Today we are taking a look at one of the coolest rock and roll television shows in recent memory, Guitar Center Sessions.

Located on DirecTV’s Audience Network, the show is a combination of live performance and insightful interviews with a single band or artist that is reminiscent of an old-school music magazine** interview show,  kinda like 60 Minutes meshed with MTV’s 120 Minutes.

** Random lyrical reference – “She saw my picture in a music magazine” from “Strutter” by Kiss.

Originating from Guitar Center’s renowned Hollywood location, GCS features the requisite “guy with an accent” as host, radio and television veteran Nic Harcourt.  His laid-back yet knowledgeable manner is well-suited for this format.  He talks just enough to get the conversation started and understands that the show is about the musicians and their music, not him.

Technically, the show offers rock-solid production values.  Beautiful staging and lighting is par for the course while the audio mixes are fantastic each time. Cranking it up on my HD big-screen, my basement turns into a surrogate concert hall with a front-row seat.

Artists I have seen include Joe Bonamassa, Blondie, Bush, Cake, The Cult, Peter Frampton, Alanis Morrisette, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Slash, and Social Distortion. A few of these remain on my DVR for repeat viewing, particularly the Cult and SD shows, both of which I’ve watched at least times to date.

Making time for Guitar Center Sessions is time well spent each time I tune in.

If you have DirecTV, let me know what you think of the show.  If you have cable or the dreaded DISH service, then it’s time you made friends with a DirecTV customer or seriously considered making the switch.

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