Backstage Bucks County - Episode 2 Rob Martyn owner of D-Town Guitars Doylestown, PA

WEBVTT
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What's up, everybody?
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Welcome back to the Backstage Bucks County Show.
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I am here with one of our longtime friends, local and probably national legend at this point.
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The owner of D Town Guitars, Mr.
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Rob Martin.
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Let's give it up for Mr.
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Rob Martin.
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What's up, buddy?
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Hello.
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Thank you.
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What's going on?
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So uh we've gotten to know each other over the past four or five years.
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You've known Dustin, unfortunately, for probably way longer than that through Wineskin and other projects.
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But uh what's going on, brother?
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Thank you for coming on the show.
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Uh glad to be here.
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Nice, man.
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So I see you brought uh we'll get into this little gem here for uh uh once we start talking guitar things.
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But um do you want to give us an intro of of your friend who's sitting on the couch here with you?
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This is uh this is just a little show and tell uh guitar that came in I kept for myself.
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It's just really cool.
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Uh so not not for sale for the millions watching around the world.
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72 Les Paul.
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Is that a birth year?
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No.
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Not to age him.
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Ooh, she sounds lovely.
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Yeah, it's just a really cool one.
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Nice man.
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They find me.
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That is definitely true.
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So if you were if you're in Bucks County or not, if you're somewhere in the region and you need a good guitar, want to check it out.
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Tell us a little bit about the shop, how you got started, tell us your story, dude.
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Uh long story.
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We got nothing but time.
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Uh started playing guitar when I was about 16.
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Okay.
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And just really dove into it.
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Didn't really do one of Didn't really want to do much else besides playing guitar.
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And uh started collecting.
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Yeah.
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Started messing around with them, trying to fix them myself.
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I would take my guitars to um uh a guy named Audric.
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I don't know if you guys ever heard of Audric, but um he was like he he's still around, but he's retired.
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He's the local uh guitar repair uh guru.
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And um he you know it was expensive to go to him all the time.
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So I would just sometimes try to do my own stuff.
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So I just like to tinker.
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Yeah.
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And it's he in was he in Bucks County as well?
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Where'd you grow up around here?
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Uh I grew up in Warminster and he was working at a music barn at Street Road and York in Warminster.
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Okay.
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So right kind of right down the street.
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So I became aware of him in high school, and uh then he he kind of moved around to a couple other shops, so I would find him.
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Just follow him.
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Yeah.
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Nice.
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Yeah, he was the man.
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We have a tendency to do that too.
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Like, obviously, with you, if you moved, like I don't know what I would do to go get my strings chains and guitars and you know, all these deals.
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But for a while, we were going to uh Kevin Coyle, who owned, you know, his he and his dad own coils down in Richborough.
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I love Kevin.
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Kevin's a he's a very good dude.
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RIP to uh to Mr.
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The Dad.
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Yeah, Frank.
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Frank was cool.
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Yeah, local legend, man.
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I got my first guitar.
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I played drums with you.
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Well, you kind of taught me how to play the drums back in middle school, yeah, which is why I'm a terrible drummer.
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But um, they had the shop in Richborough, and the old man sold me my first guitar that my mom bought me for my 13th birthday.
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It was an old like epiphone cutout, you know, electric acoustic.
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It was maybe$2.99, which to us was like obscene at the time.
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My dad was, you know, fighting it.
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He's like, You're never gonna play this thing, you know, we're not doing lessons.
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And I'm like, Alright, dad, whatever.
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So, you know, over time for us, it was like we were playing in the jazz band in middle school together.
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I was playing the trumpet, he was playing the drums.
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So we kind of synced up then and you know became friends.
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And what is it, 25 years later, still doing it?
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But so what were some of your influences growing up?
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Like you had a guitar in your hand, you were starting to pick around, like who were you playing?
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What were you trying to learn at that point?
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Grew up with a group of people, we were all Southern rockers.
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Nice.
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Uh so CCR and it was a bad group of people, scanner like bad talented or bad, like not good humans.
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Oh yeah.
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Do tell.
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I was in a bad group of people.
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We were we were like a gang.
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And uh, this is like middle school.
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I'm talking like keg parties on school nights, and pegs.
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So kegs and pegs on the back of your puffy.
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These guys were like southern rockers, and like Skinner, Skinner, yeah, Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, stuff like that, and then like all the other kind of southern, like Crosby Stills, Nash and Young, James Brown, but then Kiss was in the background, and then Zeppelin, Arosmith, stuff like that.
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So I kind of had that.
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That was kind of like, you know, junior, you know, middle school, and then I moved away from Warminster.
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I moved to Lansdale, finished up high school in Lansdale, and that was a different Did you go to North Penn?
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Finished up in North Penn.
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Okay, went to tenant for a little bit.
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Lansdale was a different group of bad people.
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Yeah?
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How soon moved from Warminster to get away.
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I was I was getting in trouble, so my parents moved me to Lansdale to kind of get away from the bad group.
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I'm still friends with some of them people.
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And Lansdale was a whole different group of people.
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They were more like metal heads.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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So, and that's when I started playing guitar in Lansdale.
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Okay.
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And um after high school, I started playing in bands, and it was like definitely metal.
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Van Halen got into punk, so it was like punk and metal, and then rap was coming out.
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Like I kind of like MTV was like everything.
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Yeah.
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So I kind of like soaked in everything.
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So I was musically influenced by pretty much everything on the radio and MTV.
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So I'm playing in all these bands and uh collecting guitars and fixing guitars, and uh just kind of figured out that I had a thing for buying and selling guitars.
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It just kind of naturally, organically happened.
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So you were so you were playing, you were learning, you were in bands, yeah, but you were also kind of like the tech and the guy that just you had an affinity for just finding deals.
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I just it just came kind of natural to me, and um, and I was always chasing guitars, I was always looking for guitars.
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So I was constantly buying and selling guitars just as a hobby.
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Um I would my band was very busy probably playing out four nights a week, and I would almost always have a new guitar.
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So you were that guy and just that.
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Yeah, I know I happened to know somebody like that.
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And I was a I was a kid, yeah.
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And I was just that's that's what I was into.
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And I always liked good guitars.
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I liked Les Paul's strats, you know, good stuff.
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And because when I was a kid, I used to like look at the record covers in the magazines and oh, that's a stratocaster, that's a Les Paul, that's a telecaster.
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I would, you know, I I knew what guitars were what before I was playing guitar.
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I already knew.
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And I and I was drawn to them.
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Student of the game.
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And then eventually I um I I ended up working in a guitar shop for somebody else, and I realized I kind of liked it.
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It was fun.
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I liked helping people, I liked fixing guitars, I liked selling guitars, I liked just helping, dealing with people.
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And uh then in 94 I just randomly opened a guitar shop.
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There was no plan.
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It was just D Town at the time or was this something different?
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That this was in Lansdale, it was called Martin's Guitar, is my last name.
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And um, it was there was no plan.
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I I literally was just walking down the street and saw a storefront that said for rent.
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And I and I looked in the window and it looked cool.
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I was like, that could be a guitar store.
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Nice.
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And I just I I went and you know, checked out what the rent was and it was real cheap.
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And I just was like, all right, I'm gonna do it.
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Just put your own guitars in the store.
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And I just opened it up, and there was no plan, and it just no and just never stopped.
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Wow.
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That was 94.
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So that was 30.
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I went to Council Rock, excuse my match.
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This is my 31st year.
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31 years.
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Damn, wow, man.
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That's crazy.
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So, how many guitars did you have in the collection when you opened the shop?
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Like, how did you figure out at that age how what to do?
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Like how to make it look like a stool for it.
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I didn't figure that I just did it.
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You just did it.
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I I probably had 20, 25 guitars.
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I hung them up and I just opened the door and people started coming in.
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Right.
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And it was just it just like first day, just the fur seriously?
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Yeah, like I had a lot of friends already that knew they're like, oh, Rob's opening up a shop.
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And plus there was nothing else there that was like that at the time.
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Yeah, well, on Lansdale, there was actually two other shops in town, and there was George's music down the street, but nobody was like young.
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Okay.
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I was 29 when I opened up the shop.
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Wow, man.
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All the other shops were like old people, and and and George's is very like not George's is George's.
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It's like kind of kind of corporate.
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Yeah, it's corporate, it's a chain, there's all kinds of stuff.
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And I was like a punk.
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You know?
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I was like more like I could relate to all the all the younger people in bands.
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And then there was like this like crazy uh hardcore they call it Lansdale hardcore.
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There was a Lansdale hardcore scene, and all the bands would come into the shop, and I knew them all.
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We were all friends.
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I worked on all their stuff, they bought stuff from me, they we traded stuff.
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Uh yeah.
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That's awesome.
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I'm still friends with a lot of those people.
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So, one of the things I'm curious about, because we get to meet uh he and I touring and just doing the show, we get to meet a lot of interesting people that are always at that intersection of like art and commerce, you know, because usually it's like you're either one or the other.
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And we meet a lot of crazy creative, talented people that are like super artists, but that's their thing.
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They don't want to cross, you know, they don't want to get involved with like the business side of things.
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And then you meet the business people that are fascinated with creatives because they're like, if I can only like get out of my corporate job and focus on songwriting, and not many people actually can bridge that gap and like have both sides of their brain communicate to be a creative but also a business owner.
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You're one of those guys that I look up to as like someone who's figured it out who can build and I did support their family.
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I'm trying to I tell people the all the this all the time.
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There was no plan, it's a hundred percent organic, it just happened.
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I don't know why, it just is.
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And I know my situation is really unique.
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Yeah, I I think about it every day.
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I'm lucky.
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Uh my situation's unique.
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I don't know.
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I I sell a lot of guitars, I help a lot of people, I just enjoy what I'm doing.
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It's just it's all organic.
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It's amazing, man.
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I I I really doesn't like I there's no there was never any plan.
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There's still is I don't know what my future is.
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I don't know.
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Well, you're here.
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This is your future today.
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Yeah, that's all you had to do today, and then go surfing and catch the tail end of this hurricane.
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But yeah, so this is my 31st year, and I've never been busier.
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That's amazing.
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It's like too busy.
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I'd rather be goofing off.
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Well, this is kind of that.
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So you're here too.
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Yeah, I squeezed you guys in.
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Um and is it primarily me and Dustin that keep you so busy just with all the stupid requests and string changes?
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Or you guys are not an issue at all.
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So love you guys, by the way.
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I love you too, buddy.
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Thank you.
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Um, yeah, I just I'm just always trying to help you everybody out.
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And um uh there's a lot of repair work.
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We do a lot of repair work, yeah.
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So I'm really busy with that.
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Of all the of all the things, because for people that know you, and I'm gonna speak directly on your behalf here, if you're in Doylestown, if you're in Bucks County in the northeast in this region, there to me, there is no one better than you that's more knowledgeable, that has better guitars.
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I've sent a decent amount of people your way.
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I hope um they've actually stopped in.
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But what's over the years?
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I know you're a dealer for you know, for Gibson, for Fender, for Martin, but what what excites you more?
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Is it like hunting for something like this, or is it opening up like a new partnership with a new brand that you can promote and sell?
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Like what's the what still get gets you most excited about the hunt of the guitar?
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Before I started my store, I was hunting.
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I was always hunting guitars.
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I was a killer.
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I used to, I used to I used to go all over the city, I'd chase guitars all around.
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And uh and then when I started my business, I would I would still do that a a lot.
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Um, I don't chase guitars anymore.
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They come to you or not.
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That's awesome.
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That's cool.
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Uh I I see a lot of other dealers out there chasing.
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Yeah, and um, I stopped doing that about 15 years ago.
00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:32.960
Yeah.
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I used to do guitar shows.
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I used to, yeah.
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I don't I don't really chase anymore.
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Just I'm so busy.
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I got so much to work on.
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Um, so uh I I you know I'm I'm really lucky I don't have to run around and chase for guitars.
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They just they just people bring them into the shop and uh and then um you know I have accounts with I I feel in my opinion um the most iconic American brands uh Fender, Gibson, and Martin, uh three really great American brands.
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Oh yeah.
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Uh they've all had crazy stories, and um I feel like as guitar players, we're all lucky that they're all still doing so well.
00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.000
Oh, for sure, man.
00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:28.960
And we've had our own relationship with, you know, at least Gibson for us for a little while.
00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.600
We were part of their artist program.
00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:44.799
So when we would go to Nashville or, you know, we would play shows around the country, we would have runners that would bring us, you know, we'd say, like, hey, whatever you have, but you know, preferential to maybe a J45 or you for a Les Paul.
00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:49.519
And I mean, we've played some crazy guitars that they've brought us over the years at show.
00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:56.799
What was the one, the the black one that you had the one time at uh I actually had I actually, you know, I'm flipping stuff too.
00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:04.080
I had it was a yeah, 57, you know, triple pickup uh custom shop, Murphy Lab reissue, you know,$10,000 guitar.
00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.039
They're like, oh, here you go.
00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.480
I'm like, oh, okay.
00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:14.159
Somehow they they knew that I had that guitar before, and it was one that I regret, you know, getting rid of, but you know how it is.
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.440
Um, yeah.
00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:25.759
So I opened the case, I'm like, oh my god, you know, and so yeah, and they had whatever they gave you, some customers custom Sunburst J45 with like.
00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.399
Yeah, it was it was crazy.
00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:35.279
But you know, to your point, like having Martin 40 miles up the street in Nazareth, they're literally less than an hour away.
00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:51.120
And there's there's such a unique difference, and for those that are you know watching the show that aren't nerds like us, that are you know, just like generally what the hell's the difference between a Martin and a Gibson and whatever, to us, like we focus and obsess over the little details of stuff.
00:16:51.200 --> 00:17:00.960
Like I just bought the M6 Johnny Maher, you know, from you, and it was only because it had sort of that jumbo thing, the pickup was great, it had the you know the 35 back.
00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:03.120
So chunk your neck.
00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:07.519
So you can go crazy deep into these stupid little details, you know.
00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:11.119
But for you, like what is your favorite electric?
00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:15.279
Like, if you could build your perfect electric guitar, what what would it be?
00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.559
Flying V.
00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.599
That's it.
00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.119
They're my favorite guitars for electric guitars, yeah.
00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.319
I mean, I love I love all guitars.
00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.720
For you, um, I really like flying V guitars, yeah.
00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.359
I have a uh pretty big collection of them.
00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.880
What specifically?
00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:41.119
Like what top to bottom, like give me the year, give me the specs, the neck, the pickups, like anything specific to like your dream flying V.
00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.599
I kind of have the one, the dream guitar right now.
00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:51.759
It's a uh 67 reissue custom shop and Murphy Lab.
00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.720
And it weighs nothing.
00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:57.680
It's like it's like six pounds.
00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.559
Really?
00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.000
Rings like a bell.
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.480
Yeah.
00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.200
It's in the ball.
00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.799
Now will you will you play that?
00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.640
Will you take it out only on certain occasions?
00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.319
Or will you I've been playing it.
00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:06.799
Really?
00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.200
Yep.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.000
And you're in what?
00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:09.359
You were just saying four bands, right?
00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.880
I'm currently in four bands.
00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.279
Yep.
00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.880
So who are the bands?
00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.440
Tell us about them.
00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.480
What are you playing these days, man?
00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.400
Uh okay, so this coming Thursday night at Mom's moms.
00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.240
Moms and Doyle's Town.
00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:20.960
Moms and Doyles.
00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.279
Yeah.
00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.880
Isn't today Thursday?
00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.519
Is that tonight?
00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.400
A week from today.
00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:24.640
Okay.
00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.160
A week from today.
00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.319
August 28th.
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.519
August 28th.
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.599
Kelly Stratton band at Moms.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.640
Yeah.
00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.599
Nice.
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.319
And our boy uh TJ is going to be doing sound.
00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.680
You knew you guys know TJ?
00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.680
He's a Doellstown guy.
00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.279
Yeah, he's going to be doing sound.
00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.119
Alright, so you're in that band.
00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.319
You're in Hoagie Dio.
00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.200
Hoagie Dio.
00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.079
Hoagie Dio.
00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.200
Smell the Hoagie.
00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.480
You got to smell the Hoagie.
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.839
The Hoagie.
00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.799
I smell onions, man.
00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.599
Raw onions.
00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.720
Hoagie Dio is a uh uh like it's like a dad band.
00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.880
Uh a bunch of my uh local Doellstown buddies.
00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:03.200
Everybody in that band's great.
00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.119
The Kelly Stratton band's got a really great lineup right now.
00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:12.559
We got, I think, the greatest saxophone player ever.
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.960
Do so in the Bucks County area.
00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:19.039
Mike Dan, he is sick on saxophone.
00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.079
He is killer.
00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:33.279
Um, and then uh November 1st, we're doing um the uh annual Misfits Punk Rock Halloween tribute show at Puck.
00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.240
Like every year, right?
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.119
Isn't that every year?
00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.720
That band's been going for 20 years.
00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.960
I've been in it about 12.
00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.440
Okay.
00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:39.759
Uh-huh.
00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.000
Yeah.
00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:40.640
Where's that gonna be?
00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.880
Poster 1st at Puck.
00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.759
Oh, at Puck.
00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:47.279
And that show is insane every year.
00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.720
It's insane.
00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.160
It's just nuts.
00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.039
People rolling around on the floor, mosh pit.
00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.680
Oh, yeah.
00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.799
That floor's really clean, so that's probably a good place to do that.
00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.839
I make sure it's mopped though.
00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:02.319
Yeah, and then there's uh the Super Mario Bruce, which is kind of part of the Kelly Stratton band.
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:05.200
It's like a little sideband that's like blues rock.
00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:08.000
We're doing something with that coming up too.
00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:10.799
And then you usually do the uh the Christmas show, right?
00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.279
The holidays.
00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.559
I haven't done that in a couple years.
00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.839
Maybe it's time.
00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.200
Yeah, I don't know.
00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:18.480
Might have to do it one or two more times.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.480
That's a good time.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.119
Yeah.
00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.240
Love it, man.
00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:28.799
So four projects, a lot of bands, you're busy with the shop, guitars are coming to you, life is good.
00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.480
Let's talk surfing really quick.
00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:35.279
Surfing is your that seems to be every time I come in, we're talking about it.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.519
You're chasing waves as much as you're chasing guitars.
00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.359
Yeah, I can't besides my family.
00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.400
Surfing is the I care about that.
00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.920
Yeah.
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.359
More than music.
00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.079
I love music.
00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:49.279
Music has been my life, but I really I'm in the surfing, yeah.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:51.119
And um, yeah.
00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:58.160
I opened my guitar store in 94 and I started surfing in 95, and I just became addicted.
00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:58.720
Yeah.
00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.920
That's awesome, man.
00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:02.240
So what about what about surfing?
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.160
Like what when did you get into it?
00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.160
Probably the same age like when you were a teenager?
00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.119
Did you grow up in it?
00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:07.920
Oh, okay.
00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:12.240
I started in 95, right after I started the guitar store the next year.
00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.759
How did you find surfing?
00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.880
How'd you just get into it?
00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:19.279
So I was a skateboarder when I was a kid, me and my brother.
00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:25.680
And a couple of our friends were surfers, and I was kind of always drawn to it.
00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:37.279
Um, and then I started in 95, and I just really I really uh 95 uh was the first year I went in with a bunch of friends and we rented a house in Seattle City.
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:37.680
Okay.
00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:40.079
Just spend like a whole summer down the shore.
00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.720
Oh my god.
00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.599
Down the shore.
00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.319
Down the shore.
00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:46.720
I missed the down the shore summer when all my buddies did it in 2005.
00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:55.119
I lived in California that summer at the time, and equally as cool, but I missed like the down the shore summer with all the lunatics.
00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.839
But so 95 was the first year I did that.
00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.759
We me and a bunch of friends rented a house.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:10.000
For the whole summer, uh Seattle City, and I spent the whole summer learning how to surf and just became addicted.
00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:18.559
So then I've traveled all around the world, Hawaii a bunch of times, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, India.
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:19.839
Wow, really?
00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.440
Yeah, just to surf?
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.759
No, it was just part of a trip.
00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.640
Um go a beach in India.
00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.119
Yeah.
00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.160
Went surfing there.
00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.720
I don't know that.
00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.839
Cows on the beach.
00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.039
Cows and dogs on the beach.
00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.440
Really?
00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.720
Places wild, yep.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.000
Sounds like dinner.
00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:39.279
Um but mostly in New Jersey.
00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:48.079
Which says uh um so most people don't know, but sometimes uh the surfing in New Jersey is just as good as Hawaii.
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.559
It can get really, really good.
00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.119
Yep.
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:54.799
Like probably over the next day or two with Hurricane Aaron, I guess.
00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.079
Yeah, it's gonna be massive.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.559
Yep.
00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.720
So Ocean City, right, is primarily where you're surfing.
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.200
What are what's the best surfing spot in Ocean City?
00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.400
Secret.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.680
You're not gonna share the honey hole with everybody?
00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:09.119
You're not allowed to talk.
00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.160
Oh my god, such a local.
00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.559
I love it.
00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:15.599
That's just uh part of the surf culture.
00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.440
You don't talk about the spots, yeah.
00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.319
Gotcha.
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.720
But yeah.
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.240
Interesting.
00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.160
What happens in fight club?
00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:26.319
Stays stays in fight club.
00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.960
I wouldn't know.
00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.920
I'm not in a fight club.
00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.960
Do you want to start one?
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.160
Sure.
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:30.960
All right.
00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.960
We we just can't talk about it.
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.640
12 p.m.
00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:37.839
All right.
00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.319
So we got guitars, we got the shop, we got family life, we got surfing.
00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.000
Tell us a little bit about the family, man.
00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:51.039
Yeah, I got three girls, they're all awesome, they're all grown up, so uh, they're all out of house.
00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.839
Yeah.
00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.039
Empty Nester.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.599
Yeah.
00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:57.680
And one's an amazing musician, like singer in a band, producing her own stuff.
00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.960
Boo boo spoiler.
00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.079
Check that band out.
00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.880
They're killer.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.160
So good.
00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.519
Boo boo spoilers.
00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.599
Yeah, you were playing me a demo in the shop one time.
00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:09.599
I mean, great vocals, like really cool sound production.
00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.680
Like it was awesome to hear it over the speakers.
00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:15.519
Yep, they just put out uh two fresh songs last week.
00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.480
Really good.
00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:18.000
Where are they recording that?
00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.119
Somewhere in the city, right?
00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.240
I don't know.
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:25.519
Um the the the link I got sent looked like it was from a recording studio.
00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:29.599
I kind of forget the name, but um, yeah, it looked like they went to some studio in the city.
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.319
Nice.
00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.680
Yeah, and it sounds great.
00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.799
It does sound great.
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:34.240
Yeah, we listened to it in the shop.
00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:38.160
If that was the same cut, um, I forget the name of the song that you had played for me.
00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.599
It was maybe a couple months back.
00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.519
Yeah, that was last year's recording.
00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:43.440
This is this just a couple days ago.
00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.079
Nice.
00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.599
Two fresh songs came out.
00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.720
Fresh tunes.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.680
Fresh tunes.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.640
Fresh tracks.
00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.960
So, as a musician over the years, did you spend a lot of time in studios as well?
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.920
Like were you some?
00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.720
Yeah.
00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.039
Not a lot, mostly playing out.
00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.640
Yeah, mostly gigging.
00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.680
Gotcha.
00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:02.000
Is that part of something that you like doing?
00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:07.759
Because I you just set up the studio in the basement, more rehearsal space, but it looks like you got the control room, you got all the right stuff in there.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.519
Done some recordings, yep.
00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.720
Yeah.
00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:11.920
Nice.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:14.559
Couple, couple different projects, yeah.
00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:17.759
Were you doing that when you were a teenager too, just starting out?
00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:22.640
Like when you're hunting for guitars and stuff, and you were you were kind of the dude that every band needed.
00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:27.200
Like, we I never had a guy like you that could like fix the guitars, could find cool stuff.
00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:30.960
I didn't know what a good guitar was probably till I was in my early 30s.
00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:36.160
Like, I had a beat up Taylor that's on the wall because my brother got it for me for being the best man at his wedding.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.039
And the only other guitar I had was the one that I got when I was 13.
00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:42.640
So I didn't this didn't hit me until later in life.
00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:50.240
So, I mean, you're a teenager, you're hunting guitars, you're thinking that you're gonna, you know, open this shop up.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:58.720
Was there a a creative process that like sort of drew you to it, or were you more just like, I just want to get on stage, I just want to rip?
00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:03.680
Yeah, just kind of kind of kind of just organic.
00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:08.799
I didn't, you know, I uh didn't really know how to like crack the code.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:13.440
Um was just trying, you know, writing songs and booking gigs.
00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:24.480
And uh yeah, the one one band I was in, we did, you know, we would do like um 250 shows a year.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.200
You're kidding.
00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:25.920
Who was that?
00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.559
What band was that?
00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.079
It was a band called Gasoline.
00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:34.319
Yeah, for like three years we went real hard just playing around, but we didn't, you know, didn't really know what we were doing.
00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:34.960
Yeah.
00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:39.759
Uh what were some of the venues that you guys played?
00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.480
Do you remember?
00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:46.720
Yeah, the Cabarets, uh, Empire Rock Club, uh, the Galaxy.
00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.519
Those were like popular places back in the 80s, yeah.
