Board To Death Ep. 33 - Lee Kiernan (IDLES) | EarthQuaker Devices

You may be familiar with Lee Kiernan's Telecaster antics on-stage via recorded performance, or even in real-life if you were lucky enough to catch IDLES on stage before concerts temporarily left our lives in 2020. One thing you will notice about this episode of Board To Death! is that Lee uses a lot of pedals. Like, a lot of pedals. Even by today's standards, this is what we in "the industry" refer to as "a lot of pedals". But alas, these are experimental boards set up for the studio. How better to spark an idea than to have loads of unique sound manipulators at your fingertips? Organizer Polyphonic Organ Emulator was Lee's first EarthQuaker love and has weaseled its way onto many tracks, spanning across a few albums. Only time will tell which pedals shall remain!
Clint Trofa -Director
Fraser Stephen -DOP
David Whited -Editor
Gavin Maxwell -Guitar tech/board guru
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[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thank you for watching Lee's Board To Death! Please like, leave a comment, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more great stuff on the horizon!

[@modularmountain3910]

“I don’t need the guitar” tosses guitar from a few feet in the air.

[@INTENSIVECAREAUDIO]

I'm guessing this video is why i've just sold out of the Vena Cava Filter. Cheers Lee! haha

[@Keverton13]

Will you be restocking any time soon?

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

Saw that coming! Awesome news though, congrats :)

[@baroz11]

Beautiful pedal! Congrats!

[@thezachryan3448]

I love seeing someone that just has fun with their board. No elitist cork sniffing nerd stuff, just creative tools to make interesting sounds.

[@billysurr4918]

Fingers crossed for one with Bowen.

[@stagnatic]

Excellent-he’s basically a modular synthesist with a guitar.

[@Ethyl.breaks]

Playing guitar is more about the rhythm hand and pedals and tone more than playing notes or chords or ‘scales’ lol. Hate shredders. Such a waste of time

[@Ethyl.breaks]

Also that tapping bs that’s super trendy right now, super laaame. It’s such a show off move not necessarily needed for anything

[@Oceaneaterband]

I don't mind tapping when it adds to a song but when it's there for the sake of just being there it's kinda annoying

[@edmiller3786]

@@Ethyl.breaks lol

[@limaa91]

Now I know what that "bomb dropping" sound is in Never Fight A Man with A Perm when they play it live! Would have never guessed it's a Data Corrupter.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

indeed

[@thebrysmith3]

"I'm just gonna make...a noise " Indeed sir, indeed.

[@SidRockett]

The sound of Ultra Mono was absolutely out of this world! Now we know why!

[@neoxavier5477]

lots love to the way he drops his guitar....

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

slab goes plop

[@kepler16b]

It hurt me

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

rock n' roll hurts sometimes

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

I like that they’re showing his other brands pedals instead of just earthquaker

[@rpm9693]

2:50 "I'm going to get rid of the guitar because I don't need it anymore." My type of pedal user :)

[@conblurgh]

Ultra Mono was the album of the year for me! So cool to see Lee treat pedals essentially how I do. Love this series!

[@RogerWarszawa]

I like this chap and his approach to pedals and sound building. I also like the colour of his Telecasters. Much to admire here.

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

Love the simplicity mixed with the joy of experimentation...and how annoyed it makes some people :)

[@odallard]

That pedalboard is massive 🤯

[@summerbrainrock]

his neighbors must love him

[@whiskybravo4648]

These videos are awesome. I’m always interested to see and hear what’s on other musician’s pedalboards. Please keep em coming.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thanks! Will do!

[@leascaart]

I love this guy... he seems like such a nice bloke.

[@matthewrush5633]

somone please give him a modular synth already

[@Dorachagi1]

The level of experimentation going on here is incredibly fascinating, so many creative explorations of sound and tone.

[@RenatoChagasFuza]

No money left for straplocks after build this board

[@scottmartinezguitarandbass]

HAHAH. Right? GAFFER TAPE.

[@drearynonsense203]

Tape is cheaper

[@trevorskates94]

That first pedal sounds like the pedal responsible for the intro effects to Car Crash. Love it

[@peeepod]

Bumped into Lee in a hotel before going to see them at a gig in London, he stopped for a wee chat, lovely fella, great band.

[@jazzblasterrr]

When it was my time to choose a career I didn’t know this was an option...

[@RedCarRecords]

Haha right! Me neither!

[@jamesbondcanfuckoff]

"It's pretty simple" lol, it has every pedal you own.

[@dorianford6227]

Best Board to death episode EVER!!!

