Rig Rundown: Matt Sweeney & Emmett Kelly of Superwolves

Full Rig Details: bit.ly/SuperwolvesRR
Matt Sweeney doesn’t want to dazzle you with rock guitar. That’s boring. That’s lazy. At least to him. He wants to mesmerize you.
“Really, that’s the point of music: to get people’s minds off of whatever and to hypnotize them a little bit,” Sweeney told PG in 2021. After beginning his Superwolves collaboration with Will Oldham, “that’s when I thought, ‘Cool, I did the thing that I wanted to do. I can fingerpick now and I can play with a really great singer who is working in an idiom that I hadn’t worked in before.’
“I started playing with Will and that gave me the opportunity to keep developing the way that I was playing, because it went well with his singing. After a couple of years, that led to Will suggesting that we write songs together.”
The audible opiate that Sweeney provides has also cast his spell over the works of Rick Rubin, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Adele, Cat Power, Run the Jewels, Chavez, John Legend, Zwan (collaboration with Billy Corgan), Tinariwen, “Cowboy” Jack Clement, Billy Gibbons, and Margo Price. And with every episode of hypnosis comes a trance-breaking snapback. Providing that rhythmic recoil is Sweeney’s current foil, Emmett Kelly. Both have worked with Oldham, but until now-in the current Superwolves line-up-never together.
Kelly steps into the fold with an indie and outsiders Rolodex filled with names like Ty Segall, Angel Olson, Azita, Cairo Gang, Mikal Cronin, The C.I.A., Earth Girl Helen Brown, Magic Trick, Doug Paisley, and Joan of Arc. Sweeney sums up their guitar-nership with his typical, sly-and-dry snark: “What’s important about the way me and Emmett play together is that we never talk about it [laughs]. It’s true! He’s like the best guitar player. He’s a master at making everything sound better. We’ve both worked together-but mostly separately-with our singer Will Oldham, and it was his suggestion that we should all go out together [without bass and drums] because it should be good. But really, we’ve never had to talk about it, and we just play. It’s been a lot of fun.”
So, when PG’s Chris Kies recently connected with Sweeney and Kelly, they were providing a guitar backdrop for a headlining set fronted by Bonnie “Prince” Billy Oldham at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge, supporting Sweeney and Billy’s 2021 release, Superwolves. While the conversation with both does cover their spartan setups, the meat of the message is how gear is a tool for storytelling, humility, and liberation. Oh … but Kelly does reveal a Japanese gem that takes a guitar signal and reanimates it into anime speech-like phrases!
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[Brought to you by D’Addario XS Electric Strings: www.daddario.com/XSERR]
00:00 - D’Addario XS Electric String
00:15 - Matt Sweeney Intro
01:19 - Matt Sweeney's Fingerstyle Approach
10:36 - 1976 Gibson ES-335TD
13:34 - Fender ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb reissue
15:24 - Matt Sweeney's Pedalboard
20:01 - Matt Sweeney on Playing with Emmett Kelly
22:24 - Emmett Kelly Intro
22:54 - 1990s Fender (MIJ) Jerry Donahue Signature Telecaster
26:17 - Emmett Kelly's Pedalboard
34:46 - Korg Miku Stomp
#rigrundown #mattsweeney #emmettkelly

[@premierguitar]

Full Rig Details: bit.ly/SuperwolvesRR Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@Walrus286]

Can you please do one of these with Doug Martsch? Find a way.

[@wheresallthezombies]

Guitar moves was such a cool show.

[@FarmerSlideJoeBob]

And he's fuckin' back: kzbin.infofO19ZsxC-24?si=6SD-IazrvxNJhKok 😃😃

[@PMurray2694]

And it's coming back 😎

[@PMurray2694]

And it's coming back 😎

[@marlon3]

been waiting to see matt sweeney in one of these, such a killer player

[@mesadude]

He literally rocks. (Back and forth)

[@stevenjeandetroit]

You beat me to it..... Something neurological most likely.... doesn't look normal.

[@philhd6539]

@@stevenjeandetroit He‘s most likely an alcoholic and going through withdrawals.

