Reader Spotlight: Nick Montou

Nick Montou

Bassist Nick Montou’s resume just sounds cool. He’s the bassist for a well-known zydeco band from Lousiana, and one who has a pretty wicked double thumb slap style (see the videos below).

Nick is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of October 14, 2013.

Bio:

I am a 27 year old bassist from Southwest Louisiana and currently play with the internationally known zydeco band “Sean Ardoin & Zydekool”. Recently, my twelve years of dedication towards music has led me to be an emerging artist with MTD Kingston basses through DanaBGoods.

I’ve had the pleasure of touring around North America when I was a senior in high school with the previously mentioned artist.

I am a bass instructor at a local music shop and love to help other musicians succeed in their gifts!

Location:

Lake Charles/LA/USA

Day gig:

Linehandler for cargo vessels and Bass Instructor.

Years experience:

12 years

Bands & Gigs:

I am the bassist for Sean Ardoin and Zydekool. We play just about anywhere from small town gigs to festivals and corporate events. Sean’s music is a mixture of old school Beau Jacque zydeco, James Brown funk with an R&B twist. People who come out to our shows never have a dull moment! I am also recording and producing my own solo bass project that should be released early 2014.

Gear:

  • MTD Kingston ZX5
  • Tobias Growler 4
  • Fender Precision Standard 4
  • Gallien-Krueger 800Rb
  • Gallien-Krueger 410 RBH
  • Boss GT-10b Pedalboard

Why I play the bass:

I caught the sound of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers one day while watching VH1, about thirteen years ago. The video for “Higher Ground” was playing, and I knew I had to pick up a bass and share my heart with it! I began taking bass lessons from Trip Wamsley and have never stopped playing since. Music is my passion!

My bass superpower/claim to fame

Right now, I’ve been getting some good feedback from my Youtube videos. I do lessons, cover songs and share techniques I have learned over the years. Also, I’ve been recognized for my double thumb slap style. :)

My influences

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slightly Stoopid, The Expendables, Beau Jacque, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Trip Wamsley, G Love and Special Sauce, Snarky Puppy, Tower of Power, Average White Band, James Brown, Earth Wind and Fire.

Videos:

More on the web:

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Leave a Reply to Bill Hill Cancel reply

  1. I’m not a fan of slap style bass playing, but that was good.

  2. no mention of La Bella Strings ??

  3. @labella strings Demo of white nylons coming tomorrow :)