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Is Marshall still the undisputed king of arena rock amplification?
When you plug a Les Paul into a cranked JCM800, there is a midrange punch that no modeler can truly replicate. What is your go-to tube rig for live shows in 2026?
Tube vs. modeler — has the Kemper finally closed the gap?
I A/B'd a Kemper profile of my Friedman against the real thing at stage volume and honestly could not tell after the third pass. Are we finally at the point where the feel matches the sound? What's everyone running these days?
Show me your dirt pedals — fuzz, overdrive, or distortion?
I've been on a fuzz binge lately. A Big Muff into a dimed Vox AC30 is the only tone that matters for the next month. What's on your board right now? Bonus points for boutique weirdness.
Best 80s thrash metal album intro riffs ranked
The acoustic intro to 'Fight Fire With Fire' into the explosive distortion wall will forever be unmatched. What are your personal top 3 thrash intros? I'll start: 1. Creeping Death 2. Blackened 3. Angel of Death.
Recommend me death metal that isn't just blast beats
I love the genre but I'm burned out on non-stop speed. Give me the death metal records that actually breathe — think Obituary, early Opeth, Blood Incantation. The stuff with riffs you can nod your head to.
Atmospheric black metal for people who hate atmospheric black metal
I swore off the genre after one too many 20-minute cassettes of static. Then a friend put on Wolves in the Throne Room and it clicked. Where do I go from here without falling into the cassette-trap?
Breakdown on I-40 with 4 vintage Marshall stacks in the trailer
We blew an alternator outside Flagstaff at 2 AM heading to a gig in Albuquerque. A local biker bar owner towed us, let us plug into his generator, and we did an acoustic set in his garage until sunrise. Pure rock hospitality.
The time Lemmy handed me his bass pick in Chicago
Backstage at the Riviera Theater in 2004. Lemmy was sipping Jack and Coke, noticed my worn Rickenbacker shirt, and handed me a custom embossed Motörhead pick. I still keep it in my wallet 22 years later.
Playing a 'venue' that turned out to be a guy's living room
Booked a show in Missoula that was listed as a 'private event space.' Arrived to find one man, his dog, and a PA made of two computer speakers. He paid us in elk jerky and a case of Rainier. Best show of the tour. 10/10 would return.
Soundguy fell asleep during our set and we found out at 2am
We thought the monitor mix was 'minimalist.' Turns out the FOH engineer had been napping since opener two and left the mains on a preset from the folk act that played the night before. The room loved it anyway. Rock and roll.
Customs agent recognized my band's tee and waved the van through
Crossing back from a Vancouver run at 3 AM, exhausted, expecting the full search. The agent looked at my Sleep tee, said 'you boys play in that band?' and waved us through. We did not correct him. Rock opens doors.
What's the best album to test a new turntable with?
Just upgraded my deck and I need a record with the dynamics to really show it off. I've been told Rumours and Dark Side of the Moon are the standards. Any deep cuts that the audiophile crowd swears by?
Underrated 90s alt-rock albums that deserve a re-listen
Everyone talks about Nevermind and OK Computer. What about the records that should've been in that conversation but weren't? I'll nominate Hum's You'd Prefer an Astronaut and Failure's Fantastic Planet. Your turn.
Saw a young kid nail Stevie Ray's 'Lenny' at an open mic
Kid couldn't have been older than 14. Walked up with a beat-up Strat and a borrowed tube amp and played every bend of 'Lenny' like he'd lived it. Gave me hope for the next generation. Who's the best young blues player you've seen?
What's the one classic rock song you skip on the radio?
I love Fleetwood Mac but if I hear 'Don't Stop' one more time I'm switching to AM. 'The Chain' though — I'd let that play all day. What's the hit you're sick of and the deep track you wish got the airplay?
Is the DIY basement scene still alive in your city?
We lost a lot of basements after 2020. But in the last year I've seen new ones pop up in cities I didn't expect — Richmond, Durham, Omaha. Where are you and is the basement scene back where you are?
Hardcore bands that got weird and got better for it
I'm thinking about the leap from Refused's early stuff to The Shape of Punk to Come. Or Pissed Jeans just getting stranger. What bands do you think actually leveled up by refusing to stay in the lane?
What's the most accessible prog rock album for a beginner?
My friend wants to get into prog but bounced off Close to the Edge. I'm thinking Rush's Moving Pictures might be the gateway. What's the gentlest on-ramp to the genre you've found?
Stoner rock records that don't get enough credit
Everyone knows Sleep and Kyuss. But records like Elder's Lore and Fu Manchu's The Action Is Go never come up. Drop your stoner rock hidden gems. I'm building a playlist for the next long drive.
Best concert I saw this year and why
Tool at Red Rocks in September. Two hours of math-metal precision under the stars with the Denver skyline behind the stage. What's your show of the year and what made it the one?
Louder Than Life 2026 lineup thoughts
Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Disturbed — that's four headliners that could carry a festival alone. Who's going, who's skipping, and what day are you most looking forward to?
Sublime's influence on 90s West Coast rock soundscapes
Blending dub basslines with punk guitar downstrokes created a whole new genre subculture. Anyone going to the San Diego festival this summer?
Best reggae rock bands still touring in 2026?
I know the SoCal scene is still strong but who's actually worth the ticket price? Looking for the tightest live band, not just the biggest name. Bonus if the bassist is actually loud enough.