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Premier Guitar Magazine



Last Updated: 11/19/2009

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State: Iowa
Country: US
Signup Date: 1/17/2007

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Wednesday, August 19, 2009 
We all know a bass joke or 10, but in reality, bass players are important in a band's sound -- not to mention we've had to fill in on bass more than once.

That's why we dug deep into the low end in September to bring you what every guitarist should know about bass: from tips on how to play bass without sounding like, well, a guitarist, to reviews of bass products. There's plenty of guitar content to keep you occupied if you're unable to shake the superiority complex, too.

In this issue:

Escape from the Doghouse: Fender's Bass Revolution
The story of the evolution of the electric bass from the cumbersome upright

PG at Summer NAMM '09
We pick our faves from the show

PG at Montreal Guitar Show
Check out some of the world's most beautiful guitars you've never heard of before

Alejandro Escovedo
An Austin guitarist who can do it all, Alejandro is becoming Austin's treasured son

Bob Wootton
Former Johnny Cash guitarist is keeping the flame alive

5 Pre-CBS-Inspired Bass Builders You Should Meet
These guys each pay tribute to vintage Ps and Js in their own way

Gear Reviews
Tone Freak Abunai 2 Pedal Review
Elrick Expat Series New Jazz Standard Platinum Series e-volution Single Cut 5 Bass Reviews
Line 6 LowDown LD400 Pro Bass Amp Review
Charvel So-Cal 1 2H Guitar Review
Spector Euro5LX EX & NS-5H2 FM Bass Reviews
Anderberg Custom Guitars Wille Guitar Review
Peavey Studio Special 1.5 Amp Review
Komet 19 Amp Head Review
8:33 PM 
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Monday, March 23, 2009 

Category: Music
I know it feels like just yesterday we were holding the March issue in our hands, cooing over the pretty Nash Strat on the cover and soaking in little kernels of recording wisdom. They grow up so fast.

April is here, and we couldn't be happier to introduce this issue to our MySpace family. There are a lot of big stories in this issue, but if we had to narrow it down, we'd say that the reviews are the star this month.

We got our hands on some great, highly-anticipated gear -- there's something for every strain of gear lust:

Guitars:
♥ Taylor T3/B, Taylor's new semi-hollowbody, earned a Premier Gear Award -- find out why.
♥ The new EVH Wolfgang also impressed. Enough to live up to the monumental amount of hype surrounding it? Maybe...
♥ Fishman's SoloAmp threatens to be a one-stop-shop for small gigs. Check out our review and video to see how it works.
♥ HipKitty's Oxblood pedal lived up to its reputation of delivering convincing Vox sounds in a cute little stompbox.
♥ TC Electronic's new RH450 bass amp and accompanying cabinets proved to be a dream come true for bass players, also earning a Premier Gear Award.
♥ Other reviews: Ernie Ball Music Man 25th Anniversary Guitar, Backline Engineering Zentone 7 Amp, Freyer Sound Ltd Brian May Treble Boosters, Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin (with video!) archtop, Orange Tiny Terror Combo

And as usual, all of these reviews have sound clips to show you what we heard when taking them for a ride.

As for the rest of the issue, it's a killer.
♥ Alex Lifeson logs in some quality gear-talk time
♥ Adrian Belew muses on his past and future musical endeavors (and his rad new Fly)
♥ We look at the history of the tremelo in Trem Wars, tracing the progression from Bigsby to Kahler, checking in with Fender and Floyd along the way.
♥ We talk with five builders who are making resonators each a little differently.
♥ One of our great contributors shares his recipe for potting pickups the down-home dirty way
♥ We have 8 new lessons for you in Premier Clinic
♥ And of course, all of your favorite columnists are back with pearls of wisdom, along with a brand new column from Greg Howe that begs the question, "What is Shred?"

Now all of the above links will take you to our website, premierguitar.com, but remember, you can also read our magazine in full online magazine format at digital.premierguitar.com. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out -- it's exactly like reading the print magazine, except on your computer. And, you can download it and save it for later.

If you want notification of the newest issues via e-mail, click here and sign up for a digital subscription. It's free! And while you're there, become a member of Backstage Pass, where you get all of the latest news, interviews and reviews from premierguitar.com in your e-mail, along with exclusive gear giveaways and other perks.

Keep rockin', practice hard, and blow the roof off the place at your next gig. And when people ask how you got that killer tone, feel free to name-drop Premier Guitar.


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Thursday, February 19, 2009 

It's that time of month again... the new issue has arrived, and it's a record issue.

