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PODCAST

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord

Welcome to Striking A Chord, a podcast presented by Ernie Ball — the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality electric guitar and bass strings. Tune in as host Evan Ball interviews some of music’s most influential artists and trailblazers about their stories, their reflections on musical trends, their advice for aspiring musicians, and more.

music

All Episodes

00:32:48

The Story So Far

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/06/26

With the bonds of childhood friendship and the musical chemistry to match, The Story So Far caught fire in the pop punk world with their debut album Under Soil and Dirt. Never complacent, the Walnut Creek natives have continued to press the bounds of convention with each successive album. In this episode we speak with Kelen Capener, Kevin Geyer, and Will Levy about high school, songwriting, quarantine, Pure Noise Records, and more.

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00:55:39

Joe Hottinger of Halestorm

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/06/12

In this episode we speak with Halestorm guitarist Joe Hottinger about the group’s amazing journey from local bar band to Grammy award-winning artist. Joe discusses his development as a guitar player, his first meeting with Lzzy and Arejay Hale, his life in Nashville, his influences, and much more.

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01:00:01

Rise Against

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/05/29

Forged in the Chicago punk scene of the late ‘90s, Rise Against seemed an unlikely candidate for mainstream success. After signing to a major label in 2003, Rise Against went on to release six albums that reached the Billboard 200 — five of which charted in the top ten. In this episode we speak with vocalist/guitarist Tim McIlrath and guitarist Zach Blair about sheltering in place, being political, following your passion, Zach’s tenure in the band Gwar, and much more.

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00:36:24

Maddi Schieferstein, John Petrucci's Tech

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/05/15

Maddi Schieferstein first crossed paths with John Petrucci in 1998 when Deep Purple was touring with Dream Theater. At the time Maddi was the bass tech for Deep Purple, but as any true gearhead would, he took an interest in Petrucci’s extensive rig. Little did he know that in time he would come to know that rig better than anyone on the planet. In this episode Maddi Schieferstein, guitar tech to John Petrucci, answers questions solicited from fans online. Topics include changing strings and

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00:59:52

Chicano Batman

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/05/01

Not many unsigned bands are asked to play Coachella or tour with Jack White, yet this is the story of Chicano Batman. Today, with the release of their highly anticipated fourth album, Invisible People, Chicano Batman’s ascent continues unabated. In this episode guitarist Carlos Arévalo and bassist Eduardo Arenas discuss the making of their new album, living in Los Angeles, and growing up in a time when Latinos in mainstream rock were few and far between. Referenced in the episode: Eduardo's new

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00:47:56

Drug Church

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/04/17

Hailing from Albany, New York, Drug Church has carved out a unique niche in the post-hardcore world. As articulated on their Spotify page, “They’re an unabashedly aggressive band that writes hooks you can’t stop humming — too poppy for the heavy crowd, too heavy for the poppy crowd.” And yet Drug Church’s proprietary sound continues to open new doors and attract new fans. In this episode we speak with vocalist Patrick Kindlon and guitarist Cory Galusha about their influences, their name, their

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00:42:37

John Feldmann

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/04/03

Goldfinger frontman John “Feldy” Feldmann has one of the most enviable résumés in the music business. With roots in the California punk scene, Feldmann has gone on to produce and co-write with a wide variety of music’s biggest names, including Good Charlotte, Panic! at the Disco, blink-182, and 5 Seconds of Summer. In this episode, we speak with Feldmann about the ups and downs of his early music career, what bands can do to get noticed, the roles and traits of a good producer, and much more. Intro

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00:58:22

Sascha Lazor

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/03/20

In this episode we speak with Mad Caddies guitarist Sascha Lazor about getting signed by NOFX’s Fat Mike, his latest project working with rap artist Doja Cat and Yeti Beats, the unique rewards and challenges of touring the world as a musician, and how his passion for reggae music led him to Jamaica where he quickly found use for his talents making beats and playing guitar in a Kingston studio. Brought up during California’s Third Wave ska scene, the Mad Caddies’ sound is undeniably multifaceted —

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00:35:53

Melvins

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/03/06

If you trace back the history of Nirvana and Soundgarden, you'll inevitably run into the Melvins. Bridging heavy metal and punk rock in the midst of the ‘90s grunge scene, the Melvins have crafted a sound that has remained influential and prolific for more than three decades. In this episode, we speak with vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and bass player Steven McDonald about their history in the music industry, their thoughts on the reign of streaming services, upcoming projects, and much

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00:45:52

Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/02/21

Dashboard Confessional singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Carrabba became the poster child for early 2000s emo with his simple acoustic melodies and introspective songwriting. Having grown up in the skate community and punk scene of Southern Florida, Carrabba spent most of his early years playing in post-hardcore outfits, including the Vacant Andys and Further Seems Forever. But yearning to pursue something simpler, Dashboard Confessional was born. The side project eventually turned into a

