Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 269

This week we have two basses of the week, although they are the mirror reflection of each other. Hayden Lassila of Lassila Guitars calls the model the Antipode. With one right-handed and one left-handed version, the bass lives up to its name.

French bassist Shob has followed up 2017’s “Karma Obscur” with a new album called “Solide.” The diverse album is described as mostly influenced by Afro Beat with funk and fusion elements.

It’s been 20 years since Incubus released their wildly popular album “Make Yourself,” and they’re celebrating the occasion with a four-month-long tour.

Joyo has introduced the MA-10 series of dual-channel portable amps. The lineup has three models, including the MA-10B for bass, that each have two channels, a headphone output, and a five-inch off-frequency speaker.

Amon Amarth has returned with their eleventh studio album, called “Berserker.” While the effort is not a full concept album like their last recording, “Jomsviking,” the lyrical content once again draws on Viking lore.

Aclam Guitars has introduced a new overdrive pedal for bass and guitar called Dr. Robert. Named after the famous Beatles song, the pedal features artwork by Klaus Voorman, who designed the band’s “Revolver” cover. It is also based on a vintage amp from the same era.

After winning the contest to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert back in 2017, Tank & The Bangas have kept their momentum on a roll. They’ve just released a full-length album called “Green Balloon” that is sure to keep the ball rolling.

Deep Purple have added another leg to their “Long Goodbye Tour” with a 33-date run. The tour, which started in 2017, will feature the lineup of Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, and Don Airey.

Dwarfcraft Devices has released a new version of their flagship distortion pedal called the Gold Standard Eau Claire Thunder. The pedal offers a streamlined interface as well as “germanium diodes and NOS Fairchild 2n5133 transistors for a vintage Muff vibe.”

Singer-songwriter Anders Osborne has released a new album called “Buddha and the Blues,” and he put together a monster band - including bassist Bob Glaub - to bring it to life.

RJM Music has unveiled the PBC/6X, a pedal unit they describe as an “all-in-one loop switching system and MIDI controller for pedalboards.” The new unit borrows features from the company’s flagship Mastermind PBC while housed in a smaller chassis and with programmable loop order.

Steely Dan has announced a new tour that will include several residencies in which they will play their albums in full. The group, now fronted by Donald Fagen after Walter Becker’s passing, will include Freddie Washington on bass.