Bad puns aside, we're thrilled to bring you our first official recording-themed issue. You'll notice that this issue features quite a few different lists to help you sort through all the options available for recording:

♦ In "5 Studio Setups You Should Know About," we visit five different studios and see how they approach recording differently.
♦ Then, we take a look at how 18 different mics will record your electric guitar sound differently in "18 Electric Guitar Mics You Should Meet," with sound examples for each one.
♦ For those looking for a quick recording solution for practice or songwriting, we check find the "10 Best Digital Recorders for Guitarists"

Also on the recording tip, we took a look into some of the more mysterious gear that might come in handy for recording:

♦ "Ribbon Mics 101" gives you some basic information and reasons why you might want to employ one of these for your recordings
♦ "Attenuators and Their Many Uses" takes a look at what an attenuator can help you accomplish
♦ "The Importance of the Microphone Preamp" looks into... the importance of the microphone preamp.

For this month's artist interviews, we chatted with Nils Lofgren, a guy who's seen it all in his illustrious career (Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Neil Young), and Bill Hullett, one of Nashville's top session players.

And if you're looking for new gear, we reviewed:
Plus, of course, all of our usual columns. You can see everything in this issue here, or visit our online magazine, where you can see the whole magazine, cover to cover, for free, along with all of our back issues (also free).

Let us know what you think -- hit us up with a message or e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com with feedback on this issue and anything you want to see in upcoming issues or on PremierGuitar.com.

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Saturday, January 24, 2009 

Category: Music
Hey Gearhounds and Tonefreaks,

Fortunately, its that time of the month again... time for your dose of Premier Guitar and all its goodness! It's just in time to keep those new year's resolutions of boosting your rig and finding that new guitar or amp for your collection.

As those of you with a print subscription or signed up to our E-newsletter may already know, the February issue is here and its smokin'. With over 220 pages of content dedicated to help you with your GAS -- Gear Acquisition Syndrome. This month we have a theme that carries throughout the entire issue; The Return of the Hot Rod Guitar. We uncover the foggy history of the hot rod guitar in late-70s and early-80s, expose five hot-rodders that can enhance your current rig and several reviews in the same vain. In addition we have a review with blues guitarist,Chris Duarte.

For Web Exclusives this month, we have an article on how to de-mod your Marshall, a Shred BeBop Shred lesson, the Alternative Pick, video interview with Steve Vai from NAMM and a video demo of the new Egnater Rebel 30 amp.

In addition to all that good stuff dedicated to aid in the relentless pursuit of tone, we have all things NAMM (including video, photos and overall coverage) handled on our special NAMM landing page. Go here to check out the latest videos and updates.

Finally, we have the February issue which is chopped full of all things tone.

Chris Duarte Interview: Chris Duarte lives in the shadows of giants--constantly compared to SRV and Jimi. He sat down with us to talk about his gear and who he really is.

The Resurgence of the Hot Rod Guitar: As the modern custom shop comes full circle with its hot rod beginnings, we take a look at the movement's early years.

5 Hot-Rodders You Should Meet: Need a flame paint job, a set of custom-wound pickups or a complete overhaul? We take a look at five people in the hot rod game, and find out what each them have to offer.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Output Tubes: For the second installment of his two-part tube primer, Dave Hunter takes a closer look at common output tube types, and offers more pointers on getting to know your little thermionic friends.

Interview--FluxTone's Steve Carey: If you're still struggling to get the tone you love at a volume that won't drive away your loved ones, FluxTone's new speaker system delivers real results. Carey tells us how it works.

And of course we reviewed a plethora of new gear, including hot-rod specific guitars and accessories:
Hopefully February's issue finds everything well and good spirits and if not, surely PG's print, online and video content can put a smile any just about anyones face!!

--Until next month, keep pluggin' and playin'



Currently listening:
Danzig II: Lucifuge
By Danzig
Release date: 2007-11-13
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Monday, December 22, 2008 

Category: Music

Hey Tone Freaks and Gearheads, It's that time of the month again; just in time for your new gear itch and Holiday layovers and family gathering down-time, the January issue!

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. With over 220 pages, we covered everything you've come to love and rely on, but with some new and exciting features and reviews! Especially this month, we did our cover story on company that has opened the doors for several guitarist to get their start with good gear at reasonable costs, Peavey.  In addition to our cover story with Hartley Peavey, we have Artist Interviews with Tom Morello and Carl Verheyen. Also we talk tone with legendary effects master, Roger Mayer. Plus, all the reviews and gear coverage you can handle!