00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.559
Oh my god.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.759
Yeah, I'm trying to think.
00:26:51.839 --> 00:27:00.160
Like when we when we were playing in our early 20s, you had Grape Street, you had the M room, you had we played the Trock one night, which was really cool.
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:02.000
Yep, I played the Trock, yep, a couple times.
00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.119
How cool is that place, man?
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.319
Yeah, it was really cool.
00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.119
Oh my gosh.
00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:09.279
When you go up, they have that green room that's like upstairs and everyone kind of sign the wall.
00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.079
Do you remember that?
00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:16.559
Yeah, you would see like Pearl Jam and like all these amazing, you know, and you're like, what the hell am I doing on this stage?
00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.960
I don't belong here, you know.
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:23.119
Um, yeah, I mean, you obviously have the TLA still and all that stuff.
00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:25.359
I'm trying to think, like the Tin Angel.
00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.880
Do you ever hear of the Tin Angel?
00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.279
Yep.
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:30.880
Yeah, we did a really cool, like a little acoustic thing upstairs there one night.
00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:33.200
You have the Kyber, the Kyber room.
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.680
You remember that?
00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.480
Kyber Pass.
00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.839
You played there a couple times, yeah.
00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:36.880
Dobbs.
00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.319
Oh, that's the Pontiacra.
00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:40.000
Pontiac, you remember the Pontiacra?
00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:41.359
It was on South Street, right?
00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:41.759
Yeah.
00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.880
Oh my god, man.
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.319
Yeah, all these old haunts.
00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:48.400
Was there a favorite show or like a favorite venue growing up that you played that you that snippets?
00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.519
There was a crazy scene there, yeah.
00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.000
Back in the day.
00:27:54.319 --> 00:28:02.960
Um, there's not really a scene like that in Philly right now, but Philip, Philadelphia definitely had a scene.
00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:10.240
And uh like Cinderella and Britney Fox and uh Roughhouse, they all come out of that.
00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:14.799
Came out of that scene and got signed and were on MTV and on major record labels.
00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:20.079
And uh Cinderella and Britney Fox specifically went on to become huge.
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:26.640
Roughhouse didn't quite jump, but they were equally as good, and they're still friends of mine, and they were great.
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:36.559
And the Hooters came out of Philly, they were they weren't really, they were like I they would probably play at the um Empire Rock Club a little bit.
00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:43.920
Um but and then um yeah, yeah.
00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:49.440
So the the Hooters, and there was a couple other like they weren't metal bands, like Philly rock bands.
00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:56.079
So there was there was you know, back then there was uh yeah, definitely more of a scene.
00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:00.000
Um there's a couple of bands that have been coming out of Philly lately.
00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:19.680
Yeah, we're the last like the last band that I was really close with, and I know you have some connections with like um you know Silvertide and some of those other, you know, but when I was coming up, it was like the emo and pop punk thing was like just throbbing in Philly, and it was awesome.
00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.759
And I ate it up and couldn't get enough of it.
00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:34.079
And the one uh the one band that we recorded our first demo with, God, this is probably 2004, 2003, um, a kid named Matt Brass.
00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:37.279
Shout out to Matt Brash, um, Lansdale guy.
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:42.160
He had us go into his parents' house over the summertime and had two rooms.
00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:48.799
It was his bedroom and his parents' bedroom, that he had all of his equipment stacked and like turned it into a recording studio.
00:29:49.039 --> 00:30:00.799
And he had a band called the Premiere at the time, and we were uh our band was called Bayshore Drive, and we recorded like our first five-song EP in his parents' bedroom.
00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:05.039
He then became he was a drummer at the time and a ridiculously good drummer.
00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.839
He became the guitar player in a band called The Wonder Years.
00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.319
Yep.
00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:10.079
So I know I know those guys, yep.
00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:15.039
Yeah, so they uh I mean they made it as big as you can make it, at least to me.
00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:20.640
Like they were my hero band growing up, and Matt being their guitar player and their you know producer.
00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:30.160
I was always like they went from zero to like, you know, signed to I forget what record, what label, hopeless, I think they were on.
00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:33.680
But like the lineups and the tours they were doing out of Lansdale.
00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:37.359
I was like, they made it, they did it, they figured it out, you know.
00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:42.319
But I remember sitting down with Matt one time, we were in Lansdale, just two of us, we grabbed lunch together.
00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.759
I just had to catch up with him.
00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:52.720
It had been a while, and he was telling me, like, we were known as the hardest working band, not only on that label, but like in the genre.
00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.000
And I was like, How?
00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.119
Like, how did you prove that?
00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:58.480
He's like, We bootstrapped, we were constantly on tour.
00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:01.839
They were doing, to your point, 250, 300 shows a year.
00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:08.400
They bootstrapped their Europe tour, went back, you know, every year to like you know, build that audience again.
00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:16.400
And three, four or five years later, like they're one of the biggest bands in that genre, you know, like that's just I guess how it works.
00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:19.200
You can still do it, you just have to work your ass off to get there, right?
00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.599
You just gotta keep going, you know.
00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:26.799
Just you know, did you ever see any of that success, like other than the bands you mentioned?
00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:29.359
Like, were you ever in one of those bands that kind of like had that?
00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:32.480
Just mostly playing small clubs, yeah.
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.279
Yeah.
00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:36.480
Once in a while we would open up for a bigger band.
00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:40.559
Who was some of the uh who were some of the bands you got to open up for over the years?
00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:42.160
Cinderella, Roughhouse.
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.200
Oh, some of those bands.
00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.640
Yeah, some of those bands.
00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.680
I was kind of part of that scene.
00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.359
Huge man, yeah.
00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.759
And what kind of uh I'm not familiar with them.
00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:52.799
Was that just more rock metal, like that kind of scene that you were in?
00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.759
80s metal.
00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.799
Yeah, yep.
00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.160
That's awesome.
00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:05.440
If you're if you're playing in one of your bands today and you can gravitate and just pick up a guitar, plug in and put yourself into any situations sound wise.
00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.000
Like, are you going more misfits and punk?
00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.200
Are you going more hair metal?
00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.640
Like, what's your dream?
00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:18.640
So, you know, like I was saying earlier, my musical influences are all over the place.
00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:24.000
Like, and and I'm I'm in four different bands, and they're all different, and it's all kinds of different music.
00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:27.920
So I'm playing a lot of different genres, yeah.
00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:31.759
Uh and I love I love all the genres, yeah.
00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.720
Yep.
00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:34.000
That's cool that you can do that.
00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:38.079
I'm just kind of always messing around with all different kinds of styles of music.
00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:44.400
Now, will you change your like your pedal board and try to adapt your sound to like different projects that you're in?
00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:47.119
Or are you showing up and it's like, here's who I am, here's what I do?
00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.960
I kind of use the same stuff for everything.
00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:52.799
It's just I just tweak what I need to tweak to get the sounds.
00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:53.519
Yeah.
00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:58.160
What's uh what's your go-to if we were to go into your pedal board right now?
00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:02.319
Like, what are what's the lineup on your pedal board today if you had a gig tonight that you're playing?
00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.559
Um, always need a good overdrive.
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.359
Which one?
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.240
What do you like the best?
00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:09.200
My favorite is uh a green child.
00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:12.640
It's so it's kind of based on uh it's two pedals in one.
00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:14.319
It's a clan and a tube screamer.
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:14.720
There you go.
00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:17.039
So okay, yeah, and it's two pedals in one.
00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:19.759
You can do both at once, you can stack them.
00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:25.440
Yeah, so if you crank both of them and have them both on, yeah, it's pretty crazy.
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:25.839
Wow.
00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.319
So it's very versatile, yeah.
00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:30.880
Because a clan can just be like a clean boost.
00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:39.039
So it can go from just a clean boost to if everything's cranked to just crazy overdrive.
00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.519
Yeah.
00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.559
So I always gotta have something like that.
00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:48.400
Um I like a good delay, usually just a boss delay and um a good stereo chorus.
00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.039
Pretty simple.
00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:49.920
That's about it.
00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:50.880
Tuner.
00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:54.799
Yeah, need the tuner, need the boss tuner brick.
00:33:55.119 --> 00:34:03.759
Yeah, there's there's so many options now that it's like even for acoustic players, like LR Bags now has their own line of stuff, you know, which is cool.
00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.799
Good company.
00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:12.000
Yeah, and I mean we have the the AEG one that I picked up that that was his Lloyd Bags prototype guitar.
00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:20.960
That I saw like a bunch of videos, and I'm like, man, he makes such good pickups that I have either you install on every guitar or just buy them with them.
