13 Questions: Geno Stroia II

Our 13 Questions feature continues with Red Leaf co-founder and guitar/bass teacher Geno Stroia. Geno heads up the The Gene Pool and is also gigging with Creedence Clearwater Survival…it’s all CCR all the time! Find Geno and the Gene Pool at Jo’s Coffee dowtown on Thursdays in April — check their gig calendar for more info.

1. Which was the first record you bought with your own money? I think it AC/DC – Back in Black. I bought a John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters cassette that changed my life. I wore them out – I still have them, even though I don’t think they play!

2. Which was the last record you bought with your own money? Levon Helm – Dirt Farmer

3. What was the first solo you learned from a record — and can you still play it? Not sure. First song/riff I remember playing – Dueling Banjos or Chuck Berry.

4. Which recording of your own (or as a sideman) are you most proud of, and why? The Gene Pool – 3rd and Main

5. What’s the difference between playing live and playing in a studio? There are less people in the studio…although I’ve played a show or two that were close! Actually, they are 2 very different feelings for me. The energy comes from a different place – no stage or people to play off of.

6. What’s the difference between a good gig and a bad gig? Many factors, but mainly, did I/we play well and did the “business” side go smoothly.

7. What’s the difference between a good guitar and a bad guitar? Awe – they all have the same notes – if they stay in tune, you can get your own sound to come out.

8. You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach the two differently? I guess, yea. Different ideas come to me depending on what instrument I am playing.

9. Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or electric? Good question. I’m still trying to figure out how I sound. If I’m playing my songs, I sound like me. I don’t think I’m good at sounding like anyone else.

10. Do you sound like yourself on other people’s guitars? yep.

11. Which living artist (music, or other arts) would you like to collaborate with? JJ Cale, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Jimmie Vaughan, Doyle Bramhall I and II, Charlie Sexton, CC Adcock.

12. What dead artist would you like to have collaborated with? Long list – and I don’t really feel like I could “collaborate” with them. “yea, Jimi, if I were you, I’d use a major 7 there instead of the 9?!?”

13. What’s your latest project about? CCS (Creedence Clearwater Survival) a CCR tribute band. Also co-writing/producing my students for an upcoming compilation CD.

The Gene Pool’s Site

Geno’s Myspace Page

Gene Pool Myspace

13 Questions with Kevin Carroll

We here at Red Leaf are big fans of Adam Levy’s 13 Questions series on his website, where he interviews some of his favorite guitarists about what they do. We thought we’d see what our teachers responded to Adam’s insightful questions. (And make sure to check out Adam’s site, his music, his Myspace, and the whole 13 Questions section).

Kevin jams.

First up is Kevin Carroll, one of Red Leaf’s accomplished guitar and bass teachers. Kevin’s latest record is called Tourmaline (it’s great, we all have it…you should, too!) You can catch up with Kevin on his Tour page, or see what’s happening over on his Youtube channel. Take it away, Kev:

1. Which was the first record you bought with your own money? I Shot the Sheriff / Eric Clapton and Rich Girl / Hall and Oates – 1st 45’s (back in the day)

Elton John’s Greatest Hits / 1st full length album or what the old timers call an LP

2. Which was the last record you bought with your own money? Mambo Sinuendo / Manuel Galban and Ry Cooder

3. What was the first solo you learned from a record — and can you still play it? Sultans of Swing and Doubtful at Best Today

4. Which recording of your own (or as a sideman) are you most proud of, and why? Pride is one of the seven deadly sins so I try to avoid it…..I feel that each recording has it’s own personality and defines one particular sonic moment, and beyond that it integrates the states of being of everyone involved and then some. That said, my favorite experiences involve hearing a song and liking it and then noticing the guitar and feeling like it’s a great part with a great tone and somehow sounds familiar and not realizing until later that it was a recording I had played on.

5. What’s the difference between playing live and playing in a studio? The studio is such a highly controlled situation in which the most miniscule nuances can have a huge effect. It’s where songs, sounds, vibes and arrangements are defined.

Live is more about recreating the music and the adapting it to each performance. I enjoy both, but the studio pays better and there are external validations….ie. Fans, groupies etc. It’s kind of like the studio is guided more by an internal compass and live is a bit more externally directed.

6. What’s the difference between a good gig and a bad gig? Good gig = got there safely and on time, equipment worked, listened to the music while playing, got paid, got home safely…..learned something to make my next gig more successful.

Bad gig = didn’t get there safely or on time, equipment didn’t work, didn’t listen to the music while playing, didn’t get paid, didn’t get home safely……didn’t learn anything to make my next gig more successful.

7. What’s the difference between a good guitar and a bad guitar? A good guitar vs. A bad guitar…..well, I’ve heard lesser players make supposedly good guitars sound bad and masterful players make supposedly bad guitars sound good………….the beatles said all you need is love….I think if the player brings the love the guitar will follow.

8. You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach the two differently? Acoustic vs. Electric…..Night vs. Day…..it’s great to play both as they teach you how to get certain sounds out of them which you grow accustomed to hearing and have to focus more on your technique to adapt an electric sound to an acoustic guitar or vice versa. I’ve found that playing acoustic has improved my electric playing quite a bit because it’s more physically demanding.

9. Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or electric? I always sound like myself at the particular moment I’m playing either acoustic or electric guitar……my electric playing is probably more recognizable because of it’s tendency to be given more space for expression.

10. Do you sound like yourself on other people’s guitars? Sometimes I don’t have a true connection with a guitar so I’ll put it down immediately. I really want an intimate relationship with a guitar…I’ve sold guitars when I no longer feel a connection to them. Once in a while I will pick up someone else’s guitar and really enjoy playing it…..I’ve also had the experience of letting someone use my guitar and feeling like it was somehow maligned and compromised upon its return. Weird mojo.

11. Which living artist (music, or other arts) would you like to collaborate with? Jim Jarmusch on a soundtrack / Jeff Tweedy on a co-write / Daniel Lanois as a producer / Mike Campbell as a guitarist / Chuck Rainey as a bassist/ Chrissie Hynde as a vocalist / Brian Blade as a drummer

12. What dead artist would you like to have collaborated with? George Harrison

13. What’s your latest project about? My latest project is about truth and beauty in the here and now.

Kevin’s website: http://www.kevincarroll.net

Kevin’s Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kevincarroll

Buy Tourmaline: http://www.kevincarroll.net/buy.cfm