Jesse Aycock (Tulsa, OK) www.jesseaycock.com / www.facebook.com/jesseaycockband
Hard Working Americans (everywhere USA) www.thehardworkingamericans.com
Paul Benjaman Band (Tulsa, OK) www.paulbenjamanband.com / www.facebook.com/paulbenjamanband
Lauren Barth (Tulsa, OK) www.laurenbarth.com / www.facebook.com/laurenbarthmusic
Photo by Phil Clarkin
How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place?
I guess I’ve been a musician from the first time I realized I could make sound. I grew up in a house where music and art was happening daily. My mom is a visual artist and my dad is a singer songwriter and poet. My brother Dylan also followed a similar path and writes his own beautiful instrumental music. He also works with visual art and started his own record label out of Tulsa called Scissor Tail Editions. Music is one thing I always knew from early on would play a huge part in my life.
Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present?
My dad is probably my first influence. The music he wrote and the vast record collection he played around the house influence me a lot. All the early 70s folks and rock really connected with me. In Elementary I listened to the radio quite a bit. Back then it was a lot of classic rock, hair bands and oldies. I got an 8 track player at a garage sale that came with Simon and Garfunkel / Blondie / and Elton John. I remember listening to the Simon and Garfunkel 8 track on repeat. In third grade, my best friend’s older sister had the Black Crowes‘ ‘Shake Your Money Maker‘ on cassette. That’s when things really shifted for me. The Black Crowes led me down strange new rabbit hole for years to follow. In middle school I remember Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Black Crowes, Nirvana, REM and Led Zeppelin being in heavy rotation. I sat with those for awhile and dove in pretty deep. I listen to a lot more than that, but those really stick out.
What drew you to using pedals initially? Have you been using them throughout your playing career? How have pedals helped to shape your sound, or influence the style that you’ve created?
The pedal world just keeps getting cooler. I started playing with a few pedals early on. I had a tube screamer, and CryBaby wah. Later I added an OCD, Rust boost, and volume pedal. Throughout the years I’ve tried a lot of different stuff. I know a lot of guys that aren’t that into pedals, but I really love how they can be used as tools to help color. Having really found a place as a side man, I use pedals to help build songs and help in creating the right vibe. It’s cool, you have all these tools at your feet that at one time you could only get in a studio.
What’s your current setup look like? Take us through your pedal rig (feel free to include amps and instruments as well if you’d like):
Right now, my ever evolving rig starts with a Black Box Tube Buffer. The Black Box does a really amazing job of bringing out harmonics and warming the signal. Then comes the VOX Wah, followed by an Ernie Ball Vol pedal, followed by one of my all time favorite pedals that almost always stays on – The Hellbilly. It’s a great combination of a fuzz that acts more like an drive, and cleans up real nice with volume. I bought a backup and found it doesn’t sound the same or as good. The guy who made these passed away and think he may have used slightly different parts in each pedal. Then comes Lightspeed by Greer Amps, then Arc Effects Klone, DoD FX25 Envelope Filter, DoD FX75 Stereo Flanger, MXR Phase 90, BBE Mind Bender, Strymon El Capistan, Catalinbread Echorec, Catalinbread Talisman. I use a Creation Pedalboard made here in Tulsa and their super lightweight flight case. All the pedals run into my 1971 silver face Vibrolux housing two Eminence Ragin Cajun speakers. I usually play my ’84 USA Strat or early 2000s G&L single cutaway telecaster.
Favorite type of pedal (drive, delay, fuzz, etc. – more than one answer is always acceptable!):
All of the above!
You’re stranded on a desert island – which three (3) of the following do you want to have?
Instruments: my ’84 Strat
Amps: Vibrolux
Pedals: Delay of some kind
What’s up next for you/your band(s)?
Finishing up Lauren Barths new record. Writing some new material because it is the season. Playing some gigs around. Hitting the road with HWA and hopefully working on a new record next year.
The Klon hype: Love it or Hate it?
I have a decent clone made by Arc Effects. It’s not typically my go to, but find a place for it at times.
Any last comments, promos or anything you’d like to talk about?
Catch a show if you wanna hear what any of these pedals sound like in action 🙂
Thanks so much to Jesse for taking the time to answer some questions! Make sure to go check out www.thehardworkingamericans.com, and check their tour page to see when they’re headed to a town near you! Cheers!
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