~ cueing up the show ~
~ pulling every episode ~
No Cover Charge Podcast — Every episode — OmList
om
list
Swipe
Tournament
Lists
Friends
All
Movies
TV
Books
Games
Music
Podcasts
People
▾
Sign in
Every episode
No Cover Charge Podcast
30 episodes
Episode 50 - The "Birth Year" Guitar
Ep 50 · Aug 10, 2026 · 43 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. What happens when a quick trip to Guitar Center turns into finding the ultimate birth year guitar? In Episode 50 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols head to Guitar Center to check out a rare 1989 Gibson Flying V V90—Jared's birth year guitar. They break down what makes this forgotten Gibson so unique, compare it to Tyler's 1989 Strat, dive into '80s…
Episode 49 - Joe Bonamassa, Dumbles to DIGITAL
Ep 49 · Aug 3, 2026 · 52 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more.Joe Bonamassa returns to the No Cover Charge Podcast for another deep dive into guitars, amps, tone, and life on the road. In Episode 49, Joe shares why he's now using digital Fender Tone Master amps alongside his legendary Dumbles, reveals the truth about modern modeling technology, and explains what finally changed his mind. Along the way, Joe and Tyler Larson with Jared James Nic…
Episode 48 - Boscoe France
Ep 48 · Jul 27, 2026 · 1 hr
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more.Kentucky slide legend Boscoe France joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for an unforgettable conversation about guitar, slide playing, blues, Southern rock, and the experiences that shaped his unique style. From learning by ear and playing bars at 13 to sharing stories about B.B. King, Sunny Landreth, PRS guitars, and life as a working musician, Boscoe delivers an inspiring,…
Episode 47 - We Wrote a FUNK Song in 1 Hour
Ep 47 · Jul 20, 2026 · 36 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. Write a FUNK song in one hour?! Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols are back with another songwriting challenge—this time diving headfirst into the world of funk guitar.Watch as they build a saucy track from scratch using baritone guitar, choice Neural DSP tones, layered guitar parts, and plenty of questionable musical decisions along the way. You'll get an inside look at how two…
Episode 46 - Mike Seal
Ep 46 · Jul 13, 2026 · 47 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. Mike Seal joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for one of the most musical episodes of The No Cover Charge Podcast yet. From jaw-dropping fingerstyle technique and modern guitar phrasing to Telecasters, Whammy pedal tricks, session work, touring with Jerry Douglas, and the making of his new instrumental album Danger Ranger, this episode is packed with live jams, guitar nerd d…
Episode 45 - A Little Guitar Gift for Jared
Ep 45 · Jul 6, 2026 · 25 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. What do you get a guitarist who already has everything? Tyler sets out on a mission to find the perfect housewarming gift for Jared James Nichols, leading to the discovery of one of the wildest vintage guitar pedals ever made—the legendary Roland AP-7 Jet Phaser. After putting the pedal through its paces in the studio, Tyler surprises Jared with the gift, and the two plug it in to…
Episode 44 - Guitar Lessons From Our Guests
Ep 44 · Jun 29, 2026 · 33 min
🎸 Learn more, get early podcast access, free backing tracks, giveaways, and exclusive lessons at nocovercharge.com What happens when you sit down and actually learn from some of the greatest guitar players on the planet? In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols revisit unforgettable lessons and licks from guests like Greg Koch, Paul Gilbert, Mary Spender, Tommy Emmanuel, and Trey Hensley. From blues bends and fingerstyle grooves to creative phrasing…
Episode 43 - Inside Tyler Bryant's DREAM Studio
Ep 43 · Jun 22, 2026 · 43 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. Tyler Bryant joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for one of the most unique No Cover Charge episodes yet. Instead of a traditional interview, the guys head to Tyler Bryant's incredible Crosstie Studio in Nashville and build a brand-new song from scratch. Watch the songwriting process unfold in real time as riffs turn into arrangements, solos get traded, tones are dialed in,…
Episode 42 - Rock is NOT Dead... Here's PROOF
Ep 42 · Jun 15, 2026 · 35 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. In Episode 42 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols talk life on the road, the reality of being a modern touring musician, writing riffs that actually work on stage, and why live rock music is still thriving in 2026. Jared breaks down riffs from his new album Louder Than Fate, shares songwriting insights, and the guys jam through ideas before they bri…
Episode 41 - A Nashville Guitar Store Tour
Ep 41 · Jun 8, 2026 · 26 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols hit the road for a full-on Nashville guitar safari, exploring some of the coolest guitar shops in Music City in search of weird vintage guitars, hidden gems, legendary amps, and dangerously tempting gear. From rare Flying Vs and double-necks to Hello Kitty guitars, vintage Juniors, Jaguars, and bizarre custom builds, this episode is packed with…
Episode 40 - Showing Each Other Our Licks
Ep 40 · Jun 1, 2026 · 40 min
