Buckethead.

[Ken]

His tunes come up on my Satch Pandora station, and I just don't get the appeal. I mean, clearly the guy can play his freakshow ass off, but most of it sounds like a music bed with aimless musical meanderings over the top of it. Am I missing something? Maybe he needs to be seen as well as heard for the magic to happen?

[playstopause]

Ask Leon! He's his number one fan!

The guy has like 86 albums, that could easily fit into 2 "good" albums.

[DonBot]

Clearly you need to buy my Buckethead Les Paul and see if that makes it any better for you.

[Ken]

Clearly you need to buy my Buckethead Les Paul and see if that makes it any better for you.

A singlecut and it's been designed by Buckethead? You, sir, are going too far in the wrong direction.

[Randy]

I forget what he called that little thing where he was making a new album every week but you can cross that period off the list.

The first few albums were good, but he's got a kind of a Zappa/Bungle meets schlock horror and 80s public access TV humor schtick. So you really gotta be into that kinda thing or take it with a grain of salt. There's a reason he's not really considered in the same league as Satch or PG, etc. I mean, he wears a mask and wears a chicken bucket on his head.

Soothsayer goes off the rail in a few places but the good parts are like, really good.

[Ken]

I forget what he called that little thing where he was making a new album every week but you can cross that period off the list.

The first few albums were good, but he's got a kind of a Zappa/Bungle meets schlock horror and 80s public access TV humor schtick. So you really gotta be into that kinda thing or take it with a grain of salt. There's a reason he's not really considered in the same league as Satch or PG, etc. I mean, he wears a mask and wears a chicken bucket on his head.

Soothsayer goes off the rail in a few places but the good parts are like, really good.

I haven't pressed the "thumbs down" button yet, so I can hang with it. It just hits me sort of "meh". I probably won't check out his catalogue looking for diamonds in the rough, but I'm sure he's got some good stuff somewhere in those 295 albums.

[Ghost.]

Buckethead is just an experimental kind of guy. Live he will slay anyone, he can play everything (Country, Blues, Pop, Hip-Hop, Shred). He is literally Paul Gilbert on crack, it's nuts. He would embarrass anyone on a G3 tour and make you feel stupid. If him, Guthrie Govan and Bumblefoot had a jam, I'm not convinced the world would make it.

The main thing you have to understand about him is that he is playing a character and he got more famous for "Jordan" being featured on Guitar-Hero 2. He was also in Guns N' Roses too. The actual guy, Brian Carroll is a very, very shy and soft-spoken guy.
He's only done one interview for everyone and you would have never thought he was soft-spoken. I'm not convinced he'd be able to walk on-stage without the outfit due to his personality. But if you go to one his shows it'll be completely packed out. He had no merch, no band. Just himself, all his gear and it was such a good show of music. At the end he handed out Avenger Masks (Black Panther, Thor, Hulk).

Plus he's got the whole "horror" thing going on time to time and a lot of people dig that. Kind of like John 5.

You just gotta find his good songs. He's all over the map.

I still want a Buckethead Gibson CS but they're 8k.

Live he is just nuts.

[Ken]

He's come through here a few times, and one time I actually caught wind of it beforehand and almost went. Not sure why I didn't.

It's weird that he would tour with no merch. Isn't that where the money is? I guess he clearly doesn't care about commercial success anyway, but it's cool that he's true to his schtick.

He would embarrass anyone on a G3 tour and make you feel stupid.

I'm not sure I agree about this. Like I said, he can play his ass off, but I guess it all depends on why one goes to G3. A performance from Buckethead would take nothing away from me enjoying my favorite Satch and Vai tunes. Okay, that's not entirely true. If he happened to hit himself or someone else with Nunchucks I would probably chuckle about that shit through For The Love of God.

[playstopause]

I still want a Buckethead Gibson CS but they're 8k.

I think you missed the part where Don said he's selling his.

[Dominic]

I thought Donnie's was a present to him from a mate? I mean a gift from a buddy. Dunno if it's a CS? I'd love one, too, but they are extended-scale instruments.

The brilliant and sadly probably now gone I'd Hit That podcast often featured Bucket talk. And the Joey Taffolla episode of Brian Sword's The Double Stop detailed his genesis. When the interview with his therapist went up, I listened, but thought it a breach of ethics. If Brian wants to talk, that's fine, but not with his therapist for everyone to hear. He could choose an interviewer and dictate conditions at this point.

