Steve Vai with Billy Sheehan: “The Crying Machine”, Live

Billy Sheehan is usually known for blazing riffs and absolutely ripping solos, but the man knows how to really get down, too.

Sheehan presented Steve Vai with the Les Paul Award at this year’s TEC Awards, and afterwords they jammed out the guitarist’s tune “The Crying Machine.”

Sheehan lays down a funky groove that just won’t quit.

As much of a “guitar feature” as this song is, it’s really about the bass.

Get the Daily Bass Video in your inbox.

Sign up to get the daily bass video delivered to you.

Leave a Reply to Jerry Schwanebeck Cancel reply

  1. Lot of scalloping on those instruments…

  2. Yea, I noticed the scallops too…never played an instrument like that, wonder if it’s easier to be quick.

    • he uses the scallops to know where he is on the fret board

    • Kyle Smith I don’t think so…between each fret on the fingerboard itself, the wood has been “scalloped” out in a shallow curve. It’s not the inlays to mark the fret location…look closely.

    • The scallops are supposed to allow for better string bending.

    • It reduces friction between the string and fretboard – eliminates it, really. It is supposed to make it easier (i.e. faster) to play and easier to bend. It was all the rage back in the late 80’s/early 90’s.

    • Shaun College I’ve never understood that. scalloping’s always been done above the twelfth fret and, looking at my bass, the string doesn’t even touch the fret board down there. I’ve always wanted to try it out, though.

  3. billy sheehan
    steve vai
    larry mitchell
    joe satraini
    basically every instrumental artists.
    R OVERRATED!

    • Well,I guess you’re much better…

    • First, Billy Sheehan has mostly played with non-instrumental bands (Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr Big). Secondly: check Niacin, an instrumental jazz band he’s been in… you’ll be able to argue over his musicianship.

    • Val Peers its simple actually those other non instrumental bands are also overrated n my proof is from rolling stone magazine….rolling stone magazine made a poll of the top ten greatest bass guitarists of all time n wat do u noe billy sheehan wasnt selected at all or nominated n also steve vai was also not nominated for rolling stones magazine of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time…reason why bcuz theyre overrated n they will always will be u can try to prove me wrong but all the evidence comes from rolling stone magazine n honestly u cant really argue wit rolling stone magazine bcuz theyve bin around more than any magazine ever n their opinions of music or much more satisfactorial to the readers n the public.

    • Luke Reep my answer to this magazine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bSbKXQAhpZA . Lets say some players are way over rated, and that others should deserve much more respect! peace

    • Luke Reep , Luke Reep , Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing more than opinion (probably biased), just as yours. Everyone you mentioned are all accomplished musicians and very good at what they do.

    • Luke Reep ,Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing more than opinion (probably biased), just as yours. Everyone you mentioned are all accomplished musicians and very good at what they do.

    • Jerry Schwanebeck sure sure but theyre not the best or be considered the greatest
      u jus stick to ur convictions which shows tats the only gud thin u can only do of course.

    • Val Peers tats real mature -_-

    • Luke Reep OMG that’s so funny!!!.Your reference comes from rolling stone magazine!,I guess you don’t have any musical education!. Arguing with you seems really pointless,so first get yourself an education.By the way,this kind of magazines tend to put Gene Simmons as one of the greatest bass players in history,Kurt Cobain as one of the greatest guitar players,or Britney Spears as one of the greatest singers of all time.If you think Steve Vai sucks,I suggest you BUY a guitar and try to do at least 1% of what he can do.Ignorant fool.

    • Eda Bassette FYI ima friggin guitar instructor so stfu!

    • Luke Reep , nevermind, your entitled to your opinion. I just think you came across pretty harsh.

  4. Billy and Steve you guys are always rockin God bless you both with happy healthy long life…thumbs up.

  5. What bass, couldn’t hear a note!

  6. You know a man is lost in his music when he loses control of every muscle in his face and neck. Billy Sheehan is a master.

  7. Mr Shehaan is one of the kindest most considerate people I have every met! He does not consider himself the greatest Bass player in the world, to him Tim Bogart is. It is his peers calling him the greatest. If he can he will sit there all day talking about Bass or anything else you wish to speak of.

    As for rolling stone mag. it has not been a true music mag since the 70’s and is not worth the paper or computer you read it on.

    • rolling stone is crap. they are the sports illustrated of the music world. just remember, rolling stone said led zeppelin sucked and would never last.

    • Billy Sheehan is totally one of the best bassists ever. I don’t consider him the best, but at what he does, he is the best. Other bassists are equally as great in their genre as he is in his. Steve Harris, Victor Wooten, Stuart Hamm, Jaco, Flea, and so on and so forth. But, there is much to be said about the people these and others have influenced along the way and the fact that Rolling Stone Magazine had nothing to do with it. Remember folks, the mag is lop-sided in what they view as good for the industry/art of music. Hell, look how many musicians/bands KISS has influenced, yet Rolling Stone Magazine consider them crap. If you like or admire a musician for whatever reason, don’t be swayed by others. Enjoy and soak up what/who moves you. That’s what it’s all about anyway.

    • Brian Pierce just cause something is popular or influential has NOTHING to do with how good it is…

  8. The thing I like about Billy is that he really created his own style and he does it well. There are many who followed — and I don’t know their names. Billy owns his space in the world of bass players.

  9. Turn down the guitar! lol

  10. These guys are amazing players, and I’m sure they can play more notes per minute than any other, and I know they are both greats, but…. what horrible elevator-music!

  11. Billy Sheehan is the epitome of a rock bass player.People love to make comparisons about who is better but its really about how the music sounds and that’s where he delivers by making the music sound great! That’s the job of a great bass player.In that he delivers in spades.

  12. I’m done reading comments/threads on musical websites. The haters, the immature, the stupid, the closemeinded, the dogmatic…. You can all die in terror, in a @#$%ing fire.

  13. Chris

    It seems you guys pick tunes on a fairly regular basis that have the bass unbelievably minimized in the final mix.