Archive for July 2014 - Page 5

One of the first things you notice about the title track from Big Wreck’s fourth album, , is the bass line laid down by Canadian bassist Dave McMillan. McMillan, known for previous work with a variety of artists, from Justin Beiber to Fefe Dobson, was part of a more than six-month long recording process at Revolution and Vespa studios in...

Sometimes if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. We love it when bassists take building their instrument into their own hands, and Jim Colby nailed it with his bass that he calls “Glitzy.” ”‘Glitzy’ came about due to my love of 60’s Fender basses, and a meager paycheck,” the bassist shares. “Built in 1995 and...

Musical diversity is a beautiful thing, and Dan Briggs has it in spades. Besides laying down the low end for the popular prog-metal outfit Between the Buried and Me, the bassist has several projects to express different sides of his playing including ORBS and Trioscapes, the latter of which is gearing up for their sophomore release next month. Digital Dream...

We’ve heard Julie Slick has a new album out (more on that very soon). That reminded us of our first experience hearing Julie, with the Adrian Belew Power Trio back in 2008. The trio at that time also included Julie’s brother Eric Slick. Here they are performing the King Crimson tune “Three of a Perfect Pair”. Julie’s tone and lines...

Suicide Silence has released its fourth album, . The title comes from the last lyrics written by vocalist Mitch Lucker prior to his 2012 death following a motorcycle accident. The band, which features bassist Dan Kenny and new singer Eddie Hermida, created the video below from Lucker’s words. Guitarist Mark Heylmun says “this is the record we care more about...

Ella Basses has introduced a new singlecut model called the Isaac. Named after luthier Jeff Power’s son, the bass is handmade and can be ordered to suit. The Isaac has been made in 4- and 5-string versions with standard features including set-neck construction, Bartolini pickups and electronics, and Hipshot hardware. The first 4-string Isaac is built with a stunning spalted...

Q: I auditioned last night for a seventeen year old up-and-coming female country star. She has recorded an album with well known Nashville producer and has hits with a few her songs. I feel it is just a matter of time before she is signed to a major deal. She has everything the new Nashville loves. My dilemma is this:...

Today we’re remembering the legendary bassist Bob Babbitt, who passed away on this day in 2012. After playing on over 200 Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits, it’s safe to say that he will never be forgotten. Here’s a video of Babbitt performing “Mercy Mercy Me” at the 2004 Montreal Jazz Festival with the Funk Brothers. Babbitt played on the...

Hardcore punk band Rise Against has returned with , its first studio album since 2011’s Endgame. It’s the seventh album for the outfit, which originated in Chicago and was co-founded by bassist Joe Principe. The album developed as Rise Against records always have, Principe says in a making of video at Alternative Press, with the band members writing for themselves...

Meet Brian Dawley, a bassist from Boston who seems pretty well grounded in life (his list of “important things” is not only short, it is one-third “bass”). And I believe that for the very first time in our Reader Spotlight history, the answer to our “superpower” question also included the “Kryptonite,” which is a pretty humble thing. Brian sounds like...

We’re taking a bit of a detour from our regular bass lick series lessons to work on moving around the fretboard and playing a line through all the keys. In this lesson, we’re going to start with a lick in A minor, and work through the cycle of fifths. Each key lasts four bars each. Follow along in the video,...

Emeline Fougeray is one of two bassists in Oceakyl, a band started by the group’s other bassist, Olivier Carole. Emeline sent me this video of their tune “Visions?”, which offers up a ton of bass goodness. Emeline holds down the low end while Olivier plays the melody. The trio also includes drummer Mogan Cornebert.