Reader Spotlight: Dirk McNasty

Dirk McNastyMeet bassist Dirk McNasty, our player in the spotlight for June 15th, 2010.

Bio:

As bassist for The Underground Blues Division, I’ve been fortunate enough to share stages with some of my heroes, such as, Chris Duarte, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and Steve Cropper. After years of playing, I’m finally in the band I’ve always dreamed of and couldn’t be happier!

Location:

Branson, Missouri

Day gig:

Playing phone tag with club owners, booking agents, and various other hard to reach people ;)

Years experience:

4 years

Bands & Gigs:

The Underground Blues Division. We’re a three piece blues/rock outfit, trying to blend the soul of cats like Hendrix and SRV, with the power of bands like Alice In Chains and Rage Against The Machine. It’s like we said “let’s find the two least marketable forms of music, and mix ’em!”

Gear:

  • Warwick Corvette STD. (my baby :))
  • Gallien Kruger 700 RB II
  • Acoustic 4×10 cab
  • Acoustic 1×15 cab

Why I play the bass:

It’s the old story: played guitar for years, met a kid that played waaay better than me. He asked if I wanted to play bass for him, so I said “sure!” Ended up falling in love with the versatility of the bass as a lead/rhythm instrument. I’m constantly working to be a “real” bass player and not just a guitar player playing bass.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I once stumbled upon the brown note but forgot how I did it. I shall spend the rest of my life on a quest to find it yet again.

My influences

  • Juan Nelson
  • Allen Woody
  • Mike Bendy
  • Jaco, Felix, and David Pastorius

More on the web:

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  1. Good stuff.
    I don’t think blues and alterna-rock are the two least-marketable genres.
    Try death metal. I’m mixing that with funk, Primus-style grooves, latin, and who knows what else. If curious:
    http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=104396312

    Cheers!

  2. Well, keep in mind, we’re from Branson Missouri…country music capitol!…around here blues is a big no-no for some reason…ironically, death metal goes over pretty well with the younger kids around here.