Karlish’s Tone is Everyone’s Gain

Daniel Karlish

New album Gain Tone by guitar master is out.

Some decades ago, in the dark recesses of an underground laboratory, Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, Danny Gatton, Billy Gibbons, Django Reinhardt, Jerry Reed, and Junior Brown all peed into a cup. Scientists later added in some chicken grease and angel breath and injected the heady serum into the veins of Daniel Karlish. This is the only plausible origin story to explain how he’s able to make the sounds on his new album Gain Tone. It has to be true, and once I figure out how to put it on Wikipedia, it will become incontrovertible. Or, you could just listen to the record and know it to be so.

Karlish is best known in Oxford, perhaps, as onetime guitarist of the Kudzu Kings and a member of Mustache, but he’s been around, including a stint in Nashville as a touring and session guitar-slinger. The left-handed, upside-down-strung necksmith is back closer to home, in Tupelo, and has finally stepped into the spotlight as leader of the Daniel Karlish Trio, with drummer Kenny Graeber and bassist Tommy Turan.

Last night, August 22, Proud Larrys’ hosted a release party for Gain Tone. Check it out to hear how the (custom Tupelo-made Giltone version of the) Telecaster was meant to be played. You’ll also hear Karlish on lap steel and other guitars. The sound is all over the stylistic map with taste, tone, and talent at every stop. Here’s a glimpse from last night. Apologies for the poor sound quality of the recording, but you get the idea. — Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCUtSAkKucw