Have Guitar Will Travel Podcast

Latest Episodes:

245 - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

245 - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
In episode 245 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. In their conversation Jeff tells about his role in the upcoming Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp which he does fairly often. Jeff tells us about his youth growing up in Mexico City and how he ended up playing guitar and eventually starting a surf band with Abe Laboriel. Jeff describes his early influences which are all very eclectic and Jeff talks about his move from Mexico to Connecticut and then New York City working at Jimmy’s Music and the Dan Armstrong’s repair shop and working on innovations with Bill Lawrence. Jeff describes the guitarists he ran into while working in New York City: Sam Brown, Eddie Deal, Danny Kortchmar and Les Paul. Jeff talks about his move to Boston to attend Boston University and working with David Schecter and studying the pedal steel. Jeff tells us about his love of muscle cars and a few of the cars he had throughout the years. Jeff discusses a few of his bands: Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers and he talks about his session work and why he preferred to sit while playing live. Jeff talks about his love of eclectic guitars and what his collection looks like now and he talks about the work he’s done for Roland, Gibson and Fender. Jeff discusses his work for the government, his hand in bringing rock music to Russia and his thoughts on new technologies and ones used during World War Two and talks a little about Nick Cook’s book “the hunt for zero point”. Jeff describes being an avid reader of technical journals and guitar magazines and he talks plans for a second solo album. To find out more about Jeff you can go to his website: jeffskunkbaxter.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #JeffSkunkBaxter #SteelyDan #DoobieBrothers #DanArmstrong #thehuntforzeropoint #FenderGuitars #GibsonGuitars #JamesPatrickRegan #RolandMusicalInstruments #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife https://www.patreon.com/cw/HaveGuitarWillTravelPodcast
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

244 - Michael Sweet (Solo, Stryper, Boston) Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

244 - Michael Sweet (Solo, Stryper, Boston)
In episode 244 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with singer and guitarist Michael Sweet most recognizable from his band Stryper but also was in the band Boston and Sweet and Lynch among other projects. In their conversation Michael tells us why a solo album… it’s his 11th solo album and tour plans behind the album. Michael discusses his home in Massachusetts and his time as the worship leader at his home church. Michael takes us through his youth in Southern California and his original band Rox Regime that played a lot with the hair bands whose names we all know and the transformation to Stryper. Michael takes us through his gear through the years and his obsession with tone and how the yellow and black color scheme came about and the guitars he’s currently playing Sully electrics and Godin acoustics. Michael talks about his guitar hero’s early on and he talks about his home studio as well as the studio where the band tracks and mixes… and he talks about his production work for his band. Michael takes us through his work with George Lynch and the band Boston and the possibilities of working with them again. Michael talks about the future of Stryper and the logistics of getting the band together with all the members living around the country and he talks tour plans. To find out more about Michael you can go to his website: michaelsweet.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #MichaelSweet #Stryper #Boston #SullyGuitars #TheMasterPlan #JamesPatrickRegan #SweetandLynch #theDeadlies #MarshallAmplifiers #RoxRegime #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

243 - Kurt Baker (solo, the Leftovers) Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

243 - Kurt Baker (solo, the Leftovers)
In episode 243 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with bassist, guitarist and bandleader Kurt Baker. In their conversation Kurt tells us about living in Brooklyn and working for Little Steven’s record label “Wicked Cool Records” a label that he’s also recording for. Kurt discusses his new single and when he might release a new album and his style of Power Pop music. Kurt describes how he got hooked up with Wicked Cool and how he eventually started working for the label. Kurt tells us about living and playing his music in Spain before working for Little Steven. Kurt talks about his musical history growing up in Maine and his band “the Leftovers” (one of the first bands to do video blogs) and why that band disbanded and what made him go solo. Kurt describes his gear both his basses and his guitars and his Ampeg, Orange and VOX amps and he describes the backline situation in New York. To find out more about you can go to his socials as kurtmiltonbaker or his bandcamp page: kurtbaker.bandcamp.com and check out Kurt’s music it’s refreshing. Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #KurtBaker #theLeftovers #WickedCoolRecords #LittleStevensUndergroundGarage #FenderBass #EpiphoneGuitars #PrecisionBass #AmpegAmps #JamesPatrickRegan #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

242 - Axel Ellis (the Runarounds, Ax and the Hatchetmen) Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