Join the NCC App for free! Sign up free for early access to podcasts, giveaways, backing tracks, lessons, and more. Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols trade their favorite guitar licks, riffs, bends, tapping ideas, and “how did you DO that?” moments in one of the most fun episodes of the No Cover Charge Podcast yet. From Metallica and Zeppelin to Jerry Donahue, Satriani, blues phrasing, harmonic minor madness, and guitar nerd rabbit holes, this episode is packed with techniques you’ll want to…
Episode 39 - Paul Gilbert
Ep 39 · May 25, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Join us in the NCC App for free Sign up free for early access to podcasts, lessons, backing tracks, and more. In episode 39 of the No Cover Charge Podcast, Paul Gilbert stops by, straight off the tour bus... and gives us everything. Guitar legend Paul Gilbert sits down with Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for an unfiltered hour of guitar wisdom, tone talk, and live playing. Paul breaks down his evolving approach to melody vs. shred, life-changing moments on stage with Mr. Big and Racer X, p…
Episode 38 - Mary Spender
Ep 38 · May 18, 2026 · 34 min
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Mary Spender joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for a deep dive into songwriting, touring, performance anxiety, fingerstyle guitar, and the realities of building a music career online. Mary performs a brand-new unreleased song from her upcoming album, shares wild open mic stories from New York City, talks about finding her authentic voice as an artist, and swaps legendary John Mayer-inspired guitar stories with the guys. This episode is packed with live ja…
Episode 37 - Pete Thorn
Ep 37 · May 11, 2026 · 44 min
Want early access to episodes, free backing tracks, community forum, giveaways, lessons, and more? Join us in the NCC App for free at nocovercharge.com On this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols sit down with legendary guitarist and tone guru Pete Thorn to talk touring with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, the art of guitar tone, auditioning for icons like Don Henley and Chris Cornell, signature guitars, fuzz pedals, and what it really takes to become a worl…
Episode 36 - We Can't Believe This is Happening!
Ep 36 · May 4, 2026 · 26 min
Join the brand new NCC App for free! Visit the Backstage community forum in the NCC App to enter to win cool stuff every month, starting with this sweet new Danelectro guitar! Big things are happening! In this episode: we launch the new No Cover Charge App, paired with a glorious guitar giveaway, announce Jared's new partnership, and a huge career milestone: landing on the cover of one of the icons of our industry. We break down everything inside the new NCC App (community, backing tracks, lesso…
Episode 35 - The Backing Track Episode
Ep 35 · Apr 27, 2026 · 32 min
Guitarists need backing tracks. Get yours for free in the No Cover Charge app! In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols dive deep into the art of creating inspiring backing tracks—from groove, feel, and timing to chord movement and tone. You’ll watch them build tracks in real time, jam over them, and break down what makes certain tracks push your playing to the next level.This episode also introduces the No Cover Charge app, where you can access free b…
Episode 34 - Don Felder
Ep 34 · Apr 20, 2026 · 40 min
Don Felder, legendary guitarist formerly of the Eagles, joins us at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville for an unforgettable episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast. 🎸 In Episode 34, Don shares the inside story of writing Hotel California, from its original key to the iconic dual guitar "deedily's" with Joe Walsh. We dive into his songwriting process, vintage gear, and the wild journey from Gainesville to the Eagles, all while PLAYING his famous EDS-1275 double neck guitar. Don also…
Bonus Episode - B Bender Guitar Tips with Trey Hensley
Apr 17, 2026 · 9 min
This spontaneous hang yielded some short clips that broke the guitar internet recently, like this one. While this is a mini episode, it's too good not to share this extra footage of an impromptu B Bender jam with Episode 33's guest, Trey Hensley. Make sure to check out that episode if you missed it, and thanks for supporting The No Cover Charge Podcast! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify Instagram TikTok Facebook The No…
Episode 33 - Trey Hensley
Ep 33 · Apr 13, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
In Episode 33 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Trey Hensley joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for an in-depth conversation on acoustic guitar mastery, bluegrass roots, and life as a modern guitar virtuoso. Trey shares incredible stories—from playing the Ryman Auditorium at age 11 with Earl Scruggs to winning a Grammy alongside Taj Mahal—while breaking down his right-hand technique, flatpicking approach, and transition between acoustic and electric guitar. If you're into acoustic guitar,…
Episode 32 - Zach Myers
Ep 32 · Apr 6, 2026 · 50 min
Shinedown guitarist Zach Myers joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols on The No Cover Charge Podcast for an honest, hilarious, and deeply insightful conversation about guitar, songwriting, and life on the road. Zach shares stories from touring with Shinedown, working alongside Brent Smith, and learning firsthand from legends like B.B. King. They dive into tone vs. feel, why “less is more” still wins, the pressure of writing hit songs, and how great players like John Mayer balance technique w…
Episode 31 - The Even WEIRDER Gear Episode (didn't go as planned)
Ep 31 · Mar 30, 2026 · 43 min
