By Rob Skane.
Mike Valente is the founding guitarist and a creative force in the legendary band Brick by Brick. Mike plays guitar the way we love it – loud and mean. Thankfully, he was kind enough to participate in 3 questions. You can find out more about Brick by Brick at www.upstaterecordsny.com/
RRX: What was the moment that made you pick up a guitar and never put it down?
MV: The moment I decided to not put the guitar down was when I was about 15. I was taught my first “riff” by my father, and I practiced it over and over, forever, it seemed. That riff was “Whole Lotta Love” by Zeppelin. Then I started learning Kiss tunes.Â
RRX: If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing about playing guitar, what would you say?
MV: I’d say practice more as you get older … ha … I barely touch my guitar unless we are rehearsing or on tour. Â
RRX: When you’re not onstage or recording, what kind of stuff do you play when no one’s listening?
MV: Not too much, but if I find myself strumming along or f***in around, I will dig out the early stuff that I learned. I am so damn busy these days doing EVERYTHING for the band; it takes away from a steady practice schedule. I find that just doing warm-ups is where I am at these days before a show. However, if I find that we have an extended period of time away from shows, I do run through a set in my office with a practice amp.
