an instantly recognizable right-hand approach and chordal vocabulary all his own. Caws joined us in the studio to discuss the making of Nada Surf’s excellent new album, Moon Mirror, Telecasters versus Les Pauls, Martin versus Gibson flattops, buying seats for your guitars on airplanes, and much more. Full disclosure: He is also Tom’s oldest friend, was the best man at his wedding, and is probably to blame for his lifelong guitar addiction.

Follow Matthew @matthewcaws and check out Nada Surf’s new record, Moon Mirror.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour.

Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod for news, updates, and cool stuff.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected