On this episode, Michael Borshuk speaks with musicologists Roger Landes and Christopher J. Smith about their recurring conference "The Electric Guitar in American Culture," hosted here in Lubbock at Texas Tech. We hear about what makes this conference unique and how it fits into the mission of TTU's Vernacular Music Center, before Landes and Smith narrate the technological history of the electric guitar and offer some reflections about its cultural importance. Finally, Borshuk, Landes, and Smith share some of their favorite electric guitar solos and discuss what makes these performances noteworthy. The conversation covers a wide range of artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Prince, Frank Zappa, the recently departed Eddie Van Halen, and Lubbock's own favorite son, Buddy Holly.
This episode's extras include a YouTube playlist of great solos and a link to the Call for Papers for the next iteration of the conference.