00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:24.000
That uh I was like, I gotta try one of these things, you know.
00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:32.320
But even for acoustic players now, there's so much stuff that I mean, my pedal board at one point was probably bigger than the pedal boards.
00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:37.039
Yeah, and you don't need it, it's just fun to try all this stuff and you know, swap things in and out.
00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:41.199
But my experiences with guitars started in '81.
00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:48.320
So all those years, um I've come across lots of really cool guitars.
00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.039
Yeah.
00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.440
You still got deals back then, man.
00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.400
Yep.
00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:56.719
I used to go to guitar shows and like a 60 strat would be$2,000.
00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.400
Oh my god.
00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:00.320
What would that be today?
00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:02.800
$40, goodness gracious.
00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.679
$3,000?
00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:07.119
So the prices have gone up, yeah.
00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:18.159
But uh yeah, I've had I've had a lot of crazy guitars um uh come through my hands and into the shop, and I never know what's gonna walk in the door.
00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:18.719
Right?
00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:21.679
Yep, it's always it's always a surprise.
00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.519
That 59 Les Paul.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:26.239
Yep, I've had a couple of real Les Pauls coming to the shop.
00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:29.360
Um so that that's always fun.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:45.360
Um, you know, and I and I have this uh crazy uh love for guitars, um which has really, I guess, been the basic drive for what I do.
00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:51.360
But probably what I like the most is dealing with people.
00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:51.920
Yeah.
00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.800
I like I like helping people with their guitars.
00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:59.280
I've seen someone come in and like, oh, I want to buy that you know, brand new$150 guitar.
00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:03.440
You give that them and the guitar the same treatment as you would$150,000 guitar.
00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.400
You know?
00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.960
To me, I get I get more out of it.
00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.440
Yeah.
00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:09.840
Doing that, helping people.
00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:18.239
You know, uh somebody comes in and they're like, Oh, I got a show tonight, and my guitar is broke, and and I fix it.
00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.519
Yeah, and I fix it on the spot.
00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.679
To me, that's kind of fun.
00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:24.400
I don't know.
00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:31.280
Uh so and and I'm still doing that.
00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:37.039
So um, but then yeah, then then there's shopping addiction.
00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.159
Oh boy.
00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:40.960
What what's the uh what's the telltale sign?
00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:48.719
Like you could probably at this point have someone pinned of how bad the addiction is just by base on what they're bringing in to try to trade or get money or trade something, right?
00:36:49.039 --> 00:37:09.039
So the funny part about running a guitar shop, I guess any retail you're gonna um deal with all different types of people, but uh specifically with a guitar shop, um, I never know who's gonna walk in the door.
00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:18.639
And I've dealt with so many thousands and thousands of different people, and um some people are really wild.
00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:24.800
Yeah, and then and then some people have uh definitely have like a a shopping addiction.
00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:38.079
Um they'll bring in, you know, bags of guitar pedals because they they've just bought so many and they're not using them, and they're sitting around and they gotta dump them to buy more.
00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:41.039
Either you keep your family or right or your pedals.
00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.639
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:44.559
And uh help people.
00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:52.400
Um, and then a lot of times, um yeah, unfortunately, sometimes come people come in and they're like really desperate.
00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:58.400
There's like some kind of a weird personal situation going on where they gotta sell a guitar or something.
00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:02.000
And uh so it can get it can get pretty wild.
00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:06.159
You know, it's not just it's not just dealing with guitars.
00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.599
I'm dealing with people.
00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:10.639
So that's that's very interesting.
00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:14.159
Yeah, it's a big part of working in a guitar shop.
00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:16.000
That's what makes you so good at it, man.
00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:35.280
Not to give you, you know, a bigger ego about what you do, but you know, I came in the first time I came in, it was I think you and I were um it was before we had moved up to the area, but on days that Kevin Coyle wasn't available, like we were driving from up here down to Ritzborough just because you know, I'm loyal.
00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:40.960
I've known Kevin for 25 years, I love his family, you know, like they've been helping me since I was a teenager.
00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:48.000
And after Kevin gave us the the notice that he wasn't gonna be in the business anymore, they were gonna sell it.
00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:50.800
You know, I was asking you, I think, for shows and stuff.
00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:52.320
I'm like, you know, what do I do?
00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:58.079
And we were living down in Warrington at the time, and I hadn't even been introduced to your shop.
00:38:58.159 --> 00:39:00.559
And Dustin was like, You gotta go see Rob, you know.
00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:06.239
So I finally came in, you didn't know who I was off the street, and I'm like, you know, hey, it's been a few years now.
00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.960
Yeah, it's been probably what, yeah, four or five years, whatever.
00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:10.079
Um at least.
00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:10.400
Yeah.
00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:28.719
But yeah, like I remember, you know, us not knowing each other and build a frame quick, you know, and then me buying some stuff and trading things in, and um, you know, but it's cool to know that you're there to, you know, treat the person as much as you are to, you know, find instruments and hunt the next cool guitar, you know.
00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:32.000
It's probably what helps make you so good at what you do, man.
00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.880
Just doing my thing.
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:36.480
Just doing what you do.
00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:45.280
So what's uh I mean, I know you don't have any plans past today other than going surfing, and you know, there's no grand scheme or grand plan of you hunting.
00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.760
Heading down down ashore.
00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:52.960
Go go surf the hurricane.
00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:55.920
What was the other topic we were gonna hit?
00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:59.920
Yeah, shopping addictions, pedals, guitars.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:07.039
Yeah, just I want to do uh, you know, really, other than those things, just what's what's next for you in the shop, man?
00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:13.760
You know, was I know there's no grandmaster plan for you, and you're just kind of taking it one day at a time and doing your thing, but there's no plan.
00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.239
My wife wants to retire.
00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:16.800
Okay.
00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:22.320
So that might mean me retiring also.
00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.039
I don't know.
00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:23.920
Yeah.
00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:33.519
Could you ever see a world where you can truly retire and shut it off and like be happy with that, or would you always just be in finding stuff wanting to help people get tired?
00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:43.920
I have I have so many other uh interests and hobbies that um uh I could probably easily not work.
00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:45.039
Yeah.
00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:47.119
So what would that look like for you?
00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:49.760
Just traveling, surfing, spending time with the family.
00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:51.599
And your mom's still in Seattle, right?
00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:52.320
Like on the West Coast?
00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:56.239
Yeah, my mom, my mom's 87, lives in Seattle, so I gotta go visit her.
00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.119
Yep.
00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.920
So yeah, I do a lot of traveling, yeah.
00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:03.920
And I I I've been meaning to ask you about this when I'm in the shop.
00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:08.800
You painted a humongous mural that took you a long time on the side of the shop.
00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.559
Yeah, is that something you do also?
00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:12.159
Like do you paint or just do so?
00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:14.480
Yeah, I started doing art when I was a kid.
00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:20.960
Um look, you know, a little kid just drawing and stuff, and um still do it a little bit.
00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:26.880
And my youngest kid is in uh school for art, more college of art, yeah.
00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:28.079
Oh, amazing.
00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:29.840
Yep.
00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:37.360
So and and then uh my 24-year-old is also an artist, but is probably more focused on um music.
00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:45.440
And then our our oldest is also a talent, so they're all actually all all three girls are talented artists.
00:41:45.679 --> 00:41:49.360
Um, but the youngest one is actually going to college for it, yeah.
00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:50.480
That's awesome.
00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:51.360
Very cool.
00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:57.199
So, yeah, it's always been part of my life and um and part of our family.
00:41:57.440 --> 00:42:06.960
The kids because uh because our our house growing up for the kids was always surrounded with music and art, um, they kind of soaked it up, you know.
00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.519
Yeah.
00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:09.119
That's a beautiful way to do it, man.
00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:15.519
I have three girls as well, as I think you know, we've talked about before, but how do you how do you bring that home and integrate it?
00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:17.039
Like, are you playing records for them?
00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:21.519
Are you trying to get them involved and actually teaching them guitar or playing music around the house?
00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:23.519
Like, what's that look like at at home for you?
00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:29.840
Well, when our kids were little, there was guitars everywhere, always.
00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:34.480
And the kids my kids actually grew up in the guitar store.
00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:38.559
Like, there would be a lot of times where I'd be watching the kids in the shop.
00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:40.559
They would be in they would be in the shop.
00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:43.199
Yeah, I'd change diapers in the guitar shop.
00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:45.679
And no wonder my Martin spelled like shit.
00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:46.400
Yeah.
00:42:47.920 --> 00:43:06.320
Um, you know, back um 2001, uh when our middle kid was born, um, yeah, there would be times where I would be taking care of uh uh an infant in the store.
