Band Profile: John Rardin

"Throughout my life, my musical influences have varied a lot from adolescence to adulthood. Growing up, I was heavily influenced by the classic rock like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin that my parents listened to. Later when my older brother was in high school I started hearing more hard rock and metal blasting from his room. By 4th grade I started to discover alternative bands like The Smashing Pumpkins and Silverchair. I thought myself saxophone in 5th grade but eventually switched to classical guitar in middle school. For a brief period, I was really into Hardcore and Punk until (strangely), classical guitar became my life. 

In high school I continued to study classical guitar and began to play electric guitar in jazz band. I also started playing bass in the band The Venus Trasnit where I learned to vibe with other musicians and think outside the box. As a senior I auditioned for Radford University's classical guitar program and received a scholarship. For the next two years I lived and breathed guitar until I had an unfortunate accident, which broke my left collarbone. After months with my arm in a sling I was finally able to play guitar again and everything that I was taught suddenly clicked; and I finally understood the instrument. 

Today I manage a little music shop called the Music Doctors in Blacksburg, VA where I get to play a variety of instruments, talk to musicians and read books all day everyday.

Presently I have many different influences for each style (there’s so many!)

Electric guitar (rock)- S.R.V., John Mayer, David Gilmore, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson
Electric guitar (jazz)- Stanley Jordan, Pat Metheny
Acoustic guitar- Don Ross, John Mayer, Andy McKee
Classical guitar- Andrew York, Bach, Barrios, Villa-Lobos
Bass guitar- Victor Wooden, Gary Shea

Bands that have influenced me:
The Smashing Pumpkins
Pink Floyd
The Mars Volta
Apartment 26
Minus the Bear
Thrice
Pulse Ultra
Emery
Dave Matthew's Band 
The Foo Fighters
Led Zeppelin
Mae
Soulive
Circa Survive