The Most Hyped Music Gear of 2016

All of the press and hype surrounding the music gear industry follows a similar pattern every year. New products get announced at NAMM in January, unleashing a wave of buzz that ripples through forums and YouTube channels, and ultimately into shopping carts of websites like Reverb.com.

Smaller brands often release gear later in the year to less initial fanfare, building their reputations on merit rather than marketing. You see this a lot with boutique pedals and guitars where an off-the-cuff artist endorsement or a single demo video can do as much for a product's popularity as any trade show press release.

Here is a look back at both the big releases and sleeper hits that generated the most buzz in the music gear industry in 2016.

Korg Minilogue

The Korg Minilogue was easily the most talked-about synth at NAMM this year, and a steady stream of praise has followed since. Analog synths are as en vogue as ever, and this portable keyboard strikes a perfect target zone in the broader market. It's analog, but not too expensive. Highly tweakable, yet extremely approachable.

Korg understands the blossoming affordable analog market better than anyone and brings a unified vision of how to lower the barrier to entry for these machines. While it may not sound as juicy as vintage Juno or any modern Moog, the Minilogue represents a major step forward for Korg and claims a definite spot as the new entry point into the realm of analog synths. As a testament to how well the Minilogue is doing, Korg has a already announced a smaller follow-up – dubbed the Monologue – set for release next year.

Jack White - Freedom At 21

Plain and simple, Jack White is an enigma. The way he approaches his song craft shows restraint and understanding, that a tune is a living entity and needs to be addressed in different capacities per the situation at hand. Take for example this here video for Dead At 21 from his new album Blunderbuss.

It would be way too easy to over do the song and all sorts of other instruments and frills. Yet, he keeps it simple and makes us want more. The fills he employs, coupled with the rock solid and sparse drumming, led by an ever so dominating Telecaster guitar riff, make this song potent. Huge props to Hype Williams on the video and a quick cameo appearance by Josh Homme. With a video this powerful, hopefully we can see a part two to this story.

The Green Lady Killers Officially Endorse Evans, Pro-Mark, Puresound, Planet Waves and D'Addario

The Green Lady Killers are one of those bands that we knew from the minute we first heard and saw them, they had to be part of Rusty Knuckles Music. Whether it be the snarling to soothing vocals by Lady Van Buren or her insane guitar riffing, matched by CherryBomb's pounding rhythms. The dynamic duo has built a road ready machine of a band. Now that Ivy Rose has also joined the ranks and upped the ante on the bass, this is one band that is poised to dominate on the next album, that will be due out sometime later this year.

We have been workin' to pry some sort of info out of the ladies on what is the latest progress, but their lips are sealed shut and this can only mean one thing. Rehearsing and writing mode are all they are thinkin' on and that dear friends is great news for all of us. We have found out though that they will be recording the first single that will be debuting in May of 2012.

Along with the new album in the works, the ladies have been busy as all hell with new sponsorship deals flying in. Getting endorsement deals, when it comes to gear for a hard working band, is one of the best things next to high paying gigs and huge album sales. Ever added up all the time and effort spent on perfecting your rig set up and then constantly fixing it on the road or burning through strings and drum sticks? It takes a toll and knowing that great sponsors are behind ya is proof that you are headin' in the right direction.

The Green Lady Killers have secured prominent new endorsements from Evans, Pro-Mark, Puresound, Planet Waves and D'Addario products along with their other core sponsors in Gretsch and Fender. Be on the lookout for all sorts of interesting news and updates on these lethal femme fatales as the end of 2012 is going to be quite exciting for them.

The Green Lady Killers photo by Lance Dawes © 2011

Hang out with Green Lady Killers on Facebook

Green Lady Killers - Gear Endorsements

The Green Lady Killers are officially endorsed by Pro-Mark, Gretsch, D'Addario, Fender, Planet Waves and Evans Drumheads

The Green Lady Killers will be at Drunk & Disorderly Bowling on 5.9.12

Green Lady Killers To Return To Arizona With Two Shows in March

"It's been a minute since I've seen The Green Lady Killers in action. The hometown garage rockers relocated to Los Angeles some time ago, but before that I used to enjoy dipping into random dive bars to catch a live show by the grrrly trio. 

Needless to say I was pretty stoked yesterday when they announced on the band's Facebook page, two Arizona shows coming up in March. 

You see, GLK always reminds me of the first and last time I walked through the ally entrance of the Emerald Lounge, one of the Valley's premier local music venues before it closed down in 2005. 

Located just below what is now Sidebar on Seventh Avenue and McDowell, I only have feint memories of the musky club, but I hold them near and dear. A transplant from the City of Angels, I was still finding my bearings back then when a friend and I stumbled in. We heard some bands were going to be playing later on that night so we loaded up and hung out. 

I only remember two of the bands that played that night. The first, was some touring death metal act fronted by this chick with a wicked death growl followed by GLK.

Cherrybomb, with her signature black bangs and animal print something or other, accosted the crowd with her gaze as she flailed on drums, while the leather-clad, high heeled Lady Van Buren wailed and shredded on guitar. This was how I was indoctrinated to the Arizona music scene. It also marks the one and only time I've bought band merch that wasn't a CD.

The Green Lady Killers play Friday, March 9, at Hollywood Alley in Mesa, and again, Saturday, March 10, at Inkenstein Tattoo's annual anniversary party.

I may have to bust out my GLK T-shirt, I'm not sure yet."

 - Anthony Sandoval

Link to article over the Phoenix New Times 
 

The Green Lady Killers featured in the Phoenix New Times

The Green Lady Killers At NAMM

This past weekend the Green Lady Killers had a chance to make it out to the NAMM convention and check out some new gear and hang out with Fender and Gretsch, who officially endorse the band.

Link to NAMM

NAMM Convention 2012 in Southern California

Lady Van Buren in front of a massive Marshall stack

The Green Lady Killers at the Gretsch booth

Ivy Rose checking out a new Gretsch bass

Cherrybomb at the Sabian booth

More information on NAMM

NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. Our association—and our trade shows—serve as a hub for people wanting to seek out the newest innovations in musical products, recording technology, sound and lighting. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. The Model for Industry Growth—The History

Before there was an industry or an association, there was a belief...in music. That belief led to a mission: to unify, lead and strengthen the global music products industry and increase active participation in music making.

More than a century later, that mission has attracted a growing, thriving worldwide community of thousands of deeply passionate, talented companies that make, buy and sell the instruments that allow millions of people to make music. That community is called NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry.

NAMM is able to support the association's mission with a business model based on a circle of benefits that promotes industry growth. The circle begins with the revenue derived from NAMM's trade shows, which is channeled back into the industry through the NAMM Foundation's funding of industry charities and in the form of advocacy and market-building programs and initiatives, further increasing public awareness. This leads to increased demand of music products, growing the industry and, ultimately, promoting trade show growth, which completes the circle. To support individual Members, NAMM offers industry education through NAMM University, publishes valuable one-of-a-kind statistical reports, and brings the industry together at events and global meetings.

Founded in 1901, NAMM has been the engine driving the music products industry, enabling both large and small businesses to maximize productivity and reduce the costs of doing business. With more than 9,000 Members in the United States and 100+ other countries, NAMM is ultimately dedicated to expanding the market and giving people of all ages the opportunity to experience the proven benefits of making music.

Custom Guitars By Esteban Bojorquez

Let's get to the heart of the matter, handmade guitars are just as cool as a custom car or bike in our opinion. These guitars created by Esteban Bojorquez are visually stunning and knowing that they all emanated from a metal hollow body instead of a wooden one surely plays into a whole other level of sound quality.

Anyone can drive over to their local Sam Ash, Guitar Center or pawn shop and pick up a guitar for a decent price and start to pickin'. But seeing instruments such as these, you immediately get the feeling that anyone playing it, most likely knows what the hell they are doing. Its sort of the same as a jockey shift on a chopper, ya just don't jump on one and try to hit the freeway. These machines take time to sink into and become knowledgeable about. 

One of the first guitars that made an impression on me was a custom one built from a branch coming off a tree stump that was then shaped down into a really cool body style. It was completely unique looking and I still can never even think on the bands songs as all I did was stare at the guitar. I believe this is the moment that custom guitars started to make an impression on me. Also, the dude could shred, so he deserved the custom guitar.

After seeing Esteban's custom guitars I immediately had the same appreciation and thought how could would it be to really how they sound or who might be playing them. Style, personality and substance all rolled up into one instrument, dig it.

Esteban Bojorquez website

Statement from the artist:

Color, humor, texture, and my quixotic attempt at understanding the frantic, self important culture I find myself in are the components of my art. Working in a wide variety of media including assemblage, painting, sculpture, film, music and installation, my pieces are explorations of materials, techniques and the inherent ironies of life.

I collect and reconstruct the discarded refuse of our throwaway society, abstracting familiar objects into an often expansive scale. These once "needed" or "desired" objects, now cast away, send me on a journey of memory, nostalgia, or visceral reactions which lead me to a dreamscape that I hope others can connect to. For me each piece speaks to a spontaneous and unique experience.

- Esteban Bojorquez

Lucky 13. 5 gallon gas can acoustic - electric resophonic lap steel

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The Road Warrior. 5 gallon gas can acoustic lap steel

Sunrise. 5 gallon gas can acoustic  - electric resophonic lap steel

Street Light. 6 string resophonic acoustic-electric guitar

The Vase. brass hollow body electric guitar