That One Guitar - Matthew Chenoweth

Matthew Chenoweth

Location: Atlanta, GA

Instrument: 1979 Gibson SG - customized by private luthier

It’s the first guitar I ever purchased, the guitar I write most of my songs on, and the guitar i have used for most of the 2000+ shows I’ve played. 

Being my first, it has become the standard for what I like a guitar to feel and sound like - from the neck shape, to the frets, pickups and balance. It also has a little piece of every show locked away inside and has tremendous value to me on that level.

1979 - purchased new by eager 14 year old who emptied bank account for purchase.

1979-1983: The Amerimen (Punk, New Wave & Rockabilly) & Subdubtion (Reggea, Ska, Punk). Played 100+ shows and recorded 70+ songs.

1984: Got to Berklee and discovered ‘79 was a bad year for Gibson - the neck was falling off the guitar and had to be refitted. Added Khaler Tremolo and custom finish to make it a boutique instrument.

1984-1986: Session musician in NJ and Boston playing in bands and on records.

1988: Started rock band Crab Daddy - play 25+ shows and an eponymous EP.

1989: Landlord burns down house while roommates and I are watching a movie - guitar in living room. Headstock and finish are singed, then watered down by Fire Dept.

1990-1992 - Crab Daddy becomes local fav band in Boston. Notable shows include Bill’s Bar & Lounge the night it burned while Crab Daddy was performing - literally on stage. Again, guitar hosed down by Fire Dept. 100 plus shows.

1992-1996: Crab Daddy signs with Ace of Hearts Records, moves to Athens GA and tours US extensively. This guitar was my main guitar during this period and we played 150-200+ shows a year, playing with Paul Westerberg, The Drovers, Charlitans UK, and others. Shows included pizza joints for gas money and a slice to sold out Cabaret Metro with roadies and green rooms, local rock starts like Jimmy Chamberlain and Liz Fair. During one of these tours my guitar fell face down out of a guitar stand and the top ‘horn’ of the SG fell off - bad glue from Gibson.

1996-1999: started Atlanta band Trampoline. During load out one day it was knocked out of a loading bay and fell straight down on the headstock, bounced an inch, and fell face down again. A small piece of the headstock (matching the body) fell off. I have both pieces, by the way.

2000-2004: joined band Shamgod. wrote and recorded dozens of gigs, played around 100 gigs and made 2 CDs.

2004-present: stared band Brain Box. Played SxSW and every major club in Atlanta and Athens. Also started The Goldest, Turn Down Service, Main Street Exiles (Rolling Stones Tribute), and Convoy (Country & Southern Rock tribute), joined Tag Team, joined Band. James Band, and have filled in as a session player for numerous bands, recording sessions and musical enterprises.

I have used this guitar continuously since I bought it. It is the standard I judge other guitars against. I have written over 500 songs on this guitar, and recorded 300 of them - about 100 have been released on 9 records. It is a work horse that won’t quit, even as it loses pieces off of it. It sounds amazing, plays like a dream and is one of the best guitars I’ve ever held in my hands. 

Bands: Brain Box, The Goldest, Tag Team, Convoy, Band. James Band

Website: http://www.BrainBox1.com (Facebook pages for all bands, too)

Sound Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oti55nyaR9w

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That One Guitar - Jimmy Ether

Jimmy Ether

Fayetteville, GA

Bands: Victory Hands, Big Ragoo, The Ether Family Presents…, Situation Communist, The Aloha State and a few other ongoing studio projects.

Instrument: Electrical Guitar Company custom designed all-aluminum bass modeled after the 1959 Non-Reverse Gibson Thunderbird. Named HOG (Hammer Of God).

EGC guitars are designed by a guy named Kevin Burkett with the same approach the Travis Bean guitars and basses, which is typically an aluminum neck through the body of the guitar. I love the way Travis Beans sound. They were used by many of my favorite bands like Wire, Television, Silkworm, etc. And then I always loved Mike Watt’s blue Gibson non-reverse Thunderbird II bass, but they are very rare and ridiculously expensive now. So, I basically asked Kevin to help me jumble all those things together. He’s meticulous. I think he went through three body builds before he got the proportions where he was happy.