[@delaybrainsshriver]

so cool he did a noise set for this segment love this

[@blindowl2656]

Holy shit

[@mpstrgc112]

Hands down favorite board to death.

[@CashMattock]

I’m not familiar with his band but I would have this guy play on all my records. Great combo of player/attitude. When he delivered the song title “never fight a man with a perm” I laughed my ass off.

[@markferguson3745]

IMO, (the) IDLES are the most relevant band going.You should def check all of it out; old school Punk combined with Ambient, Trance, and what they call Noise.It has the directness, but it a new way.

[@cademurdock6023]

I frequent this video

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

always welcome

[@scottmartinezguitarandbass]

So much for adequate soundproofing in your studio. That would BUUUUG me. Sick board Lee!!

[@rpm9693]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG OMFG

[@Kaisersozze]

This is brilliant. Best pedal board overview I've seen from any band. It's because he talks about the pedals but then also for a lot of them he gives examples of how it sounds like. Stamen is sold out, I wonder if it's because of this video. The little photos of the pedal really helps.

[@ampersand6440]

Hi Lee. Great video. I can appreciate how you get excited by this stuff for writing purposes. Please keep playing like a man possessed on your live performances - it’s remarkable. I love watching your live guys videos on utube where every in the band is giving It 100%, fully engaged, and singing the lyrics (always a good sign of a band having fun) - and delivering to the public like their lives depended on it. Extraordinary stuff. Keep being awesome you guys. Incredible songs/work. Blessings.

[@grantdickey]

I just bought the Plumes, Dispatchmaster, and Acapulco Gold. Up next Organizer! Stoked!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thanks Grant! and thank you for watching too

[@Keverton13]

The Acapulco Gold is amazing. I've swapped in in for my Big Muff and I never thought I'd take that off.

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

acapulco with a touch of OBN oil can delay is my trusted punk bass sound

[@roryhensen]

WONDEFUL!

[@JcMtrial]

I loved this vid, holy man

[@panic_chords]

This was a cool episode, I enjoyed listening to Lee discussing his philosophy on using pedals, even if I would struggle to use some of those sounds. Good stuff \m/

[@CentaurusRelax314]

I feel like if he and Dave Simpson ever shook hands, they would go back in time.

[@nclsrfn]

elaborate on that

[@cmousdale]

My kinda pedal board! Also LOL at the pleasant music / rehearsal in the background going off whilst he's mangling audio.

[@yaveeya2992]

I am now a Drolo Fan!! Thank You..for helping me discover this pedal.. I hope they put you on payroll..

[@julianhebbes]

Legend

[@faunoram]

Killer video !! Love the Idles, and the crazy sounds of their guitars, you need to shoot a video of Mark too !!

[@James-kj9hw]

Fun fact, that guitar is smashed to bits now

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

yay!!!

[@MSNGR415]

Only the plate remains. Lol

[@WokeUpScreaming]

This might be my favourite pedal board ever! I used to do the LFO filter sound with a lightfoot labs goatkeeper controlling a koma elektronic filter.

[@-Atmos1]

Cool sounds

[@Gottrahmen]

He's right about that MF Chorus. I'm in love with the Minifooger pedals, I have the chorus and tremolo and want more of them but people charge so much for them, especially the delay (+$400 sometimes). I understand why a company like Moog, who make everything themselves, has to discontinue stuff to make room for their their new designs, but I really wish they still made these.

[@regularnimnule9715]

This was great!

[@JamesMc2]

Super gnarlyness!

[@peterb7435]

Awesome video. Im a fan of his

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Us too!

[@liaisons6227]

I'm not into that much dirty sounds but I love the exploratory approach! Love it 🚀

[@PedalsFusion]

Stamen by Drolo has to be first in the chain , then you can manipulate with the signal with more pedals ;-) Thnaks for the video, love it !

[@markferguson3745]

Used the Moog Chorus for years; the whole MF line , up to recently , was unrecognized ,and could be found used fairly cheap.Replaced it with a mix of the Walrus Julianna( Exp pedal controlled) and the Aqueduct, which gave me a broader and more useable palette.(The EQD Aqueduct is my current go to, subtle to crazy.) The Catalibread Topanga Spring Reverb was designed, and works well pre drives; level turned down, it adds fat depth and body, which compliments a later stage verb. The EHX Superego and Freeze are fun , simple tools; I prefer the initial version of the SE, as the later just has too much going on.Malekko make some unique takes on common ideas , like the Sneak Attack( Trem) and Downer( pitch shifter),- often overlooked. I think many experimental guitarists dismiss classic effects like Tremelo( Caroline Parabola), or Phaser( Walrus Lillian)prematurely, thinking that traditional " R&R" voices are all they are capable of.What I hear is a LOT of barely explored territory, and many ways to reshape the signal before or after something else.Wah is another great ex.; you might hate the "Hendrix" application, but switch up the approach, or combine it with something else, - tired becomes fresh. It's really the approach that makes it the SOT, or something completely different; don't blame the tool when it's a lack of imagination. Great band, - fresh, fearless, but still fun .

