Best Young Guitarists 40ish & Under: Young Rockers

Kai Slater

Age: 19?

Bands: Lifeguard, Sharp Pins, A Towering Raven, Dwaal Troupe

Essential Album: "Crowd Can Talk" by Lifeguard

Kai Slater is a very intriguing and impressive young player from Chicago. He has a ton of promise. He's not a shredder. He plays guitar with a punk energy and feel with rhythmic but off-kilter riffs, but there is also something that I think is very exploratory about his playing. He explores dissonant harmonies very intensely. I'm very excited to see what he's going to do in the future.

HERE is a link to Lifeguard's precocious Audiotree Live performance.

Jake Kiszka

Age: 27

Bands: Greta Van Fleet

Essential Album: "Battle at Garden's Gate" by Greta Van Fleet

Dude's got riffs for days. Very fun guitarist to listen to. He plays natural but intricate riffs. And he can solo! It's nice to hear guitar solos in new music from young bands. His playing is in many ways a throwback to the epic golden age of electric rock guitaring of the late 60's and 70's. Hope he keeps on rockin'!

HERE is a song from Greta Van Fleet's "Battle at Garden's Gate" album that I think is in some ways a tribute to his guitar playing. His solo here is such a beautiful and brilliant throwback.