GA-20 Talk New ‘Volume 2’ EP, Their Voices And More

Since 2018, GA-20 has been at the forefront of a traditional Blues revival. The fire brand throwback trio have long been disciples of the place where traditional Blues, Country and Rock n Roll intersect. As they gear up for their ‘Volume 2’ EP release and June 2025 UK Tour, we chatted to them: 

Who is in GA-20, how did you meet and what do they play? 

GA-20 is Matt Stubbs guitar, Cody Nilsen guitar & vocals, and Josh Kiggans drums. We’ve known each other for years just through the local music scene in New England.  Different incarnations of each other’s bands have opened for one another. There has always been a lot of comradery and mutual respect, musically speaking.

What is your earliest musical memory? 

I remember listening to Michael Jackson, lip syncing in my parent’s basement to Thriller and Billie Jean – MS

 

You have the new single ‘I Love You, I Need You’ is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track? 

 We have a big love affair with well crafted songs in the blues tradition. “I Love You, I Need You” just has a beautiful melody. No big story, we’ll just kick around ideas for which songs we’d like to take a run at. Among many favorites, we all liked this one. Lazy Lester was very cool.

 

What drew you to the songs you covered in this EP? 

 All of us became musicians first and foremost out of our love of music. Interesting thing, not all musicians actually have a real love of music. Not everybody realizes that. We’ll come across a tune we’d like to try, either through recreational listening or purposefully trying to pick one for one reason or another. Certain songs jump out for different reasons. And then we’ll try our hand at giving it a new treatment, perhaps bringing it to a new audience, or just a new take for people who already love it.

 

In addition, your new EP ‘Volume 2’ is released in 2025. How did you want to approach the making of the EP? 

We approached it the same way we do all of our recording – live and all in one room, as true to a live experience as we can get. 

 

Where did you record the EP and who produced it? 

This one was recorded at Rare Signals Studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Matt (Stubbs) produces all of our recordings.

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the EP recording sessions? 

No memories at all. That session was a whirlwind.

 

Do you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the album? 

 “Definitely! We use vintage guitars and amps, and I choose all the gear very carefully and purposefully to get the sound I want” – MS

 

Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective? 

a) There’s no happy here. It’s blues. 

b) It’s not angry either. It’s longing and regret.  I guess we’ll go with “I Don’t Mind” or “Cryin’ & Pleadin'” here

c) I Love You, I Need You

 

Who created/designed the EP artwork? 

 Matt had the creative concept and worked with graphic designer Leroi Conroy to put it together. The cover photos were taken by his partner, Fancey Pansen.

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage? 

 All good art makes you feel something. We want people to feel some connection, and to leave satisfied and exhilarated at the same time .

 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc? 

We are all collectors of vintage gear, so it’s not so easy to choose. A big determining factor is whether we are driving or flying, which dictates what we can bring and what we can be ok with losing (sadly). We use vintage 60s Fender Bassman heads and 50s Gibson GA-20 amps as a staple. On tour Matt likes to use his signature Waterslide T-Model guitars with gold foil pickups. Cody is currently enamored with a 70s Gibson Firebird Bicentennial. Other than reverb and tremelo we don’t use many guitar pedals live. Josh uses vintage Ludwigs. 

 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words? 

We met as friends in Boston, but all the band now live in Rhode Island, a small coastal state just south. 

SMALL * ARTISTIC * DIVERSE * REAL * NEIGHBORLY * (The local brewery, Naragansett’s motto is “hi neighbor”) 

 

How do you look after your voices? 

 Cody drinks herbal tea and is careful with his warmups. Typical singer stuff. Matt & Josh *do not* take care of their voices IYKYK

 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why? 

 Tough question. Not sure the stuff we’ve been reading would suit a blues soundtrack. Matt has an early side project called The Antiguas that has a very noir, pulp vibe to it, so maybe something by Elmore Leonard or Raymond Chandler would be interesting.

 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations? 

 We have a ton of musical influences – Lonny Mack – Earl Hooker – Buddy Guy – Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson – Freddie King – Hound Dog Taylor – to name a few. Get after ’em.

 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025? 

We’re still adding, but currently we’re slated to get to the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Czechia in 2025. Check our dates at www.ga20band.com

What makes GA-20 happy and what makes you unhappy? 

GA-20 happiness is a full tour schedule and full rooms of interested and interesting music lovers. Good food and drink. Meeting cool people.

VS.

Airlines losing our instruments. Bad road food. Grumpy people who aren’t also funny