Archive for October 2015 - Page 9

Ken Smith is now offering a single cut body shape as an option to their neck thru models. The option is a first for the company, which has only offered double cut designs in the past. The first bass to receive the single cut treatment was a BSR5MS featuring a highly figured tiger maple body, a 3-piece laminated aged hardrock...

One of my favorite musical discoveries in recent memory came from our friend Erlend Øvsttun Amsen, who wrote in suggesting we check out Ellen Andrea Wang. “To make a long story short, she’s a Norwegian double bass player/vocalist who’s done impressive stuff in various genres – often with the band Pixel, but lately with a burgeoning solo career,” he wrote....

Bassist/vocalist Danielle Nicole, known for her tenure in Trampled Under Foot, which she formed with her brothers, has released her debut album, Wolf Den. Nicole, a 2014 Blues Music Award winner for her instrumental skills, tapped Grammy-winning guitarist Anders Osborne to produce the record and her debut EP, which appeared earlier this year. Both were recorded in New Orleans. She...

All That Remains has announced that longtime bassist Jeanne Sagan has left the band after nearly a decade of holding down the low end. The bassist cites wanting to pursue personal interests. “It is with heavy heart that I depart from All That Remains,” she shared. “I’ve decided to follow my heart and pursue other opportunities in life. I truly...

Viaceslav Svedov has shared many great solo bass performances over the years. Time for another one. This time around, Viaceslav takes on Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” as a solo bass arrangement.

Jack White’s band The Dead Weather has released its third full-length album, Dodge and Burn, with Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes, City and Colour) on bass. Lawrence also has a special distinction on the album cover — he appears to have gained a sixth finger on his right hand. He’s a pretty unique guy. Watch him display his technique...

After the end of a month, we like to celebrate with a look back at the popular gear stories of the month. Yes, it can cause GAS, but that’s part of the drill, right? Here are the 10 most popular bass gear stories for the month of September on No Treble. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Mesa Engineering...

I’m always surprised when I discover bass players who manage to go under the radar despite a diverse and truly impressive resume. They are the players who can’t be stopped… they’ve had all kinds of gigs, taken on the role of writer and producer, and even have a few solo projects to their name. We always love reading about the...

Ever since I spoke with luthier Tom Ribbecke about Jack Casady’s Diana Bass, I’ve been searching for quality videos of the instrument in action. Here’s a fantastic one of Casady with partner-in-crime Jorma Kaukonen performing as Hot Tuna during the Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia this year. The duo play through a staple of their repertoire, “Good Shepherd,” with thoughtful...

The Winery Dogs, a rock trio featuring Billy Sheehan on bass, has released its second studio album, Hot Streak. Lead vocalist/guitarist Richie Kotzen said he feels the album is stronger than the trio’s 2013 self-titled debut, while drummer Mike Portnoy said Hot Streak was more collaborative in nature. “I’m glad we’re not playing it safe and just doing songs that...

Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford has introduced a new power trio called Wakrat. Filled out by drummer Mathias Wakrat and guitarist Laurent Grangeon, the punk and hardcore-influenced band is working on a debut album that is described as rooted in the Minutemen, Bad Brains, and Fugazi. The music is dark and very personal to Commerford, who wrote all the...

The Music Lesson is a book that will forever change you. Not because it was written by one of the world’s greatest bass players but because the message is core to living a life worth celebrating. Music is all over Victor Wooten. He was bathed in it from the womb (that’s not a clever play on words, just ask him)....