FWIW, those frequent-release recordings went by the name "Pikes". I'm only a casual fan with two albums of his on CD.

[DonBot]

I thought Donnie's was a present to him from a mate? I mean a gift from a buddy. Dunno if it's a CS? I'd love one, too, but they are extended-scale instruments.

Mine is the studio version that BH started using since the customs were too heavy and hard on his back. The studios are chambered which gives them a unique tone.

And Ken, come on... it's huge, like you! I'm what, 3 inches shorter then you? and it is pretty big feeling on me so on you it would be perfect!

[Ghost.]

He's come through here a few times, and one time I actually caught wind of it beforehand and almost went. Not sure why I didn't.

It's weird that he would tour with no merch. Isn't that where the money is? I guess he clearly doesn't care about commercial success anyway, but it's cool that he's true to his schtick.



I'm not sure I agree about this. Like I said, he can play his ass off, but I guess it all depends on why one goes to G3. A performance from Buckethead would take nothing away from me enjoying my favorite Satch and Vai tunes. Okay, that's not entirely true. If he happened to hit himself or someone else with Nunchucks I would probably chuckle about that shit through For The Love of God.

Hahaha. I'm really being "tongue-in-cheek" about it. I know that they are Kings of instrumental music and performance. Usually Vai gives the top performances of his material. Though Satch has my heart as far as songs are concerned. Vai is a showman.

But what I was meaning is if they all jammed together that Buckethead would just pull tricks out of his hat leaving the rest of them speechless or just his Paul Gilbert 2.0 licks. Fun fact: He actually took lessons from P.G. briefly when he was young.

[Ken]

Buckethead would just pull tricks out of his hat leaving the rest of them speechless or just his Paul Gilbert 2.0 licks. Fun fact: He actually took lessons from P.G. briefly when he was young.

Yeah, but that's not really fair. He has a bigger hat than the rest of them. Seriously, though, he could pull out every piece of chicken in his bucket and I guarantee that everyone else on stage would just smile and let him shine like they do for everyone else. It's not a reflection on BH, it's just that Vai and Satch seem to treat everyone with kindness and respect. I knew he had taken lessons from PG once upon a time.

DonBot Yeah, but can I play it after Labor Day?

[DonBot]

DonBot Yeah, but can I play it after Labor Day?

Well... shit.

[RevDrucifer]

I dug Monsters And Robots and I LOVE Colma.

I wouldn’t totally dismiss Buckethead until you’ve checked out Colma. He wrote it for his parents, if I remember right.

The whole album is chill like that.

Back in ‘98 I saw him open for Primus. Incubus was also playing and it was riiiiiight as “Drive” was starting to break on the radio, but Primus was headlining. It’s a smaller arena, but it was still pretty damn packed. I only had those two albums at the time but I just loved the whole persona and shtick. I remember at one point screaming and throwing the devil horns, leaning over the railing of the front row then looking behind me and realizing I was the only one out of like 5,000 people not knowing what the fuck they were seeing onstage.

I hung out after the show hoping to meet him, it was November in Maine and freezing. I waited about 45 minutes when a side door opens and out comes Buckethead; no bucket, just the mask and a hoodie. I start running towards the bus “BUCKETHEAD!!! BUCKETHEAD!! BUCKETHEAD!!”, like a 4-year old seeing Mickey Mouse at Disney for the first time and turned around to face the bus door with just enough time to see it close in my face.

I mean shit, I was pretty much his only fan at the show, he could have just waved and mumbled at least.

[Ghost.]

Yeah, but that's not really fair. He has a bigger hat than the rest of them. Seriously, though, he could pull out every piece of chicken in his bucket and I guarantee that everyone else on stage would just smile and let him shine like they do for everyone else. It's not a reflection on BH, it's just that Vai and Satch seem to treat everyone with kindness and respect. I knew he had taken lessons from PG once upon a time.

DonBot Yeah, but can I play it after Labor Day?

Oh for sure. Vai has really become like that in the last few years with his FB page promoting so many great musicians.
Gotta love it.

[Ken]

I dug Monsters And Robots and I LOVE Colma.

I wouldn’t totally dismiss Buckethead until you’ve checked out Colma. He wrote it for his parents, if I remember right.

