The Riffhard Podcast

Charles Caswell is a guitarist who is currently working on his solo project, Berried Alive.  On this episode: Work ethic and how some people are just born with more of it The best way to learn a new technique Why thought experiments are important for creating Leaving a band to go out on his own The reason bands don’t need labels as much as they once did Check out Berried Alive on YouTube. Follow Charles Caswell on Instagram and Twitter. Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. When you sign up, you'll get access to: Over 100 video tutorials with tabs A chance to enter our monthly King Of The Riff contest Livestream Q&As and other events Our private community Be sure to follow Riffhard on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Eyal Levi on Instagram. Like this show? Please leave us a 5-star review - even one sentence helps! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Devin Townsend is a legendary musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known for his bands Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Project, as well as work with Lamb Of God, Misery Signals, Gwar, and many others. What should your priorities be as a musician or producer? Why failing isn’t failure  The art of pivoting quickly is crucial for survival Follow Devin Townsend on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Listen to the Devin Townsend Project on Spotify. Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. When you sign up, you'll get access to: Over 100 video tutorials with tabs A chance to enter our monthly King Of The Riff contest Livestream Q&As and other events Our private community Be sure to follow Riffhard on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Eyal Levi on Instagram. Like this show? Please leave us a 5-star review - even one sentence helps! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Sugarman is a guitarist in Ice Nine Kills. He is also a solo guitarist, the owner of Sugarman's Lesson Lounge, and was formerly a member of As Blood Runs Black. 1:48 - Carrot and stick method of learning 17:49 - The education business is not easy money 37:06 - Artists need to be emotional, but also educated on the business 50:31 - Knowing your role within a band 1:06:05 - How the mind connects to the body 1:20:11 - How to go about learning new techniques 1:37:37 - Dan’s five stages of learning 2:01:50 - Your own voice will come from you, not others Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bart Hennephof is a solo guitarist and producer and was formerly the guitarist in Textures. 1:45 - Important things that are hard to teach 11:26 - Bart doesn’t use a noise gate in front of his amp 25:41 - Stretching while on tour 35:56 - Start a band in 8 weeks 55:46 - Music comes first 1:08:09 - Don’t just blindly trust people 1:19:12 - How much time does Bart spend practicing guitar? Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Holcomb, Misha Mansoor, and Jake Bowen are guitarists in Periphery. 1:33 - Working on new music and the impact of COVID 12:10 - What makes the band avoid a specific tour market 21:00 - The role that Periphery’s manager plays 46:24 - How the band focuses on the music 1:06:20 - Figuring out how to turn high risk into success 1:25:24 - Deciding who plays what, especially in the studio 1:39:49 - The band’s latest writing session 1:57:41 - Periphery gets priority when writing 2:11:11 - Does Mark use a metronome? 2:22:57 - What an average day is like for the guys Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Gardiner is a guitarist with a very active and growing YouTube channel who also plays for Stu Hamm and China Crisis in addition to working on a solo project. 1:46 - Jack’s MasterClass and visualization 12:32 - 3 note per string scales can hold some people back 30:06 - Play with people who are better than you 49:53 - The typical trajectory in music 1:05:25 - Developing your own voice 1:17:51 - Plagiarism in music 1:43:43 - Vanity metrics exist to make you feel good Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Halpern is the drummer in Periphery and the co-owner of GetGoodDrums. 1:47 - Matt, Browne, and Eyal’s tour adventures 22:28 - Band chemistry and communication are crucial 40:40 - Deprivation work and putting other people first 49:31 - How drummers communicate with guitarists 1:14:20 - Can you develop pocket and rhythm? 1:23:37 - The relationship between the kick and riffs 1:29:18 - Choosing cymbals for a specific part Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Kelly is the guitarist in Alustrium and was the lead guitarist (Darth Vader) in Galactic Empire. 2:14 - The most annoying interview questions 18:06 - Spending too long on songs 35:54 - Confidence is required as a musician 51:32 - Handling the extra time during COVID 1:13:50 - Metal was more violent in the 90s 1:24:12 - Terrible tour bus stories 1:37:50 - Working on rhythm guitar playing 1:47:45 - Getting a better technique down 2:07:29 - Everyone goes back to the basics Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Middleton is a guitarist in Architects and has his own band, Sylosis. 4:18 - Time management during COVID 15:06 - How engineering comes into play for Josh 32:15 - Finding time to practice guitar 44:04 - Recording yourself is a great tool 59:49 - You can’t judge gear based on spec sheets 1:05:02 - Knowing when a song is good enough 1:16:47 - What’s the job of a producer? 1:24:55 - Architects’ guitar tone Want to level up your guitar game? Check out Riffhard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Vollelunga is the guitarist for Nothing More. 3:53 - Vegetable oil vans 11:55 - Standing out as a band without it feeling contrived 21:44 - Fighting for an idea that is right 42:06 - Some of Mark’s biggest failures 52:01 - The sex, drugs, and rock n roll lifestyle is not the whole story 1:07:41 - Mark’s musical priorities 1:32:19 - Christian rock and metal bands 1:47:31 - Being a musician and entrepreneur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices