Acoustic Tuesday Show with Tony Polecastro

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at57/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode... #4 Red Bear Picks I want to share with you my review of the Red Bear Guitar Picks made in Cedar City Utah. This company makes over 30 styles of picks. I tried quite a few, do you want to know what I dug about them? Watch the review to find out!   #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? This week's featured artist is Boubacar Traoré. One of our listeners recommended this artist and boy am I glad he did! This is the kind of music you can just listen to and zone out...it's almost trance-like. Check it out.   #2 Acoustic Guitar Player 5 Minute Stretch Stretching is extremely important to your guitar playing journey. These are simple stretches I show you that take very little time.   #1 Lomax: The Songhunter I want to share with you some insight on the Alan Lomax documentary. In this episode I also share a little discovery with you about Alan's recordings for the Library of Congress.

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at56/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode... #4 Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze Strings I threw these strings on my Thompson Dread, watch the review to see what I thought about them!   #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? This week's featured acoustic artist is John Oates. John is one half of the best-selling duo of all time Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. I've selected three tunes that I think you'll love.   #2 How To Best Practice Scales (5 Tips) In this episode I share with you five tips on how to effectively practice your scales and have fun doing so. Scales are an absolute necessity to learn. Scales are where chords come from. They are how we convey musical ideas. They are where melodies are born, and many times the origin of original music. So scales are supremely important.   #1 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion As a guitar geek you absolutely have to know about the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival. This festival was recommended by an Acoustic Tuesday viewer and for good reason... it's like an acoustic music showcase.

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at55/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode... #4 Would You Spend $40 On Strings? Guitar strings are one of the cheaper experiments you can do to modify the tone of your guitar. That notion held pretty strongly up until about two weeks ago when I bought a set of strings that I certainly wouldn't describe as inexpensive. #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? Today's artist feature comes courtesy of Acoustic Tuesday fan Bob W. from Kichener, Ontario. Bob says, "He's an amazing talent that plays with a lot of feel and dynamics and attributes influence from Michael Hedges." I agree with Bob here, in fact, I think you will too. Check out this modern fingerstyle player who uses percussive techniques... #2 Honeyboy's Life In A Book Edwards, Honeyboy is very much an under the radar Blues musician who is connected deeply to the roots of the Delta Blues. This documentary's amazing, but there are more resources available about him than just the documentary. #1 Do You Think This Documentary Is Blazing Hot? I want to make sure you know about a guitar geek full-length film that's directed by Ethan Hawke. It was just released on August 17th, in theaters across Texas. I'm not sure of the trajectory of this movie but I just want it on your radar because it definitely piqued my interest and I think it will perk you guitar geek up as well. Check out my thoughts in this week's episode....

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at54/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at53/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday Featured in This Episode #4 Special Guitar Seasoning You know when you get a new guitar, they use terms like "Oh, it's stiff," or, "It needs to open up"? I've recently experienced this very thing. I just purchased a Thompson Dreadnought guitar with Cuban mahogany back and sides it's a newly made guitar, and it felt a little stiff when I first got it. In that, it wanted to be resonant, but it just wasn't quite giving its all. It still sounded good, don't get me wrong, it's just a new guitar. After two weeks though it doesn't sound so stiff, and guess what? I didn't even play it that much... #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? Today's artist feature comes courtesy of Acoustic Tuesday fan Ray R. from Mililani, Hawaii. Ray says, "(He is an) amazing guitarist and songwriter." I agree with Ray here, in fact, I think you will too. You may have even heard this individual before, but not in this particular context... #2 Vintage Inspired Blues Machines There's a luthier up in Madison, Wisconsin that you probably don't know about. He is making vintage inspired guitars, but not the vintage you are thinking of. Sure he loves old Martins and Gibsons like all guitar geeks do, but this luthier derives his inspiration from old department store type guitars... think old delta blues guitar players... yep those guitars... #1 What A Guitar Case Is NOT Good For Guitar cases are in fact guitar-saving and protecting devices. They help protect our guitars from knocks and bruises, dings and all sorts of things like that, but our guitar cases can actually cause damage to our guitars as well...

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at52/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode #5 A New Album On The Horizon A couple of episodes back on Acoustic Tuesday, I featured a singer/songwriter who has an incredible voice, and his songwriting is just, well, it's about as raw as it can get. He's like a word magician, and I gotta tell you, I was super pumped to find out this piece of knowledge... #4 Mouth Watering Guitars From Virginia When I first started playing guitar, I absolutely lusted after a particular guitar from this maker. I remember talking to my Dad. I'm like, "Dad, we have to go to these different shops and I have to try out these guitars I heard that they're amazing." And boy, was I right... #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? This artist is largely responsible for the start of my own personal guitar journey and I thought he absolutely needed to be mentioned in a show. For those that are familiar with him you should be reminded of his importance in the acoustic guitar world, and for those who have never heard his name, you are in for an absolute treat... #2 What Happens When Two Guitar Geeks Are Stuck In a Room? Every now and again you find yourself in the company of a true guitar geek. This happened very recently and you'll never guess who sat down for an interview here at Acoustic Life Studios... #1 Are You Coming To The Pary? It's official Acoustic Tuesday has turned one year old and of course, it is thanks to viewers like you. What birthday party would be complete without gifts? There actually is a gift with your name on it, you have to see it...

