Rig Rundown - Baroness' John Baizley & Gina Gleason

Creating one concept album is a daunting task for any band. So, the fact that Southern prog-metal steamroller Baroness just capped off their color-coded, 5-part odyssey (2007’s Red, 2009’s Blue, 2012’s Yellow & Green, and 2015’s Purple) with 2019’s Gold & Grey, is no small feat. But the idea that John Baizley (the lone founding member and visual leader) still has a band is the bigger accomplishment. For one, during a 2012 world tour in England, the band’s tour bus careened down a viaduct near Bath and severely injured numerous bandmembers and crew personnel. Following that turmoil, then bassist Matt Maggioni and drummer Allen Blickle left the band.
Get the band's gear: bit.ly/BaronessRR
Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundo...
Enter bassist Nick Jost and drummer Sebastian Thompson. The fresh synergy from new members and raw emotions still bubbling from the crash fueled the stalwart guitar combo of Peter Adams and John Baizley, ultimately earning the band its most critical praise, including and a Grammy nod for “Best Metal Performance” on Purple’s “Shock Me.” (Check out our 2015 interview with Peter Adams and John Baizley.) And after another grueling run of dates, Peter Adams decided to leave the band to focus on family life back home. This left Baizley, once again, in the need of a musical chair to be filled.
At the time, guitarist Gina Gleason was busy in Las Vegas working as the Muse in Michael Jackson: One by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. While browsing the interwebs in search of new gear, as guitarists do, she noticed fuzz fanatic Steve Strohm of Philly Fuzz was not only based in her hometown (duh, Philadelphia), but he was building them in her family’s neighborhood. She had to have one for two reasons-she was after a germanium-based snarler and she wanted to support a local artisan. Purchase complete.
But before the pedal was shipped, part-time associate and Philly Fuzz friend, John Baizley sent Gleason a quick note on Instagram and the two hit it off. Instead of shipping the pedal, Baizley invited her over to his house to test out some other Philly Fuzz creations and to jam on his smorgasbord of equipment. The two kept in touch and whenever they crossed paths and had time in Philly, they jammed.
They talked about working on a side project, but let’s be honest, Gina played a muse once in the King of Pop production, so it seems apropos she’d spark a new musical start for this chiseled rock band to help them finish their pentalogy. Her swaggering presence is best felt alongside Baizley, when their symbiotic relationship is most powerful with seething, dueling guitar riffs (“Borderlines”) and evocative harmonized vocals (“Cold-Bolded Angels”) that season Gold & Grey like new spices reinvigorating your mother’s prized dish.
Before Baroness’ Nashville gig at the Cannery Ballroom, PG’s Chris Kies stopped by after soundcheck (and before an acoustic set at Music City’s Grimey’s record shop) to see how the band who once adorned humbuckers and full stacks onstage now slay with offsets and T-styles that chime and grind through a pile-up of small-wattage tube combos designed for high headroom and pedal manipulation. After a lengthy chat with John Baizley and Gina Gleason about their new full-Fender setups, each guitarist slings on a 6-string and shows off their stomp stations that illicit everything from spacious tranquility to mondo crush.
#rigrundown #metal #baroness

[@premierguitar]

Get the band's gear: bit.ly/BaronessRR Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL

[@hawg427]

Is that a picture of a Daschund on her T-Shirt? Best dog around.

[@GearBoxTy]

"They are slammed so if it seems like we are talking fast..." forty-nine minutes later...

[@shanedeel2]

@metalsupporter95

[@oimonsexmann]

such a great piece of insight. some people who don't really follow his workmight be thinking john's just talking out of his ass, BUT if you only take a look at his graphic design work, you know he know's what he is doing, when he is passionate about his work, like in the same way he is talking about gear in this video. he is the real deal.

[@davidjoseph7862]

Awesome band and they seem like really genuine people who love what they do. This interview was great. 👍

[@pcaruso1987]

interviewer face when John plays Morningstar is priceless

[@PMAWoodner]

This is an amazing episode. Kudos to the band for being so thoughtful about their sound and generous with their expertise!!

[@JHKNVY02]

Awesome humans! Great music - great folks! Baroness FTW!

[@negromister]

I saw them with Deafheaven and their tone was super interesting. Refreshing, I'd say.

[@715creeks]

Daniel Narváez saw them in Edmonton with Deafheaven! Definitely interesting to see a dude rocking a strat in a metal band. They were awesome

[@WalrusDoom]

I remember seeing them open for Converge on the tour for Yellow and Green, and the guitar was way too low in the mix. I think Baizley had just started using Bad Cats then.

[@negromister]

@@715creeks Same tour, I saw them in Toronto.

[@michaelludovici620]

I've been waiting for this specific rundown for a looooong time

[@michaelwtapp]

I like how the interviewer is so familiar with their catalogue.

[@austinbohlmann9859]

I wonder if John and Gina have jammed on a Music Man. The way they were describing the tone and attack of their Fender gear reminded me a lot of how I feel about those...

[@gerritkusenberg3600]

Man, John and Gina should so get on that pedal show and geek out with Dan and Mick 😁

[@nickmelchior8169]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZK5ZZqQj7eresk

[@stuminnis4050]

That exact episode of TPS exists, though maybe it happened after you posted this comment.

[@guguslive]

I have felt like this about Fender gear for a long time and just found how to explain it in human words!!

[@OslerWannabe]

"Soundscapeyness." Outstanding.

[@gastonmacmillan4849]

I am now a huge Gina Gleason fan.

[@McBlaster666]

Gina's come a long way since I saw her in Misstallica.

[@kylem8127]

Great to hear about the thoughtfulness behind what I heard in a brilliant and thoughtful album. I totally feel validated to hear this and love the album.

[@snicker576]

Hello, Kyle M lol

[@dysfunctionalmariachi995]

Been waiting for this one! That fuzz though! Wooo!!!!

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

Never knew this was done! I just found their “that pedal show” episode as well. I’m god Damn late to the party

[@ZzzzzzzxxxzzzYZ4]

Love when Chris does the run downs

[@ideospheremusic8002]

King Buffalo rig rundown, make it happen! I love his guitar tones and want to know how he does it. Good to see some stoner rock bands being covered. Sounds like someone is getting paid from Fender here!

[@Updog89]

They did one! Look it up!

[@ideospheremusic8002]

@@Updog89 I did see, that, glad they listened hah!

[@tolearnfear3467]

Baroness is Gem

[@hardyharhar9]

Gina is a beast.

[@anibalresendezpulido]

how many times did they say "like"?

[@stephen9944]

She knows her shit!

[@romanlanzas508]

that pedal portion feels insane lmao

[@johnnyfountainS]

Gina Gleason reminds me of a young Angela gossow.

[@jorgecl6228]

No bass :(

[@guitfiddler79]

Was really hoping to see that white double neck John plays on "Isak." :(

[@jef-fry5787]

"illusion of tone that volume gets"??? Say that to Matt Pike .

[@jef-fry5787]

@@andrewsherwood5341 Very true. Thanks

[@TheEowli]

Matt Pike gets his tone from being shirtless, not volume

[@ileutur6863]

@@jef-fry5787 matt pike wouldn't hear you from the hearing loss

[@Janine.Najarian]

It's 2020 and we're still calling Jazzmaster pickups P90s

[@davidwilson6577]

Gina just laughing at the guy at the end of the first part is brutal. 26:05

[@giantrobot95]

Gina sounds so Philly here.

[@rollingon5566]

Hey dudes, jazzmaster pickups aren't p90's, even if they're wound fatter, thanks

[@johnnyfountainS]

She talks like Rachelf.

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

That guy talks ALOT

[@endezeichengrimm]

This would have been 10 minutes if he hadn't talked so damn much.

[@KristianHeartmusic]

I really feel like the lead singer is pissing Gina off an talking over her let her talk is it just me that notices this ?

[@mustang501000]

Holy talk a lot. Trying to make sure everyone knows their sound is unique. Land the plane and show the gear....!

[@danielsanguino7856]

Man let her speak!

[@joakimengstrom4924]

I Like Baroness , but considdering how the new album sounded... theyre not ones to talk tone anymore...

[@BeefGeneral]

their live sound is amazing

[@NolalanD]

Gina is groovy. I want to make cables with her. Man I love these guys' guitar sound, its such a wide palate. Who needs a synth player!

[@slammah5010]

Gina is HOT

[@MrBraduardo]

"The unintentional squeal is always welcome"

[@PisauraXTX]

SLEEP

[@endezeichengrimm]

23:18 Facial expressions looks like she thinks he is bullshitting. She might move on from this band.

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

Endezeichen Grimm got the feeling he tries to control when she can talk and what she can say...def seems like a controlling guy

[@endezeichengrimm]

@@Livelaughlimpbizkit Yeah. There is a very awkward vibe there.

[@shanedeel2]

I couldn't tell if she was tired of his mouth or in love with him.

[@8Junio76]

Gina ‘like’ Gleason.

[@Muddybagclean]

Jesus Loves You

[@ericdavid199]

Like, uhhh like um. yeah like... like

[@unfreundlich7168]

" blabla single coil blabla" John Baizley ........ muhahahahahaaaaa what a f...head

[@robinmorris5416]

Ugh! I counted that she said "like" 14,746 times during this rundown. Don't believe me? , Fact check it!

[@billyturk8117]

Her voice is so much deeper than his haha wtf

[@alterreifen]

What's with the jihad beard?

[@RashidSivaji]

Like, Gina's voice is kinda annoying.

[@sam19270]

You are kinda annoying

[@RashidSivaji]

​@@sam19270 How long did it take you to come up with that absolute banger of a comeback?

[@sam19270]

@@RashidSivaji How long will it take you to figure out how to watch a different video if the subject bothers you?

[@RashidSivaji]

Sam are you liking your own comments? It had 1 like immediately after you posted it lmao. Also the subject of this video is a rig rundown, which I enjoy, not her voice, which I don’t.

[@sam19270]

@@RashidSivaji It's a video of a Rig Rundown of Baroness, of which, Gina is a member. Why would you complain about her voice when you can just press mute or watch a different video? Why does your dislike of her voice need to be made public? Just move on dude.

[@DareBear2099]

Gina literally saying out loud what I’m thinking about a Gibson through a full stack Marshal “that shit is awesome though...”. Thanks Gina :-)

[@natronbetticus]

you could visibly see her disagreement with what john was saying building before she spoke up

[@Einherjer895]

I need more Gina nerding out to pedals in my life

[@johnfrenette]

Lucas Mendieta honest to god. She could have a whole KZbin channel of her just dicking around with stuff and I’d watch every episode. You can tell she clearly loves to do that. I don’t think the interviewer anticipated her demonstrating things in quite that much detail. She’s so cool.

[@toastoftowne1076]

She makes me smile

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

@@johnfrenette Agreed, just her doing nerdy gear videos is a show and I'd watch every day.

[@dante316a]

That pedal show

[@dennisgodshalk]

Gina sold me an acoustic guitar in GC once.... Nice to see she moved up in the world....

[@lukeweiler1192]

Dennis Godshalk hhhhwhat ? No way that’s awesome.

[@2chows1dude]

That’s really awesome! No kidding I worked at GC for like 2 months before I couldn’t take it Stoked to see she really leveled up yew!

[@AlexGordonMusic]

If you didn’t ask her out on a date you’re a disappointment

[@isildur241]

Gina is... A Treasure

[@shanedeel2]

For someone who doesn't have much time, John is a talker.

[@MetalSupporter95]

?

[@shanedeel2]

@@MetalSupporter95 at the beginning, they said they had to be quick because so busy, then rambled on forever.

[@MetalSupporter95]

@@shanedeel2 oh i thought you wrote stalker instead of talker lol.

[@shanedeel2]

@@MetalSupporter95 haha

[@patriclus83]

Maybe he has a subconscious facial tick or something, but he doesn't stop moving his jaw and mouth around when he is just standing there while the other two are talking. Hmmm.....

[@HaikalHanafiah]

Gina got me after i saw her on Two midnight to Late Night, good player

[@johnfrenette]

Haikal Hanafiah YES! I became an instant fan. I already liked Baroness a lot-the Red album blew me away. But seeing her on that show, and finding out she was the new member and that they had a new album coming got me so fired up. Two Minutes is crazy and awesome in its own way, and she was such a cool guest.

[@qmano123]

I'm not familiar with the band but John seems like a guy who would destroy you in the comments if you'd put your pedals in the "incorrect" order.

[@obscurebandfan]

Gina seems sweet and humble. John definitely has that "artistic guy ego" thing in how he interrupts Gina.

[@eightiesjockname]

I was trying to figure out if it was that or if it was just a bit of camera anxiety. People tend to blurt and blab a lot more when there's a camera recording.

[@sammadden5540]

Glad this happened, but where's Nick Jost?

[@FangAndCompany]

I love how Gina super seamlessly hopped in to talk about Jazzmaster V-Mod pickups right as John finished talking about the PU weirdness.

[@ThePowerman121]

There was a time that if you played a Stratocaster of a Tele in a metal band, you’d get made fun of. It’s great to see how much focus they put into their tone. This really shows through during their live shows

[@BeefGeneral]

John is normally pretty quiet and reserved. Gets excited and nerds out over gear and tone on a video once. Comments: He TaLkS tOo MuCh

[@johnstrh1]

seriously lol. I think people forget that others get nervous in social situations. If she took offense I'm sure she would let him know.

[@adamsatur7277]

I wish John would stop interrupting Gina. I’d love to actually hear her finish a thought without being cut short.

[@Josh-it6uy]

@Stephen Docherty imagine being you

[@jimjambananaslam3596]

@Stephen Docherty Your jokes are as weak as your sphincter muscle.

[@Ibaneddie76]

I caught that too and I'm not even a crazy politically correct cancel culture person, I just found it rude.

[@mico5003]

He has a bullsh*&t detector. Watch out... What a guitarist she is!

[@davenwatts8173]

@Stephen Docherty what made you think that was it the boobs or the shapely shaved legs with short shorts

[@jmnaceno1335]

Watched it only for THE Gina

[@mattdogbro]

I dont have a primary guitar............this white fender strat is my primary guitar

[@dougleydorite]

That’s only while he has it in his hands though l. The next one he grabs will be his next primary instrument

[@iceberglettuce1129]

Yay literally the other day I was thinking Baroness should have a Rig Rundown. I love their music and Gina is one of my inspirations for learning electric guitar

[@lukeweiler1192]

Iceberg Lettuce they had one waaaaay back from blue record it was a quickie w/Pete.

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

I’ve seen them live twice in the past 6 months. They bring so much energy and love live. If you haven’t seen them, check them out. So awesome.

[@johnfrenette]

The Gospel of Mark just know I’m very, very jealous. None of their stops were near me.

[@nickod1353]

An Alexisonfire episod would be really appreciated guys! I love what you re doing, that's super interesting to know more about rig's artists

[@dezionlion]

I clicked on this to hear Gina let her talk!

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

How much Adderall did he take before the interview? Idk. But GREAT BAND! Saw them in Charleston SC a couple weeks ago

[@makidiaz3894]

90mg prolly. Definitely not 30

[@undericesinger]

I saw Gina years ago in Misstallica when she played in Delaware. She forgot the words to "For Whom the Bell Tolls" but it reminded me that EVERYONE DOES lol.

[@chrisegg7936]

holy crap I think John knows the ins and outs of the G2 better than Dan does

[@brockvond1967]

I'm just glad someone out there is using the MXR Super Badass Distortion pedal. its a totally underrated pedal.

[@bwgti]

Really? What is it good for? Serious question. I may have to go pick one up.

[@Edwa72]

I have it and like it.

[@melkon1an]

He went from modest Philly jawn to pseudo intellectual in between rundowns

[@FabianSalomonsson]

Day 397 of asking to see a rig rundown of Chris Kies and John Bolingers gear.

[@GraeMcCullough]

Fabian Salomonsson check out 46:30 of this vid for John Bolinger’s! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6bWYmCZpL6co6s

[@dale8809]

My favorite band of the last ten years. I love the creativity that comes from this band, especially Jon's artwork. I own one of his fuzz pedals and signed prints ...I freaking enjoy them so much.

[@charmicarmicat2981]

I love how about ten years ago Premier Guitar was really brief and wouldn’t go that in depth. And now they cover pmuch everything I want to know and more. I’ve learned so much about tone and sound in general just by watching rig rundowns and by some of my favorite bands no less! Ha ha!

[@lukeweiler1192]

Evan Drane word! yeah the last baroness rig rundown w/pete from blue record was brief but.... it might have been a tour they didn’t have stage like this to go in depth with there gear. Not sure if they were headlining venues on blue record tour when premier guitar met up with them.

[@mikowl5713]

Man I hope John is just high on life and didn't get addicted to pain pills or something when he got in that accident, dude is WIRED.

[@lukeweiler1192]

Yeah at 44 min she is making me want that Disaster Transport SR. Price tag and size of that baby eat $ and board space but it’s a great sound. Love it when ASIWYFA use that EQD pedal too. That would be a cool tour Baroness/And So I watch you From Afar

[@MichaelBogomolny]

One of my favorite bands, thanks!

[@michalrogalski666]

I thought: "Hmm, I haven't check out Premier Guitar, maybe they posted some cool Rig Rundown". So I check it out and they didn't disappoint!

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

Gina was on the show "Two Minutes to Late Night" and was awesome.

[@Suped_BIGRIG_350mph]

Champion Leccy is fantastic. I kind of underestimated the circuitry at first glance seeing the underwear designs but the dude is a mad lad. His Woozy pedal in particular is absolutely wild.

[@Mikeorso]

Gina is such an amazing player.

[@bwgti]

What did she do before this? Beside Las Vegas Michael Jackson show. Seems like she came on board just in the last year or so.

[@pattonPwr]

Orangina

[@andrewkaetz1967]

But Jesus Christ, I am 25 minutes into this vid and they have talked about 3 guitars...

[@jsk8et]

Best add for a Gig Rig 2 I've seen so far! I'd love to see one or each of them on That Pedal Show!

[@MitchPTV]

Well that worked out well

[@GraphTechGuitarLabs]

Best. Rundown. Ever.

[@oakiron6455]

Gina is bae.

[@andrews.7027]

Coming from a punk/hardcore background.....ive always just had the mindset of plug in and destroy! But the older i get the i notice im more into gear and specific tones and pedals etc. This was cool to watch!

[@kevinlane7555]

Sound is in the hands....Gary Moore with a Les Paul and Marshall stack is pretty awesome

[@shanemolloy2824]

These guys are in artistic harmony and on a musical mission. It'd be awesome to play in these guys Rhythm section. If you ever need an up front bass player from Britain....l

[@johnnyfountainS]

Gina's guitar doesn't respond well.

[@marknorris3769]

great interview , so inspiring when the artists are that cool

[@rpelarius8225]

Good interview, bad audio. Use more than the onboard camera mic, sheesh.

[@LoganSmith]

I love how this band is always looking for ways to better their sound and themselves. I'm curious why they don't have any noise gates. When they turn on their dirt it's pretty noisy.

[@715creeks]

Logan Smith interesting theyre also running mostly single coils too. When I saw them live, I found their distortion pretty sharp.

[@suffersystemstudios]

Strangely enough I have found their sound has gotten worse since Pete left. Yellow and Green is the pinnacle for me, couldn't get into anything afterwards.

[@johnnyfountainS]

I want Gina Gleason for yule.

[@JohnPaulSheets]

Nobody cares if the voices are grating or annoying. It’s an interview about gear, not a discussion about individual speech patterns and mannerisms lol. I did think there was a lot of talking and not enough gear though.