13 QUESTION METHOD: YOGI


California-born and -raised artist, Yogi Lonich, is currently on tour with rock legend Chris Cornell. In '08, Yogi recorded an album with the one and only Yusuf (aka Cat Stevens). As former Buckcherry and Wallflowers member, Yogi has a curriculum vitae which reads like an encyclopedia of musical heavies — sharing the stage with artists including Prince, Kid Rock, Sarah Mclachlan, Natasha Bedingfield, Nikka Costa, Anastacia, Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind, Ron Sexsmith, Bonnie Raitt, Axl Rose, Slash, Fuel, and Meredith Brooks. He was also honored to play with Jimi Hendrix's own Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame opening of the Jimi Hendrix exhibit. Touring support with rock icons the Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, Aerosmith, AC/DC, KISS, Lenny Kravitz, Linkin Park, and Korn are a mere few included in an impressive career, which just keeps getting stronger. Away from the world of touring, filming, traveling, Kerrang awards and the Grammys, Yogi has put his undoubted and versatile talent to good use and has produced an introspective solo album entitled Metta, as well as his newest hard rock release Break the Silence. The band is called Run Through the Desert, which features Chris Cornell's current rhythm section.

1. Which was the first record you bought with your own money?
Built for Speed by the Stray Cats

2. Which was the last record you bought with your own money?
Hail to the Thief by Radiohead

3. What was the first solo you learned from a record — and can you still play it?
I learned the solo to “Stray Cat Strut,” performed by Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats. I can play most of it. I haven’t been a note-for-note kinda guy for a while now, but I think I can still throw down those lines. (-:

4. Which recording of your own (or as a sideman) are you most proud of, and why?
My first solo album, Metta, is what I put the most energy and emotion into. It’s a singer-songwriter record, so there’s not any ferocious guitar playing, but the album embodies what I’m about — or at least I hope it does. I’m really proud of an acoustic album I recorded last year with Yusuf (aka Cat Stevens). We recorded it very organically, live as a quartet. A great vibe was captured there.

5. What's the difference between playing live and playing in a studio?
The answer to this question depends on the producer. When I’m producing, I enjoy capturing raw takes and “mistakes” and laying down “wild” tracks. It’s more similar to my live performances. I’ve had the pleasure of working a few producers with fantastic ears. At times we found ourselves re-tuning the guitar for different chords within one song. Tedious. The studio can be just like live playing. My new band, Run Through the Desert, just put out our first album a month ago. Most of the basics were cut live..Zeppelin style. Was a really fun, immediate, and vibey process to do it that way. I do like tinkering in the studio as well. Been enjoying my Murf Moogerfoger pedal and its random oscillations. This noodling can be super time consuming, and reap only few seconds of magical audio.

6. What's the difference between a good gig and a bad gig?
In the pop arena, the success of a gig depends on audience enthusiasm/appreciation and if you’ve done you’re job as an entertainer. Performing brilliantly doesn’t hurt, but most people are going to a concert to forget about their daily grind. So, if you succeed in aiding their escape, you’ve had a great gig.

Of course when you’re playing art music such as jazz, classical, etc., the energy of the music is much more internalized among the band members/soloist and you’re not concerned with audience entertainment. Musically and pop-culture/haircuts aside, it’s a much more pure — even selfish — musical expression.

It’s definitely not about execution, it’s about what your communicating to the listener. Hopefully sharing one’s merits is in the final equation..

7. What's the difference between a good guitar and a bad guitar?
Hmmm. Good guitar sounds good, and a bad guitar sounds bad. Ultimately it comes down to sound. What you hear is what’s called music. It’s more fun to make music on a well set up ‘59 Les Paul, but one may accomplish exactly what the session needs from a crappy $50 high-actioned Sears guitar. The textbook answer for a good guitar: If vintage shopping, look for a straight neck or with sleight relief in the neck, intonated great, no cracks or refins, original parts/hardware. Have a connection with the instrument so that you can speak through it.

8. You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach the two differently?
Not really. I just play what the song is dictating. There might be a song like the Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun,” where you have a punk-rock acoustic guitar approach. Perhaps there may be a call for a gentle single-note melody, reminiscent of a Spanish nylon-string guitar part, but sounds perfect with a clean electric guitar. Same goes with all instrumentation. Try a string quartet where you might have thought a piano accompaniment originally.

9. Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or electric?
Hard to answer that question. I don’t feel any more akin to either acoustic or electric guitar. I lean towards fingerstyle playing on acoustics and color playing on electrics. Hard to answer that question. I don’t feel any more akin to either acoustic or electric guitar. I lean towards fingerstyle playing on acoustics and color playing on electrics.

10. Do you sound like yourself on other people's guitars?
Yes. I do prefer Gibsons, but I’ll play on whatever guitar someone hands me at a party or jam. My vibe comes through. (I hope.)

11. Which living artist would you like to collaborate with, and why?
David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Thom Yorke.

12. Which dead artist (music, or other arts) would you like to have collaborated with, and why?
J.S. Bach, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake, Mile Davis.

13. What's your latest project about?
My band, Run Through the Desert, just released our debut album called Break the Silence. I met the bassist and drummer on the Chris Cornell gig when we all came aboard a couple years ago. RTTD is a power rock trio. Influences: Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Radiohead, and Cream, but with a modern edge. I’m singing and writing the stuff. It’s a great rock record. Also on the horizon is my second solo album, which is 3/4 recorded. It’s a melancholy album featuring Stevie Blacke’s string quartet arrangements and performances, as well as my acoustic guitar and voice. Plan to put it out later this year.