[@delivrance3961]

pretty cool!

[@Thurston86]

Nice! 🤘👽

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Rock on!

[@cafestudiosinc.1702]

Love the distortion/overdrive/boost sounds. Also, It be cool if Earthquaker had a Mod shop?

[@jonathanwapner6262]

I love those drums. Ludwig Epic are so underrated. They're discontinued now, but I suspect the Mapex Armory are the same constrction.

[@polarisnvega]

They are an insanely beautiful color.

[@TheLordcasio]

His admission of discovering expression pedals leads me to why amazing expression pedals like the Moog MP-201 and the Source Audio Reflex never took off (both discontinued)....if you like knob twiddling, these types of controllers are what you need. The modular synth world devotes loads of engineering and products to just this thing.

[@Jamesjimjimmy]

That poor poor fender

[@MadsenMister]

He dropped on the floor and I gasped, then laughed out loud. However, I want to point out that he seems to be using gaff tape instead of duct tape. Would want to leave any residue.

[@collisiondevices]

Love these videos and especially Lee & Idles! So glad to see the gear he uses ! Thanks ! ♥

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thank you very much for checking it out!

[@winstonsmith8236]

this guy gets it, boy does he get it.

[@casmiry]

EQD: So how many pedals do you have on your board? Lee: YES.

[@nataroonytrontime3976]

YES!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

well here ya go! enjoy!

[@punkccorpse]

Being a lifelong Tom Morello fan and more recently an IDLES fan, I really admire all of this pedal-worship

[@Ethyl.breaks]

Have you ever heard of Kevin shields?

[@punkccorpse]

@@Ethyl.breaks nope

[@isaak4370]

please get someone from gilla band on 🙏

[@MattKeenanMusic]

Fucking siiiiiick

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

right?

[@elderchildren]

neeedd one of those expression pedal selection switcher boxes

[@danielhammond6987]

Love Idles, Love noise, Love this!!!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Love you for watching. Thanks!

[@sizgandan3623]

Pedals in value on the board - $10,000 2 strap buttons with lockings - $5 Nah put some tape on instead

[@admit8318]

Thats gonna ruin finish on guitar, what a shame !

[@sentriesband]

@@admit8318 that tele got smashed to bits at a gig not even a year later, don't think Lee is worrying much about the finish

[@johnkaeding784]

Strap locks are for sellouts and posers! go IDLES!

[@tonye9045]

Lee is such an amazingly creative player. His work with Bowen is up there with Graham Coxon for me. One of the few people who made me re-evaluate guitars.

[@TheFarout69]

That's about the size of my board, two man carry. I built a riveted roadcase for my pedals about 2'x4'. It's like a big playground.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

lots of fun to be had!

[@Ethyl.breaks]

Those adidas Sox tho lol

[@sixteenofmay6203]

What you expect : some distorsion stuff & cool riff from Idles. What you really got : Electro noise music. Amazing.

[@ernezlightjr.5508]

That sound is out of this world. You can send a message to space and bring down aliens with that.

[@stephendre2902]

This dude seems awesome. I wish he was in a band I could listen to.

[@VOID_42]

well he is, the band is called IDLES. They Kick ass trust me, such a great band....

[@mico5003]

Dream board! Hopefully I will able to buy stammen and twin peaks from drolo fx. And fuzzes, heaven!

[@seanclaytongray8153]

Stellar Chromatic used to get sooooo pissed when I rearanged my board the night before a show and rightfully so,and 10 years later,I still dozens of years Later I'm still changing my pedal order constantly,switcher or patchbay can help this affliction,and the Ryan Adam's pedal would benefit you emencly with the tone treble thing I bet,or a seperate channel parallel with the elhx bass machine is also a great way to avoid treble with a volume into your second channel where I have always kept my Ep3,using my clean channel as the second constant always on,but not always with signal of that make since to anyone,thatbway you can a/b to it,or y to both,and/or volume to it,and it kills anything to digital from killing the analogue soul of your rig,unless you want the soul to hide from the Collective,for a surprise atack!

