Way back in the sepia-toned past of podcasting (circa 2016), I sat down with Joel Korte of Chase Bliss Audio — before the blinking lights took over the world and before I fully understood how microphones work.
Can you believe that this episode is almost a decade old? What a wild ride it's been!
This episode has it all:
– Engineering nerdery
– Emotional whiplash
– Mild Midwestern awkwardness
– And at least one questionable Paul Reed Smith tangent
– Strollerblading!
Joel shares how a stint at a major guitar company, and one very big life detour somehow led to building some of the most innovative pedals on the planet. And I mostly just try not to say anything too stupid.
It’s clunky. It’s charming. It’s full of chaotic origin-story goodness.
Basically: if you’ve ever wanted to hear a future pedal wizard in larval form, this is the one.
Check out everything Chase Bliss on their website HERE https://www.chasebliss.com/
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
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1:11:09
Jay Leonard J: Fuzz, Ghosts & Speedos—A Guitarist’s Midlife Crisis (Kinda)
Jay Leonard J turned 40 and decided to do everything all at once. Theater? Check. NAMM emcee? Check. Launching a new Yamaha Pacifica? Sure, why not. Recording a full-length album in the middle of a life tornado? Of course.
In this episode, Blake catches up with his longtime pal and one of the internet’s finest tone freaks to talk about the wildest year of Jay’s life. It involves getting choked onstage in Cambodian Rock Band, haunted guitars that randomly drop into drop D, wig malfunctions, high-pressure NAMM gigs, surprise birthday parties, and an album born in the middle of absolute chaos.
Also covered:
Fuzz pedals and spring reverb in musical theater
Why robots can’t replace sweaty humans with bad wireless units
Sneaky old-school NAMM tactics and “my buddy Scott” espionage
Vitamin D megadosing: the unsanctioned NAMM survival strategy
Jay’s new album Aw Man and why his kids named it (literally)
This one’s equal parts gear talk, therapy session, and backstage musical mayhem. Buckle up.
Check out the first single off of Jay's new record Aww Man HERE https://open.spotify.com/album/6piMmwA3qauXbHo70CwhOn?si=hIg10vwtQy60_4lkzy2WsA and make sure to grab the whole thing when it drops on June 20th!
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:08:54
From TikTok to Travis Tritt’s Living Room (with Dillon Weldon)
From anonymous attic guitars to Travis Tritt’s guest room, Dillon Weldon’s story is a country song in the making.
Blake sits down with the host of The Drifting Cowboy Podcast to talk about how a kid with no industry connections, a busted Taylor, and a Johnny Paycheck cassette somehow wound up at the heart of Nashville's old-school revival. They cover everything: going viral on TikTok (by accident), how a single prayer led to a million views, and what it’s like when country legends like Gary Gentry, Bobby Braddock, and even Travis Tritt start calling you.
This one’s about persistence, storytelling, songwriting, and chasing something real—whether you’re holding a Telecaster or telling stories on TikTok. Also: Nashville hot chicken, and why aging punk rockers inevitably fall in love with country music.
Whether you’re a guitar nerd, country fan, or just someone trying to make something happen… this one’s for you.
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:13:59
Mary Gauthier Wasn’t ‘Supposed’ to Make It — But She Did It Anyway
In this episode, Blake sits down with legendary singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier for a deep, honest, and surprisingly gear-heavy chat. Mary didn’t pick up songwriting seriously until her mid-thirties—after years as a Boston-based chef, restaurant owner, and, as she puts it, a total mess. But once she got sober and started hitting open mics, everything changed.
They talk about her early love for Taylor guitars, her eventual obsession with the low-end growl of vintage Gibsons, and how she’s more about tone that serves the song than flashy technique. Mary shares the story behind her breakout song “I Drink,” explains why emotion always trumps complexity, and offers a masterclass in the art of getting doors to open in Nashville—even if you have to sneak in through a window.
You’ll also hear:
The connection between fear and fog (and how to burn both off)
What it's like to share a stage with John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams
Why you should never underestimate the power of a good crust (yes, pizza crust)
A crash course in humility, persistence, and the power of being kind
This one’s a gem. If you're a songwriter, storyteller, or just trying to figure out your path—hit play.
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:01:14
Zephyr Avalon on Touring with Zach Bryan, Bass Gear & Surviving the Grind
This week on The Tone Mob, Blake hangs with bassist Zephyr Avalon—a man whose musical journey started with jazz camp and ended up on stadium stages... with a few detours through punk bands, upright bass trauma, and a destroyed childhood guitar along the way.
They cover Zephyr’s early years surrounded by classical music, gigging through college, touring with Haley Reinhart, and stumbling into the rocket ship that is Zach Bryan’s rise. There's gear talk (OC-2 forever), rig rundowns, custom basses, and why upright bass and stage monitors are natural enemies.
Also: pizza philosophies, Instagram hustle, and why the music industry is a lot like bad sushi—if you’re drowning it in sauce, something’s probably wrong.
🎧 Plug in and prepare to nod, laugh, and maybe question your pedalboard choices. Lets go!
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The year was 2015. Show host Blake Wyland intended to start a podcast where he took a deep dive with his guests from the guitar world to explain their rigs. What happened was that, but also a whole lot more. The show quickly evolved into discussions about people's lives. Guitars, pedals, amps, etc. are the central hub of the show, but it really is more about the PEOPLE behind all of it. Both the musicians who use the gear, and the folks that create these magical tools of expression. You can expect chats about songwriting, favorite bands, family, loss, addiction, conspiracy theories, philosophy, and most of all....... food. This podcast goes all over the place. Come take a ride.
Canada - english