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00:26:50

Ayla Tesler-Mabe

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/02/07

In 2015, guitarist Ayla Tesler-Mabe posted her first cover to YouTube soulfully playing John Mayall & the Bluebreakers “Hideaway.” Fast forward four years, the now 18-year-old boasts a following of over 400k on Instagram, plays to sold-out crowds, and stands as one of the most promising young guitar players on the rise. In this episode, we speak to the Calgary native about how the video game Rock Band inspired her to learn to play the guitar, her thoughts on releasing singles versus albums in the

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00:55:16

Ilan Rubin

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/01/24

While best known for his work on the drums for bands including Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves, and Paramore, multi-instrumentalist Ilan Rubin can do just about anything musically. Despite being only 31 years old, Rubin has been involved in the music industry for over 20 years. He’s been touring and recording music since he was 9, and by age 11, he landed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest musician to ever play Woodstock. In this episode, we speak to the California native about

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00:26:59

St. Vincent

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2020/01/10

With her literate, emotionally intricate songwriting and inventive guitar playing, Annie Clark — known by her stage moniker St. Vincent — has become an unapologetic force in rock and pop. She introduced her genre-blending abilities on 2007’s ‘Marry Me,’ and has gone on to achieve a rare balance of critical and commercial success throughout the years. She became the first female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album in 20 years and cracked the Billboard Top 10 with 2017’s

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00:40:52

Joe Bonamassa

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/12/27

Joe Bonamassa began playing guitar when he was just four years old and hasn’t looked back since. He was featured across local news as the next “guitar prodigy,” and by the age of 12, he was opening for B.B King. Today, Bonamassa has accumulated 22 number one albums on the Billboard Blues chart and has been featured on the cover of every guitar magazine imaginable. In this episode, we speak to Bonamassa about his childhood, his world-class guitar collection, and much more. Mentioned in this

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00:39:52

Gretchen Menn

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/12/13

Rapidly gaining praise in the world of instrumental rock and beyond, Gretchen Menn isn’t your average guitar hero on the rise. She once flew regional jets to support her six-string habit and has studied the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Jimmy Page, and more. Menn has been featured on Guitar Player Magazine’s list of ‘50 Sensational Female Guitarists‘ and was nominated by readers of Vintage Guitar Magazine as ‘Artist of the Year’ alongside Steve Vai, Dan Auerbach, Rik Emmet, and Alan Holdsworth. In

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00:44:36

James Valentine of Maroon 5

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/11/29

Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, guitarist James Valentine spent most of his early career teaching guitar lessons in his hometown. It wasn’t until a coworker entered him and his band, Square, into the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands that his talent started to gain recognition. After winning the competition in 1999, James made the move to Los Angeles where he would eventually join the LA-based band Kara's Flowers, which would soon become Maroon 5. After a successful debut record and three Grammys

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00:46:33

Best Coast

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/11/15

After stepping away from her childhood acting career, vocalist Bethany Cosentino began writing and experimenting with music in her teens. She joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno in early 2009, and by the end of the year, the two were preparing for their official debut as Best Coast. The Los Angeles based duo has since released four full-length records and has garnered a dedicated following within the indie and surf rock scene. In this episode, we speak to Cosentino and Bruno about

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00:33:00

Matt McJunkins

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/11/01

Matt McJunkins picked up his first bass at 13 years old and hasn’t looked back since. After attending Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, McJunkins has gone on to contribute to a diverse set of projects across the rock scene, including current supergroup A Perfect Circle, Ashes Divide, Eagles of Death Metal, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Puscifer. In this episode, we speak to McJunkins about going to school for music, the backstory of his most recent band The Beta Machine, and much more. Mentioned

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00:40:04

Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/10/18

Forming in their senior year of high school, Avenged Sevenfold went from teenage garage band to one of the most successful American heavy metal outfits at the turn of the century. Selling an estimated eight million copies across their seven studio albums, the Huntington Beach natives have challenged the traditional genre, fusing aggressive metal, hard rock, and pop punk. In this episode, we speak to guitarist Synyster Gates about the importance of being musically adventurous, which albums were

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00:27:42

Steve Morse

Ernie Ball: Striking A Chord ·

2019/10/04

Known for his intricate compositions, innovative techniques, and versatility across musical genres, Steve Morse is widely known as the "guitarists' guitarist." Morse has provided his technical prowess to groups including Dixie Dregs and Deep Purple, while also appearing on over 200 albums to date. In this episode, Morse discusses blazing his own music trail, some of his worst experiences on stage, and the development of his signature guitar with Ernie Ball Music Man. Mentioned in this episode:

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