I hung out after the show hoping to meet him, it was November in Maine and freezing. I waited about 45 minutes when a side door opens and out comes Buckethead; no bucket, just the mask and a hoodie. I start running towards the bus “BUCKETHEAD!!! BUCKETHEAD!! BUCKETHEAD!!”, like a 4-year old seeing Mickey Mouse at Disney for the first time and turned around to face the bus door with just enough time to see it close in my face.

I mean shit, I was pretty much his only fan at the show, he could have just waved and mumbled at least.

That track was alright. I may check out the rest of Colma. I haven't totally dismissed him, I just don't get the appeal and maybe I never will and that's okay.

As for him shunning you, I wonder if it's because he didn't have his hand puppet. Isn't that how he communicates with people? I say that tongue-in-cheek, but there may be some truth to it. Either way, you're a brave mofo to meet him alone late at night.

[RevDrucifer]

That track was alright. I may check out the rest of Colma. I haven't totally dismissed him, I just don't get the appeal and maybe I never will and that's okay.

As for him shunning you, I wonder if it's because he didn't have his hand puppet. Isn't that how he communicates with people? I say that tongue-in-cheek, but there may be some truth to it. Either way, you're a brave mofo to meet him alone late at night.

The shtick might not work as well these days, but man, back when I first heard about him; this crazy shred demon who would put his guitar down to bust out nunchucks and robot dances…..with an elastic guitar strap….it was a trip to see. He’s more fun to watch live than his music was appealing to me.

[Drew]

That track was alright. I may check out the rest of Colma. I haven't totally dismissed him, I just don't get the appeal and maybe I never will and that's okay.

As for him shunning you, I wonder if it's because he didn't have his hand puppet. Isn't that how he communicates with people? I say that tongue-in-cheek, but there may be some truth to it. Either way, you're a brave mofo to meet him alone late at night.

Colma is a desert island disk for me - just really, really chill, moody, atmospheric mostly acoustic music with sort of chill hip-hop drum and bass. I have NO idea how it fits in with the rest of his discography, but it's gorgeous stuff. Even the pretty-clearly-piezo acoustic tone doesn't take away from it.

[Leon]

Ask Leon! He's his number one fan!

Pretty much

I go see him every chance I get. I think I've seen him 7 or 8 times now. Hands down the best show was in Detroit, where he finished with Machine Gun. It was pretty unreal.

As far as albums go, yeah, it's pretty varied. Colma was the hook, Monsters And Robots was the line, and Giant Robot was the sinker.

Giant Robot is a Top 5 album for me. I don't think a single month has gone by since I first got it that I haven't spun it, which was probably 2003-ish. It's probably my #1 favorite of all time. It's almost a stylistic sampler for his career; it's got a bit of everything

Colma is still great. He's got some others in this vein, like Acoustic Shards and Electric Tears, among others.

Some of the heavier stuff is fun, like Cuckoo Clocks Of Hell, Elephant Man's Alarm Clock, Kaleidoscalp, and Island of Lost Minds.

One of my favorites to jam along to is Population Override. It's a really 'open' record that makes it easy to grab a guitar and feel like you're in the same room

Albino Slug had a 'hit' on it that would come up on some of my old Pandora radio stations; Siege Engine.

Captain EO's Voyage is another pretty cool one. It's definitely a Buckethead album, but like Population Override, it's not full-tilt shredding all the time. It's a good driving album.

A couple more recent ones are really awesome... Healing Inside Outside Every Side, and Hold Me Forever. These are under the "Bucketheadland" band name, both of which he wrote in tribute to lost family members.

Thanatopsis (band he formed with Travis Dickerson) hasn't been 'updated' in years, but it's still a fun set of albums.


His flavors of weird just seem to jive with mine. I wouldn't say I particularly get 100% of what he puts down, but I seem to enjoy most of what I come across. And, I'm STILL working my way through the catalogue

[Drew]

One of my favorites to jam along to is Population Override. It's a really 'open' record that makes it easy to grab a guitar and feel like you're in the same room

It could be the production, but I always thought that one had a little bit of a Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" vibe.

[Jeff]

I don't get most of Buckethead either, despite the obvious skills. The video Drew posted was cool though; I'll have to check that out.

[Leon]

Drew, Electric Sea is also pretty chill, in-line with Colma. Check that one out