By popular demand, the Weird Gear episode is back! In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols explore bizarre, experimental, and downright confusing guitar gear—from MIDI guitars and synth pedals to phone-based effects and mutant fretboards. Expect unexpected tones, hilarious trial-and-error moments, and a reminder that weird gear is where creativity lives. Some of this stuff might be unusable… but some of it might just change how you think about guitar…
Episode 30 - Joe Bonamassa's INSANE Guitar Collection
Ep 30 · Mar 23, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Step inside Nerdville East with Joe Bonamassa for one of the most in-depth guitar conversations with the guitar legend yet. In Episode 30 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols talk vintage tone, legendary Les Pauls, rare Fender finds, and the real truth behind guitar collecting.From pristine 1959 bursts to historic road-worn Strats, Joe breaks down what actually matters in great guitars, how gear myths get started, and why “hearing with your eyes” might be more rea…
Episode 29 - Daniel Donato
Ep 29 · Mar 16, 2026 · 51 min
The cosmic country king Daniel Donato joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols on Episode 29 of the No Cover Charge Podcast for a deep dive into guitar, tone, and the philosophy behind his genre-blending sound. Daniel shares stories from his early days playing Nashville’s Broadway circuit, the players who shaped his style, and how rhythm guitar, Telecaster tone, and improvisation all play a role in his musical identity. The conversation moves from gear and pedals to songwriting, touring life,…
Episode 28 - Kent Crawley
Ep 28 · Mar 9, 2026 · 52 min
In Episode 28 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols sit down with Nashville guitarist and educator Kent Crawley for an inspiring deep dive into guitar technique, musicality, and creative improvisation. Kent breaks down his unique approach to the fretboard, from chromaticism and voice leading to gospel and jazz influences that shape his playing. Along the way, the conversation explores tone, custom guitars, pickup choices, ear training, and the importance of connect…
Episode 27 - A 1959 Les Paul, Gary Moore's Marshall, and a Dream
Ep 27 · Mar 2, 2026 · 39 min
What happens when you plug a real 1959 Gibson Les Paul into Gary Moore’s actual 1966 Marshall Bluesbreaker JTM45… in a Nashville garage? In Episode 27 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols crank up Gary Moore’s original amp and Guv'nor pedal, pair it with a legendary ’59 Burst, and chase the iconic tones of Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Paul Kossoff, Joe Bonamassa, Slash and more. From the B.B. era Bluesbreaker roar to classic 1959 Les Paul…
Bonus Episode - George Thorogood
Feb 24, 2026 · 15 min
Please enjoy this bonus mini episode featuring one of the godfathers of rock 'n roll, George Thorogood. Lonesome George has cultivated a 50+ year career through talent, hard work, and an incredible energy that you can't help but be magnetized to, and even though this short interview is only 15 minutes, you can rewind it back again to pick up new pieces of gold that may have gotten overshadowed by George's awesome presence. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spot…
Episode 26 - NAMM 2026
Ep 26 · Feb 23, 2026 · 32 min
In Episode 26 of the No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols recap their wild trip to the NAMM Show: 6 a.m. flights, surprise jam sessions, insane vintage guitars, creator run-ins, booth takeovers, and some of the most unhinged (and hilarious) moments we’ve had yet. We jammed our way through California, from LA to Anaheim, and ended up running into YouTube heavyweights, testing bizarre gear, and filming a mini acoustic episode in the creator lounge with @ChrisBuckGuitar and…
Episode 25 - Dweezil Zappa's WEIRD Guitars
Ep 25 · Feb 16, 2026 · 60 min
What happens when Dweezil Zappa opens the vault? 🤯 In Episode 25 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols step inside Dweezil’s studio to explore his wildest, weirdest, one-of-one guitars — including a half-fretless SG experiment, microtonal monsters, the heavily-modded "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar" Les Paul from Frank Zappa, and the Kramer gifted to him by Eddie Van Halen himself. From microtonal fretboards and built-in sustain systems to a bizarre Peavey amp design…
Episode 24 - Tim Pierce
Ep 24 · Feb 9, 2026 · 46 min
Legendary Los Angeles session guitarist Tim Pierce joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols for a deep, honest conversation about feel, pocket, creativity, and surviving a lifetime in music. Tim has spent decades recording for some of the most iconic artists and albums of all time, including Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Elton John, and countless others. From playing with the biggest musicians in the world to navigating social media pressure, perfectionism, and th…
Episode 23 - Joe Bonamassa Returns – With Gary Moore's Amp!
Ep 23 · Feb 2, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Joe Bonamassa returns to The No Cover Charge Podcast for a jaw-dropping episode featuring one of the most legendary guitar amps of all time: Gary Moore’s original 1989 Soldano SLO-100. Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols head to Nerdville in sunny Los Angeles to hear this historic amp cranked, discuss its provenance, tone, and wild journey from the UK to the U.S., and geek out over Gary Moore, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, and the birth of modern high-gain amps. Expect deep gear talk, behind-the…
← Back to the show