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:14.960
So and then they grew up in the store and um uh the Doyle's town shop, the acoustic room, I would have a playroom set up.
00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:16.480
There'd be toys in there.
00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:21.599
They're all they're all adults now, but they used to that used to be their playroom.
00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:27.119
Wow, there would be acoustic guitars and then the little there's like that little stage area.
00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:31.199
Yeah, and they're I had toys, and that was like their little play area.
00:43:31.360 --> 00:43:32.639
Yeah, that's too cool, man.
00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:42.639
And they would just run all around the shop, and uh so they so so they grew up with the the guitar store, guitars in the house, us playing music all the time.
00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:56.480
Um, you know, me and my wife were like we like all kinds of music, but a lot of punk rock, so they grew up like listening to like punk and all kinds of crazy music, so they're all into like all kinds of different music.
00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:56.880
Yeah.
00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:58.159
That's awesome.
00:43:58.480 --> 00:44:05.599
Do any of your daughters have The the buy and sell like entrepreneurial side of it too, or is it mostly creative for them?
00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:25.920
So all three of our kids um are hustlers and um they know how to make money on their own and we've tried to like you know teach them that they gotta you know learn how to take care of themselves.
00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:30.639
Um but none of them are really interested in the guitar shop.
00:44:31.119 --> 00:44:31.599
Oh really?
00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:34.719
Yeah, so I don't know what's gonna happen with the guitar shop.
00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:42.719
Yeah, I would I would gladly hand them my business do anything for my kids if whatever they want is cool.
00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:49.199
But you know, whatever one whatever they want to do is really what's important as long as they're happy.
00:44:49.519 --> 00:44:50.880
So yeah.
00:44:52.079 --> 00:45:00.079
Our oldest kid manages drag queens, like doing the like like RuPaul's drag race tour touring and stuff, yeah.
00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:01.119
Like big A-level.
00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:02.239
You were telling me about this.
00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:05.199
Wasn't there some show or something in Atlantic City you were telling me about?
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:08.239
Yep, they they go rent to the casinos, yeah.
00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:09.840
They do yeah, big shows.
00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:22.559
So my the oldest kid is involved in that business, and then the middle one has uh a truck driving job, but then plays in bands, so very focusing on being a musician.
00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:23.280
Oh, cool.
00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:27.599
So they're doing stuff, like they're out there creating their own path and you know, working hard.
00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:29.360
And you gotta be damn proud of that, man.
00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:29.840
That's really cool.
00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.480
Yeah, it's cool.
00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:31.119
They're all good kids.
00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:32.480
I'm lucky I got good kids.
00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:32.960
Yep.
00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:34.639
It's awesome, man.
00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:35.840
Very cool.
00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:46.159
So, parting words, I want to uh first tell us a little bit more because I know you teased it, but tell us about what you're holding here, and then tell us about the shop, man.
00:45:46.239 --> 00:45:51.760
I mean, we're live with with all of Bucks County here, so I'm a guitar junkie.
00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:54.960
Hi, my name's Rob, and I'm a guitar holic.
00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:58.800
Hi, my name's Rob, and I'm a guitar addict.
00:46:00.239 --> 00:46:01.039
I love it, man.
00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:03.760
Guitars just come in, and sometimes I gotta keep them.
00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:08.239
I can't, I can't I can't keep them all, but I I want to.
00:46:08.559 --> 00:46:10.960
But this one came in and I had to keep it.
00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:12.480
So tell us about it, man.
00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:14.880
What why why this specific one and what is it?
00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:16.480
I got this from a good friend of mine.
00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:18.719
He was selling it and he brought it in.
00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:19.920
I was like, uh-oh.
00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:21.440
Was it Scott Perdoka?
00:46:21.679 --> 00:46:21.760
No.
00:46:22.719 --> 00:46:23.599
No, but I love Scott.
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:24.800
We all love Scott.
00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:25.920
We just saw him.
00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:27.440
Yeah, it's a quick shout out to Scott.
00:46:27.519 --> 00:46:32.719
We just saw he came to our set at uh Music Fest and healthy, looking good.
00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:34.639
Yeah, I could chills thinking about him, man.
00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:37.280
Beat beat cancer, at least he's there right now.
00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:39.039
Scott, keep fighting, brother.
00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:40.880
We love you, and uh hope to see you soon, buddy.
00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:42.079
But sorry, go ahead.
00:46:42.320 --> 00:46:43.360
Scott's a great dude.
00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:45.039
I wanted to make sure we shouted him out.
00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:52.480
I got this from my friend uh Dave Drake, and uh Dave brought this in, and I had to keep it.
00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:53.920
It's too, yeah.
00:46:54.559 --> 00:46:58.159
Sometimes a guitar will come in and I'll be like, uh oh.
00:46:59.119 --> 00:46:59.440
Yeah.
00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:00.639
You get the tingle.
00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:04.639
They have good ones and they got bad ones, right?
00:47:04.719 --> 00:47:07.039
Yeah, yeah, everything in between.
00:47:07.519 --> 00:47:10.480
So I'm still collecting guitars.
00:47:10.639 --> 00:47:11.280
Yeah.
00:47:11.920 --> 00:47:15.039
But you don't chase, they you let them come to you.
00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:16.239
They find me.
00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:17.039
They find you.
00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:17.360
Yeah.
00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:27.119
Knock on your door, they so other than when someone opens the case, because I we've had this reaction a couple times, there's been a few flying Vs when I've been in the shop that you open, and you're like, oh shit.
00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:30.320
Oh, ouch, that's gonna be an expensive case.
00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:32.079
What is it about this particular one?
00:47:32.159 --> 00:47:36.480
Tell us what this is, and well, it's a gold top, and the aging on it is so cool.
00:47:37.199 --> 00:47:37.760
It's outrageous.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.679
It's just and it's light and it plays great, and yeah.
00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:43.360
It's a 1960?
00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:44.559
No, 72.
00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:45.840
Oh, I'm sorry, 72.
00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:47.039
Yeah, early 70s.
00:47:47.199 --> 00:47:47.519
Okay.
00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:48.159
Yep.
00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:54.559
Good buckle rash, a lot of checking, cool guitar, slim neck.
00:47:55.440 --> 00:47:57.840
So is this something you'll take out and actually play?
00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:58.559 --> 00:47:58.880
Yeah.
00:47:59.199 --> 00:47:59.760
Take this one out.
00:47:59.840 --> 00:48:00.079
Yeah.
00:48:00.400 --> 00:48:02.800
So you're running it through that pedal board that you were talking about.
00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:04.800
What's dream amp for you?
00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:05.760
Like, what are you going to?
00:48:06.159 --> 00:48:07.519
I got an old Marshall.
00:48:08.079 --> 00:48:08.480
Yeah?
00:48:08.719 --> 00:48:08.880
Yep.
00:48:09.119 --> 00:48:10.639
Is that the one that's in the basement studio?
00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:12.239
The combo or the stacker?
00:48:12.639 --> 00:48:13.760
It sounds like Eddie Van Helm.
00:48:13.920 --> 00:48:14.079
Yes.
00:48:14.559 --> 00:48:15.119
Crazy.
00:48:15.280 --> 00:48:15.599
Yep.
00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:17.679
One of the best sounding Marshalls I've ever heard.
00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:18.960
What year is that?
00:48:19.599 --> 00:48:22.239
72, early 70s, Marshall 100 watt.
00:48:22.719 --> 00:48:23.760
Somebody modded it.
00:48:23.840 --> 00:48:24.239
I don't know.
00:48:24.320 --> 00:48:26.639
It's like a mystery, a mystery amp.
00:48:26.880 --> 00:48:27.360
Oops, sorry.
00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:28.079
Oh, you're good.
00:48:28.239 --> 00:48:31.199
It's got a uh mystery mods on it.
00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:33.199
We don't know who did the mods.
00:48:33.760 --> 00:48:36.320
Um but it just it sounds so good.
00:48:36.960 --> 00:48:38.320
Like a modded speaker or new wire.
00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:40.400
Got modded.
00:48:40.480 --> 00:48:40.800
Yeah.
00:48:41.760 --> 00:48:46.480
So for some reason, this particular amp sounds uh pretty special.
00:48:46.559 --> 00:48:48.719
So that's my favorite amp.
00:48:48.960 --> 00:48:53.599
Um I like Vox amps besides that.
00:48:53.760 --> 00:48:54.000
Yeah.
00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:56.719
I have a couple of fenders too.
00:48:57.039 --> 00:48:57.360
Nice.
00:48:57.440 --> 00:48:59.199
Well, you just playing a music fest.
