Reader Spotlight: Sal Pisciott

Sal PisciottMeet Sal Pisciott, a bassist who describes his band and music as “blues-punk” and who caught our attention with both his story and his witty bio. Sal is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 3, 2013.

Bio:

I’m a 21 year-old musician and student living in Queens, New York. Majoring in English, I look forward to waiting on you during your next restaurant meal.

Location:

Queens, New York

Day gig:

I attend Queens College. Aside from the occasional music gig, I’m otherwise unemployed at the moment.

Years experience:

7 years

Bands & Gigs:

Currently, I play bass in the blues-punk band, The Silverwings (Link below!). We’re actually making a bit of a change in terms of direction and introducing some Eastern sounds into our music. It’s making for some really interesting music, and I look forward to getting it out to the world. I also am backing up fellow Queens act John Samaras on some of his gigs.

Gear:

  • Fender MIM 2001 Precision Bass (Agave Blue)
  • Fender Squier Series MIM 1994 Jazz Bass (Olympic White)
  • Ashdown MAG 300

Why I play the bass:

When I was about 14, I was listening to a lot of pop-punk and Nirvana. I had an acoustic sitting around that I had purchased when I was 9 and never learned to play. The action was so high that it just wasn’t working out. I really wanted an electric guitar, but my mother told me there was a guitar sitting in the basement that my older brother had purchased back in the 90’s. Digging through the closet, I pulled out a Fender Squier Series MIM Jazz Bass and a small amp. From the first time I plugged it in, I loved it. While I did eventually get a guitar and learned to play it, I always come back to my bass.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I like to go all out, whether it’s playing behind my head, head-banging, or just locking into a groove. Playing on stage is always a great experience.

My influences

I’m always a fan of melodic bass playing, and, among influences along those lines, I really enjoy the bass playing of Jaco and Paul McCartney. How can you not be influenced by the greats? In terms of more modern acts, I’m also a fan of Marc Friedman’s playing (The SLIP, really soulful, lots of groove), James Johnston’s (of Biffy Clyro) bass playing, as well as that of Gordon Moakes of Bloc Party. Sam Coomes played a lot of great bass while backing up Elliott Smith as well.

More on the web:

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Share your thoughts

  1. Nice to read about someone in the same life situation as myself! (Student, not full-time musician).