MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY GUIDE: ISSUE 29, MARCH 2013
JOE SATRIANI A Class
Of His
Own In this month’s Volume, we talk to the legendary Joe SAtriani about his upcoming guitar clinic and cast an eye over the Fender Roadshow, plus the usual lowdown on the latest gear and technology news.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY EDITED BY TRAVIS JOHNSON
JOE SATRIANI A Class of His Own
One of the most famous and accomplished guitarists on the planet, Joe Satriani is bringing his Master Class Clinic tour to Australia for the first time in April. Joe took some time out from his preparations to let the Volume crew know what he is going to deliver to audiences during this unique tour.
This will be your first clinic tour in Australia. What Versatility and adaptability are key attributes can ticket holders expect to see and hear at these for the successful musician. Despite the fact events? that both are great players, what are some of the challenges you typically face when People attending the clinics will get to see and hear me interchanging Chad Smith and Kenny Aronoff performing up close and personal. I will play a variety for various Chickenfoot concerts? of material from my catalogue and go into detail about the methods and techniques I use to compose and Every drummer has their own way of grooving. perform. They use different parts of their kits to be time keepers and different parts to be expressive. Some We’ve spoken in the past about the importance of guys lay down the kick hard and heavy like a click developing strong rhythm and timing skills, why do all the time, no matter what, others like to use their you think it takes many guitarists so long to figure hi-hat to lead the band. You just have to listen out that there needs to be strong fundamentals closely and celebrate each drummer’s uniqueness. under the ‘flash’? You have always wanted to play as a part of Let’s face it, practicing can be very boring! We all start a vocal band and that goal has been fulfilled out with strengths and weaknesses that need to be in Chickenfoot. As a musician who now has addressed though, and that’s where the practicing responsibilities towards a vocal rock band as helps. However, there must be a balance between well as a predominantly instrumental solo practicing music and really playing it. It’s the playing career, how do you go about sorting which new that’s the most important, so, the practicing must serve ideas suit which act? that end. I like to bring a variety of songs to each project we You are always working on expanding your musical do together, but ultimately there is no master plan vocabulary, what specifically have you been with Chickenfoot, just friends rocking out, having fun and letting the ‘tape roll’. Writing for my solo devoting your practice time to recently? records requires more focus because I play all the Musically speaking, I’m always looking to shake off melodies, and make all the arrangement decisions, bad habits and adopt good ones. This always requires etc...like apples and oranges when you get down paying close attention to how you move your hands to it! around the guitar. Additionally, my daily routine often revolves around discovering new ways to be expressive What do you hope that guitarists who attend the clinics in Australia will take away from the on the guitar. event to build upon? How are the new Marshall JVM amps working out I want to make a connection with my fellow for you? guitarists, and offer them all I’ve learned over the My new JVM410JS heads are so wonderful to play many years of being a professional musician. I will through! Punchy, articulate, and anywhere from clean play my guitar, tell a few stories and take questions to high gain settings spread across four channels with from the audience. They will walk out of the clinics with concrete musical ideas and technical three modes per channel. They are amazing amps! methods for playing, writing and performing. Do you play through exactly the same rig in Chickenfoot as in your solo shows?
Joe Satriani
FENDER AUSTRALIA ROADSHOW featuring Greg Koch Three other very talented musicians back Koch. James Ryan, the band’s second guitarist, handles much of the technical information about the products being demonstrated. Amongst many other projects, Ryan has worked on Vanessa Amorosi’s albums and played with the house band on TV show The X-Factor though don’t let that put you off. Ryan’s guitar playing is as precise as a professional hitman, and is an excellent juxtaposition to the raw animal playing of Koch. The insanely talented, axe shredding energy Ryan and Koch evoke ties together well with the band’s rhythm section, made up of drummer Haydyn Meggit and bassist Marcel Xammouni. Although the night is all about guitars, Meggit lays down some very intricate drum-solos and funky beats which add to the pristinely tight band. Xammouni on bass shows with a scary level of funkiness just what Fender’s new bass range can do as well as seamlessly demonstrating the sonic power of the new Bassman range of Fender Bass amps.
I use the same set of half-stacks but the pedals on the floor are always tailored for each tour’s set list so there is some variation there.
_CHRIS GIBBS
of Custom Shop, Signature and Pawn Shop guitars for 2013 as well as the use of footswitches and the interface of several new Fender amps made the show almost not feel like advertising. And even though it did aim to get the audience interested in buying Fender gear, the entertainment offered made us wish that all advertising expos could be this much fun. After a creative rendition of tunes by Pink Floyd and Rage Against The Machine, the band wound up the evening with an intricate array of original guitar driven tunes and jams which left the audience needing a cold shower after the geargasms many of them had just experienced. Those of us who could still stand reattached our melted faces and were invited to go up to the stage and handle many of the guitars used throughout the Road Show.This was a nice touch, as the best way to really know if a guitar is right for you is to pick the thing up and play it.
Koch and the members of the band stuck around for a short while after the show to answer questions and discuss guitars. As the house lights raised and the audience continued to interact with both the guitars and each other an interesting community vibe developed. Information and anecdotes about favourite guitars were shared, and it seemed everybody left the show with thoughts of the axe that they just had to buy, and the Wayne’s World-like image of playing their new This year’s instalment of the Road Show toy whilst thinking ‘It shall be mine… Oh yes. It shall be opened with a video screen montage of vintage Fender mine. Schhawing!’ guitars that had the guitar nerds in the audience both salivating and reminiscing, depending on whether or not they had actually been born at the time many of these guitars were released. Judging by the greying Greg Koch _NATHAN CHRISTIANSEN ponytails or lack of hair altogether, most of the guitar The Fender Road Show is a week-long tour of most aficionados were very familiar with the classic guitars of the country’s capital cities. The Road Show’s presented, and were already captivated. The audience final performance was held downstairs in Perth’s was then taken on a sonic trip down memory lane led by State Theatre building on Thursday, March 7. Each Koch’s ‘60s and ‘70s inspired lead guitar demonstrations night of the tour Fenderophile Greg Koch and his and the tight backing of the Road Show’s band. Several band have been informing, advertising and faceimpressive guitar jams written by Koch were played melting prospective Fender buyers with some using the updated 2013 versions of many of these very entertaining demonstrations of what Fender classic vintage axes, such as ‘60s Telecasters and the guitars and amps can do. iconic ‘70s Stratocasters. The members of the band A native of Milwaukee (or ‘the good land’ as then engaged in an informal and hilarious discussion Alice Cooper calls it) The Fender Road Show’s ringmaster as they explained the subtle changes and almost and lead guitarist, Greg Koch, takes the audience of disturbing attention to detail that Fender had put into musicians, music store owners, Fender reps and lovers the rereleased versions of the guitars for 2013. of lead-breaks through a musical schooling that is over two hours long. Although laden with facts and hardcore guitar terminology, the discussion of the guitars and Throughout the show his self-professed amps flowed well and the minutia of the details were ‘Sasquatchian’ hands shred their way through about not lost on those members of the audience who were 40 of Fender’s finest guitars from their new 2013 range. not already familiar with Fender products or guitar lingo Koch first started working with the Road Show in ‘94 in general. The stage presence of Koch at this point was after Fender representatives visited one of the Hal a mixture of stand-up comedian and old school guitar Leonard Guitar Clinics that he was teaching in Nashville, god.The group’s ability to explain with humour in depth factors such as tone and style of the upcoming range and he hasn’t looked back. www.xpressmag.com.au
Joe Satriani’s Master Class Clinic tour hits Perth on Wednesday April 17th. Limited tickets are available from www.thumpmusic.com.au.