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at51/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode #4 Beautiful Feedback Busting Feedback is a bummer; It's loud, ornery, inconvenient, and can ruin an acoustic performance. It is the nature of the beast though... when you plug in an acoustic guitar at a certain volume it will feedback. Those black "Feedback Busters" exist but quite honestly I think those are as ugly as sin. So what is a guitar geek to do...   #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? Judging by the amount of passion and mojo that pour out of every note this artist plays, he is very much a student of the blues. Whether playing a banjo, resonator guitar, or his 1930's Regal the tone and vibe of the blues seems to surround this fingerpicker. He delivers songs with grit, sweat, and a perfect imperfectness that keeps you coming back time and time again...   #2 Guitar Geek Library Expansion Guitar geeks often get inspired by trying out new guitars. You play a different instrument and your mind goes into overdrive thinking of all of the possibilities that having that instrument could provide. This phenomenon is quite common amongst guitar lovers, but there are those rare moments when an instrument actually takes your breath away and leaves a mark on your guitar geek heart...   #1 History Told With Guitars Hanging a guitar on a wall is a statement. It could mean so many things... things like "I play guitar," or "this guitar means a lot to my family and me," or even "in this house we love music." Just one guitar can make quite a profound statement, but what happens when there are 1700 of them...  

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at50/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday Featured in This Episode #4 A Life in the Shadows This guitar geek film recommendation is brought to you by honorary guitar geek and Acoustic Tuesday viewer David M. I am super excited to watch this documentary because it contains footage and stories from some of the most important musicians in blues history...   #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? This weeks listening selection is brought to you by Acoustic Tuesday fan and guitar geek, Steven W. He says this of the artist for the week, "Excellent songwriting, and the lead singer has one of the best voices I've heard...incredibly full of emotion and passion. Definitely, one of my favorite bands to just sit and listen to!"   #2 Quebec's Master Luthier There is a guitar maker in Quebec that has absolutely hit the nail on the head when it comes to a powerful, responsive, and tonally rich fingerstyle guitar. I was able to say this with confidence before, but after having played one in person...   #1 Bust Your Guitar Rut Right Now In every guitar journey, there are some hurdles and detours that all guitar geeks must deal with along the way, but nothing is more intimidating nor frustrating than the ultimate nemesis to any guitar geek...  

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at49/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode   How To Live Your Very Best Acoustic Life... A festival purely dedicated to guitar geeks is in the history books and if you want to know every detail and astonishing thing that happened then you must check this episode out. The inaugural Acoustic Life Festival held in Bozeman, MT at the Rialto Theatre happened Friday, June 22, and Saturday June 23, 2018. It was two days of living the Acoustic Life to the max!!! The Acoustic Life Festival was full of amazing moments both musical and personal. Between the artist performances, the open mic nights, the workshops, and the band performances so many friendships were started, transformations made, and guitar geek flags waved. Make sure to check out all of the video recaps for some behind the scenes footage as well as the picture gallery for some candid shots of the open mic, the shows, and the guitar geekery that occurred at the very first of many Acoustic Life Festivals. Acoustic Life Festival 2018 Behind the Scenes Links Acoustic Life Festival Behind the Scenes Video Recaps Acoustic Life Festival Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at48/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode   #5 Beautifully Dressed Up Fingerboards Vinyl albums are an item of pure beauty. From the album art, the shiny black disc, the liner notes, and the listening experience; vinyl records capture as much or more mojo and magic than the music was originally recorded with. The album is only half of the equation though...   #4 What's On the Turntable This Week? This week's featured artist comes from Zorn John in El Paso, TX. He says: "Much like John Fahey he makes a single guitar sound incredible. This is the sound I aspire to create one day." For all of you out there who happen to like the American primitive guitar style, you are going to love this...   #3 Guitar Geek Fashion, Form, and Function You know you're a guitar geek when you have this friend that you really want to finish an album so, selfishly, you can listen to it whenever you wish...   #2 The Capo Conversation Heats Up Back on Episode #47 of Acoustic Tuesday, we took a look at the new G7th Heritage capo. It is a truly sexy capo, but I had some questions about its design. I happened to ask these questions during the show and you'll never guess who responded...   #1 Playing Guitar With a Jalapeno?!?!? Yoke capos are one of the most convenient capo types available. They are beautifully designed to stay on your guitar when not in use, and very easy to recruit when a capo is necessary. For a while, there was really only one high-end yoke capo option until this company came along...  

