From the studio to the stage, Nat Allison delivers a pitch-perfect scream, strut antics and evil guitar showboat. A high energy, guitar heavy performance with tough lyrics, powerful vocals and guitar solos to match. To date Nat has played some 5000 gigs, including festivals and opening for big names such as Jimmy Barnes, The Screaming Jets, Martha Davis and The Motels, Invertigo and numerous others.
What was your first guitar?
Torch Vintage Series Strat Copy.
What’s your main guitar now?
Gretsch White Falcon, they are so versatile! I recently bought a Gibson 50th Anniversary Firebird which I’m loving and I will use this as my main guitar on a tour I have coming up.
Through what amp and why?
Ulbrick amps recently made me an amp rig that is custom voiced for my Gretsch White Falcon. One channel of rich classic rock tone. For 15 years I was using my beloved Marshall JMP Super Lead through a Marshall TV Quad Box. The amp has been modified with a master volume so that I can overdrive it. It’s also a delicious amp but Ulbrick just takes the sound even further and it looks stunning too.
Pedals?
On my board at the moment I have an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (vintage), Ulbrick Boost Pedal, Jim Dunlop Rotovibe, Vox Wah Wah, MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay and I’ve recently added a Fulltone Supa-Trem, Electro-Harmonix Micro Pog Octave pedal and a TC Elctronic Polytune. Some things never change like my Ibanez Tube Screamer, it’s a staple.
What’s your latest recording and when will you be back in the studio?
A song called ‘I Don’t Belong To Anyone’ is the most recent recording I have done outside of demoing at home. I recorded this with a producer song writer named Davey Meshell in L.A who I plan on doing more work with in the future. I’m working on new material at the moment which are just demos for now but once there is enough new material that I like I will definitely get back in the studio ‘properly’ most likely mid 2014.
[blockquote]“Being invited on stage by the woman who not only made it acceptable for females to play Rock ‘n’ Roll music, but one of my all time favourite artists was an honor!“[/blockquote]
What gigs have you been playing lately?
Lately I have been playing a lot of solo acoustic pub gigs, not enough electric gigs! I play on average 4 gigs a week so it keeps me gig fit, I can’t complain.
Most memorable gig?
I have played so many gigs over the years that it is hard to remember! I would have to say getting up as a guest guitar player for two songs when Suzi Quatro toured Australia in 2011. It was very special, Suzi gave me such a wonderful introduction at The Palais Theatre and Geelong Arena. Being invited on stage by the woman who not only made it acceptable for females to play Rock ‘n’ Roll music, but one of my all time favourite artists was an honor!
Worst stage nightmare?
I had just arrived home from the U.S on a writing trip and played a gig at a festival in Broadford the following day. My main guitar at the time was my Black Custom Gibson Les Paul. The high E string kept falling off the neck and getting caught underneath the frets, which made the string basically sit right on top of the pick-ups. This created a horrible squealing noise which you couldn’t control! It was very stressful.
What gigs are coming up in the next few months?
I’m very excited to be playing in Suzi Quatro’s band for The Red Hot Summer Tour she is headlining here in Australia. Russell Morris, Shannon Noll, Black Sorrows and The Angels are also some of the other bands on the bill. Suzi asked me to put together a band for her, I’ve got some of my favorite musician’s geared up, it should be a lot of fun.
A guitar tip for the kids?
This is my number one tip – always turn down the volume on your guitar as soon as you finish a song and also in the stops of a song so we don’t have to listen to that horrible hissing of the amp. It doesn’t sound like much but it’s important. Service and be organised with your gear. Keep your leads neat, have some spares and buy a proper pedal board. Being neat and organised makes it quicker to change over on stage especially when there are a lot of bands on the bill and change over time is next to nothing.
And as Josie Jason would’ve said….Practice Every Day!!