1. “Be My Mistake” - The 1975
I’ve been a fan of these guys for a while. Smart lyrics, production and an honest expression combine to produce a beautiful melancholic performance about guilt, and possibly acceptance.
2. “Blood Eagle” - Periphery
When every other metal band seems to soften up their sound with success, these guys just bring the savagery. Not only that, but they’re among the nicest people in the world. Yep.
3. “Spiritual Groove” - Antoine Dufour
I used to listen to this as I walked to the college bus through the woods in England. It’s so awesome on so many levels; brilliant interplay between acoustic guitar and violin. It also somehow sounds kind of metal.
4. “The Equalizer (Not Alone)” - The Midnight
A couple of NAMM shows ago, I was driving down Sunset Boulevard in a friend’s Mustang at midnight and this came on. That’s basically the vibe of this tune. I adore it.
5. “Bronte” - Gotye
A very powerful song that I’ve loved since I heard Making Mirrors. I was going to try and arrange it for solo guitar. Maybe one day.
“Even global stars must follow local rules”: Ed Sheeran’s street performance was brought to an abrupt end after Indian police shut it down – but the songwriter says he did have permission to play
“I thought I was going to wind up being a mental patient. I was like, ‘If I ever survive this, I swear to God I'm not going to do anything but work on music’”: Marty Friedman’s hellish teen acid trip was the making of his career as a guitarist
