Advertise on podcast: Moods & Modes

In this first episode of 2024, Alex welcomes a trio of guests who are among the most important and influential players of electric guitar - Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. They are also the original lineup of the iconic G3, a tour organized in 1996 by Satriani that has featured legendary players like Robert Fripp, Ynwgie Malmsteen, Phil Collen, and many more. Ahead of this year’s tour, they sit down with Alex to discuss the origins of G3, what they’ve learned from the experience of performing together, and weigh in on how to keep egos in check when playing alongside fellow giants. They commiserate over growth moments that resulted from musical projects created during the pandemic, and do a deep dive into the equipment they’re using, from string gauges to amp modelers. Conceived in 1995 by the multi-Grammy nominated guitarist, Joe Satriani, the inaugural G3 Tour took place in 1996 bringing together three of the most iconic and virtuosic guitarists of their time: Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. Known for their incredible technical prowess, musical innovation and unique styles, the G3 tour was a celebration of guitar mastery and proved extremely popular, captivating audiences worldwide. Though the line-up has continually changed over the last 29 years since its inception, Satriani is celebrating G3 in 2024 by reuniting the original trio: Satriani, Johnson and Vai. The tour is set to begin on January 23, 2024 in Tucson, AZ hitting eleven cities before winding up with a pair of shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Get G3 Tour information here Follow Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Final Mixes by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

Legendary bassist Stu Hamm joins Alex on this episode to talk about Hold Fast, Stu’s latest album, on which Alex is a featured player. Recorded in Estonia during Stu’s Bass Oasis, the two discuss the tracks on the album, the role of bass in musical composition, and Stu shares his approach to playing and collaboration. Alex reflects on the first time he saw Stu perform and how he handled auditioning to tour with Stu, and the two reminisce about touring together in the nineties.  Stu Hamm is known for his technical prowess, melodic creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the bass. He rose to prominence as the bassist for Joe Satriani and his playing became synonymous with innovative tapping and slapping techniques, setting him apart as a trailblazer in the world of bass guitar. He has also had a prolific solo career and has worked with a wide array of artists, including Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, and many others. Stu is also a music educator and leads clinics and workshops around the world. Listen to Hold Fast here Follow Stu at stuhamm.com and @stueybass Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media

On this episode, renowned guitarist and improviser Adam Levy joins Alex at a cafe in Brooklyn to talk about the incredible list of artists he’s worked with, including Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, and Ani DiFranco. The two discuss his approach to playing as well as the styles of the world-class musicians they both know and love, and the instrumental project that Adam led during the pandemic that inspired some of Alex’s new music. Adam and Alex dive into the early days of Adam’s career, and Adam explains how he’s seamlessly moved between being a player, a writer, and a guitar educator. Adam Levy is a session guitarist who has played on releases by Norah Jones, Ani DiFranco, Amos Lee, Jill Sobule, Tracy Chapman, Allen Toussaint, and many others. He’s also a respected writer and educator, and has written numerous articles for Guitar Player, Fretboard Journal, and other top guitar magazines. Follow Adam at adamlevy.com and @adamlevyguitar Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form. She joins Alex on this episode to talk about the making of her debut album Joyride, learning to hustle as a musician at a young age, and the impact that Pat Metheny had on her playing. Karina tells Alex about working with Trey Anastasio on the new record, and the unexpected moment that led to a special gift from Rush.  Listen to Karina's debut album, Joyride. Follow Karina karinarykman.com and @karinarykman Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

Four-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez joins Alex to talk about his latest release, Shift, and how he connected with the incredible list of musicians who contributed to the album. The two discuss Antonio’s recent move to Spain, his approach to building drum parts, and where he got the inspiration to use the term “Bad Hombre”. Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age five and performed professionally in his early teens in Mexico’s rock, jazz and latin scenes. Since moving to New York City in 1999, Antonio has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the international jazz scene. One of the most revered collaborators with guitarist/composer Pat Metheny, Antonio has also recorded and performed with many other most prominent artists like Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden and Toots Thielmans.  Sánchez’s new album SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) on Warner Music features Sánchez playing virtually every instrument on the album — in addition to being its producer. SHIFT features Trent Reznor, Dave Mathews, Kimbra, Ana Tijoux, Meshell Ndegeocello and more.. Follow Antonio at AntonioSanchez.net and @antoniodrums1 Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

Chris Shiflett is best known as the lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters, but he’s also an acclaimed solo artist and longtime podcast host. On this episode, Chris joins Alex for a conversation about guitars and the players that have influenced him, from Randy Rhoads to Mattias Jabs to Nile Rodgers. The two discuss why evolving as a musician means pushing boundaries, the importance of being exposed to different genres, and agree that it’s a good move to be the worst player in the band. Follow Chris at ChrisShiflettMusic and @shifty71 and check out his podcast Shred With Shifty. Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Moods & Modes will be live at The Cutting Room in NYC on Thursday, October 19! Get tickets and more info here / thecuttingroomnyc.com

