Bushwhack's Progressive Scholar: JAMIE VAN DYCK!

Wed, 16/01/2008 - by Rory Sullivan

Today's Elevenses Throws Eleven Quick Questions At 'Bushwhack's Progressive Scholar' Jamie van Dyck!

Jamie van Dyck is a Yale student and the guitarist for Connecticut’s instrumental progressive rockers Bushwhack. Their acclaimed self-titled debut album is widely available and they describe themselves as ‘An orchestra getting into a knife fight over who's out of tune’.

So what’s your drink of choice at 11am in the morning?

Considering that I’m not usually awake yet, probably my drool.

Which song/album really made you want to play guitar?

Fastball – “All The Pain Money Can Buy”… I was in 4th grade. Solid album.

Who’s the world’s greatest guitarist?

I don’t know, but I like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd’s style the best.

Who’s the world’s most underrated guitarist?

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. You will hear this man’s name from me again before this survey comes to a close I’m sure.

So what are you up to at the moment?

Sitting in my dorm and thinking about guitar-related questions that I don’t usually consider.

What was the last gig you went to (as a member of the audience)?

Who would be in your dream line-up?

I saw the Great American Rampage Tour with Bieler Bros bands Nonpoint, Skindred, Ankla, and my personal favorites of the bunch, Karnivool.

Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust) – Lead Vocals

Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) – Guitars, Backup Vox, Songwriter

Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) – Guitars, Backup Vox, Songwriter

John Myung (Dream Theater) - Bass

Christian Lorenz (Rammstein) - Keyboards

Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) - Drums

How many guitars do your own and which one is ‘your precious’?

Hmmmm…7? 6 electrics and 1 acoustic, though 2 of those electrics are guitars I don’t really play anymore but keep for sentimental reasons. They’re all “my precious” at various moments, but my favorite to write songs on would probably be my Schecter C-1 Classic.

What’s the last great album that you bought (or were given)?

Well my favorite album of 2007 is “Fear Of A Blank Planet” by Porcupine Tree so that would be the most recent absolutely tremendous album. I’d say Hurt’s “Vol. II” is pretty great and I just got that a couple of weeks ago.

Do you suffer from stage fright?

Not really, though it can be harder to focus with the bright lights shining in my face than it is in our drummer’s living room...