Alice In Chains Return with “Rainier Fog”
Alice in Chains have released their sixth studio album, entitled Rainier Fog. The new record is a bit of a tribute to their hometown of Seattle as the name refers to nearby Mount Rainier. They also returned to Studio X, formerly Bad Animals Studios, where they recorded their 1995 self-titled album. Bassist Mike Inez told United Rock Nations that it’s...
Paul McCartney Announces First U.S. Dates of “Freshen Up” Tour
After announcing the Freshen Up World Tour in July, bass legend Paul McCartney has unveiled the initial leg to take place in the United States. His previously announced shows at Austin City Limits will be followed in 2019 by five dates spread across May and June in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The former Fab Four four-stringer...
Jimmy Haslip Anchors ARC Trio Album
Jimmy Haslip has teamed up with keyboardist Scott Kinsey (Tribal Tech) and drummer Gergö Borlai to release ARC Trio, a ten-song album that features the virtuosos digging deep into their skills. It also digs into their personal experiences. “I wrote music that deals with deeper emotional experiences… searching for knowledge and opening my awareness of a world in need,” Haslip...
Fodera Reveals James Genus Emperor 5 Elite Bass
Fodera has teamed up with bassist James Genus to release a new signature model of their Emperor 5 Elite bass. Genus, who has worked with the top names in jazz and is currently the house bassist for Saturday Night Live, worked with the company to make the bass comfortable and tonally versatile. “The James Genus Signature Emperor is designed to...
Conversations: An Interview with Darryl Anders
Agapésoul has just released their sophomore album, Conversations, featuring a host of guest artists supported by a core group of musicians. In the center of that core is bassist and bandleader Darryl Anders. Originally from Florida, Anders grew up in a musical family and picked up the bass after starting on trumpet in third grade. One listen to the monster...
Janek Gwizdala Releases “Last Minute World Tour Live”
Last year, Janek Gwizdala did something a little crazy. He took off on a musical trip around the world at the drop of a hat. “The Last Minute World Tour took place throughout 2017, and included over 30 live concerts,” he explains. “From theatres and concert halls to private houses and intimate clubs, this was one of the most intimate...
Seymour Duncan Unveils Fooz Analog Fuzz Synthesizer Pedal
Seymour Duncan has unveiled a new analog fuzz synthesizer pedal for all instruments called the Fooz. The highly tweak-able circuit dishes out fuzz and filter effects. “Inspired by iconic guitar tones and synth flexibility, Fooz delivers the spirit of synth creativity to guitar and bass players, as well as electronic musicians. It brings everything to the show – Fuzz, Wah,...
John Benítez Releases Vol. 2 of Bass Method Books
Latin jazz bassist John Benítez has expanded his line of bass method instructional books with a second book. The John Benitez Bass Method, Vol. 2: El Sonero del Barrio – A Creative Approach to Salsa expands on book one’s rhythmic aspects by focusing on specific playing contexts from his recording career. “Vol. 2 concentrates on Benítez’s incredibly innovative approach to...
Darkglass Electronics Reveals Hyper Luminal Hybrid Compressor Pedal
Darkglass Electronics announced a new pedal to their lineup with the Hyper Luminal compressor, which they say features the first hybrid design with an analog VCA controlled by a digital side-chain. The setup allows for capturing the characters of some legendary compressors while keeping the signal path all analog. Another unique feature are a pair of touch sensors that control...
Tank and the Bangas Announce Fall Tour
Tank and The Bangas took the internet by storm when they won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Concert contest. Their blend of R&B and hip-hop is brought to life by the band’s infectious energy with vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball leading the charge and bassist Jonathan Johnson leading the groove. The band has just announced a fall tour that will take...
Death Cab For Cutie Releases “Thank You For Today”
Death Cab For Cutie has released their ninth studio album, Thank You For Today. The album is a shift for the band as it is the first not to feature guitarist Chris Walla while being the first to feature touring members Dave Depper and Zac Rae. Like every other album, it is anchored by bassist Nick Harmer, who weighed in...
Bass of the Week: Jerzy Drozd Orion
Jerzy Drozd creates some fantastic instruments. Alongside his regular line, he also goes out of his way to create some over-the-top beautiful basses. This week we’re checking out the Orion, a bass created from his Soul VI model that is decked out in moissanite gems. The bolt-on, six-string bass is built with a swamp ash body attached to a one-piece...