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at47/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured in This Episode #4 Going Into Orbit Vinyl albums are an item of pure beauty. From the album art, the shiny black disc, the liner notes, and the listening experience; vinyl records capture as much or more mojo and magic than the music was originally recorded with. The album is only half of the equation though...   #3 What's On the Turntable This Week? This weeks featured artist comes from Zorn John in El Paso, TX. He says: "Much like John Fahey he makes a single guitar sound incredible. This is the sound I aspire to create one day." For all of you out there who happen to like the American primitive guitar style you are going to love this...   #2 Help Out A Fellow Guitar Geek... You know you're a guitar geek when you have this friend that you really want to finish an album so, selfishly, you can listen to it whenever you wish...   #1 A Sexy Capo?!?! Yoke capos are one of the most convenient capo types available. They are beautifully designed to stay on your guitar when not in use, and very easy to recruit when a capo is necessary. For a while there was really only one high end yoke capo option until this company came along...      

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at46/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured In This Episode:   #3 A Guitar Geek Aura Having something that makes your guitar sound consistent in a variety of playing situations is hard... even more difficult to find is something that is easily tweak-able to dial in a tone you find pleasing. Well, guitar geek friends, I have found a magical DI box that comes close to that mouthwatering description...   #2 What's On the Turntable This Week? His playing is so supportive of the song; it's never too much, it's never not enough, it always seems just right for the musical situation. He plays fingerstyle guitar with a fluidity that sets a shining example, and his playing looks completely effortless...   #1 A Luthier that Takes the Cake If creating an instrument that has balance, power, dynamic range, and an uncanny level of responsiveness is a contest, this luthier will no doubt take the prize and win by a very large margin...  

  ➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at45/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   Featured In This Episode:   #4 Guitars that Sustain Forever... Being a luthier seems to be one of those professions that you don't choose, rather it chooses you. I want to introduce you to a luthier who has been chosen to make some of the most robust and lush sounding guitars I have ever heard...   #3 A Guitar Thief is On the Loose As a guitar geek our guitars are precious to us... there is absolutely no doubt about that. And as a luthier and guitar geek not only do you take fantastic care of your instruments, more often than not those very instruments that you take care of are your very own creations...   #2 What's On the Turntable This Week? Her playing approach is delicate yet can be considered powerful at the same time. She has an effortless command over the fretboard and her influences seemingly pour out of her playing...   #1 #AskMatt It's not every day you get to sit down with one of your own acoustic guitar heroes so when the opportunity arises it is a guitar geeks obligation to... well... geek out.  

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at44/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   The acoustic rocket has carefully been placed on the launch pad, safety harnesses are fastened, helmets are in place... all systems go. The countdown begins 10... 9... 8... All aboard are intergalactic guitar geeks ready to see what lies within the galaxy of geekdom. 7... 6... 5... Constellations made of abalone, satellites held together with 80/20 bronze guitar strings, moons made up of layers upon layers of exotic tonewoods. 4... 3... 2... A gargantuan galactic gathering place where guitar geekiness flourishes. 1... Blast Off!!! Welcome to Acoustic Tuesday, your gravity-free guitar geek world chocked full of all of the guitar goodness that you should be aware of. Featured in This Episode #4 Spaceship Finger Protectors Fingerpicks are little bent pieces of metal that sit atop your fingers so that you can dig in, pull some extra volume out of your instrument, maintain clarity, and absolutely destroy your cuticles. It's true, for all of the good that fingerpicks do, it comes at a cost of damaging the cuticles of your picking fingers, but it doesn't have to be that way anymore... #3 A Summer Acoustic Music Destination Summer is absolutely chocked full of musical opportunities from local hotspots to national festivals that fans trek miles to. There is literally something for everyone. One festival that I think everyone should know about and at least attend once is... #2 What's On the Turntable This Week? I love her ragtime infused fingerstyle blues. Her playing is like listening to Robert Johnson but having a little something extra thrown in there. Kinda like eating your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant, but they won’t tell what the secret special ingredient is... #1 Your May 2018 Donation Report Acoustic Tuesday finds all of us guitar geeks uniting every Tuesday, but this week we get to celebrate a whole new level of guitar geek solidarity...

➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at43/➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday   The magnificent blazing ball of light known as the sun rolls over the horizon and illuminates the calm waters of Acoustic Tuesday This episode will have you setting sail on the S.S. Acoustic, heading into uncharted waters of the acoustic ocean with a guitar geek list as your map to the all-hallowed guitar geek treasure. Strap on your life jacket and hold steady at the stern for we are about to get underway and navigate the channels of acoustic bliss. Featured in This Episode #4 A Custom Saddle Maker in Georgia When I first saw that this item was recommended I was a bit confused because it seemed so basic, but I was very pleasantly surprised upon doing more research. This may be the equivalent of sliced bread for guitar geeks... #3 A Songwriter's Dream For music history buffs and especially for those interested in songwriters, their stories, and even their process this documentary needs to be very high on your "to watch" list... #2 What's On the Turntable This Week? This week's artist actually comes in the form of a two for one special. Acoustic Tuesday Viewer Ted Renshaw from Southold, NY recommended a true songwriting treasure that's connected to another under the radar artist. #1 A Visit From an Angel Magnetic soundhole pickups for acoustic guitar can really be hit or miss. Some can be inexpensive and sound puny, others can be way expensive and sound only ok, but this one sits right in the middle and needs to be known by guitar geeks en masse...