[@shapdanone]

@@philhd6539 lol he's quite a fit person

[@user-tm5ru2bb8t]

Emmett Kelley is the shit, it's great to hear him talk so deeply about guitar

[@SuperRbert]

He is standing on tiny rocking chairs

[@stanknugget]

He needs a drink.

[@jean-philippemorin1176]

Well this is rock music ins't it? :)

[@T-Hawkeyes]

I came here to watch Chris interview his Dad.

[@ricardosalcedo2824]

Sweeney's tone on the first Superwolf record is one of my favoruite guitar tones ever. He somewhat reminds of the sounds that Daniel Lanois too.

[@howlinthewilderness]

He’s got that same Lanois mojo for me too. It’s all in the fingers.

[@baseboardmatt]

That dude could make any gtr sound great.

[@baseboardmatt]

Matt is the best! He’s on all the Run The Jewels records… and so much more. Definitely a hero of mine. Unsung AF.

[@melihkaleciklioglu]

He is??:0

[@Mandibularmenace]

Apparently he’s also on 4 tracks from Adele’s “21” which also have Chris Dave and Pino Palladino on them

[@sspipes8739]

Please, please, please do a rig rundown with Ty

[@tresjames]

Thanks for this. Been following Sweeney and Kelly for a while. Great to see Emmett Kelly's set up and words about music.

[@ppaaccco]

Nice to see recognition for some great guitar players like Emmett and Sweeney. Inspiring and oblique anti-rigs designed strictly for musical purposes. tonez for dayz.

[@gobbohunter]

The entire time Emmett was talking, I could just feel that Miku pedal looming in the background

[@thedondeluxe6941]

(Insert drug here) is a helluva drug.

[@Daniel-sz2pe]

Been wanting to see Emmet Kelly's setup, my favorite guitar player :))

[@timhulio1]

Great to see his three Fredric Effects pedals!

[@deaconddd]

These guys approach to guitar is what the modern guitar world needs. Love it and very inspired.

[@regisfilia]

Any guitar dude who starts out talking about being inspired by Charo's playing is a good dude.

[@stevendavidson391]

This has been one of the most interesting Rig Rundowns in a while

[@GrandOldPainter]

Emmett is a wizard freak, thank earth he is here the same time I am!

[@iwillnevergetone5]

for anyone who is unfamiliar, go listen to Chavez right now. Sweeney has been giving us musical gold for years n years

[@Tyrannosaurine]

Chavez were so ahead of their time. Matt has this amazing ability to combine airy melody and stinging dissonance in such an interesting and unique way.

[@iwillnevergetone5]

i agree 100% those melodies against the rhythms were insane @@Tyrannosaurine

[@iansmith9125]

Break up your band 🤘

[@heathband]

this is so great. saw them in SF recently w Little Wings. Top shelf

[@wilburwokeii8298]

Great job!

[@curveofthemountain]

Fantastic, thank you

[@alexstewart839]

Matt Sweeney played on my favorite recent Stephen Malkmus album. my favorite recent Iggy Pop album, and the Superwolf sequel! Good for him. He's doing great work.

[@briansugent7455]

Matt Sweeney !!! that bastard still owes me per diem for the last day I worked as Skunk’s soundman thirty years ago !! and where the hell is Coleman ??!! Coleman !!!

[@RandallBrownStuff]

Great chat!

[@-k-b-]

Matt is a great man! His interview series he had where he'd just shoot the shit with a bunch of different guitarists is a gold mine! Also that's wild he uses flats, I just started using them and they are so much fun! I'm using "medium" gauge strings (56-13) and they're great for playing in lower tunings and not having the fret buzz makes distorted riffs sound super clean.

[@nickjensen8532]

i love Matt Sweeney

[@sarcasticsasquatch]

Yesss!!! Matt sweeney is the man

[@highlandradioofficial5824]

Sweeney is such an incredible player, great to see him on here.

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

What kind ? You mean guitar player? Really?

[@highlandradioofficial5824]

@@vintagepipesnightmares no hate but why do you comment if you don’t like it? Just move on, you don’t like it but seek out opportunities in the comments to disagree with people? That’s not the way to be, surely. I love his playing and you don’t, so weird to look for a disagreement.

