Archive for 2011 - Page 55

After first meeting at EuroBassDay in 2010, Italian bassists Simone Vignola and Alberto Rigoni have teamed up for a new project called the BASStards. Featuring “fat riffs, hard grooves and catchy atmospheres,” the collaboration has released this music video to their first single, “Obsession.”

Bassists/singers Mike Watt and Kira Roessler have released their latest effort from their bass-focused duo, Dos. Dos y Dos is a 13-track release featuring two basses and vocals by Roessler. The duo first teamed up in 1985. Watt was playing bass with The Minutemen full-time while Roessler performed with Black Flag. The two began recording together on Watt’s four-track, before...

Custom bass builder Luthman Basses has announced their latest model, the Mystic First. Mystic First is a passive bass with bolt-on construction. Bodies are made with the bassist’s choice of ash, alder, ovangkol or mahogany woods, and the neck is made with either wenge with maple accents or the reverse, maple with wenge accents. Fingerboard wood choices include either rosewood...

Bassist, singer and songwriter Rhonda Smith‘s musical resume is as impressive as they come. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to a musical family, Rhonda started on baritone horn, keyboard and guitar. Picking up the bass, she said, was all thanks to her brother. “He brought a bass home one day and told me not to touch it.” Most recently, Rhonda...

Solo bassist Kimberly Lynn has shared her latest video, a live bass looping performance dubbed “Song with No Name.” Kimberly explains, “Another one of my grooves that goes over well when performing. And, as with most of my grooves that ‘turn into tunes’, I sit around a bit and ponder what to title it. In this case I’m just letting...

The reggae rockers of Sublime with Rome have released their first album, Yours Truly. The band of course consists original Sublime members Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez filling the spot of the late Brad Nowell. Fans of the original lineup will get the same bass-heavy reggae/ska/punk fusion they’ve come to love. Wilson, whose fat bass...

Cort has teamed up with the German bass builders at Sandberg to create the Arona series of bass guitars. Available in 4 or 5-string versions, the Arona marries Sandberg’s engineering and designs with Cort’s production. The Arona is available with a swamp ash or alder body depending on the finish, and has a 3-piece bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood...

Q: How would you approach teaching children? Trying to keep it interesting while teaching technique, reading and material seems an impossible combination to me. Kids just don’t have the patience that adults do. Any advice? A: My advice? Teach adults! Seriously, this has perplexed me as well and I’ve had to become honest with myself and decided that I just...

This one’s all about the bragging rights… What’s the hardest bass line you’ve ever learned (and pulled off)? Answer below in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

Here’s a great video featuring The Ventures in a live performance in Japan in 1990. Steven Iarusci shares this video with us, saying “Rippin’ bassline, great groove, and a special surprise at 6:09!” The late Bob Bogle is on bass, along with Mel Taylor on drums, Gerry McGee on lead guitar and Don Wilson on rhythm guitar. The surprise is...

Shortly after releasing a music video for their new single, The Wood Brothers have announced a string of tour dates in support of the new album Smoke Ring Halo, due to release on August 2nd. The group will be bringing their roots-American style through the US, starting in Hudson, New York and focusing on the East Coast with a smattering...

Meet Bill McGarry, a bassist from North Reading, MA and our player in the spotlight for July 5, 2011. Bio: I’m a 44 year old guy, married with two kids and a dog, who still thinks he’s 18! A huge heavy metal/rock fan who has been to more Kiss concerts than he can remember, followed very closely by Twisted Sister....