Website: http://headphonetreats.com

Sound clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZpqAXnSiBU

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That One Guitar - Zachary Hollback

Zachary Hollback

Alpharetta, GA

1950’s Martin alto saxophone

Band: AkuYou

I’ve been playing tenor saxophone since 1983, but the alto really piqued my interest when I first heard John Zorn’s Naked City in ‘92. I bought this sax on a whim at a used music store in Columbus, OH in 1997 with a tax refund check. I didn’t have the funds to pick out the “perfect” horn at the time, but it was in good condition (still is) and has definitely become a part of me. I have no real idea about the history of this particular sax, other than the part that I’ve put into it. It’s traveled with me from Columbus to Chicago and back to Atlanta, and I’ve played it in every band I’ve been in since I’ve owned it. I also play drums, guitar and some electronic production stuff, but this saxophone is the instrument I feel I have the most connection with musically and expressively. It’s the only instrument I can improvise on.

Sound Clip: The Fox

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That One Guitar - Christian Nikolaus

Christian Nikolaus

Atlanta, GA

Band name: suicidelane

Instrument: Elektron Machinedrum UW

The Machinedrum is a digital drum machine with 2.5MB of sample memory. Ot can do all the conventional drum machine stuff but so much more. The sample memory is instantly accessible and the inputs can be recorded/played back without stopping the unit. The Machinedrum is very open ended and almost modular in its approach. E.g. single cycle waves can be sampled and played back in a chromatic fashion. Fast retriggering can add harmonics to the sounds which in turn can be tamed by its filter. More mangling can be done by introducing sample rate reduction. If there is such a thing as an expressive drum machine, the MD would be it. All sound settings can be locked per sequenced step. 

 

www.elektron.se

I have wanted an MD since when they first came out but due to their fairly high price I was unable to afford one. Finally in late 2012 one was procured, and it will stay with me for a long time, much like a good guitar.

 

I use the MD in conjunction with an analog synthesizer/sequencer from the same manufacturer - digital coldness meets analog wooliness. The stand are custom built by companyofquail to fit both machines.

In the sound example, 3 sampled blips from a modular analog oscillator were sequenced, played back and parameter locked.

 

Sound Clip

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That One Guitar - Nathan Woody

Nathan Woody

Atlanta, GA

Fender American Deluxe Telecaster

Band: Silent & Listen.  

Just the one that “feels right.” Got it when it was about ten years old and it looked like it had never been played. So, I’ve spent the last five helping it catch up on lost time.  

Once played a silly gig our drummer booked at a teen club in Henry County. The kids were all jacked up on soda and candy and one miscreant from the crowd threw a condom toward the stage which draped perfectly over the neck while I was tuning. After verifying that it was unused, I flipped it off and we started our set.  

Sound Clip

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That One Guitar... Jason Waller

Hey all, I've been working on a new photography project called, That One Guitar. It features some of my favorite photographers and one of their favorite pieces of gear. We do a quick a and dirty photoshoot and I chop it up and share it with the would. Easy! It's really been cool hanging with all these folks, even for just a few minutes and it's been great fun to shoot all these amazing instruments. OK, time to catch everyone up! I'm going to start posting them here on a regular basis and you can follow along in real time over at http://thatoneguitar.tumblr.com.

If you'd like to participate I'd love to have you. Get in touch at: johnmcnicholasphotography@gmail.com

 

Jason Waller

Jason Waller

Decatur, GA

Band: Waller

3/4 size classical guitar made by Montana Guitars

When my daughter was born (12 years ago) I would play my guitar for her and she would fall asleep. I would keep on playing until she woke up again and we would start the process over. The songs I wrote during this time were some of my first. Later on I bought her this child sized classical guitar which she dabbled with but she took a liking to the clarinet and is playing that in her school’s band. Of course her guitar is around the house and I pick it up and pluck out tunes when the mood strikes. I am now the proud father of a baby boy and the tradition of playing music for the baby continues. My son loves the guitar and the songs I sing to him. If he doesn’t like it he will let me know and I will change the tune till it pleases him.

Songwriting is a very personal exercise and my family means a lot to me so they work there way into my songs. My 8 year old step-son has taken a liking to bluegrass music and just bought a Jimmy Martin CD while he was in Nashville with his Grand Parents. The Montana guitar is special because it belongs to my daughter and has been a part of many songwriting sessions with her and my sons! Maybe one day my daughter will take the guitar and write a song but until then ill keep putting it to good use and keep it in tune.

Sound Clip

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Bitter Harbor by The Sunset District

Bitter Harbor by The Sunset District Website: http://thesunsetdistrict.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/thesunsetdist Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSunsetDistrictMusic Video: https://archive.org/details/Boats1938 Trip down the Hudson River from Albany to New York City. This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives Producer: ERPI Classroom Films, Inc.
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Love My Way

This song is a cover of the Psychedelic Furs song, Love My Way. Performed for the Theme Music group. http://theSunsetDistrict.com @thesunsetdist

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SXSW 2014 - A few tips from the expert (me)

I know it's a few months off, but if this is your first year attending SXSW, might I offer you a few tips for a fun and pleasurable time? Trust me folks, I'm a doctor.

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Never pass up the following:

  • A chance to recharge your phone.
  • A clean bathroom.
  • Free BBQ.
  • Free beer.
  • Earplugs.
  • Breakfast burritos.
  • All other types of burritos.
  • Free bottled water.
  • Free snack bars.

 

Beware:

  • Standing under a tree full of grackles.
  • Parties with beer pong as the primary form of entertainment.
  • Start up parties = frat parties.
  • Pedicab drivers that ask you for directions. 
  • "The kids." It's Spring Break that week. Be thankful that St. Patty's Day isn't happening at the same time THIS YEAR. OMG. OMG.

 

Do:

  • Comfortable shoes. I'm not kidding.
  • See the bats. Everyday around sunset. Go. Just don't stand under where they come out. #poop.
  • Beers on Rainey Street.
  • Shopping on South Congress.
  • SXSJ.
  • Pedicabs.
  • Lunch/Dinner at Bangers.
  • Bring sunscreen, a hoodie, and an umbrella. Austin weather is insane in March with the winter/spring swap over. A few years back it was 90 one day and the next day it was 20.
  • Stubb's BBQ for dinner or a show.
  • Plan your day but be prepared to throw all your plans in the trash at a moments notice when something cooler comes along. This will happen 6 times a day. Embrace it.
  • The free bike rentals for badge holders are a quick way to get around.
  • Walk up and down Sixth street at 2am on a Friday or Saturday night.
  • Talk to total strangers. You never know who you might meet. I had a great chat with a guy in an elevator that turned out to be Guy Kawasaki, and I bumped into Lou Reed on the street.
  • Take advantage of all the SXSW badge perks. The free snacks and drinks tent across from the Convention Center is a great place to catch your breath and plan your day.
  • Drink lots of Jo's coffee.
  • When possible, sit down, you're tired.
  • Look for celebrities at the airport. They all come and go through here. I've seen so many random folks at the food court.
  • Death Metal Pizza.
  • A big glass of water and some aspirin before bed is never a bad idea.
  • RSVP TO EVERYTHING. Figure it out later.
  • Hi-Five every famous person you see. 
  • Take the Bus. The "Airport Flyer" runs directly from the Airport to downtown and back with just 2 or 3 stops. It costs $1. Do it. 

 

Don't:

  • Wait in a line so long you'll never get in.  Move on quickly to your number 2 or 3 option. Get to your destination at least 15 minutes before it starts, earlier if you want to be 100% sure you get in. Sometimes you can stay through back-to-back sessions, sometimes they clear the room first. The badge line is the obvious exception.
  • Don't sleep. Seriously. You can do that when you get home. Go have fun. You can operate on 4 hours sleep for a few days in a row. Sleep on the plane ride home. 
  • Don't check a bag if possible. 10,000 people leaving Austin at the same time can make for a hell of a check-in line at the airport.
  • Don't grab too much swag like t-shirts and heavy stuff unless, like me you pack so light that you need the free shirts just to get through the week. If you HAVE to grab all that free swag, mail all your dirty clothes to yourself so you've got room in your bag. Hotels like the Hilton will take all your stinky clothes and put them in a box for you. They will stare at you disapprovingly, but they will make it happen.
  • Don't overpack. Austin is a modern city and you can buy anything you need.  
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The Good Graces in North Carolina This Weekend!

Hey friends, this weekend I'll be in North Carolina. Chapel Hill on Friday and Wilmington on Saturday, to be exact. If you're out that way I'd love to catch up and share a coffee or a drink and see your face. What brings me your way? Well, The Good Graces are playing a few great shows with our friend John Harrison's new project, Lakes&Woods. Hope to see your face!