For web exclusives this month, we got some videos featuring a tour of the Peavey Custom Shop, our first video review which was on the Voyage Air VAOM-C1 acoustic guitar, a review of the PRS Starla and People's Amp and of course the columns you've come to depend on every month. And of course, any and all videos you haven't seen can be viewed all in one place: premierguitar.com/video

Finally, we have the January issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find within the Hartley Peavey cover.

Tom Morello Interview: Tom Morello has made a name for himself with huge acts Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Now, he's touring solo as The Nightwatchman, his political and acoustic outlet. We talk about how he covers all his bases with a stripped-down rig.

Carl Verheyen Interview: Carl Verheyen is a guitar chameleon whose adaptability puts him high demand for everything from TV commercials to major recordings. We talk to him about developing his sound while retaining a blank slate for studio gigs.

Inside Peavey: Hartley Peavey talks about his new Custom Amp Shop and his place in history.

5 Tele-Style Builders You Should Know About: Looking for a new way to get your twang? We take a look at five builders who are producing Tele-style guitars by hand and explore what each one has to offer.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Preamp Tubes: Dave Hunter kicks off a two-part primer on tubes with some general history on our glowing glass friends and an in-depth look at preamp tubes.

Roger Mayer - Chasing Tones for Hendrix and Gilmour: The tone shaper behind Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and countless others shares the dirt from his early days and talks about his latest reissues.

Vintage Vox Uncovered: Author Jim Elyea spent years researching classic Vox amps--including the Beatles' AC30s--and is sharing the knowledge in an epic new book set. We get a sneak peek into the book's contents, and talk to the author about his research.

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:

Hopefully this can help all you gearheads through fun, yet stressful time during this Holiday season. To you and yours, from the PG family, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Currently listening:
Vulgar Display of Power
By Pantera
Release date: 1992-02-25
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Category: Music

Hey Tone Freaks and Gearheads,

It's that time of the month again; just in time for your new gear itch and Holilday shopping, the December issue!

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. With over 240 pages, we covered everything you've come to love and rely on, but with some new and exciting features and reviews! Especially this month, we did the year roundup of our favorite gear from 2008 and compiled all of it into our "Premier Gear Awards." The award categories include, Versatility, Low-Wattage/High Performance, Loud as Hell, Nice Price and many more. See who won...

This moth we are featuring videos from the Arlington Guitar Show in Arlington, TX. While at the show, we got a chance to see a Vintage Guitar Auction featuring a '58 Gold Top and one of Eddie Van Halen's stage-used Kramers. In addition to more vintage guitar videos, we got a chance to get a feeling for the vintage market straight from the dealers. In addition, we got all our AES and LA Amp Show demos/videos up on our site. And of course, any and all videos you haven't seen can be viewed all in one place: premierguitar.com/video (easy enough to remember, right?!)

New to us back in August, was the Premier Collector, which gives you the chance to show off your personal grandiose collection of stellar guitars. Here are our latest installments: Premier Collector 7 - Premier Collector 8 - Premier Collector 9. Of course, we're always looking for peoples' collections, so shoot an e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com to share yours.

Finally, we have the December Issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find behind the spilled "Premier Gear Awards" collage cover shot of randomly selected gear:

Jason Lollar: The Pickup Artist: Jason Lollar shares his pickup knowledge in this interview, debunking popular myths along the way. Read the interview in our online magazine, then head to premierguitar.com for the extended version. Click to start reading...

Spectrum of Plectrum: For such a seemingly basic piece of our signal chain, there's a lot to consider when looking at picks. We get our hands on some recent innovations to see if it's time for a change, and talk to Jim Dunlop for a pick maker's perspective. Read here...

Bluegrass Authenticity-Gallagher Guitar Company: We visit Gallagher Guitars to get a history on one of the most respected builders on the bluegrass scene. As you'll see, this family-owned business keeps it humble and simple. Read here...

2008 Premier Gear Awards: Here's the best of the best from 2008—amazing gear that deserves recognition within key categories: Versatility, Low Wattage/High Performance, Loud as Hell, Nice Price and more. Find out who won...

Angus Clark: As one of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's guitarists, Angus Clark has the opportunity to play in front of huge productions with incredible gear. We talk with him about what it's like on and off the TSO stage, and what gear he uses on each. Read here

Peter Mayer: Playing lead for Jimmy Buffett means playing more years of consecutive sold-out shows than anyone else on tour. Peter Mayer talks about his gig and his rig in this interview. Read here...

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:
You may have noticed that we love cheap bastards. So, if you don't want to shell out the mere $14.95 per year (our apologizes for the cheap jab), all of this content is free online, and to get it in your inbox, also free, you can sign up for our Backstage Pass newsletter
Currently listening:
Cheating at Solitaire
By Mike Ness
Release date: 1999-04-13
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Thursday, October 16, 2008 

Current mood:  accomplished
Category: Music

Hey Tone Freaks and Gearheads,

It's that time of the month again; just in time for your new gear itch!