[@Obradoom]

"a video of Ed O'Brien with some pedals" .....you watched That Pedal Show, admit it! WE ALL DO!

[@danielcarter3928]

what amp is he using? is it a Marshall SV20?

[@castrucciocastracani0]

He's playing the SC20 in a video for Marshall

[@MerlvdMarkt]

Weird question maybe, but what patch cables is he using? Is that Neutrik?

[@Donald666]

Ye !

[@bobzmuda3456]

should hook this guy up with Dan from The GigRig, the sonic exploration would be exponential

[@thiskingbusiness]

The sonic exploration would be.....rapid....extremely rapid increase? I dont understand how sonic exploration can be exponential, seems like you have used the word in the wrong context. Fear not, every day is a school day :)

[@SerjBassist]

Well, he was already using GigRig's A-B-Y switcher there. Bowen was already using a G3, and I think in PG's Rig Rundown Lee says he's working to have one as well

[@PaintingTableVideos]

Someone get this guy a JANUS ;)

[@paulversey6589]

Dam I had my eye on some drolo pedals.. Now the used market is gonna rocket. Great vid though.

[@Keverton13]

I've got the Molecular Disruptor pedal and it's brilliant.

[@sameccleston8673]

Lee goes merzbow?

[@iamgodbringmecake]

Cool man. This is My kinda stuff. I dig idles. Gotta see ‘em now

[@KevinBrighton]

Vena Cava FTW

[@joshphillips3171]

Aye this is sick! Maybe you can try get fontaines dc or shame on the show too? Keep em coming

[@Ethyl.breaks]

You could literally interchange either of those guitarists and it’s the same info . All in the rhythm hand. Reverb and chorus

[@Ethyl.breaks]

More emphasis on the upstroke rather than the downstroke

[@NIREVES27]

Why using a wah pedal when you can use the evil filter with an expression pedal

[@BathedInMilk]

Hell yes. Love IDLES

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Glad we can deliver for you Leo. Thanks for watching!

[@finlayfatknees]

Only made it 7 minutes in but yeah I hate it when my equipment malfunctions as well.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

We'll take seven minutes. Thanks for watching!

[@finlayfatknees]

@@EarthQuakerDevices 😀 I hope it's apparent that I'm having a laugh. I'm very fond of EQD. 😊 Thanks for the awesome designs and pushing the limits. 👍

[@bobzmuda3456]

sonic vvizard

[@Diebold410]

The way he dropped that guitar on the ground made me cringe lol

[@highgateclub6498]

Using the Trem to cut up the frozen grab from the Stamme[n] is a proper scene 13:18. Then.. take the B string, fold it over the G string and you’ve got a bell 16:38 🔔 ..Then expression pedal malarkey on ‘Model Village’ 19:19

[@AshStGreen]

If I were a guitarist - I would be Lee.

[@NathanielPrinceCoulter]

Pretty gassy

[@markferguson3745]

Having been at it in the " experimental" field for some decades, I've a good idea of what pedals here are vital, and which are redundant. The Lucy Dreamer, Grey Channel,Arrows and Interstellar OD are all very basic and offer nothing special; a Hoof Reaper and basic Klon clone( like J Rockett or Bondi) would do the whole job, especially combined with an old school Treble Booster( like the discontinued Bows). Getting basic gratifying clean to Fuzz tones should be the more straightforward part, with the rest being the more specifically personal. Lay that to rest first, and then concentrate on pedal order and how the more structural effects interact; the biggest thing is always to keep it engaging and fun, versus being overwhelmed by option paralysis.

[@waltersmetak]

Frankly, get an euro rig.

[@the-creech4790]

I'm sorry. I found absolutely nothing musical in this video. Why not just get an old Moog or something like that for noises and play the guitar as it was intended? Seems like it would be more effective...

[@mikeroadblock]

I wasn’t feeling all of it either. I love noise, just not feeling it.

[@Keverton13]

I'm sorry I disagree strongly. I thought it was very musical and I enjoy experimentation with guitars and pedals.

[@benjaminfowler4513]

Freedom of choice and all that, I love this kinda stuff. I didn't catch what he was using to freeze notes but if anyone knows please lmk

[@senojnomis]

To each their own, but there's a lot musical about the aggressive, passionate punk noise that IDLES produce as a band. It isn't as easy as it looks to be creative with wild noises like this.

[@MattKeenanMusic]

You find plenty of musicality in their band Idles- this noise makes a lot of sense in context