ZZ Top Celebrate 50 Years with Album, Tour
In another piece of evidence that 1969 was an incredible year for music, ZZ Top was formed. Now the iconic rock band is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a new album and a massive tour.
Ted Nash, Steve Cardenas, and Ben Allison Release “Somewhere Else”
The trio of saxophonist Ted Nash, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist Ben Allison have teamed up once again for a new recording. “Somewhere Else” reimagines the music of “West Side Story” into their three-piece format, with room for experimentation.
Mike Mills Teams with Chuck Leavell and Robert McDuffie for Tour
Former R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills is joining Chuck Leavell and Robert McDuffie to honor musicians from Georgia. A Night Of Georgia Music is a tour that will see the trio performing works by The Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, Outkast, and more.
Sennheiser Introduces XSW-D Wireless Digital Pedalboard Set
Sennheiser has released a new entry-level wireless system for guitar and bass. The XSW-D Pedalboard Set works on 2.4 GHz for worldwide operation and comes with a transmitter and a pedalboard-style receiver. The receiver also doubles as a tuner.
Ethan Farmer Anchors New Lionel Richie Live Album
Lionel Richie has released “Hello From Las Vegas,” a new live album recorded during his 2018 residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort. Richie was joined by bassist Ethan Farmer, who got the chance to throw down on a medley of classic funk hits.
Fuzzrocious Pedals Announces Cicada Fuzz V5 Pedal
Fuzzrocious Pedals has unveiled the fifth iteration of their Cicada Fuzz, which is produced in limited numbers each year. Version five of the tremolo-fuzz pedal is limited to 17 units in homage to the 17 Year Periodical Cicada.
Bass of the Week: Tangente Instrumentos Zen Bass
Matias Catueño of Tangente Instrumentos sent in this awesome bass he built called the Zen. Besides its multi-scale design and a killer Photoluminescent geometric pattern, the bass has an interesting set of electronics by request of the customer.
Chris Kosky Releases “The Thumb Transition Zone” Double Bass Method Book
Bassist Chris Kosky has released a new method book for the double bass that covers a tricky spot of the neck. “The Thumb Transition Zone” covers the area between lower positions and thumb position.
Jackson Introduces Mini-Scale JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1XM
Jackson has scaled things down about with their latest Concert bass – literally. The JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1XM has a scale of 28.6 inches, which is tiny compared to the standard scale of 34 inches.
Don Slater and Shock Narcotic Release Debut Album
Shock Narcotic is a new project featuring members and former members of the top acts in metal including Jeff Tuttle, Zach Gibson, Shawn Knight, and Don Slater. They’ve just released their first album, “I Have Seen the Future and It Doesn’t Work.”
Cort Announces the GB74 Gig Bass Guitar
Cort has expanded its GB74 line of basses with the BG74 Gig Bass, which the company says offers “ultimate sonic versatility.” That’s due to its unique pickup configuration, which covers the three main types of bass pickups.
Killswitch Engage Releases “Atonement”
Killswitch Engage has released “Atonement,” which is being hailed as a return to form by the metalcore outfit. Fiery riffs and melodic vocals dominate the record and call back to their heyday of “Alive or Just Breathing” and “End of Heartache.”