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Lone Wolf FX at Summer NAMM’s Stompbox Exhibit

We met Joe Anastasio from Lone Wolf FX in Austin back in 2012 when we organized our very first Austin Stompbox Exhibit - at the time he was part of a now defunct manufacturer called Enormous Door FX). To be fair, he never struck us as the most organized of people (you can gather that much from his company's website), but, obviously, the man's got some talent when it comes to designing guitar pedals - and that's all we care about. ... Click on the title for more

Lone Wolf FX at Summer NAMM’s Stompbox Exhibit

Q&A with Kristin Kontrol (ex Dum Dum Girls) about embracing synths

Changes are often friends of inspiration: new experiences, new instruments, new influences, new collaborations, or even just a new approach, are all things that have the power to unleash renewed curiosity and creativity. The story of Kristin Kontrol's debut record X-Communicate can be seen (and heard) from this angle: after a great six year run with her drone pop band Dum Dum Girls, whose songs were inspired by legendary electric psych bands of the '90s like Jesus and Mary Chain and Mezzy Star, Dee Dee (aka Kristin Welchez) decided it was time to mix things up a little, and start anew. The Kristin Kontrol debut album was forged through a new collaboration with Ice Choir programmer/producer Kurt Feldman, and veers decidedly towards the synth-pop sound of the '80s. We asked Kristin and Kurt a few questions about it.... Click on the title for more

Q&A with Kristin Kontrol (ex Dum Dum Girls) about embracing synths

New Pedals: Keeley Multi Echo ME-8

As we all know, pedal lovers can be divided in two categories: those who like uncluttered effects with a few knobs, and those who seek stompboxes that open many creative possibilities, no matter the number of controls. With its eight algorithms controlled through just five knobs, the new Keeley Mulyi Echo ME-8 is one of those rare pedals that might be able to make every stompbox lover happy - also because it sells just under $200!... Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Keeley Multi Echo ME-8

Jessie Clavin of Bleached: favorite stompboxes

Our first thought when we heard "Wednesday Night Melody" - the new single by Los Angeles power pop trio Bleached - was: "This song should be on Rock Band!" - which, if you think about it for a minute or two - is a heck of a compliment. The ladies' new record "Welcome the Worms" showcases an evolution from their early vintage sounding garage-psych-pop, to a more muscular and modern "Alt" sound that, while more produced and punchy, retains the fun of those classic radio friendly punk songs a la' Joan Jett. The distorted guitar is pretty dominant in the band's sound, so were curious to find out what's on the board of the band's guitarist Jessie Clavin - and here's the answer!... Click on the title for more

Jessie Clavin of Bleached: favorite stompboxes

Beverly: inspiration and gear behind ‘The Blue Swell’

Let it be said that Beverly's Drew Citron is no shrinking violet. Sure, she lost co-conspirator Frankie Rose soon after the band’s stellar debut album, but Drew pressed on and the new album 'The Blue Swell' marks a clear improvement in both songwriting and production, continuing the band's swirly take on febrile dream-pop, perfectly suited to fans of the Breeders and Lush. We asked her a few questions about the new record, its sounds, and the gear and people that went into recording it.... Click on the title for more

Beverly: inspiration and gear behind ‘The Blue Swell’

New Pedals – Swindler Effects’ Workers’ Comp

Fairly new to the stompbox world, Swindler Effects has recently introduced to the world their flagship compressor, the Workers' Comp, which you will be able to see at our upcoming Summer NAMM shared Stompbox Exhibit booth. It's a re-invention of a tried-and-true stompbox compressors, the beloved Ross/DynaComp design, which has been retooled for added versatility.... Click on the title for more

New Pedals – Swindler Effects’ Workers’ Comp

A stompbox inspired delirium: The Stargazer Lillies

Listening to the brand new album 'Door to the Sun' by PA via New York trio The Stargazer Lillies is an experience comparable to getting lost in the fog. The fog, in this circumstance, is of the aural kind, and created by an over-abundance of guitar effects employed (very unsparingly) by guitarist John Cep, formerly of Soundpool. The man loves stompboxes so much that he carries around to shows not one but TWO boards to fit them all - one of them, as you can see, hosts almost exclusively delay pedals... We were looking forward to get some geek talk out of him, but it turns out his thought process is as deranged as his playing style.... Click on the title for more

A stompbox inspired delirium: The Stargazer Lillies

New Pedals: Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive and Kingmaker Fuzz

At our recent Toronto Stompbox Exhibit we had the chance to check out Massachussets manufacturer Source Audio's pedalboard, which featured two brand new guitar stompboxes, the L.A. Lady Overdrive and the Kingmaker Fuzz, part of their One Series line.... Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive and Kingmaker Fuzz

Humeysha’s creative process, instruments and recording gear

For those who think NYC is getting a little too complacent in its imperishable reverence for grunge, surf, and doo-wop, quartet Humeysha should help clear the decks. Their self-titled debut integrates Indian influences and western pop in ways that would make George Harrison proud. Opener “For Love, from the Law” is sung in Hindi and marries the immovable sitar to minimal chillwave percussion. It is blissful pop counterfeiting as Eastern music (still kind of a nineties conceit). “Burma Between You and Me” employs an archaic loop that yields further razzmatazz. “Mahalli” eschews the psychedelic Indian sound for one closer to Dead Can Dance. Either way, it's fresh oxygen.... Click on the title for more

Humeysha’s creative process, instruments and recording gear

Pedals featured in the 46th issue of The Deli NYC

The 46th issue of The Deli NYC is now available online, and as usual there's a "Pedalboard" section highlighting a bunch of new, exciting pedals! Click on "READ MORE" below for more info on each pedal! ... Click on the title for more

Pedals featured in the 46th issue of The Deli NYC

Odonis Odonis’ pedals and synths in ‘Post Plague’

Started in 2010 as the solo project of multi-instrumentalist/filmaker Dean Tzenos, Toronto's Odonis Odonis have quickly become a staple of the industrial scene, thanks to a series of records that, although featuring in full display the genre's signature, clangy noisiness, never lack in the production department, often offering also a melodic component inherited from drone rock of bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Their 2016 album 'Port Plague' represents a rather obvious change in the band's sonic trajectory, delivering a sound that removes almost entirely the previously dominant distorted guitar component, to rely more consistently on synths. We asked them a few questions in this regard:... Click on the title for more

Odonis Odonis’ pedals and synths in ‘Post Plague’

New Pedals: Function F(x) The Third Rail Overdrive

After the successful launch of their first pedal, the Clusterfuzz, the Elk Grove Illinois stompbox manufacturer Function F(x) is back with their sophomore product, The Third Rail, the company’s first foray into overdrive, which provides a one stop shop for discerning crunch aficionados. The box features two distinct overdrive channels in one box, each with its own tone, gain, and volume knobs. Also, both sides have a toggle to choose between a silicon diode, a Schottky diode, and no diode. Each channel can be run independently or together for a stacked option for high gain and compression. The primary difference between the right channel and left channel is the right offers a “bass cut” switch while the left offers a high gain switch.... Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Function F(x) The Third Rail Overdrive