Music

Underrated But Great: Guitar Players You Need To Know About



Pick up any guitar magazine and odds are the cover story is on the same artist who was on it twenty years ago. While we’re not discounting the influence of Hendrix or Page on the evolution of rock guitar there are plenty of axeman who don’t get the attention that they deserve from the mainstream press. For that reason, we thought we’d list a few guitarists who we worship that you probably won’t read about anywhere else. When you’re done with this article, we promise you can go back to practicing your sweep picking in order to impress strangers at Guitar Center. Deal?

Andy Cohen (Silkworm, Bottomless Pit)

Couldn’t You Wait

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Kerry McCoy (Deafheaven)


Dave Knudson (Botch, Minus the Bear)


Doug Martsch (Built to Spill)

We’ll be the first to admit that Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch looks more like your dad’s weird friend who sometimes sleeps in the park than some type of guitar god but remember that the most talented guitarists don’t need to resort to ridiculous pseudonyms or peacocking jewelry to prove their prowess. Correspondingly for over two decades Doug Martsch has taken the influence of classic blues artists and reinterpreted them through a noodley, indie-rock prism. The difference between Martsch and the typical jam band guitarist is the fact that his playing has a purpose and his solos have a distinct beginning middle and end, even if it most of the time it seems relentlessly climatic.


J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)


Nels Cline (Wilco)


Mike Sullivan (Russian Circles)

Alongside guys like McCoy and Knudson (both of whom have toured with Russian Circles), RC guitarist Mike Sullivan is also redefining what being a guitar player in a heavy band means by figuring out a way to implement chugging hardcore riffs into an atmospheric arena and making both dynamics more powerful in the process. Sullivan can also two-handed tap and live loop like a champ, making him a triple threat onstage. To be honest we have no idea how he’ll be able to pull off some of the sonic textures on the band’s latest album Memorial—but we have no doubt he’ll find a way to do it in stunning fashion.


Jonah Bayer is that guy you see hanging out at Guitar Center until they ask if he’s gonna buy anything. Follow him on Twitter – @mynameisjonah