Eric Johnson, the prolific Grammy-Award winning, Austin-based songwriter and guitarist, joins Alex to talk about his latest release - two separate albums: The Book of Making and Yesterday Meets Today. Alex and Eric discuss the process behind the making of the albums as well as the music that influenced his sound early on, the impact that Jeff Beck had on the world of guitar, and how he created the iconic opening to Cliffs Of Dover. Eric Johnson has been traveling on a prolific odyssey over the course of more than four decades. Along the way, his creations have encompassed repertoire that cross-pollinate genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical and even country. Among Johnson's many accolades are a Grammy award for "Cliffs of Dover ", ten Grammy nominations, a lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats and his listing among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century" by Musician magazine. In his hometown of Austin TX, a city full of guitarists, the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted him the city's "Best Electric Guitarist" and "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him "Electric Guitarist of the Decade" and one of the top five "Musicians of the Decade".  Listen to Eric’s two new albums here, catch him on tour this fall, then in early 2024 on the G3 tour with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Follow Eric @officialericjohnson Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited and Mixed by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

"He's one of these guys who's not necessarily a household name to music appreciators, but among people who were in the game and really know their stuff, there's a universal respect. It goes without saying that Vic was the real thing.” - Scott Metzger In this jam-packed episode, Alex remembers the late Vic Juris with special guest Kate Baker, who was Vic’s musical partner and wife. Kate discusses her partnership with Vic, how he approached working with other musicians, and the two discuss the last album they recorded together, 2022's Return To Shore. Alex is also joined by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist Scott Metzger, who shares his experience of being a student of Vic's; and, licensed attorney and guitarist Mark Hanna tells Alex about his time spent learning from Vic, and explains how a keyboard solo from a Vic Juris song ended up on a classic hip hop track.  Listen to Kate Baker and Vic Juris’ album Return To Shore Listen to music from the episode on Spotify Follow Alex on IG and Twitter Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Additional production by Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

In this episode, Alex takes us on another journey into songs that sound the same. Borrowed Music, Volume 2 showcases tracks that possess similar musical qualities from artists like Nirvana and Yes, Leonard Cohen and Pink Floyd, Metallica and King Crimson, Phish and Pantera, and other combinations that will surprise you. As in Borrowed Music Volume 1 (Episode 20), Alex compares and contrasts the tracks throughout the episode and provides analysis on what makes the elements of the songs similar. He also discusses a legal battle that’s currently being fought over one of the featured songs and shares some thoughts on the ethics of “borrowing” music. Listen to music from the episode  on Spotify Follow Alex on IG and Twitter Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alex chats with guitarist Jim Campilongo, who has been called a “Master of the Telecaster”. Jim and Alex discuss what it means to be a musician in New York, their shared influences and how the standards of guitar playing have evolved, and Jim tells Alex about the time that he ended up walking home with Lou Reed after a gig. Jim then flips the script and asks Alex some questions, and shows Alex a few tricks that he uses to get his unique sound, including one inspired by Johnny Marr of The Smiths. Billboard Magazine calls Jim Campilongo, "an American treasure", an accolade this guitarist's artistry and influential career has richly earned him. With seven albums of original material and guest appearances on dozens of recordings, he’s also a published guitar teacher and contributing editor for Guitar Player Magazine. Campilongo's virtuosity and originality has inspired a generation of guitar players. His songwriting uses a palette of the best in Blues, Country, Jazz and Rock with a sensitivity and wit that has also earned him a broad and devoted fan base. To hear the extended version of the episode, go to Alex’s Patreon page Mentioned in the episode: Gruber Guitars Read Jim’s monthly column in Guitar Player  Jim Campilongo website Follow Jim on Instagram @jimcampilongo Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexskonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over a remarkable 50-year career, Jeff Beck’s style of guitar playing reshaped the world of music. One of the essential guitarists of the British Invasion, Beck possessed a mercurial, lyrical style that sounded equally at home in thunderous blues-rock and soft-focus fusion. He played both styles in his long career, channeling psychedelia, heavy metal, and jazz-rock as he did so.  In this episode, Alex pays tribute to the late, great guitarist with a few special guests. Vernon Reid joins to talk about the impact that Beck had on the world of music, including his work with Stevie Wonder and the complicated story behind the song Superstition. Carmine Appice shares stories from their days in Beck, Bogert, and Appice, the legendary supergroup they formed in the early 70’s, and explains his decision to pass on being part of Jeff’s ‘Blow by Blow’ album and tour in order to join Rod Stewart’s band. Beck’s longtime publicist Melissa Dragich joins the conversation and reminisces about a missed opportunity between Beck and Prince, and music journalist Dave Rubin describes that one time he saw Beck put BB King on notice. Listen to the playlist inspired by this episode on Spotify, curated by Alex Skolnick Read Alex’s essay on Jeff Beck: “Goodbye PorkPie Strat” Watch the 2018 documentary on Jeff Beck: “The Jeff Beck Story: Still On The Run” Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexskonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex visits Roger Sadowsky of Sadowsky Guitars, one of the preeminent names in handmade guitars and basses. As they walk the shop floor, Roger shares stories of some of his famous customers, explains the challenge of using endangered woods in the process of instrument building, and discusses the moment when he decided to make the shift from repairing guitars to building his own. Bassists Tanya O’Callaghan and Nathan Peck also drop into the episode, to talk about the instruments that Roger has created for them. Roger Sadowsky is one of the most highly respected instrument makers in the world. His instruments are played by many of the world’s greatest artists including guitarists Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour, Chuck Loeb and bass players Marcus Miller, Will Lee, Rickey Minor, Michael Rhodes, Verdine White and Jason Newsted. Roger Sadowsky website Sadowsky on YouTube Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexskonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.