Moods & Modes
62 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Traveling from vintage guitar shops in Brooklyn to iconic recording studios and legendary music venues around the world, guitar legend Alex Skolnick explores the work of renowned musicians through commentary, conversation, and live performance. Follow @moodsandmodes on Instagram for updates.
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Episodes
Adam Dubin
May 20, 2024 14:00 - 1 hourIn this episode, Alex welcomes filmmaker Adam Dubin, whose work includes iconic music videos by the likes of the Beastie Boys and Metallica, as well as documentaries such as Murder in the Front Row, about the SF Bay Area thrash scene of the ‘80s and “A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica.” Adam discusses working with his former NYU roommate, producer Rick Rubin, and the creative process behind projects with both The Beastie Boys and Metallica. Adam and Alex explore the intersection of mu...
Mohini Dey
March 29, 2024 09:00 - 1 hourMohini Dey is a renowned bassist, producer, and vocalist who has gained international recognition for her extraordinary talent and versatility. She joins Alex to talk about growing up in an independently-minded musical family, the challenges she faced as a female musician in India, and the difficult decisions she had to make in the early days of her career. Mohini discusses the lessons she learned from her musical elders, explains her approach to teaching young musicians, and provides a track...
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson
January 04, 2024 14:37 - 1 hourIn 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...
Stu Hamm
December 11, 2023 14:20 - 1 hourLegendary 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 kn...
Adam Levy
November 24, 2023 17:15 - 1 hourOn 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...
Karina Rykman
November 09, 2023 14:15 - 1 hourKarina 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 s...
Antonio Sanchez
October 26, 2023 16:15 - 1 hourFour-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 Y...
Chris Shiflett
October 12, 2023 19:50 - 1 hourChris 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 C...
Eric Johnson
September 15, 2023 14:45 - 49 minutesEric 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 th...
Vic Juris Remembered
July 13, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour"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 ...
Borrowed Music, Volume 2
April 14, 2023 09:58 - 40 minutesIn 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...
Jim Campilongo
March 24, 2023 15:00 - 1 hourIn 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...
Jeff Beck Remembered
February 26, 2023 19:20 - 1 hourOver 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 ta...
Roger Sadowsky
January 16, 2023 14:00 - 1 hourThis 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 tha...
Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger
December 09, 2022 17:21 - 1 hourHalestorm’s Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger join Moods & Modes this week to talk about the making of their latest album, Back From The Dead. Lzzy and Joe discuss their approach to writing songs in response to the pandemic, and explain some of the “happy accidents” that occurred during recording, including the broken tuning mechanism that turned into a riff. Lzzy recalls some of the emotionally charged moments she had in the studio, and explains the “Miller Halftime Show” moment that happens durin...
Jane Getter
November 04, 2022 15:10 - 48 minutesBefore heading out on tour with Jane Getter Premonition, Alex sat down with Jane to talk about her new album Anomalia, the diverse musical influences that are woven into her music, and the evolution of her sound. Jane reminds Alex of the time when he taught her how to play metal and shares the story of the New York moment that inspired the song Train Man, from her album “On”. NYC-based Jane Getter is a “triple-threat” (Geoff Wilbur)—guitarist, singer, and award-winning composer. Getter’s 6th ...
My Lunch with Nite Bob
September 27, 2022 09:00 - 52 minutesIn this episode, Alex finally gets the chance to sit down with Nite Bob, whose job titles include sound engineer, guitar tech, tour manager, and production manager, to name a few. His 45-year career in the music industry is legendary as are many of the artists he’s worked with, including Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Iggy Pop, Emerson Lake & Palmer, KISS, The New York Dolls, R.E.M., and many more. Recorded over lunch at the Ear Inn, one of New York’s oldest pubs, Nite Bob shares stories from years o...
