Chris Robinson Brotherhood Announces Fall Tour Dates
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood is in the middle of a summer tour, but they’re not ready to get off the road for the year just yet. The band has announced an extensive fall tour that will cover all of October and half of November. The tour kicks off October 3rd in South Burlington, Vermont at the Higher Ground Ballroom. It...
Jeff Denson Releases “Outside My Window”
Outside My Window may be jazz bassist Jeff Denson’s 12th release as a leader or co-leader, but it’s also one of his most diverse. This time around his vocals are given as much weight as his impressive bass playing as he performs original songs as well as covers by Jeff Buckley, Abbey Lincoln, Peter Gabriel, and Soundgarden. “I was a...
Bass of the Week: Colibrí Guitars and Basses Morgan
Last week, Corey had it with all the political posts on Facebook and asked to see some basses instead. The No Treble community responded with hundreds of basses including this cool instrument called the Morgan from Colibrí Guitars and Basses. “My name is Rodrigo Castellanos and I have been building basses for the last 13 years,” the luthier shared. “11...
Obscura Releases “Diluvium” and Announces North American Tour Dates
Obscura’s new album Diluvium, which completes their four-album concept cycle, is now available and it’s a killer. The technical death metal band held no punches in putting the album together, which features the insane fretless seven-string bass work of Linus Klausenitzer. We were able to talk with the bassist earlier this year to clue us into the concept. “It’s about...
Ortega Guitars Releases the QUANTUMloop
Germany’s Ortega Guitars has unveiled the QUANTUMloop. The device is a looper pedal with a built-in multi-digital percussion stompbox featuring 16 factory samples plus four customizable sample slots. The QUANTUMloop offers up to five minutes of loop time with an unlimited amount of overdubs. Other features include a solid mahogany wood housing, a trigger input, and controls for the dynamic...
Between the Buried and Me Releases “Automata II”
Between the Buried and Me have followed up Automata I from earlier this year with it’s conclusion, Automata II. The two-part concept album is based around the idea of being able to view the dreams of others. “Automata II sees us at our most dynamic and most creative,” says bassist Dan Briggs. “It feels like turning a page into a...
Ron McGovney Opens Up About Being Replaced in Metallica by Cliff Burton
The legendary Cliff Burton is often thought to be Metallica’s first bassist since he is featured on all the early recordings. It was, however, Ron McGovney who first held down the low end in the band. McGovney recently opened up about the transition to Burton as Metallica’s bassist in a new interview on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast. McGovney...
What A Day: Last Calling
The bass/vocal duo What A Day is back with a new song called “Last Calling.” As always, Jonathan Joly and Leah Gracie deliver gorgeous and haunting melodies overtop of Joly’s creative bass work.
Pickpocket Releases “Permutations”
Australian instrumental funk band Pickpocket have returned with a new EP called Permutations. Anchored by bassist Craig Strain, the band explores their sound even further this go around. “This release sees the band delving into some deeper grooves and richer harmonic textures while paying homage to our musical roots and attempting to push into newer musical spaces, there’s even a...
Idiotbox Effects Releases the Blackout Fuzz Pedal
Idiotbox Effects has launched the Blackout, a pedal that contains two muff circuits mixed parallel. Each has its own Fuzz, Tone, and Output controls while having different tone voicings. The top circuit has a traditional muff tone control; the bottom is more of a mid boost/scoop control. “This thing is a sonic beast and capable of getting a much wider...
Cheikh Ndoye: “Giant Steps” on Bass Xalam
We’ve featured Cheikh Ndoye on traditional African bass instruments before, but his latest video is amazing. He performs the infamous John Coltrane song “Giant Steps” on the Bass Xalam. He plays through the melody and walks two choruses of the song that would be difficult on an electric bass.
Sam Bevan Releases “Emergence”
Bassist Sam Bevan has released Emergence, an album of original modern jazz that draws from his time in the San Francisco Bay area. Bevan is based in New York City but spent 16 years in the Bay and used some of his friends from the area on the record. “Drawing from jazz, gospel, Afro-Cuban and West African traditions, the songs...