[@Creed_fan_69]

Matt’s the best. Epitome of Dudes Rockin.

[@Alexsrecords]

It’s incredible to see Emmett rocking some Frederic pedals, I use the Mutant Fuzz, fantastic pedal

[@CamBaldeon]

This dude’s spun

[@loganlafountain8754]

Love you Matt

[@danielcarter3928]

love the Uncle Acid shirt

[@yak6896]

musician=artist. these guys are. comes with awkwardness & art/music over explanations. good vid.

[@JudgeFredd]

Love Matt

[@bladebaker6000]

Emmett rules.

[@DolemiteSammich]

It is refreshing seeing other players with a similar take on gear as my own. No need to spend a ton of money or time, just play.

[@MichaelDrums35]

Dudes doped up

[@yobhsiFehT]

I didn’t know there were guitar geeks left who didn’t know the Miku, but I welcome you into the fold with open, noodly arms 😂🤷🏼‍♂️❤️

[@andrewpappas9311]

I honestly never thought I’d see a Miku pedal in a Rig Rundown but I love it, that’s genuinely amazing to me

[@peteytwofinger]

bike chain masterlink pedal mounting is my jam .

[@bukwok]

matt's body keep moving, like a metronome, around 110 bpm. everybody, yeah rock your body right backstreet's back alright!

[@pim2paul]

supernice

[@lesjayco7785]

After that I feel sea sick. He’s surfing without a wave

[@otsop]

Ty Segall rig rundown WHEN?

[@rhllnm]

Always loved David Lindley's lap steel phaser sound. Phasers are good.

[@ST-xg3gy]

That Blackstrap high dollar!

[@jasonbaidya231]

His body is groovin most off the time.

[@rvanstar]

Epic ..

[@lucamoqi]

Those guys at Lombardi are located just 15 minutes away from my house. They make incredible stuff.

[@scampoli25]

Looks like Matt did some nose clams before this interview

[@vwharman]

Man, you should see his interview with Dean Ween. Dean and Matt both are just gacked.

[@biffstronghold3926]

4:58 He's playing some variation of 'Spike Driver Blues' by Mississippi John Hurt

[@PolaritySoundscapes]

Amazing there's people here that never heard of Matt Sweeney and the bands he's worked with.

[@daktari9]

When will you guys do a Midnight Oil rig rundown. Best band from Oz are in the USA at the moment

[@howlinthewilderness]

Matt isn’t the most vocally articulate guy, but I get exactly where’s he’s coming from.

[@danielcarter3928]

Emmett Kelly is the man

[@aaronhoffenberg371]

Does anyone know what video Emmett was talking about at 35 minutes?

[@FJBF1998]

BRING BACK GUITAR MOVES OR WE RIOT Please and thank you lol

[@s0meguy25]

Time to get a phase 90 to keep turned on forever

[@Hortron69]

Tried flatwound and ground wound, the best of both worlds

[@whatsabryan]

I stopped using a pick when I was told I was holding it incorrectly in my first formal guitar lesson. If there’s a “wrong” way to hold it, why would I bother? My fingers are attached to me. Impossible to use them incorrectly.

[@thecommondingus]

*squeak* *squeak* *squeak* *squeak*

[@rickyl9540]

Hot cake pedals are great. If you turn the gain up to 3 o clock it will sustain like Neil Young. Made here in New Zealand!

[@jensk4140]

I'll probably buy one!

[@adamfstewart81]

Any Zwan fans out there?

[@kierenmoore3236]

Korg Miku Stomp: “I’m the least usable pedal on Earth … 😊” The Fart Pedal: “Hold my sake …” 😶‍🌫️💨💨💨💨💨

[@louderthangod]

I just don’t like the attack of fingerstyle on guitar but I use hybrid picking a lot. You just can’t chug properly with your fingers. Imagine Hetfield or Scott Ian playing thrash riffs without a pick…it just wouldn’t have the punch. For arpeggiated and wide-interval chords are beautiful with the fingers though. Flat’s are great with Strat’s and Tele’s.

[@ryanoconnor4279]

Agreed.

[@eliberdinner4808]

To chug with your fingers you just gotta be willing to bleed.

[@gregmize01]

The dispatch master is such a great pedal!

[@dwillc6621]

There's this new technology... it's called Velcro!

[@rosettag7292]

First time seeing a Miku on a board, bold.

[@rolandstuetz1974]

Verzerrer simply is the german word for distortion

[@theplourde]

I’m not used to seeing Chris without a mustache

[@frankybebop2913]

Deep cats!

[@jonnybeck6723]

I'm the Hoochie Coochie man and Charo is the Hoochie Coochie Woman!!! (I only WISH!)

[@mattdee23]

One man of Chavez

[@tonykey83]

The fingerstyle-approach reminds me of Alain Johannes... check his live solo with TCV: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqbip1oe6iUmJY

[@micktheman6]

Every finger picker says you can do everything without a pick but can you do tremolo picking or pinch harmonics with ease without a pick ? Killer player though.

[@ryanoconnor4279]

Agreed. There are many things that using a flat pick allows you to do that are impossible with fingers only

[@Caveira138]

I had a buddy that was a finger player and sounded like Dimebag. If you're good enough you can do it.

[@darwinsaye]

Pinch harmonics are actually easier with no pick if your nails are the right length. When I do a downstroke with my index finger nail, all I have to do is angle my finger slightly and the flesh of my fingertip will catch the string as it follows through, creating the harmonic. To be honest, I have to be careful to not accidentally be doing harmonics on every pick stroke, it’s that easy. But yeah, for staccato picking, no technique is as effective as just using a pick.

[@micktheman6]

@@darwinsaye I like my nails short when playing so I’ll never get there glad you can though.

[@Daniel-sz2pe]

You can use several fingers on one string for tremolo, mostly a technique that classical players use

[@aminkhariman8188]

Mantapppp

[@ashrafimaduddin8162]

Bila turn kau? GAS for miku stomp now

[@larrylampshade1734]

6:43 thought he was going to play Maps

[@Roger-il8iw]

Drugs is a hell of a drug

[@turboface]

van halen guy

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

ZWAN

[@28469]

He’s a lot taller than I thought he was

[@stevenjeandetroit]

Something neurological going on with Sweeny..... the rocking back and forth while standing is a little odd.

[@kathleenhutton1566]

👀

[@larsmkristensen]

CHAVEZ

[@lawlaw1]

don't do coke before interview

[@yakhanmaeum]

Ha ha

[@darklight4815]

this had to be a tough interview ...that dude was hard to talk to until the end.

[@maxjacobstein]

Cocaine?

[@monoonlagoon7641]

He seemed not very into it here almost angry and sarcastic, please give Matt beers or something before these interview rundown things

[@ryanoconnor4279]

I am sorry but there are many things you cant do without a pick such as Bo Diddley strumming, downpick chugs w/ power chords, tremolo picking, pinch harmonics. Fingers are too warm and found sounding. You can learn how to make a pick soundc fatter and warmer…

[@Valaskjold]

Who cares?

[@eliberdinner4808]

You can do it all if you grow your nails and are willing to bleed.

[@iamryanman]

I’m getting edgy just watching this !

[@remedyzskate]

Cocaine = hell of a drug

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

What the 🤬. Lay off the blow Sweetie.

[@aschneider70]

Freaks.

[@primeDecomposition]

Imagine being like 50 and still being as awkward as a teenager going through puberty, lol these two guys…

[@ghostface_grilla1155]

😴

[@ileutur6863]

This dude seems to have some weird resentment towards rock music. To each their own I guess, I've just never heard this mentality before

[@darwinsaye]

Not every guitarist is interested in being a “rock” player, but when the general public sees you with an electric guitar, they have a stereotyped expectation that they should hear typical classic/blues based rock. When you are doing something different or your own thing on guitar, those stereotyped expectations can be frustrating. It’s like that thing where a band steps on a stage and some idiot in the back always yells “Freebird” even if it’s a jazz band or a metal band, or a funk band or whatever. The rock resentment attitude in a guitarist is understandable, and not unheard of.

[@ileutur6863]

@@darwinsaye so the resentment is misdirected. Instead of resenting the extremely broad and creative genre of rock music, resent the dumb crowds

[@primeDecomposition]

Eh, typical hipster attitude.