Dirty Impound

One should smile when they see Andrew Trube headed towards a stage. The six-string secret weapon in Greyhounds and JJ Grey & Mofro is a primo flavor enhancer with a style that doesn’t bark after solos so much as stir the pot beautifully. Oh, Trube has chops to spare but his ear and instincts place him closer to subtler sorts like John Fogerty, Shuggie Otis, The Paladins’ Dave Gonzalez and Marc Ribot. His range is yawning wide, seemingly comfortable wherever you drop him in. Just focus in on what he’s doing on a given song and you’ll hear someone down in the cut – deep – but rarely in a way that leaps up for attention. Some folks don’t need a spotlight to let you know how damn good they are.

Currently on Mofro’s fall tour, Trube also put out a sweet, leave-em-wanting-more new EP with the Greyhounds recently titled Spring Training that does more in four cuts than many bands tackle on an album. Every track is soulful in some way – hard to avoid with a Stax/Volt ready singer like Anthony Farrell or Trube’s own warm-grit pipes – but they dish it up in varied ways, from the nu-soul ready “What’s On Your Mind” to the blues-moderne of “Yours To Steal” (a rival for the best of The Black Keys) to the coulda-been-a-Sam-And-Dave-hit “Soul Navigator” to playful New Wave cartoon “H-E-L-L-O.” And Trube tells DI that the ‘Hounds have a new album coming up before too long. Based on this taster, it’s gonna be very fab, and in the meantime you can pick up the EP here for a name-your-own-price deal.

Andrew Trube is a musician’s musician, one of those guys that other guitarists watch with hunting dog intensity when he’s onstage. We’re happy to have him join the list of Shredders who’ve graced the Impound with their wisdom.

Favorite effects pedal? Why?

I got this metal box thing with no name on it that some dude built here in Austin that no one seems to know his name or how to get a hold of him. It is a boost of some sort. I call it the hit maker. If it breaks I am so fucked ‘cuz I just use that and a tuner.

Tastiest guitarist — i.e. not just soloing but also overall playing — currently working six-strings?

Derek Trucks, not only a guitar alien but also a great friend and just an all-around bad ass dude.

Garrett Mason, a Canadian that sounds like he grew up in East Texas with me. I hate him.

Johnny Moeller, an awesome guitar man I used to go see him at the old Antone’s here in Austin when I was in high school. In my mind, one of the greatest.

Oh…and Derek O’Brian. This dude played and plays with everybody. Another Austin great.

A guitar solo I never get tired of listening to is…

Although it’s not a solo it’s just plain guitar work: Junior Kimbrough’s First Recordings (1966). I get into a trance when I listen to this. That damn guitar is like some kind of spiritual monk chant. Plus, the groove is hell fire.

Preferred brand of axe? Why?

My Silvertone hollow body I’ve had for years. But, I just got this reissue Gibson 50s studio Les Paul with P-90’s. This is by far the baddest and cheapest new Les Paul you can get. A true workingman’s guitar. Never ever lets me down.

AC/DC, The Beatles, Radiohead or The Byrds – which one gives you the biggest guitar boner? What makes them SO sweet?

Not sure about boner, maybe mildly flaccid. I guess AC/DC. Are there other choices? Ha ha!

One lesser known guitarist folks should check out is…

Ray Bonneville, Josh Perdue, and of course, Daryl Hance.

What aspect of being a guitarist always makes you happy?

Just getting to play. It is an escape. It’s the only thing I can do that represents me for who I am in its most honest form. Most music lovers can tell when they are getting bullshited by a musician, so all I can do is be myself and hope there’re still folks listening.