In this episode, Alex visits the iconic Carmine Street Guitars in New York City with his bandmates Percy Jones and Tim Motzer from PAKT. The shop, established by Rick Kelly, crafts distinctive guitars from reclaimed wood salvaged from the city's historic buildings. These guitars, known for their unique sound, have caught the attention of celebrated musicians such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Jim Jarmisch, Jamie Hince, and Daniel Kessler, to name a few.
During their visit, Rick Kelly and his apprentice, Cindy Hulej—who has since launched her own brand, Cindy Guitars—delve into the shop's history, their meticulous guitar-making process, and anecdotes about their custom instruments and notable clients. This episode offers a rare glimpse into a one-of-a-kind shop where each piece tells a story of New York’s past, marrying craftsmanship with music history.
Listen to the Carmine Street podcast, The Bones of Old New York
Follow Cindy Hulej @cindyguitars
Follow Alex: @alexskolnick, @moodsandmodes, @alexskolnicktrio, @testamentofficial
See PAKT on tour! Upcoming dates:
8/26 at The Milestone Club, Charlotte, NC.
8/27 at The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC.
8/28 at Kings Raleigh, Raleigh, NC.
8/29 at The Loft 129, Cumberland, MD.
8/30 at Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA.
9/1 ProgDay at Storybrook Farm, Chapel Hill, NC.
9/7 Williams Center, Rutherford, NJ.
Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos.