Damian Erskine Articles
Ask Damian Erskine: I Can’t Hear Myself!
Q: I would love to know what you do when you can’t hear yourself on stage or at rehearsals and when you can’t change it.
A: That’s just a tough situation, really. It does happen fairly frequently, though. Honestly, that’s when knowing your fretboard and having a strong relationship with your instrument comes in handy, as [...]
NAMM Bass Bash: Ray Riendeau, Damian Erskine, Evan Marien perform “Living for the City”
NAMM Bass Bash videos keep coming…
Here’s a great one, featuring the bass trio of Ray Riendeau, Damian Erskine and Evan Marien, with drummer Martin Diamond, performing Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City”.
Ask Damian Erskine: Relax, and don’t forget to listen
Q: What’s going through your mind when you solo?
A: Ideally, nothing! I play my best when I know the song well (don’t need to think about chords, etc.) and am playing with solid players who all serve the music. In that scenario, I am simply letting the music dictate what’s going to happen and if [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Gigging half-heartedly?
Q: Have you ever felt, for any reason, like NOT doing a gig and if so, for what reasons?
A: Of course!! More important than the reasons why (there have been SO many), though are the ways in which it is possible to alter ones perspective so that it is not as dreadful.
I have been lucky [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Gigging with no preparation time?
Q: How do you prepare for a gig when you have a short amount of time to learn tunes?
A: For me, it is more important that I have the tune internalized and have the vibe inside. The second thing is any hits that I’ll need to be aware of. If I can feel the tune, [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Recommendations for starting out?
Q: What would you recommend to someone just starting out on bass?
A: These are the things you will regret NOT doing if you stick with any instrument, so be ahead of the curve and do the work now, instead of later or never!
1. Learn to read music (not tab, but actual notation!) Read EVERY DAY, [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Setting up your bass
Q: Would you describe what you strive for when setting up your bass?
A: I actually just covered this in Bass Guitar Magazine (UK) recently. Here is my blurb from the magazine…
The overall playability of my instrument is everything to me. If I have to fight the feel of my bass, I’ll have a harder time [...]
A review of Damian Erskine’s “So To Speak”
Wow, I love this record! Portland, Oregon resident and No Treble contributor Damian Erskine has produced an essential record that’s a real joy to listen to. So to Speak combines odd meters, Afro-Cuban percussion, passionate playing and carefully crafted arrangements to create a fine jazz fusion record. Damian composed all the tunes and his rich, [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Best way to Shine?
Q: When you are presented with an opportunity to play with people you look up to, what is your approach? To you try and blow everyone away?
A: Great question! The first thing I would say is to be yourself! Don’t try and play like this guy or that guy you’ve seen them with, don’t try [...]
Ask Damian Erskine: Practicing in Your Head
Q: So as I walked around the house, my wife asked me, “What are you doing, space cadet?” I guess I had a fairly blank look on my face and was walking around the house in circles. I replied, “Playing Bass… in my head.” She then said, “huh… you should write about that for the [...]
