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Archive for August 2014 - Page 4

Adrenaline Mob Switches Bassists, Announces Tour
Concerts & Tours

Adrenaline Mob Switches Bassists, Announces Tour

In a strange turn of events, rock supergroup Adrenaline Mob has announced that bassist John Moyer has been replaced by former Tantric bassist Erik Leonhardt. Moyer, who is also a member of Disturbed, left the group after confusion about the band’s recent tour announcement. Adrenaline Mob posted the news about their upcoming tour on social media, and Moyer posted on...

Out of the Black: An Interview with Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr
Interviews

Out of the Black: An Interview with Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr

Sometimes great things come in small packages. That’s true in the case of Royal Blood, a British rock duo that gets a gargantuan sound that rivals four or five-piece bands. One of the key ingredients to that sound is the massive bass tone delivered by Mike Kerr. Kerr started Royal Blood with drummer Ben Thatcher in early 2012 after discovering...

Zander Zon: “Single-Handed” Solo Bass
Bass Videos

Zander Zon: “Single-Handed” Solo Bass

Last month, Zander Zon sent me a note with some bad news. The talented bassist injured his left hand and could barely move his thumb. At first, he tried to play through it, but decided to stop and take care. He can’t pick up anything with his left hand now, making playing bass impossible. As the days passed, Zander had...

Wonderlush EP Offers Taste of Funktastic Album to Come
New Albums

Wonderlush EP Offers Taste of Funktastic Album to Come

Wonderlush’s funk sound is in full display on the , which features five versions (the original and four remixes) of the song “Jam” from their upcoming debut album. Propelled by terrific grooves from one half of the duo, bassist Punk Pappa, “Jam” is quite the… jam. With sounds like these, it’s not surprising the group has opened for George Clinton...

Ibanez Adds New Color Finishes to SR Premium Series Basses
Basses

Ibanez Adds New Color Finishes to SR Premium Series Basses

Ibanez stepped up its SR series in 2011 with the SR Premium, which took the company’s flagship model and gave it upgraded features. The series has traditionally kept in the vein of boutique basses with only natural finishes, but Ibanez has announced that the SR Premium 1400E and 1405E will be getting new color options of Deep Ocean Flat and...

Exploring the Value of Slap Bass
Ask Damian Erskine

Exploring the Value of Slap Bass

Q: I get so excited with seeing and hearing amazing slap bass playing. However, I’m wondering how many eggs to put the “slap basket.” I have tried a couple of different books and videos and have finally settled on Louis Johnson’s DVD from 1984. I am still working on the first lick and able to play it, but not at...

Monty Alexander, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton: Mojo
Bass Videos

Monty Alexander, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton: Mojo

Today is John Clayton’s birthday, and we’re celebrating with one of the bassist’s grooves. Here’s the jazz guru laying it down with Monty Alexander and Jeff Hamilton on the tune “Mojo.” Clayton’s joy for music is infectious. Make sure to check out his solo at the 3:22 mark. Happy birthday, Mr. Clayton!

Swedish Trio Dirty Loops Releases Debut Album, “Loopified”
New Albums

Swedish Trio Dirty Loops Releases Debut Album, “Loopified”

Dirty Loops, the Swedish trio known for its wild cover versions of songs by Justin Bieber, Adele and Justin Timberlake, has released its first album, . The band is still somewhat amazed by its success, which led to the creation of the record, according to bassist Henrik Linder. “We thought the combination of fusion and pop was so unsexy that...

Reader Spotlight: Scott Varney
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Scott Varney

Meet Scott Varney, a solo bassist who has a great “how I got started” story, and one who is doing his thing across various venues around his home in Williamsburg. Scott is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of August 18, 2014. Bio: I am a solo bassist singer songwriter who lives in Williamsburg VA. Although...

Jimmi Clarke: Teen Town
Bass Videos

Jimmi Clarke: Teen Town

Nigel Palmer sent us this video of his musical colleague, bassist Jimmi Clarke performing the Jaco Pastorius tune “Teen Town”. “Jimmi is an established session and live bassist for such luminaries as Gloria Gaynor and Il Divo,” Nigel said. “…and here he makes the Jaco/Weather Report tune ‘Teen Town’ look like a walk in the park, with a side order...

In Memoriam: Billy Rath
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Billy Rath

Billy Rath, bassist for classic punk band Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, has passed away after a long illness. He was 66. Rath joined the New York-based Heartbreakers in 1976, replacing original bassist Richard Hell. He was featured on the band’s only studio album, L.A.M.F, which caught the attention of the Sex Pistols. The band went on tour with the...

Xotic Announces 6-String XJ-1T Bass
Basses

Xotic Announces 6-String XJ-1T Bass

Xotic has expanded their XJ-1T series with a 6-string bass, which the company describes as having the feel and tone of a traditional jazz-type bass with the addition of two more strings. The 34″ scale bass is fitted with a pair of the company’s single coil pickups and Hum Reduction Inductor circuit that eliminates the hum associated with jazz-style pickups....