Moods & Modes

In 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. Alex explains the story behind his album Planetary Coalition, which features Rodrigo y Gabriela, and why sometimes becoming a great player happens by accident. In the episode, you’ll hear the trio perform the Dave Brubeck song “Take Five” and “Playa La Ropa” from Planetary Coalition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 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 explain how they’ve been able to maintain their integrity throughout their career. During the conversation, Alex takes you through a few of their early recordings and you’ll hear his performance in the track “Atman” at the end of the episode. Moods & Modes is brought to you by Osiris Media.Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick.Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe, Brad Stratton, and Adam Caplan. Editing, Mixing, and by Brad Stratton. If you like what you hear, please give us a review on Apple Podcasts. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex 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.

In 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 dying - and gets a behind-the-scenes look at the detailed inspection process that is the foundation of their unparalleled customer service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presented by Osiris Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presented by Osiris Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An extensive jam session and conversation with Brooklyn based guitarist Nir Felder, whose resume includes jazz luminaries (Brad Mehldau, Jack DeJohnette), soul superstars (Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan), jam rock icons (Dave Mathews, John Mayer) and even celebrities (Dave Chapelle, Ben Platt). Despite owning several high-quality instruments, the guitar that comes through the most for Nir - no matter what the musical situation - is the very one on which he learned to play: A cost-effective, “Made in Mexico” Stratocaster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 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. A discussion on the importance of this session along with further insights into the impact of the late Peter Green. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.