00:48:59.280 --> 00:49:01.440
You plugged into uh just a deluxe, right?
00:49:01.599 --> 00:49:03.840
Yeah, it was like a hot rod DeVille or something.
00:49:03.920 --> 00:49:10.800
I mean, I I I have so many amps, but I just used the back line and we're on like volume one and that thing was like that thing was so loud.
00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:14.159
Yeah, fender fender hot rod ample do the job.
00:49:14.239 --> 00:49:14.639
Yeah.
00:49:14.880 --> 00:49:23.360
Yeah, you were on like volume one and you plugged in, and you're like your pedal was basically holy shit, man, that thing's loud.
00:49:23.519 --> 00:49:26.239
But what's dream dream setup for you?
00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:32.559
Because you you have amazing guitars too, and you've had you have so many different tones that you tap into.
00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:39.519
Yeah, my one of my favorites at least is probably the setup you had was that that amp and your 335 that's yeah, special.
00:49:39.679 --> 00:49:43.360
So, what's your like dream scenario you're plugging in?
00:49:43.519 --> 00:49:45.760
Guitar, pedal board, amp setup.
00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:49.760
Well, my secret is it everything's the same, it's all the same.
00:49:49.920 --> 00:49:51.280
I just change guitars.
00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:59.599
The amps the same, the pedal board's the same, but also I could use any pedal and any amp and any guitar, and it still sounds the same.
00:49:59.679 --> 00:50:00.480
That's my secret.
00:50:00.719 --> 00:50:01.360
That's your secret?
00:50:01.760 --> 00:50:03.280
It's been overdrive, though.
00:50:03.519 --> 00:50:08.880
Yeah, I'll do like a boost overdrive, um, you know, gain staging, you know.
00:50:08.960 --> 00:50:09.280
Yeah, yeah.
00:50:09.760 --> 00:50:13.679
And my my sound is it's clean, but with the gain staging, right?
00:50:13.760 --> 00:50:15.599
You can and everywhere in between.
00:50:15.760 --> 00:50:23.679
So I just keep, you know, no matter what amp I'm using, no matter what pedals, and no matter what guitar, it's it's like the it's the same.
00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:26.239
So it's pretty simple.
00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:26.719
Yeah.
00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:28.880
Um, everybody thinks it's magical.
00:50:29.039 --> 00:50:30.000
It's not.
00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:31.599
Sometimes it is.
00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:32.320
Eh.
00:50:32.800 --> 00:50:48.239
I mean, it the cool thing about watching you play all different types of guitars is like, yeah, to your point, the the consistency to fit our sound, but like you could take your guitar tone and our band and put it in any band, and it's still gonna sound like a great guitar.
00:50:48.719 --> 00:50:50.079
Yeah, and you don't you know like like you do, right?
00:50:50.159 --> 00:50:52.880
You do little tweaks here and there, but it's the same thing, yeah.
00:50:53.039 --> 00:50:57.440
Whether it's in the studio or live, or and that keeps it simple for me, too.
00:50:57.599 --> 00:50:59.519
You know, studio is a whole different thing.
00:50:59.679 --> 00:51:05.360
Like that's yeah, for for me as a songwriter, like that's where everything comes together.
00:51:05.519 --> 00:51:05.920
Playing live.
00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:20.719
Like you've had what was the the amp and the signal chain that you had on Thief and like America, like there was a tiny little Rapbox amp that you used that just sounded like Neil Young.
00:51:20.800 --> 00:51:36.480
I mean Oh, yeah, you don't want to give everything away, but you know, it's like the the small, you know, you do like a champ or something, like a little five-watt amp, and get that the edge of breakup, and um just hit them with you know boosts and overdrives, and it just sounds like a Marshall Stack, you know, but in the studio.
00:51:36.639 --> 00:51:36.960
Yeah.
00:51:37.280 --> 00:51:38.880
Um, yeah.
00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:42.480
And all of these things can be purchased at D Town Guitar.
00:51:42.719 --> 00:51:43.199
That's right.
00:51:43.440 --> 00:51:44.320
That's right.
00:51:44.880 --> 00:51:46.639
So, parting words, brother.
00:51:46.800 --> 00:51:51.039
We have uh usually a quick little gauntlet here that are just three questions that I'm gonna ask you.
00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:53.280
So, all Bucks County sort of related.
00:51:53.440 --> 00:51:55.760
Um, as you sing us a tune on this thing.
00:51:55.920 --> 00:51:58.719
So, one hold on, let's do the three-part harmony again.
00:51:59.360 --> 00:52:00.559
What were the words we used?
00:52:00.880 --> 00:52:02.079
Uh Motherfucker.
00:52:02.400 --> 00:52:04.079
Motherfucker, motherfucker.
00:52:04.960 --> 00:52:06.320
Wow, that's actually pretty good.
00:52:06.480 --> 00:52:06.800
Wow.
00:52:07.039 --> 00:52:07.760
Not bad.
00:52:07.920 --> 00:52:10.880
We're gonna get edited and probably banned from YouTube for that, but whatever.
00:52:11.199 --> 00:52:11.280
Okay.
00:52:11.760 --> 00:52:18.320
So, question number one about mother effer, mother effer, mother effer.
00:52:19.840 --> 00:52:21.920
Gotta hit the dominant sixth.
00:52:22.159 --> 00:52:24.000
Um, first question for you.
00:52:24.159 --> 00:52:30.480
Anywhere in Bucks County, what is your if you're going out to eat somewhere, favorite, I know you're a big foodie too.
00:52:31.519 --> 00:52:39.039
Favorite plate of food, not only restaurant, but what are you ordering at that favorite restaurant to get your favorite meal anywhere in Bucks County?
00:52:39.840 --> 00:52:41.119
Oh, that's tough.
00:52:44.960 --> 00:52:46.320
I like going to Uka.
00:52:46.639 --> 00:52:47.199
Yeah, okay.
00:52:47.440 --> 00:52:48.079
The Auka.
00:52:49.199 --> 00:52:53.840
They don't have the Auka does not have hoagies.
00:52:55.519 --> 00:52:57.679
What's your what's your favorite role or your favorite dishes?
00:53:00.639 --> 00:53:01.920
Yeah, it's clean.
00:53:02.239 --> 00:53:04.480
I feel like you should have your own role.
00:53:05.599 --> 00:53:07.119
They have the D Town role.
00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:07.599
Do they?
00:53:07.679 --> 00:53:07.920
They do.
00:53:08.079 --> 00:53:08.480
Oh, they do.
00:53:08.559 --> 00:53:08.639
Yeah.
00:53:08.800 --> 00:53:09.760
You're right, they do have that.
00:53:10.000 --> 00:53:10.320
Okay.
00:53:10.639 --> 00:53:11.199
All right.
00:53:11.519 --> 00:53:15.440
By the way, I'm gonna make this claim.
00:53:15.599 --> 00:53:20.719
I was the first one around Doyle's town to like actually use D Town in a business name.
00:53:21.199 --> 00:53:21.440
Really?
00:53:21.760 --> 00:53:22.000
Format.
00:53:22.320 --> 00:53:22.960
Yes.
00:53:23.280 --> 00:53:23.760
Interesting.
00:53:24.400 --> 00:53:25.840
Register, trademark, copyright.
00:53:26.159 --> 00:53:27.199
Prove me wrong.
00:53:27.440 --> 00:53:27.840
All right.
00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:35.199
When I was in the when I was in Lansdale, Eldale, everybody would say, yo, we're going to D Town.
00:53:35.280 --> 00:53:36.960
It was like a it was like street talk.
00:53:37.119 --> 00:53:37.199
Oh.
00:53:37.440 --> 00:53:42.559
It's like all the punk kids, all the hardcore kids, they'd be going to Siren Records, we're going to D Town.
00:53:42.800 --> 00:53:42.960
Right.
00:53:43.119 --> 00:53:43.440
Right?
00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:44.800
That's where it came from.
00:53:46.079 --> 00:53:55.679
I never really heard anybody use D Town in other in any other way besides the kids saying, Yo, I'm going to D Town.
00:53:56.079 --> 00:53:56.719
Interesting.
00:53:56.960 --> 00:53:58.480
That's why because of you.
00:53:58.559 --> 00:53:59.599
Everybody calls it D Town.
00:53:59.840 --> 00:54:05.360
Well, that's why I named my business D Town Guitars, because it came from the kids.
00:54:05.920 --> 00:54:06.480
Street kids.
00:54:06.639 --> 00:54:06.960
Yeah.
00:54:07.199 --> 00:54:17.360
I had to, I I was moving my business to Doylestown, and I had to I I wanted to change my name, the business, and that's why I named it D Town.
