

The Call of The Wild with NYC Park Ranger and Guitarist Rob Mastrianni | The Lipstick Pickup Ep. 32
16/12/2025 | 1 h 16 min
Send us a textNYC Park Ranger/Guitarist Rob Mastrianni returns to The Lipstick Pickup Podcast to help Emily wrap up her Big Year and discuss the Naturalist's approach to music and gear. Chapters00:00Introduction to the Lipstick Pickup Podcast02:34Rob Mastrianni: The Electric Sitar Enthusiast05:12Memorable Performances and Venues05:38The Beauty of Nature and Birdwatching08:28The Allure of Lipstick Pickup Guitars11:26Exploring the Harp Guitar14:15Inspiration from Michael Hedges17:03The Resurgence of Harp Guitars19:55The Joy of Busking and Performing22:47Future Plans and Collaborations25:34The Journey to Jerry Jones' Guitar Shop28:12The Legacy of Jerry Jones Guitars29:54Exploring Electric Sitar Sounds32:50Recording Techniques with Sitar Instruments35:42The Influence of Different Guitars on Music38:29Accidental Guitar Purchases43:46Birdwatching and Music: A Unique Connection44:43Birdwatching in New York City48:41The Fascinating World of Bird Migration51:31The Importance of Bird Banding52:44Birds of Prey: Nature's Predators55:29The Opportunistic Bald Eagle58:22The Competitive World of Birdwatching01:00:59Birdwatching Etiquette and Conservation01:03:33The Musical Connection to Birds01:09:45The Joy of Birdwatching and Conservation Efforts01:16:28Lipstick Pickup_Outro_31sec.mp4

FLYIN' HIGH WITH IAN WILLIAMS OF NEPCO GUITARS | The Lipstick Pickup Ep.31
05/12/2025 | 1 h 13 min
Send us a textIn this episode I call Des Moines, Iowa to talk to Ian Williams, the man behind Nepco Guitars, a revered and respected "recreationist" of classic Danelectro design theory. The spirit of evolution is alive and well in his wild imagination and craftsmanship and here's something about his history with music, guitar collecting and building, for the record. More on Nepco can be found here:https://www.nepcoguitars.com/https://www.instagram.com/nepcoguitarshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EXyqGL9_ghttps://www.guitarworld.com/features/nepco-danelectro-v-style-guitar

BROOKLYN BLUES WITH GUITARIST/ RECORDING VETERAN HUGH POOL | The Lipstick Pickup Ep.30
21/11/2025 | 1 h 38 min
Send us a textEmily places a call to Excello Recording of Brooklyn, New York to talk to the multi-talented guitarist/music producer Hugh Pool about his career, his studio, and his collection of notable lipstick pickup guitars. Hugh shares his journey as a musician and producer, highlighting the importance of community, collaboration, and the evolution of the music industry. From his early days in Pennsylvania to establishing himself in New York City's vibrant music scene, Hugh reflects on the challenges and joys of balancing family life with a music career. The discussion touches on the impact of technology on music production, his work with various artists to explore the versatility of the baritone guitar and electric sitar, and the importance of gear in creating music. Learn more about Hugh by visiting his website!"Just when you thought you knew all about the Williamsburg rock scene, here comes someone to throw a wrench in the works. For the uninitiated, this is Mr. Hugh Pool who's been sliding and fingerpicking his National through his Ibanez Tube Screamer since the first time those clothes were in style.He has shared the stage with such luminaries as Patti Smith, Gov't Mule, Leslie West, Johnny Winter, Dave Edmunds, John Mayall, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and more. He has performed on the Emeril Lagassi Show, The Mitch Albom Show and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. His original songs have been used in network TV, movies, award-winning documenaries and an off Broadway play. When he's not playing, performing or writing you can find him twiddling the knobs on the big board at his Brooklyn studio. Excello Recording is where he's worked with talented folks like Debbie Harry, Kiki & Herb, Michael Brecker, Radio 4, Joseph Arthur, Larry Campbell, Tony Garnier, and, well, the list does go on.So you can see that he's no one trick pony. Hugh hails from the Rust Belt, which is where he draws inspiration for his backwoods amalgam of rock, country & blues. But living in New York for the last 20 years has tweaked his sensibilities a bit. His brand of trad psyche-delta stomp comes with a bit of New York noise-damage."

GOIN' GREEK WITH MATTHEW PAIGE AND A DANELECTRO BELLZOUKI | The Lipstick Pickup Ep.29
23/10/2025 | 45 min
Send us a textEmily and DeeOhGee's Matthew Paige delve into the fascinating history of the Bellzouki, a unique 12-string electric guitar. They explore its history, cultural significance, and the impact it has had on various music genres. Matthew shares his personal experience with the instrument, discussing its features and the challenges of playing it. The conversation also touches on the broader context of 12-string guitars in music, the road life of musicians, and the joy of discovering and sharing musical instruments.

SLIDIN' INTO STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN WITH BLUES GUITARIST JOHAN BORGH | The Lipstick Pickup Ep. 28
03/10/2025 | 1 h 23 min
Send us a textOn the episode of The Lipstick Pickup Podcast, I call accomplished Blues Guitarist Johan Borgh of Stockholm, Sweden to discuss his new album Island Blues and the Danelectro Guitars that are a critical part of his sound. https://www.instagram.com/johanborgh/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Johan Borg02:51 Johan's Musical Beginnings05:32 Influences and Inspirations08:32 The Journey to Guitar Mastery11:28 The Role of Self-Teaching14:21 Discovering Slide Guitar17:31 Social Media and Musical Growth20:12 The Making of Island Blues31:22 Recording Process and Instrumentation33:27 Cinematic Influences in Music35:19 Collaboration and Guest Musicians39:00 Listening Experience and Album Intent40:17 Musical Inspirations and Composition Techniques44:19 Gear Talk: Guitars and Equipment59:56 Exploring Guitar Tones and Techniques01:02:59 Live Performance Gear and Setup01:03:37 Vintage Guitars and Their Stories01:06:02 The Sparkly Berry Tone and Its Unique Sound01:07:58 Songwriting and Creative Process01:10:41 Valuable Guitars and Personal Connections01:12:33 Merchandise and Community Engagement01:18:26 Life in Stockholm and Future Aspirations01:23:00 Lipstick Pickup_Outro_31sec.mp4



The Lipstick Pickup Podcast with Emily Vardaman Walters