Brooklyn Lutherie's Mamie Minch
August 16, 2022 13:00 - 1 hourIn this episode, Alex visits Brooklyn Lutherie, the only woman-owned and operated guitar shop in New York City. While there to pick up his double SG, he chats with Mamie Minch, the shop’s co-founder, about the repair on his guitar and learns something new about it in the process. Alex, Mamie, and co-founder Chloe Swantner discuss what it was like to start a guitar repair business in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated field, and how Brooklyn Lutherie is changing the ratio. Mamie...
More Les: Further Adventures in Mahwah
July 08, 2022 15:35 - 1 hourIn this episode, Alex continues the journey into the life of Les Paul, from his close relationship with Django Reinhardt to the time he performed for Eisenhower and Nixon at the White House and demonstrated the Les Paulverizer; his love-hate relationship with the SG, and so much more. You’ll hear a fantastic story about the time that Les went to see Eddie Van Halen perform, and the moving eulogy that Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki wrote for Les’s funeral. Les Paul was best known as a skilled guitar...
The Vault of Les Paul
June 17, 2022 13:00 - 1 hourLes Paul was an inventor, an award-winning musician, an innovator and a creative genius. In this episode, Alex pays tribute by taking us on a journey through the life of Les Paul - his music, his inventions, and the recent recovery of one of his missing Gibson Les Paul prototypes. Alex visits Mahwah, NJ with Benny Goodman, host of The Neurotic Guitarist, and musician Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, where they meet Jim Wysocki, mayor of Mahwah and longtime friend of Les Paul. Jim - a former police offi...
Best of Moods & Modes: Peter Green, Part 2
June 01, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutesAt the tail end of the 60s, an unlikely meeting took place in Chicago between some prominent traditional blues artists and a chart-topping rock band from the UK. The results would reverberate for decades to come. In this episode, you’ll hear a discussion on the importance of this session along with further insights into the impact of the late, great Peter Green with guests Dave Rubin (author of Guitar Method) and Andy Aledort (Guitar Magazine). Peter Green was a British blues rock guitarist a...
Best of Moods & Modes: Peter Green, Part 1
May 24, 2022 09:40 - 1 hourWhile Alex is out on the road with Testament on the Bay Strikes Back Tour, we thought we’d take you on a journey back to the early days of Moods & Modes. This week, we’re featuring Episode 3: Peter Green, Remembered and Rediscovered. A deep dive into the life and music of Peter Allen Greenbaum, better known as Peter Green, who passed away on July 25, 2020. Although best known for co-founding the first version of Fleetwood Mac, there is so much more to uncover. This episode features a roundta...
Best of Moods and Modes: Carnatic Crash Course
May 17, 2022 13:00 - 55 minutesWhile Alex is out on the road with Testament on the Bay Strikes Back Tour, we thought we’d take you on a journey back to the early days of Moods & Modes. This week, we’re featuring Episode 2: Carnatic Crash Course with guest Guitar Prasanna. In episode 2, Alex welcomes musician Prasanna, a pioneer in performing Carnatic music on the guitar. In conversation with Alex, Prasanna breaks down his unique style and the musical inspirations behind it, which include Blackmore, Coltrane, and Steely Dan...
Best Of Moods & Modes: Guitar Rescue
May 10, 2022 11:00 - 46 minutesWhile Alex is out on the road with Testament and the Bay Strikes Back Tour, we thought we’d take you on a journey back to the early days of Moods & Modes. This week, we begin with the vey first episode, which was released in July 2020. Alex visits Matt Umanov of Matt Umanov Guitars, a legendary guitar shop in New York City. Matt is a guitar dealer and repairman who’s been a fixture in Greenwich Village since the late 1960s and whose regular clients include the likes of Eric Clapton and Pat Me...
MAX ZT
April 01, 2022 13:30 - 1 hourBrooklyn-based musician Max ZT has been called the “Hendrix of Hammered Dulcimer” and is widely regarded as one of the instrument’s most prolific and innovative performers. In this episode, he joins Alex to explain the origin and design of the instrument, which he describes as the predecessor to the piano, and demystifies how to play it with some detailed examples. Max tells Alex about discovering the instrument at an early age, and the two discuss the importance of being present and judgment...
#ASKALEX
March 11, 2022 14:00 - 47 minutesThis week, Alex answers listener questions on the very first #AskAlex episode. The questions gathered from fans over the last few weeks range from what inspires him musically to how he comes up with his solos - “write it or wing it?”, as one fan asked; which guitar he would take to a desert island, what spicy foods are on his list, and more. It’s a fun, revealing episode that will bring you closer to the artist himself. This is the first in a series of #AskAlex episodes, so feel free to ask a...
Heavy Classical: NY Philharmonic's Yulia Ziskel
February 18, 2022 14:15 - 1 hour - 58 MBA member of the New York Philharmonic’s first violin section since 2001, Yulia Ziskel, who holds The Friends and Patrons Chair, has established herself as a highly acclaimed solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has been praised by The Strad Magazine for “the sweetness of her sound.” This week, she joins Alex to discuss her upbringing in Russia, the evolution of her career, and the intersection of classical, rock, and metal. The two discuss classical pieces that have been translated in...
HEAVY CLASSICAL: NY PHILHARMONIC'S YULIA ZISKEL
February 18, 2022 14:15 - 1 hourA member of the New York Philharmonic’s first violin section since 2001, Yulia Ziskel, who holds The Friends and Patrons Chair, has established herself as a highly acclaimed solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has been praised by The Strad Magazine for “the sweetness of her sound.” This week, she joins Alex to discuss her upbringing in Russia, the evolution of her career, and the intersection of classical, rock, and metal. The two discuss classical pieces that have been translated int...
B.I.G. L.I.E. Exposed
January 25, 2022 14:00 - 58 minutesIn this episode of Moods & Modes, Alex takes you behind the scenes of the making of “B.I.G L.I.E”, a tune from his rap duo HU$H MONEY that deals with the events of January 6, 2021. Alex explains how the song came together and shares some of the reaction he’s gotten so far - including some political pushback - and offers perspective on why making a political statement now is very different than it's been in the past. In the second half of the episode, he welcomes his rap duo partner Kimmy G. a...
DAVID BECKER AND JOE DIORIO
December 30, 2021 14:00 - 55 minutesIn the final episode of 2021, Alex welcomes guitarist David Becker to talk about working with the legendary jazz guitarist Joe Diorio. David tells Alex about attending the Guitar Institute of Technology, where he first met Joe when he was a student, and shares stories of recording and touring with Joe over the years. The two discuss Joe’s book, Intervallic Designs, and the influence he had on guitarists like Pat Metheny. David Becker is a Grammy and Emmy nominated guitarist, composer, and pr...
DIVINITY ROXX
December 03, 2021 16:00 - 52 minutesThis week, Alex welcomes Grammy nominated musician Divinity Roxx to Moods & Modes. Divinity tells Alex about her transition to writing music for kids and the intention behind the songwriting, and why it's important to introduce children to a high level of music early on. The two discuss her introduction to bass while at UC Berkeley, getting her first tour with bass legend Victor Wooten, and playing in Beyoncé’s all female band. Divinity Roxx has earned the reputation of irrefutable front-woma...
FORQ
October 29, 2021 15:50 - 57 minutesFORQ is a harder-edge fusion band that Alex describes as ‘Snarky Puppy adjacent’, due to its relationship to one of the founding members, Michael League. Keyboardist Henry Hey formed the band with League in the early 2010s and on this episode, Henry joins Alex along with FORQ guitarist Chris McQueen to talk about their innovative new album “Four (Remixt)”. Henry and Chris explain the creative process behind the album, which is a reimagining of their album “Four”. The band invited producers an...
PAT METHENY PART 2
October 08, 2021 13:00 - 1 hourIn part 2 of Alex’s conversation with Pat Metheny, the two discuss some of Metheny’s unconventional work, his association with musicians like Jaco Pastorius and Joni Mitchell, the evolution of his synthesizer sound, and why he thinks in visual terms. Pat shares his daily routine, what he does to keep learning after each gig, and explains the natural curiosity that keeps him going. Unlike almost any other modern musician, Pat Metheny remains uniquely unpredictable. His versatility is nearly w...
PAT METHENY
September 10, 2021 13:31 - 1 hourPat Metheny, one of the most critically acclaimed jazz musicians in the world, joins Alex to talk about his exceptional career, the enormous range of his playing style, and the idea of music without boundaries. The two discuss the different guitars that Metheny has played over the years, how he found his sound by rejecting the impulse to follow in the musical footsteps of Wes Montgomery, and why the ever-changing versions of Pat Metheny are really just part of the whole. Part one of a two-par...
BORROWED MUSIC
September 01, 2021 13:00 - 48 minutesIn this episode, Alex examines songs that exhibit nearly identical musical qualities. He dives deep on classic songs, comparing “Waiting on the World to Change” to “People Get Ready,” “Comfortably Numb” to “Here Comes the Flood,” “Always Somewhere” to “Simple Man” and many others, explaining the elements in the songwriting that were 'borrowed' from other songs. A few examples will definitely surprise you. Throughout the episode, Alex provides musical analysis to compare and contrast the son...
LESLIE WEST REMEMBERED
August 10, 2021 12:00 - 1 hourIn this episode of Moods & Modes, Alex pays tribute to legendary guitarist Leslie West. Leslie is known as the founding member and co-lead vocalist for the groundbreaking hard rock band Mountain. Mountain is often credited as one of the bands that helped influence the development of heavy metal music, and Leslie West’s guitar playing was a massive and oftentimes overlooked influence on guitar players who came after him. Alex discusses how Leslie’s picking attack and natural technique produced...
Michael League
July 09, 2021 12:00 - 1 hourThis week Alex welcomes Michael League, one of the most accomplished musicians of the last two decades. Michael is best known as the founder, bandleader, and bassist for the New York-based instrumental group Snarky Puppy, and in this conversation you’ll hear him tell Alex about the band’s genesis and musical evolution. Michael tells Alex about Snarky Puppy’s “no power chord” rule, how necessity led to him taking on the role of producer, and why it’s crucial to never “quit failing.” Towards th...
Percy Jones
June 18, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBIn this episode, Alex welcomes bass legend Percy Jones to the podcast. Best known for his work with jazz fusion ensemble Brand X, Percy tells Alex about the evolution of the band, including the period of time when Phil Collins was the drummer. The two discuss the incredible London music scene in the 60's and early 70's, Percy tells Alex how he ended up playing the fretless bass, and shares stories about Brian Eno’s unconventional creative process (and Alex makes a connection between Phil Col...
PERCY JONES
June 18, 2021 16:00 - 1 hourIn this episode, Alex welcomes bass legend Percy Jones to the podcast. Best known for his work with jazz fusion ensemble Brand X, Percy tells Alex about the evolution of the band, including the period of time when Phil Collins was the drummer. The two discuss the incredible London music scene in the 60's and early 70's, Percy tells Alex how he ended up playing the fretless bass, and shares stories about Brian Eno’s unconventional creative process (and Alex makes a connection between Phil Coll...
REZ ABBASI
May 21, 2021 17:49 - 1 hourRez Abbasi is an accomplished jazz guitarist and composer known for his ability to fuse traditional Pakistani and Indian classical music with modern jazz. In this episode, he discusses his eclectic guitar style, the diverse musical projects he’s contributed to, and the inspiration for his 2020 release, Django-shift, a collection of songs inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt. Rez tells Alex about some of the music he rediscovered during the pandemic (like the band Foreigner) and the proje...
ARIELLE
May 01, 2021 04:00 - 1 hourArielle is a guitarist, singer, and guitar builder who has risen to prominence in the rock community for her soulful, uninhibited guitar playing and songwriting. Disregarding industry norms, Arielle has forged her own path and as a result, has performed with a stunning list of legendary acts including Brian May, Gregg Allman, CeeLo Green, Eric Johnson, and many others. In this episode, Arielle discusses her diverse musical influences, how she learned to find her voice as a songwriter, and the...
PETER FRAMPTON
April 08, 2021 11:00 - 1 hourPeter Frampton is among the most celebrated guitarists in rock history. His 1976 album, Frampton Comes Alive!, remains one of the top-selling live records of all time and produced a handful of hit singles that remain in rotation. In this episode, he joins Alex to talk about his exceptional career, from his early days with Humble Pie to his success as a solo artist and the making of his upcoming release, Frampton Forgets The Words. Peter tells Alex about growing up with David Bowie, his reluct...
CHICK COREA REMEMBERED
March 12, 2021 05:00 - 1 hourIn this episode, Alex pays tribute to Chick Corea. It’s a journey through the life of the great musician, from his early days in New York, debut as a band leader and first album, to the musicians and cultural movements he inspired. Corea’s ability to reinvent himself musically is showcased throughout, as Alex explores the different recordings and performances that make up his iconic career - with a few surprises along the way. A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, 23-time Grammy winn...
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, P.2
February 11, 2021 12:00 - 1 hourIn part two of the series with Rodrigo y Gabriela, the tables are turned as Rod y Gab interview Alex. They dig into Alex’s musical history, beginning with early influences like The Beatles and KISS, and his immersion into the Bay Area metal scene that ultimately led him to Testament. The trio discuss thrash vs glam metal, the Al Dimeola-inspired acoustic track on the 1990 album Souls of Black, what success looks like for a musician, and why it’s important to super-serve your most ardent fans....
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, PART 1
January 28, 2021 20:35 - 48 minutesIn part one of two episodes with Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alex is in Mexico with the duo during the recording of their album 11:11 in 2009. Alex captured the conversation as they shared food and wine overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay, after a day of recording. The trio discuss their influences, like Paco de Lucia and Strunz & Farah, and the diverse musical taste that comes with being a metalhead. Rod y Gab recount their early days, when they lived in Ireland and busked their way through Europe, and expl...
20/21: LOOKING BACK & LOOKING AHEAD
January 14, 2021 15:36 - 56 minutesAlex looks back on 2020, from the great artists who were lost, to the trajectory of the pandemic and some of the unexpected moments in between. He shares personal reflections and stories, and gives us a peek at what’s ahead for Moods & Modes in 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SWEETWATER RUNS DEEP
December 21, 2020 16:00 - 54 minutesIn this episode, Alex travels to Sweetwater Music, the musician-led retailer in Fort Wayne, IN. to give a master class and recording workshop with Stu Hamm. During the trip, he documents the story of Sweetwater and digs into why “always doing the right thing” has made all the difference in their success. Alex walks the guitar gallery with legendary guitar rep (and player) Nick Bowcott, discusses the increased demand for instruments - despite predictions that interest in the electric guitar is...
Sweetwater Runs Deep
December 21, 2020 16:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBIn this episode, Alex travels to Sweetwater Music, the musician-led retailer in Fort Wayne, IN. to give a master class and recording workshop with Stu Hamm. During the trip, he documents the story of Sweetwater and digs into why “always doing the right thing” has made all the difference in their success. Alex walks the guitar gallery with legendary guitar rep (and player) Nick Bowcott, discusses the increased demand for instruments - despite predictions that interest in the electric guitar i...
EDDIE VAN HALEN TRIBUTE PART 2
November 30, 2020 21:14 - 1 hourPresented by Osiris Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
EDDIE VAN HALEN TRIBUTE PART 1
November 13, 2020 18:32 - 1 hourPresented by Osiris Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.