242 - Axel Ellis (the Runarounds, Ax and the Hatchetmen)
In episode 242 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with Axel Ellis guitarist for the band/Amazon Prime Show “the Runarounds” and his band “Ax and the Hatchetmen”. In their conversation Axel gives us a little history of the band, a band that was cast for the Amazon show. Initially auditioning with his whole band for what they thought was a guest spot on an established show. Axel takes us through his musical history growing up in the suburbs of Chicago with parents that loved music and initially studying flamenco guitar before moving on to jazz and then rock. Axel describes how the show’s characters mirrors his own start in music. Axel tells us about the benefits of being on a tv show, not just the fame and money, but the sponsorships from gear companies. Axel talks about his gear both for the Runarounds tv show, the bands tour that he’s on now and for his other band “Ax and the Hatchetmen” Axel discusses the logistics for the band as far as being spread apart around the country for songwriting and rehearsals. Axel gives us his thoughts on his future of his band, the Runarounds band and the tv show’s potential second season. To find out more about Axel you can go to his band website: axandthehatchetmen.com or the website for the Runarounds: therunarounds.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #AxelEllis #theRunarounds #AmazonPrimetheRunarounds #AxandtheHatchetmen #GretschGuitars #WhiteFalcon #SuproAmps #JamesPatrickRegan #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

241 - Boy Golden Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

241 - Boy Golden
In episode 241 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with singer/songwriter and producer Boy Golden aka Liam Duncan. In their conversation Liam describes his upcoming tour schedule in Canada and growing up in rural Manitoba in the cold. Liam talks gear, his guitars and amps and his collection of Russian microphones and a special guitar labeled Garnet after the amp maker. Liam tells us about his earlier band “the Middle Coast” before he went out as Boy Golden and he explains the Boy Golden moniker. Liam talks about his time as the keyboardist for the Bros. Landreth and his influences early on. Liam discusses his new album “Best of Our Possible Lives” and the personal on the album and he also describes his home studio. To find out more about Boy Golden you can go to his website: boygolden.ca Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #BoyGolden #theMiddleCoast #LiamDuncan #Manitoba #theBrosLandreth #YamahaGuitars #JamesPatrickRegan #BestofOurPossibleLives #theDeadlies #HomeStudio #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

240 - Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Night Ranger) Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

240 - Joel Hoekstra
In episode 240 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist Joel Hoekstra, in their conversation Joel describes living in New York City and growing up in the suburbs of Chicago with his parents who were both classical musicians and Joel tells us why he didn’t pursue piano. Joel describes the impact of seeing AC/DC on MTV as a kid which slowed his sports interests. Joel describes his gear starting on his stepmom’s guitar and he discusses his guitars from then on… and how he got the collecting bug and he discusses his custom Gibson’s and Jackson’s and the guitars he uses for each of his gigs. Joel tells us about his first bands through his gigs with Trans Siberian Orchestra, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Jim Peterik, Cher… as well as his time spent as a pit guitarist for Broadway shows like Rock of Ages and Love Janis. Joel talks about using in-ear monitors and hearing loss and Joel talks about his time at GIT in Hollywood and working at Cherokee Studios. Joel discusses his new album “From the Fade” and the personal on the album and the chances for a tour and he describes the other projects he’s working on: Revolution Saints, Hoekstra Gives, teaching remote lessons, Broadway’s Rock of Ages band and Iconic (which includes a lot of his former Whitesnake bandmates as well as time spent producing other artists. Finally Joel tells us about what he does when he’s not playing guitar… his kids, and anything to escape music and plans to go to NAMM next week. To find out more about Joel you can go to his website: joelhoekstra.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #JoelHoekstra #Whitesnake #TransSiberianOrchestra #JacksonGuitars #GibsonCustomShop #JamesPatrickRegan #FromtheFade #theDeadlies #NightRanger #RockofAges #Hoekstra13#haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

239 - Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

239 - Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon239 - Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon
In episode 239 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with singer/songwriters and guitarists Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon who is also a multi-instrumentalist. He first spoke to John in episode 150. In their conversation he starts with Tom and he tells us about his home in Alexandria, VA, right across the river from Washington, DC and he tells us about starting on trumpet before starting on guitar as a senior in high school. The two tells us about when they first met in Boston in the early ’80’s and how they came together as songwriting partners during Covid. John describes recording their album “Together Again” in the same room with the exception of Stuart Duncan on fiddle. “Together Again” being their second collaboration after their first “Together”. John discusses his instruments on the album an Ome banjo and Huss and Dalton guitars and Tom tells us about his Martin M-38 he has at home. Tom talks about why he retired from touring and John tells us about his upcoming tour plans and the two tell us about their writing projects. The two discuss their holiday traditions, Tom renting a Virginia ski cabin and John with a huge Cuban Christmas Eve feast and the two have a traditional of writing unconventional Christmas songs. You can find out all you want to know about John at his website: folkmusic.com and for more information on Tom you can go to his website at: tompaxton.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #VintageGuitarMagazine #JohnMcCutcheon #TomPaxton #TogetherAgain #HussandDalton #stuartduncan #FolkMusic #MartinGuitar #OMEBanjos #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

238 - Jeremy Pinnell Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

238 - Jeremy Pinnell
In episode 238 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeremy Pinnell. In their conversation Jeremy discusses his home in Southgate, Kentucky and his son, who’s 11. Jeremy tells us about starting guitar at 13 and watching his dad in the church band while he was a kid and not being able to listen to secular music and his first musical purchase being the Sex Pistols album. Jeremy describes starting on his dad’s Ovation guitar eventually getting a Cort guitar and Gorrilla amp before getting a Fender Paisley Strat and he tells us of his love of Telecasters and using .13 gauge strings and his Harmony that he bought from JD Simo. Jeremy discusses his tour schedule playing both solo and with a band. Jeremy tells us how he got hooked up with Shooter Jennings who produced Jeremy’s most recent album “Decades”. Finally Jeremy describes what he does for fun: Ju Jitsu and Kick boxing and Jeremy tells us about his Christmas traditions. To find out more about Jeremy you can go to his website: jeremypinnell.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #JeremyPinnell #ShooterJennings #Decades #VintageGuitarMagazine #JDSimo #HarmonyGuitars #FenderTelecaster #JamesPatrickRegan #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

237 - Ward Davis Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

237 - Ward Davis
In episode 237 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with singer, songwriter and guitarist Ward Davis. In their conversation Ward discusses where he currently lives, Hartsville Tennessee and where he grew up Arkansas and starting on the piano at 6 years old and moving to guitar at 14 after losing at the county fair talent show to a guitar player and then started playing jamborees around the area he lived in. Ward tells us about the shows he’s doing now supporting Cody Jinks with his band and his own shows. Ward tells us about his guitars, Larrivee’s outfitted with either Fishman or L.R. Baggs pickups and he discusses his telecaster’s built by 9 Point Guitars in Louisiana. Ward discusses how he got hooked up with Cody Jinks in the first place and how he got his songs in front of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard and gives us a lesson in the economics of songwriting. Ward talks about using an alias (Dusty Manchester) at writers rounds to avoid the radius clause. Ward tells us about his new album “Here I Am” which comes out in February and he tells us about working with Brent Mason, Eddie Bayers among others and landing tracks on the Landman TV series. Ward describes why he chose to be on a label as opposed to releasing his album independently. Ward discusses his upcoming tour schedule after the holidays. Finally Ward tells us about collecting historical documents and books from the 1800’s and his love of thrift stores and his relationships and sobriety. To find out more about Ward you can go to his website: warddavismusic.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #WardDavis #CodyJinks #HereIAm #VintageGuitarMagazine #Landman #DustyManchester #LarriveeGuitars #9PointsGuitars#lrbaggs #JamesPatrickRegan #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

236 - the Protomen (Raul Panther III and Shock Magnum) Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

236 - the Protomen (Raul Panther III and Shock Magnum)
In episode 236 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with Raul Panther III and Shock Magnum from the Protomen. In their conversation the two tell us about their history with band which has been around since 2005 and has quite the ravenous fan base. Both Raul and Shock tell us about their roles in the band both playing guitar and Raul singing lead and playing keyboards as well. They both talk about their base which is Nashville and where the grew up and Raul tells us about singing at an early age backing John Denver and Shock tells us about learning guitar from his brother. Raul takes us through the history of the band which started as a project from fellow MTSU students and the two tell us about their songs that have been used in tv shows and commercials and they talk about what venues they usually play. Raul and Shock discuss the Protomen’s new album “Act III: This City Made Us” and they talk gear: Shock’s Gibson’s and Orange amps and Raul’s Tom Anderson Raven through a Kemper profiler. The two tell us about what they do outside of music: family and working in the garage. To find out more about the Protomen you can go to their website: protomen.com Please subscribe, like, comment, share and review this podcast! #theProtomen #RaulPantherIII #ShockMagnum #ActIIIThisCityMadeUs #VintageGuitarMagazine #TomAndersonGuitars #GibsonGuitar #OrangeAmps #JamesPatrickRegan #KemperProfiler #MTSU #theDeadlies #haveguitarwilltravelpodcast #HGWT #tourlife
Please like, comment, and share this podcast!

Download Link

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Have Guitar Will Travel Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected