tony irons
What do you teach at Loudlands?
Guitar, Bass, and Heavy Chemistry
What's your favorite aspect of music or your instrument?
I love the wide range of sounds you can produce from a stringed instrument. In a single week I can be found playing R&B, pop, jazz, blues, rock, and gospel.
Who are some of your favorite bands/musicians and why?
Some of my favorite artists include Takuya Kuroda, The Strokes, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The A-Beez, Ahren Shreeve, Quinn Sullivan, D'Angelo, Nathan East, George Benson, Michael Jackson, and Khruangbin. Because I have such a wide range of taste for music, I love artists that fuse multiple genres into their songwriting and performance.
What are some of your current and/or past music projects?
Past: Blue Man Group, Rolling Nectar Current: The 1999, Alexus Lee, Mkeka (among many others)
How would you describe your music and playing style?
Versatile. Groove focused. Soulful. Authentic.
Can you please describe your gear of choice?
I love playing gear that has stood the test of time on stages and in the studio. For that reason I tend to play Fender strats, Gibson style guitars, Music Man basses, and Precision or Jazz style basses. I'm also known for incorporating technology into my rigs such as Line 6 Helix multi-fx boards and the AKAI MPC ONE+ sampler/workstation.
Any general advice you'd like to give to beginner musicians or someone looking to get started?
Learn to love the process. Music is all about the journey and will teach you a lot about yourself. Your willingness to work through adversity, learn from mistakes, applaud your progress, and find ways to remain inspired will mean so much to your musical development. You should be proud of yourself for simply taking a first step in learning something new!
Aside from playing/making music, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
Aside from playing/making music I love hiking, indoor rock climbing, going to see shows, and creative problem solving.
If you were battling a physically identical but evil android version of yourself on top of a skyscraper during a thunderstorm and someone miraculously intervened, how would they know which one was the real you?
Hand them a bass and ask them to play Brick House by the Commodores. If they can't groove it's not me!