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. With over 230 pages we covered everything you've come to love and rely on, but with some new and exciting features and reviews! Especially this month, we tackled over 20 pedal reviews in our appropriately titled "Pedal Blowout" issue, which is available in it's entirety here.

This moth we are featuring videos from Santa Cruz Guitars in Santa Cruz, CA, when we were out there earlier this month for AES and the LA Amp Show. Also all our videos from the George Lynch coverage are on our site. And of course, any and all videos you haven't seen can be viewed all in one place: premierguitar.com/video (easy enough to remember, right?!)

Its been a while, but we just recently uploaded a Podcast from what we saw during our travels in California, including new things at AES and the LA Amp Show. Go here to hear what's going down on the West Coast.

New to us back in August, was the Premier Collector, which gives you the chance to show off your personal grandiose collection of stellar guitars. Here are our latest installments: Premier Collector 6 - Premier Collector 7 - Premier Collector 8.Of course, we're always looking for peoples' collections, so shoot an e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com to share yours.

Finally, we have the November Issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find behind the spilled "Pedal Blowout" cover shot of the randomly selected pedals:

Cloned Theroy: In Moses Lake, Washington, a team of three is giving gearheads all over the country a chance to obtain sought-after stompbox tones at a fraction of the price, with one caveat - some simple soldering is required. We talk with the minds behind Build Your Own Clone about their power-to-the-people tone factory.

Vintage Bliss: Author Jonathan Kellerman may be best known for his suspense novels, but he's also a vintage guitar aficionado with a seven figure collection. We have an exclusive look at some of his outstanding pieces.

Roger McGuinn Interview: From Rickenbackers to Martin; from the Byrds to a solo career. We get down to the gear and inside stories with Roger McGuinn.

Pedal Roundup: We put 28 pedals through their paces for this roundup.

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:

You may have noticed that we love cheap bastards. So, if you don't want to shell out the mere $14.95 per year (our apologizes for the cheap jab), all of this content is free online, and to get it in your inbox, also free, you can sign up for our Backstage Pass newsletter. 

Currently listening:
Rage Against the Machine
By Rage Against the Machine
Release date: 1992-11-10
10:52 PM 
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Thursday, September 18, 2008 

Category: Music

Hey gearheads and tone freaks,

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. With over 200 pages we covered everything you've come to love and rely on, but with some new and exciting features and reviews! In addition, to those lucky people who picked up the print version, they received an extra special treat in the form of a free insert with all things George Lynch and Mr. Scary!

We've had videos on our website and YouTube for months now, without a really centralized place to call home. Now, you can see them all in one place: premierguitar.com/video (easy enough to remember, right?!)

We even have a new video segment called "Rig Rundown" where we go behind the scenes or backstage and talk tone and gear with guitarists who love gear almost as much as us! This month we stopped and talked with 3 Doors Down.

 BONUS -- This month have special videos from our stay with the notorious George Lynch. We were granted access to his secret studio, the Integratron and his immense guitar collection.

Another extra special treat this month via our PG "Web Exclusives" is the story behind Randy Rhoads' infamous guitars. We get the lowdown and where, how and why these guitars were made for the guitar wizard.

A few months, the Premier Collector segment has become a favorite of yours and ours to cover. We love giving private collectors and players a chance to show off their gear collection. So check out this month's Premier Collector for all new gear to drool over. Here are our latest installments: Premier Collector 5 - Premier Collector 6 -  Premier Collector 7 -  Of course, we're always looking for peoples' collections, so shoot an e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com to share yours.

Finally, we have the October Issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find behind the PG cover shot of the Hamer Talladega:

The Tao of Jol: Jol Dantzig, Hamer Guitars' Technical Director and de facto visionary, has found himself at the center of the modern boutique movement; the funny thing is, he's always been there. Adam Moore dissects the man and the mystery behind Hamer Guitars.

Playing Behind the Slide: Sonny Landreth uses his slide like he was born with it. Between that and his firey sound, he has been wowing audiences and players the world over. Brian Holland talks with Landreth about his technique, his latest release, From the Reach, and trading tracks with Clapton.

Hands On With the Moog Guitar: It was the biggest news at Summer NAMM, but the Moog Guitar has kept a low profile ever since. We get our hands on the new Moog Guitar and bring you everything you need to know about this revolutionary instrument.

Big Sky Builder: Ren Ferguson has been quietly heading up Gibson's flattop operations in Bozeman, Montana, for over three decades, and in the process has made some of the finest acoustics in the world. John Southern profiles the mountain man behind the inlay.

To Make the Wood Sing: Two things about Mark Campellone. The first is that he's flattered to be mentioned in the same sentence as names like Buscarino, Monteleone and Benedetto; the second is taht he's earned it. Jim Bastian talks with Campellone about creating the perfect archtop.

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:

You may have noticed that we love cheap bastards. So, if you don't want to shell out the mere $14.95 per year (our apologizes for the cheap jab), all of this content is free online, and to get it in your inbox, also free, you can sign up for our Backstage Pass newsletter. 
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Thursday, August 28, 2008 

Category: Music
Hey gearheads and tone freaks,

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. With an even 200 pages we covered everything you've come to love and rely on, but with some new and exciting features and reviews!

We've had videos on our website and YouTube for months now, without a really centralized place to call home. Now, you can see them all in one place: premierguitar.com/video (easy enough to remember, right?!)

New to us in August, was the Premier Collector, which gives you the chance to show off your personal grandiose collection of stellar guitars. Here are our latest installments: Premier Collector 5 - Premier Collector 6 -  Premier Collector 7 -  Of course, we're always looking for peoples' collections, so shoot an e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com to share yours.

Finally, we have the September Issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find behind the PG "traditional" cover shot of the Egnater Tourmaster 4212:

Berkley Rock City: Bruce is known for making boutique amps in a small shop in Berkley, Michigan; now his amps are flying off the shelves at a Guitar Center near you.We talk to Bruce Egnater and Jeff Hilligan about redefining boutique with a healthy dose of American innnovation.

Jared Scharff Interview: Jared has one of the toughest gigs in the industry as the guitarist for the Saturday Night Live Band. James Egolf talks with the young player about sessions, television rehearsals and buying his very first tube amp for SNL (seriously!!).

Zen and the Art of Bass Tone: We spned issue after issue debating guitar tone, but what about our friends on the low-end? Mike Visceglia rounds up a few of New York's premier working bassists to talk all things tone.

Lazy, Cheap and Snooty: A month ago, James Egolf set out to build an Esquire clone for under $1000. Did he pull it off? Does he still have all his fingers? Read on to find out!

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:

You may have noticed that we love cheap bastards. So, if you don't want to shell out the mere $14.95 per year (our apologizes for the cheap jab), all of this content is free online, and to get it in your inbox, also free, you can sign up for our Backstage Pass newsletter. 
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Thursday, July 17, 2008 
Hey PG readers, guitar slingers and general curiosity seekers!

As those of you with subscriptions have probably noticed through your mailbox, the new issue of Premier Guitar has arrived. This month was hectic for us in the print and online as we put together not only a massive 194-page issue, but also unveiled two new ventures on our website: our video page Beta and Premier Collector.

We've had videos on our website and YouTube for months now, without a really centralized place to call home. Now, you can see them all in one place: premierguitar.com/video (easy to remember, right?).

Also new this month was Premier Collector. Our first two Premier Collector's have been great -- you can see them here: Collector 1 - Collector 2. Of course, we're always looking for peoples' collections, so shoot an e-mail to rebecca@premierguitar.com to share yours.

Finally, we have the August Issue. Here are just a few of the things you'll find behind that handsome photo of Seymour Duncan on the cover:

Seymour on Seymour: We talk to SD about his beginnings in this exclusive interview. Online, you'll find videos inside the factory and of his personal pickup collection.

John 5 Interview: John 5 seems like a scary guy -- do a Google image search of the guy if you're not familiar. But in reality, he's a really cool, down to earth Tele lover who's doing things with the guitar we've never heard before.

Summer NAMM Wrap: We've had a lot of videos online from Summer NAMM, including the nuts playing of a 17-year old at the Hahn booth, the Moog Guitar and custom amps from Peavey. Here's the official wrap, complete with glorious photos of our favorite gear, and prices so that you can start planning your budget.

Switch Hitter - Lehle Switching: Sleek and pretty, these German imports kind of came out of nowhere last year. We talk to the designer about the business of switching.

Active vs. Passive: Wondering where to go with your next pickups? Read this first. We've got some history and some practical advice when trying to choose whether to power up or not.

And of course we've reviewed a slew of products that we can't personally afford to own, and subsequently cried ourselves to sleep. Benefit from our masochism:

You may have noticed that we love cheap bastards. So, if you don't want to shell out the mere $14.95 per year (apologies for the cheap plug), all of this content is free online, and to get it in your inbox, also free, you can sign up for our Backstage Pass newsletter.


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