Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 303

Khruangbin has predominantly been an instrumental band, until now. Bassist Laura Lee found inspiration from a friend and discovered her expression in lyrics to create the new album, “Mordechai”.

Darkglass Electronics has added a new gadget to its product lineup with the Element. The utility pedal is a headphone amp and cabinet simulator that offers solutions for playing, rehearsing, or studying music.

Harley Flanagan and Cro-Mags have returned with “In The Beginning”, which marks the group’s first full-length in 20 years following a bitter legal battle over the band name.

Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen has been holding live streams on his own throughout the quarantine, but now bassist Jack Casady has safely driven across the country to join him for a special July 4th concert.

Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament has dropped a surprise EP called “American Death Squad”. The five-song collection was crafted during the beginning of the quarantine period during the pandemic.

Two-time Grammy-winning bassist Derrick Hodge has returned with his third album as a leader, entitled “Color of Noize”. While it’s an expansion on Hodge’s unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, and soul, it also has several fresh aspects.

Nordstrand Audio has added a new product to its string dampening line with the NinoMute. The device was developed by bassist Nino Ocampo for the double bass to help accentuate its acoustic nature.

A new documentary on pioneering bassist Suzi Quatro is coming to streaming services soon. Directed by Liam Firmager, “Suzi Q” details her life and career as one of the first female rock stars in the world.

Spun Loud Effects has updated its Blister & Peel dual fuzz pedal with a new version. The V.2 edition was switched to a PCB build for consistency while adding capacitors to improve and extend gain sweep.

Marek Bero has expanded his line of Bass Gym 101 series with a new instructional book. “Bass Gym 101 Basslines for Beginners” features 101 exercises and lessons that condenses essential bass knowledge while focusing on playing bass lines.

Sinasoid Cables has introduced a new product to its lineup with the Sable series. Named after its sleek black appearance and matte finish, the cable has a subtle grip to its wrap that eliminates the need to constantly move it.

Hofner’s Green Line is a series created to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Started with classical guitars, the series now includes a version of their 500/1 violin bass. It carries all of the features of the original version with some interesting differences.