Archive for 2012 - Page 13

Roman Rogowiecki of Warner Music in Poland sat down with Geddy Lee in a wide ranging interview, where the two discussed Rush, their newest album, Clockwork Angels and a broad range of interesting topics related to both. The 21-minute interview is full of great responses from the always thoughtful and always humble bassist. Rush is currently on tour in support...

Whenever a new video by bassist Adam Ben Ezra arrives, I pretty much drop what I’m doing to watch it. Each time, I wonder how Adam will raise the bar on what he does, and pretty much every time, he does. In this performance of “Openland”, Adam plays multiple instruments. He said the tune provided him “with an excuse to...

Earlier this year, former Beatle Paul McCartney stepped away from the bass for the album Kisses on the Bottom, an effort that instead featured a host of studio and jazz musicians accompanying him as he sang traditional pop tunes that shaped his early musical understanding. Now Sir Paul has followed up with a live DVD called Live Kisses. Recorded in...

This week we check out the Schecter Blackjack ATX C-4, a 4-stringer with attitude. Available in Sunburst, Black Satin, and Aged White finishes, the bass is built with a mahogany body, 3-piece mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard. The company explains ebony has a “snappy, crisp attack” that lends itself to picking due to its high amount of percussive overtones....

Great things often come out of solutions to problems. For example, bassist Mark Robertson noticed that amplifying an upright bass to really loud levels was an issue that got overlooked by most manufacturers. He eventually discussed it with friend and electronics guru Justin Herlocker, and BNA Audio was born. The team got into building hi-fi bass cabinets and is an...

I love watching videos by the bass duo of Marco Panascia and Dario Deidda. I mean, it started with the fact that this is a bass duo. Then it quickly turned into admiration for their playing and their fun approach to music. Here’s the duo performing live in Rome in 2010. Thanks to Joachim Mahoudeaux for sharing this with us!

It has been a long time since Soundgarden has released any new material. Sixteen years to be exact. That’s all changing with the release of King Animal, an album that should have fans rejoicing as the band stays true to their signature sound. Bassist Ben Shepherd supplies low end support as well as several of the album’s riffs, including the...

After 35 years together, INXS are calling it quits from touring. The band, anchored by bassist Garry Beers, announced it during what would be their final concert in Perth, Australia. A press release soon followed. “We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end,” the band stated. “We have...

Q: Do you have any exercises that might help with playing in one position on the fretboard? I have a hard time getting away from reorienting myself from root to root. A: I would suggest starting with exercises you’re already familiar with, and adapt them to a single position. I frequently have my students do this, and have them force...

Facebook friend Michael Coderre turned me onto Colorado based band The Motet, sending in this awesome cover of Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat”. As if the band’s rock solid groove isn’t enough, bassist Garrett Sayers takes a sweet solo at the 8-minute mark. As Michael put it, “The man is boss. Straight up.” We agree.

Seventeen years after releasing their debut, Deftones have released their seventh full-length studio album, Koi No Yokan. The album is the second release without long-time bassist Chi Cheng, who continues to recover from a car accident in 2008. Bassist Sergio Vega, who performed on the 2010 release Diamond Eyes, took a larger role in Koi No Yokan, according to frontman...

Meet David Devereux, a bassist from Scotland who claims he may have too much power, but we don’t think that should ever be spoken when it comes to bass players. David is our player in the spotlight for the week of November 13, 2012. Bio: I play a six string bass with a loop pedal, meaning I have control over...