Fender Pawn Shop Stratocaster Deluxe
Fender Super Bassman 300W Head 45
MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY EDITED BY TRAVIS JOHNSON
EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING BAND BOOKER WANTED Enter tainment agency looking to employ a band booker. Must have transport and will be required to call on entertainment venues. Knowledge of the industry an advantage. Send resume and photo to focuspro@iinet.net.au or call Brian Davidson Focus Promotions 9272 4144 Mon-Fri 9-5pm. HAIR, HEALTH & HAPPINESS MUSO INJURIES? Acupuncturist in Maylands specializes in carpal tunnel, RSI, wrist pain, shoulder pain. Call METRO HEALTH 1300 132 830 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BETTA GUITARS & REPAIRS Hand crafted steel string, classical and electric guitars and repairs. New bone nuts, saddles, set ups, fret dress, refrets, pickups and more. Call Ray on 0449 878 438. www.perthguitarmaker.com or check out Betta guitars on Facebook. MUSOS WANTED BASS PLAYER NEEDED To complete Hard Rock/ Jazz trio. Must be enthusiastic, reliable and above all, in the pocket. An hour set of originals and film clip produced already. From 18 to 25 years old. Call Kyle - 0433 386 330 GUITARISTS WANTED Experienced 30+ guitarist & bassist wanted to complete new lineup of established orig hard rock band. 0435 825 090 MUSOS NEEDED For established original band. Seeking Bass Player/Sax/Trumpet/Violins/Backup Singers Contact 0448 436 491 MUSOS WANTED Wanted like minded players to form really heavy blues band to write, rehearse and perform mostly original material. Lots of slide. Hills area. Sorry boys must be over 50 and fit! No pros please. If itís time for you to turn it up to ‘ELEVEN’ Phone Tony on 0401 315 017 OPEN MIC AT MOONDYNE JOE’S Ever y Thursday night 8-12. Grand Piano, good sound and friendly atmosphere. Call Mark 0409 137 850 OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Bex on 0404 917 632. OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Tuesday night at the Craigie Tavern 8-11pm. Call Corey for bookings 0431 448 235 VOCALIST NEEDED Perth prog rock band, must have vocal & lyrical power and creativity. Call Brendon on 0435 508 833 WANTED MUSICIANS Vocals, Trumpet and Trombone players. For more info contact 0451 458 533 PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY Promo photography, studio, live, location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 9 6 4 w w w. p r o j e c t p h o t o g r a p hy. c o m When its time to ice the cake... PRODUCTION SERVICES * L I G H T I N G * A U D I O * S TA G I N G * w w w. n i g h t s t a r l i g h t i n g a u d i o. co m . a u w w w. n i g h t s t a r l i g h t i n g a u d i o. co m . a u www.instandt.com.au www.instandt.com.au 9381 2363/ 9444 6651 C D & DV D M A N U FAC T U R E C h e c k o u t our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902
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NEWS ROUND UP
This week we take a quick tour ‘round the traps to see what’s pinging on our muso radar.
BIRTHDAY BONANZA
Mega Music’s epic birthday sale continues until March 23, with absolutely everything in store reduced to one degree or another. There’s never been a better time to pick up that bit of kit you’ve been dreaming of, or just stock up on sticks and strings for the next few months. Head in to either their Myaree or Wangara store, or jump over to megamusiconline.com.au
PSYCHIC SOUNDS
The happy mutants at Neurowear are developing Zen Tunes, an iPhone app that analyses the user’s brainwaves while listening to music and constructs a unique playlist attuned to the user’s emotional state. No more clicking through tracks to find the right one for the moment - the machine knows. Head to neurowear.com for more.
VoiceLive Play GTX
Audiofly
Sennheiser e 835 fx microphone
POP FLY
YOU’RE THE VOICE
Top notch headphone handlers Audiofly have decided to put their brand esteem to good use, partnering up with Dave Stevens of Melbourne’s Pure Pop Records store for the Buy a Brick campaign, which aims to raise money to build a soundproof courtyard at the store to mitigate a neighbour’s noise complaints. For every 10 pairs of Audiofly phones that get bought, they’ll throw a Pure Pop Brick, aka $50, at the project. Headphones are available from Headphonic, 78 Records, Urban Records, Elroy Clothing and audiofly.com
Shipping soon to retailers from TC-Helicon is the new VoiceLive Play GTX packaged with a Sennheiser e 835 fx microphone. Enabling complete guitar and vocal processing right our of the box with no amp required, complete with TC Electronic guitar effects and Amptones. Designed to work with acoustic and electric axes, this unit allows the user to experiment with a range of different tones and effects without having to shell out for expensive amps and pedals. The package retails for around $699 - go to tchelicon.com for details.
Schechter Synyster Gates Custom Marshall JVM
AVENGE ME!
The Schechter Synyster Gates Custom, built for the Avenged Sevenfold guitarist, is a thing of rare beauty. Built around Schecter’s Avenger frame, it comes in three colour schemes and boasts mahogany construction, an ebony fretboard, and Marshall’s new JVM series is setting a new inlayed Avenged Sevenfold logo with the legend benchmark in amplification. The 4 Channel 100 Watt SYN. Techwise, Seymour Duncan custom pickups are head coupled a 2x12” combo features dual master the beating heart of a beast designed for heavy work. volumes, two effects loops. channel memory, MIDI Retailing at around $1700, it comes to us courtesy compatibility, and a programmable footswitch. Head of D’Addario Australia. Head to daddario.com.au for to elfa.com.au to check out the full range and specs. more details.
MARSHALLING YOUR FORCES
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