Archive for 2018 - Page 70

Charles Berthoud always impresses with his solo bass arrangements. In his latest, he covers “Hallelujah” for solo bass with piccolo strings. Beauty.

Bryan Beller has announced he’s working on his first solo studio album in ten years. Scenes From The Flood will be a modern progressive double album concept, the bassist says. “Tracking continues in earnest. I’ll have plenty more to say about who’s on it and what it’s about in the coming months,” he teased. “For now, I’m grateful to have...

Deep Space Devices has launched their first product with the Red Ghost Distortion, a pedal aimed at heavier types of music. The unit offers simple controls with a single knob and two switches. “Designed to appeal to stoner rock and shoegaze enthusiasts, the Red Ghost offers menacing options to your tone,” Deep Space Devices writes. “With the single knob, “Horde”,...

Gerald Marleaux is hands down one of my favorite bass builders. His artistic touch and attention to detail make all of his instruments play and sound just as good as they look. This week we’re checking out his Contra model, which takes its semi-acoustic design in part from the violin family. “The Contra is made with the same materials as...

Plenty of bassists have taken on “Donna Lee,” but Alex Bershadsky did it in his own way. Joined by drummer Sharon Petrover, here’s Alex’s unique take on the bebop jazz standard.

Christian Metal band Stryper has returned with their 12th studio album, God Damn Evil. The follow-up to 2015’s Fallen, the album is the first to feature new bassist Perry Richardson, who came into the fold after longtime member Timothy Gaines left last year. “We jammed and heard him play, and he’s a really killer player,” Sweet said of Richardson. “He...

Legendary rock band MC5 is celebrating 50 years since the release of the seminal album, Kick Out The Jams. (Check out the upcoming tour with Dug Pinnick on bass.) Part of the year’s festivities include the release of a new memoir by the late Michael Davis. is a 350-page book that details the bassist’s time in the band with tales...

Höfner has reissued another part of their history with the H500/5 “Reeperbahn” bass. Based on the 500/5 that was produced between the ’50s and ’70s, the instrument features a large hollow body and short scale neck. It was famously used by a Beatle, though not the one you’re thinking of. “Although used by many players none is quite so famous...

Khruangbin is a band I just discovered on Youtube, and I’m digging their sound. From this video’s description: “Every month Gilles Peterson introduces a band you’re gonna want to know. In this episode, he has a live basement session with Texan trio Khruangbin.” The band includes Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums....

A unique performance from The Who is now available in a three-LP or 2-CD set. Live at the Fillmore East 1968 captures the band in New York City nearing the end of a long tour, but more importantly, the shows took place one day after the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. “America was already a country...

Fodera has expanded their Standard Specials line of instruments with the Madrone Burl Monarch 5 Standard Special. Built around the Monarch model, the bass has a new combination of woods with a mahogany body, Madrone Burl top, a three-piece maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard. Fodera says the real difference is in the pickups as it is the first Standard...

A little over a year ago, I caught Theo Katzman’s concert at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. What I didn’t know (until the band walked on stage), was that his Vulfpeck bandmate Joe Dart was joining him on the tour. Last month, the band recorded this concert for Audiotree Live in Chicago, IL. Here’s a clip of them performing “Crappy...