How did you two guys meet?

We met backstage in the mid to late 90s when he was still playing with Strangefolk. I was playing with a woman named Kristin Mueller and we opened up for Strangefolk a couple of times at Club Toast in Burlington. I guess he enjoyed my playing and I bumped into him a few years later and he remembered me, and of course, I remembered him.

Describe the chemistry between you and Reid?

We have fun and lots of laughs and we crack each other up all the time.

What about the chemistry between you John? You guys have been in six different bands together.

It will be 20 years next summer. We first played together in Groovechild in New Hampshire. There’s a lot of personal and musical chemistry. We know each other musically so well. It’s a pretty magical thing. Even if I’m in a room where I can’t hear him very well, I know where he’s going musically. We developed a familiarity with our styles but we still continue to surprise each other, which is pretty cool at this point.

Who were some of your musical influences?

Growing up, my mom played classical music and the Beatles and those things sunk indirectly through osmosis. I played violin, piano, trumpet but I didn’t stick with any of them. Then when I was in middle school, my friend Josh Pryor bought a guitar and I wanted one, so I bought one for $69 at Service Merchandise. I was really into heavy metal at the time but by the time I was in high school, I was into classic rock. I was fascinated by Jerry Garcia – he showed me you can improvise and make things up. When I found out he was improvising it blew my mind. I also listened to a lot of Mark Knopfler, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King and the Allman Brothers.

How would you describe your individual playing?

I’ve never been asked that question. Blues based and blues rock with a sprinkling of Jerry Garcia and a weak attempt at Jimi Hendrix.

What kind of guitar do you play? What’s unique or different about it?

When I’m in AOD, I play a Fender Stratocaster which has more of country sound to it, and when I’m in Nate’s band, I play an Americana Gibson ES 335 which has a classic rock tone to it.

I was just about to ask you about Nate’s band. How is that developing?

The band is going in a great direction. We have a new record coming out. It’s been a long time coming as it’s been a start and stop process.

Could you envision a tour of AOD & Ghosts of Jupiter?

It’s certainly not out of the question. That would be a long night of music for me – but it would be a blast. It’s never been discussed but I could see it happening in the future.

What’s the biggest difference between the two groups?

In Assembly of Dust, I get to be more introspective and with Nate, it’s balls out.

You’ve been in the jamband scene for almost a decade now, what’s this ride been like for you?

It’s a pretty crazy. It can be a roller coaster at times, but I like roller coasters. It’s amazing. I’ve been able to do some things that I never expected to happen. I got to play with Dickey Betts – never expected in a million years that would happen, let alone meet him. I played “Blue Sky” with him. There are moments where you look around and you can’t believe this is happening. I’m never going to stop, this is what I do. However, there are moments of sheer boredom like killing time waiting in the green room, but it’s part of the game.

If you could play with anyone who would it be?

I would love to play with any members of the Grateful Dead: Bobby, Phil, Mickey or Bill. It’s a long shot but who knows.

When you’re done with a tour or a festival and have to go back to your day job as a guitar teacher – what’s that transition like?

I’ve taught guitar for a long time, I enjoy it a lot – it’s very fulfilling to help someone make progress. Teaching guitar kind of takes me away. At times, you get caught up being in a rock ‘n’ roll band, and going to teach guitar brings me back down to earth. I teach great kids and they have no idea who I am.

What’s the most important advice you give to your students?

First is that you have to be patient and that mastering the guitar is not going to come over night. Second is that being patient isn’t easy if you are very curious. You have to pick it up and experiment. If you have that natural sense of curiosity and patience you’re going to be OK. But if you’re impatient and only do what I tell you, you’re going to spin your wheels. Practice has to be enjoyable, and being curious is what makes it enjoyable.

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