00:54:17.599 --> 00:54:20.559
It came from the kids, right?
00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:21.440
Love it.
00:54:21.599 --> 00:54:26.000
And then after that, a couple other people, there's D Town Tech.
00:54:26.400 --> 00:54:27.039
Oh, yeah, that's right.
00:54:27.119 --> 00:54:28.320
Uh Blake came, right?
00:54:28.480 --> 00:54:28.639
Yep.
00:54:28.719 --> 00:54:34.639
And then there was a magazine called D Town Magazine, and that all came after my business.
00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:34.960
Yeah.
00:54:35.840 --> 00:54:36.559
The Godfather.
00:54:36.719 --> 00:54:37.360
Yeah, D Town.
00:54:37.599 --> 00:54:37.920
I don't know.
00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:39.920
I'm just telling you, that's my that's my take.
00:54:40.159 --> 00:54:40.559
I don't know.
00:54:41.119 --> 00:54:42.159
We're sticking to it, man.
00:54:42.239 --> 00:54:43.280
The godfather of D Town.
00:54:43.599 --> 00:54:45.039
That's my that's my claim.
00:54:45.360 --> 00:54:51.360
I don't know how true that is, but it's well now it's now it's on the internet.
00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:52.400
You're manifesting.
00:54:52.719 --> 00:54:53.280
Prove me wrong.
00:54:53.360 --> 00:54:53.519
Right.
00:54:53.599 --> 00:54:53.760
Yeah.
00:54:53.840 --> 00:54:55.199
It's on the internet, so it must be real.
00:54:55.440 --> 00:54:56.159
Prove me wrong.
00:54:56.400 --> 00:54:56.639
All right.
00:54:56.719 --> 00:54:57.360
So question two.
00:54:57.519 --> 00:54:58.719
So number one was Uka.
00:54:59.039 --> 00:54:59.679
Question number two.
00:54:59.840 --> 00:55:07.760
If we opened up what's playing on your Spotify or your Apple music right now, what song, what genre, what are you listening to right now?
00:55:08.239 --> 00:55:13.199
Um mostly listening to stuff that the bands are working on.
00:55:13.519 --> 00:55:13.840
Yeah.
00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:14.239
Okay.
00:55:14.400 --> 00:55:15.039
Yeah.
00:55:15.440 --> 00:55:20.159
And then besides that, um uh I listen to a lot of comedy.
00:55:20.400 --> 00:55:20.880
Oh, really?
00:55:21.039 --> 00:55:21.199
Yeah.
00:55:21.440 --> 00:55:22.639
Yeah, you were saying that a lot of like comedy.
00:55:22.960 --> 00:55:27.360
I mean my my my my day is music all day long.
00:55:27.440 --> 00:55:32.000
So like on my personal time, I I usually don't listen to a lot of like random music.
00:55:32.320 --> 00:55:33.119
Shut it off.
00:55:33.360 --> 00:55:40.000
I have like a record collection and record players, but unfortunately I don't really do that that much.
00:55:40.239 --> 00:55:40.719
Gotcha.
00:55:40.880 --> 00:55:42.800
But uh yeah, I like a lot of comedy.
00:55:43.039 --> 00:55:43.679
Love it, man.
00:55:43.760 --> 00:55:44.639
Who are some of your favorites?
00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:45.760
Who do you like?
00:55:46.639 --> 00:55:49.199
Um Norm McDonald.
00:55:49.440 --> 00:55:50.079
Oh my god.
00:55:50.320 --> 00:55:50.559
Yep.
00:55:50.800 --> 00:55:51.840
He's RIP.
00:55:52.400 --> 00:55:54.719
He's like probably the goat.
00:55:55.679 --> 00:55:56.639
He might be.
00:55:56.880 --> 00:55:59.360
My uh one of my favorites from that era is Mitch Hedberg.
00:55:59.440 --> 00:56:00.079
You remember Mitch Hedberg?
00:56:00.239 --> 00:56:01.039
Mitch Hedberg, yeah.
00:56:01.199 --> 00:56:03.360
Go down the Mitch Hedberg wormhole.
00:56:03.519 --> 00:56:04.239
Oh my gosh, man.
00:56:04.480 --> 00:56:05.039
Yes.
00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:18.639
Like the way that he could just take something as stupid as talking about like the a banana, and like you know, a banana's good, you know, like green means you know, whatever, yellow means good, and red means like where the hell did you get that banana from?
00:56:18.800 --> 00:56:21.760
Like you could take such stupid stuff and make it so.
00:56:22.239 --> 00:56:23.920
My kid actually turned me on the Mitch Headberg.
00:56:24.159 --> 00:56:24.559
Oh my gosh.
00:56:24.880 --> 00:56:25.599
I wasn't really aware.
00:56:26.320 --> 00:56:27.039
He's great.
00:56:27.280 --> 00:56:27.920
All right, cool.
00:56:28.079 --> 00:56:31.760
So last question, and then we'll uh we'll part ways here for the day, man.
00:56:32.559 --> 00:56:35.440
What would what do you know about Bucks County?
00:56:35.599 --> 00:56:45.519
Something that you love about Bucks County that only you being a local and having being the godfather of D Town, of course, only something you would know about Bucks County that you could tell.
00:56:46.000 --> 00:56:47.280
That's an overclaim right there.
00:56:47.519 --> 00:56:49.599
Something about Bucks County that only I know?
00:56:49.840 --> 00:56:55.840
Just as a local, you know, like we're trying to shine a spotlight on people that own businesses that are creative people around here.
00:56:55.920 --> 00:56:58.559
What's something that like only you know about Bucks County?
00:56:58.960 --> 00:57:00.960
That's a really great, great question.
00:57:01.679 --> 00:57:02.880
Give me a minute.
00:57:04.239 --> 00:57:06.480
I cue the music.
00:57:08.480 --> 00:57:12.079
I really don't know, like something that's like a secret that I only know.
00:57:12.239 --> 00:57:12.639
I don't know.
00:57:12.800 --> 00:57:16.000
I definitely think Doyle's town is a um what keeps you here, you know?
00:57:16.320 --> 00:57:20.159
Bucks County is a bubble, it's a wonderful place, yeah.
00:57:20.400 --> 00:57:23.519
But that's not a secret to the people that live in Bucks County.
00:57:23.840 --> 00:57:26.400
It's true, might be a secret to people outside.
00:57:26.639 --> 00:57:40.400
What what's cool to me and it's come up in other conversations is that there's a really like a high saturation of very talented, accomplished, creative people in this area that no one knows about.
00:57:40.719 --> 00:57:43.360
Yeah, Bucks County has a lot of talented people, yes.
00:57:43.599 --> 00:57:44.079
Yeah.
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:45.360
So well, cool, man.
00:57:45.519 --> 00:57:46.400
Anything about the shop?
00:57:46.559 --> 00:57:48.480
Anything final about you that you want people to know?
00:57:48.559 --> 00:57:50.320
Where can they find you online on socials?
00:57:50.400 --> 00:57:51.119
Where's the shop at?
00:57:51.280 --> 00:57:51.920
Tell the people, man.
00:57:52.159 --> 00:57:53.840
DTownguitars.com.
00:57:54.480 --> 00:57:55.840
We're on Facebook.
00:57:56.000 --> 00:57:58.719
We got a reverb.com store.
00:57:59.199 --> 00:58:00.239
That's pretty much it.
00:58:00.320 --> 00:58:00.639
Yeah.
00:58:00.800 --> 00:58:01.039
Love it.
00:58:01.519 --> 00:58:02.480
We're on YouTube a little bit.
00:58:02.559 --> 00:58:03.679
Play around on YouTube.
00:58:04.239 --> 00:58:04.639
Yep.
00:58:04.960 --> 00:58:05.840
Dig it, man.
00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:08.800
Well, the legend, the godfather of D Town, Mr.
00:58:08.880 --> 00:58:10.400
Rob Martin from D Town Guitars.
00:58:10.480 --> 00:58:11.039
Thank you, brother.
00:58:11.119 --> 00:58:13.760
We love you, and thanks for all your help with everything you do for us, man.
00:58:13.920 --> 00:58:15.039
Yeah, this was fun.
00:58:15.280 --> 00:58:16.000
Cool, cool.
00:58:16.159 --> 00:58:16.480
All right.
00:58:16.639 --> 00:58:19.440
Backstage Bucks County, episode two, signing off, Mr.
00:58:19.519 --> 00:58:20.159
Rob Martin.
00:58:20.320 --> 00:58:21.280
Later, y'all.