Forget everything you know about jam sessions. Cardboard Sessions doesn’t just break the mold—it shreds it, tosses it into the recycling bin, and builds something entirely unexpected from its remains.
Born from the wildly imaginative minds at Signal Snowboards and Ernest Packaging, this genre-bending video series takes the concept of music collaboration and reinvents it with a material few would dare consider: cardboard.
The premise is as simple as it is radical, craft fully playable guitars, drums, and amps entirely from cardboard, then hand them over to world-class musicians with zero rehearsal and no direction. What unfolds is a wild, unscripted musical experience where the only certainty is spontaneity.
Cardboard Sessions evolved from an earlier project, Cardboard Chaos, which challenged assumptions about what cardboard could do in the realms of action sports and music. That series birthed unforgettable creations like the cardboard Fender Stratocaster and a full drum kit, both of which drew attention from heavy hitters like Chester Bennington and Eric Kretz.
But after those initial headline-grabbing experiments were shelved—both literally and figuratively—the concept lay dormant through the pandemic’s quiet pause.
Then came the spark to reignite it. Instead of just showcasing the instruments as novelties, the team envisioned something bigger: a series that puts creativity on full display. Thus, Cardboard Sessions was born; a project less about perfect performances and more about capturing lightning-in-a-bottle musical moments.
Each session feels like a jam-packed fever dream. There are no setlists, no overdubs, just pure, unfiltered creativity. Artists walk into the studio, pick up a cardboard instrument, and follow wherever the music takes them. What they create is a sonic rollercoaster of groove, grit, and the glorious unknown.
The roster of talent is jaw-dropping. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses have all stepped into the ring, embracing the beautifully flawed nature of these handcrafted instruments.
The lineup continues with genre-defying artists like LP, Marcus King, and Meg Myers, as well as legends like Robby Krieger from The Doors and Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction. Even skateboarder-musician Ray Barbee joined in, proving that you don’t need a traditional setup to write something unforgettable on the spot.
And then there was Terry Reid. After two decades away from the spotlight, the revered British rocker walked into the Cardboard Sessions studio and delivered a performance that felt less like a comeback and more like a resurrection. It was raw, soulful, and completely unplanned, just the way the series likes it.
Cardboard Sessions is more than a music series, it’s a rebellion against perfection. It’s a love letter to imperfection, experimentation, and the raw joy of creation. It reminds us that inspiration doesn’t need polish or precision, it just needs a spark, a stage, and sometimes, a little cardboard.
Whether you’re a lifelong gearhead, a curious newcomer, or someone who simply misses the days when music felt like a living, breathing thing, Cardboard Sessions offers something truly rare: authenticity. So tune in, turn it up, and let the unexpected move you.
