Flea and Anna Butterss Turn Tiny Desk Into a Two-Bass Showcase

Flea and the Honora Band just visited NPR Music for a Tiny Desk Concert featuring a fascinating mix of electric bass, upright bass and trumpet.

Across the three song set, Flea moves between trumpet, vocals, and his early sixties Fender Jazz Bass. Anna Butterss switches between upright and a heavily modified Fender Precision Bass fitted with a Dark Star pickup. The bass appears to have another pickup installed closer to the bridge, although it is difficult to identify from the video.  The performance offers several different low end combinations. At some points Flea and Butterss are both on electric bass. Elsewhere, Flea plays electric while Butterss handles the upright. For Me, the biggest bass moment comes during “Morning Cry,” where the two bassists create a massive layered sound.

The group also performs “Traffic Lights” and “A Plea.” The songs come from Flea’s debut solo album, Honora, which was released back on March 27. Flea composed and arranged the music while returning to his earliest musical loves, jazz and trumpet. The album also features Butterss, Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson and Deantoni Parks, who join him for the Tiny Desk performance.