My guest today is Dan Gilbert , a monster guitarist and top instructor at Hollywood's Musicians Institute. What is special about this episode for me is that Dan was my private teacher when I attended M.I. (then known as "GIT") in the early 90's

The Best Of Vol. 1 (Scofield, Zappa, DeMartini, George Porter Jr.)

Mar 3rd, 2023 26m 32s

Here's a "best of" of some of my favorite moments from the early season of Riff Raff. Listen to Dweezil Zappa talk about how Eddie Van Halen coached his jr. High school talent show band, John Scofield telling me about how he approaches playing

The Riff Raff (Episode 45) w Shane Theriot (R.J. Ronquillo/Jeff McErlain)

Jan 20th, 2023 58m 11s

My guests today are R. J. Ronquillo and Jeff McErlain. Both of these guys are highly accomplished guitarists who have successfully moved onto the path of the YouTube guitarist/educator.R. J. has a long resume and and has done touring stints wit

Episode 44 with Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Cher, Night Ranger, Solo)

Jan 31st, 2022 52m 20s

My guest today is Mr. Joel Hoekstra. Joel is a fantastic guitarist who is holds down a number of high profile gigs, among them Whitesnake (of which he is a current member), Night Ranger , Cher, Trans- Siberian Orchestra, Rock of Ages and many o

Episode 43 with KK Downing (Judas Priest/ KK's Priest)

Nov 14th, 2021 44m 5s

My guest today is Mr. KK Downing, original member, co founder and guitarist for the legendary band Judas Priest, and his own project KK’s Priest.It goes without saying that Judas Priest are one of the most influential bands in the history of me

Episode 42 Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner's American Band)

Jun 20th, 2021 52m 57s

My guest today is Mr. Mark Farner. Best known as the frontman guitarist/songwriter and lead singer for one of the biggest bands in 1970’s rock- Grand Funk Railroad. From the game changing Atlanta Pop Festival performance to the legendary Shea S

Episode 41 Trey Gunn (King Crimson, Solo Artist, music coach)

Mar 15th, 2021 49m 49s

My guest today is Trey Gunn- solo artist, Chapman Stick and Warr guitar pioneer and virtuoso and member of the groundbreaking band King Crimson for 10 years. With at 15 solo records (and counting) under his belt Trey shows no signs of slowing d

Episode 40 Scott Sharrard (Solo artist, Greg Allman Band, Little Feat)

Jan 18th, 2021 58m 28s

My guest today is Scott Sharrard, a great singer, guitarist and songwriter who hails from Michigan but could also have easily have been raised in the Delta. Scott is probably best known for being a long time member of Gregg Allman's band but as

Episode 39- Guthrie Trapp on The Riff Raff w Shane Theriot

Jan 11th, 2021 1h 14m

My guest today is Mr. Guthrie Trapp. Guthrie is a monster Nashville “superpicker” with a wide range of credits including Jerry Douglas, Garth Brooks, Delbert McClinton, John Oates and many more. Guthrie is also a successful educator and has som

Episode 38 with GE Smith

Jul 27th, 2020 1h 20m

My guest today is Mr. G.E. Smith.As one of the most seen and heard guitarists in the heyday of late 70’s - 80’s era SNL (when the show was at it's peak) you would have no doubt seen G.E. on your TV set, mugging it up for the camera and playing

Episode 37 with Allen Hinds

Apr 28th, 2020 1h 28m

My guest today is Allen Hinds, a player that most certainly possesses what I like to call the “Three T’s of guitar playing”- Touch, Tone, and Taste. Allen is originally from Alabama but has lived in Southern California most of his life and foun

Episode 36 with Greg V

Mar 24th, 2020 1h 43m

My guest today is Greg Vorobiov a.k.a. “Greg V." Greg is a great guitarist with an individual voice who is proof that “tone is in your hands." To see and hear him in action, just watch any of the many videos on You Tube that he did during his t

Episode 35 with Dave Malone

Mar 12th, 2020 1h 11m

My guest today is Mr. Dave Malone. Dave is best known as being a 30+ year veteran as one of the vocalists, guitarists and songwriters with The Radiators, one of the quintessential New Orleans party bands. For over 30 years the “Rads” have defin

Episode 34 with Julian Coryell

Feb 12th, 2020 1h 28m

My guest today is Julian Coryell. As those of you who are regular listeners probably know by know, I usually feature guests that I have some sort of prior working relationship or friendship with- I find it helps keep the show more intimate and

Server Upgrade - Action Required to Stay Subscribed!