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Friday night, January 10th, at the Cave in Chapel Hill

The Cave

Facebook Event Info


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Saturday night, January 11th in Wilmington at Bourgie Nights, which is connected to Manna Avenue

Manna Avenue

Facebook Event Info

 

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So many new things!

Hey all, I have been doing so much songwriting for this new group called Theme Music and I've only shared a few things with everyone. So, for your enjoyment, hopefully, I've got some videos for all the tunes below. Have a listen!

The Sunset District - Think Tifton! http://theSunsetDistrict.com @theSunsetDist Written and recorded by John McNicholas for the Theme Music Project Video by: XFR STR Project (New York City)

The Shortest Day of the Year performed by The Sunset District. Written by: John McNicholas Video filmed by: Robyn Canady http://TheSunsetDistrict.com Twitter.com/TheSunsetDist https://www.facebook.com/TheSunsetDistrictMusic

Oh, Chicago Performed by: The Sunset District Written by: John McNicholas Video Footage: Produced by Sarah Boyle TheSunetDistrict.com @theSunsetDist https://archive.org/details/SarahBoyleChicagochicagomov Lyrics: Oh, you kill me, oh you kill me again Oh, you kill me, oh you kill me my friend Oh Chicago, you seemed like a good place to go To lay low for a while and wait for the whole thing to blow over.

http://TheSunsetDistrict.com @thesunsetdist I Believe in You, Without Warning Written by: John McNicholas I believe in the rain, without warning I believe in a crisp October morning I believe in the first 5 minutes I believe in when the band first takes the stage And I believe in Sunday mornings And

I played a little guitar and put the video together for this one!

The Sunset District - Lonely Before Written by Hugh Williams http://TheSunsetDistrict.com

This video is a cover of the Hoodoo Gurus song, Death Defying off of their album, Mars Needs Guitars.

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I Shot the Show - Tyler Ramsey, The Meeks Family and Ben Trickey at The EARL

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I Shot the Band - Superchunk

Superchunk at Terminal West in Atlanta

Superchunk is a force of nature live. So, upon hearing that bassist Laura Ballance was staying off the road because of hearing issues I worried that the live show would be compromised. Oh, I worried. But, once I heard Jason Narducy (Bob Mould, Telekinesis) would be getting in the van, all fears were put on hold. I've seen that man rock it out live. We should be good. 

And good we were. 

Out to support their latest record, I Hate Music , Superchunk hit the stage and hit it hard, playing a heathy dose of the new record (people singing along already!) and a great mix of old favs. I had a chance to spin the record a few times before the show, as I had just received the deluxe LP package on Tuesday, and already I was digging it hard. So many great tunes, and for me some of Mac's best lyrics to date. Me & You & Jackie Mittoo and Out of the Sun were great live.

Mac spent about half the show two feet off the ground, Jim Wilbur had a sly smile on his face all night, and the rhythm section of Narducy and Wurster just crushed it all night. 

After the show a few of us hung out for one more beer, not quite ready to head out and Mac and Jon Wurster came out and hung by the merch table for a bit. We got some t-shirts and chatted them up a bit, and then a bit more. "I remember Club Detroit in St. Petersburg, it was ALL GLASS. What a weird room!" "You signed my UNC shirt at Washington Square in Miami Beach." "I did?" "Yeah, everyone in the band wrote 'I hate Miami' all over it." "Ha!"

This was the first time I've been to Terminal West. It's got a few bars around the room and out back, a place to grab some food and really good sight lines from the audience onto the stage. It's even got a little balcony where you can look down on the room. Mac asked folks if they were VIP. Lights were great and sound was impeccable all night. Great venue. For about 95% of the show I kept the 24-70mm on the camera and grabbed a little corner spot on stage right. I wanted to make sure I enjoyed the show so I applied the 3-song rule to myself and rocked out most of the night. Such a great show.

Camera gear: Nikon D90, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8

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I Shot the Band - Parting Gifts

Parting Gifts opened up for Superchunk at Terminal West here in Atlanta on the first night of their I Hate Music  tour, and to be honest, I haven't been able to find out a whole lot about them on the Internet. But, I did dig their take on popped up garage rock sound with some lovely guy/girl vocal interplay and dead string bass tacking. Really good stuff. 

Camera Gear: Nikon D90, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8

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