Jan 31st, 2020 1m 16s

To all my Riff Raff fans out there who have been asking what's up with the show...... due to our ever-increasing listener base, we outgrew our server and had to upgrade! To keep getting the Riff Raff podcast, all you need to do is unsubscribe a

Episode 33 with Wayne Krantz (Solo artist, Steely Dan, Billy Cobham,)

Jul 18th, 2019 1h 33m

My guest today is Mr. Wayne Krantz. Wayne is one of my favorite guitarists and musicians and I was so glad to finally be able to have him on the show. I frequent the 55 Bar in NYC where he can be found on most Thursday nights playing with an ev

Episode 32 with Phil DeGruy (Solo artist and 7 string virtuoso)

May 30th, 2019 1h 26m

My guest today is Mr. Phil DeGruy, a "guitarist's guitarist" with a unique style that can oftentimes seem to defy description. Perhaps the closest that anyone has come to an accurate description of Phil's playing is non other than Steve Vai

Episode 31 with Greg Phillinganes (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, etc..)

Dec 21st, 2018 1h 30m

My guest today is Mr. Greg Phillinganes, one of the most recorded keyboardists (both session and touring) of all time. Originally from Detroit, at age 18 Greg's musical abilities were captured on a demo tape which ultimately landed him the gig

Episode 30 with Sammy Hagar (singer/guitarist Van Halen, Montrose, Chickenfoot, The Circle)) and guitarist Vic Johnson (The Circle, Waterboys)

Aug 29th, 2018 37m 11s

My guests today are Sammy Hagar and his longtime guitarist Vic Johnson. What really needs to be said about Sammy Hagar, one of the all time greats of rock and roll vocalists- From Montrose, Van Halen and his own solo career to everything in b

Episode 29 with Johnny Neel (The Allman Brothers, Blue Floyd, Grease Factor, Gov't Mule etc.)

Jul 24th, 2018 1h 7m

My guest today is Mr. Johnny Neel. How do you describe Johnny Neel? Well he is easily one on the most brilliant musicians I’ve ever worked with- keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, producer etc… Maybe start with one part Leon Russell, morph tog

Episode 28 The Genius of Lenny Breau with Emily Hughes (Documentary Filmmaker and Lenny's daughter )

Jul 12th, 2018 56m 19s

My guest today is Emily Hughes, filmmaker and also the daughter of the late guitar giant, Lenny Breau. In this interview Emily discusses her fathers legacy and her new film entitled "The Genius of Lenny Breau Remembered" as well as the first d

Episode 27 with Pat Bergeson (Chet Atkins, Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, Suzy Bogguss, etc.)

Jun 25th, 2018 1h 19m

My guest today is Pat Bergeson. Pat is an amazing guitarist, a natural who is at ease with virtually any style. His credits include Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, Suzy Bogguss, Butch Trucks and many, many more. As Pat will tell you though, the one

Episode 26 with Audley Freed (Cry of Love, Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, etc...)

May 5th, 2018 1h 30m

My guest today is Mr. Audley Freed. As with most of my guests on Riff Raff it kinda goes without saying that Audley is a badass player and his credits most certainly back this up but if there was an also award for “most humble guitar player” Au

Episode 25 with Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson)

Apr 9th, 2018 55m 19s

How do you land a gig with one of the icons of American music and keep it for 45 years? Ask todays guest- Mickey Raphael. Unless your name is Keith Richards, I don’t know anyone who has had a gig for as long as he has, much less on harmonica.

Episode 24 with Harold Bradley (Legendary Nashville A-Team guitarist- Patsy Cline, Elvis, Roy Orbinson etc...)

Mar 6th, 2018 1h 13m

( L-R) Andy Reiss, Harold Bradley, Shane Theriot My guest today is a now legendary figure in the history of Nashville and a member of the original “A”- team of session musicians. Mr.