Primus Announces Final “The Desaturating Seven” Tour Dates
Primus has been pounding the pavement in support of their latest rainbow goblin-themed album, The Desaturating Seven, for the better part of a year, but Les Claypool says a new batch of dates this fall will mark the end of the tour cycle. “This will be the last Primus run for a bit as we will need to cool-out for...
Chano & Colina Release Live Album
The musical bond between pianist Chano Dominguez and bassist Javier Colina runs deep. After first meeting in 1986, the duo worked together to develop their own mix of flamenco and jazz music over nearly two decades until Dominguez moved to Barcelona in 2002. The move led each player to explore new avenues. Now they’ve reunited to release a live album...
Bloodstone: Natural High, 1973
Now we’re going to slow things down a bit. I’ve been on a classic soul and R&B kick lately and this song has been on repeat. Bloodstone’s “Natural High” is one of the smoothest love ballads I’ve ever heard. Although the band appears to be playing along to their own recording in this video, Charles McCormick’s playing on the track...
Jeffrey Osborne Releases “Worth It All”
Former L.T.D. vocalist Jeffrey Osborne has gone back to his roots with Worth It All, a record he describes as an old-school R&B album. “I approached it like things from the past that influenced me then wrote my versions,” he explains. “For example, ‘Let a Brotha Know’ sounds like a song I would have done with my old band L.T.D....
Deltron 3030: Nobody Can
Deltron 3030’s touring behind their album Event 2 can only be described as epic. The hip-hop trio of Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, and DJ Kid Koala took a full band on the road. No hip-hop would be complete without a fat bass line, and Juan Alderete was on hand to dish it out. Here’s a great clip...
In Memoriam: Wayne Secrest
Wayne Secrest, who founded the Southern rock back Confederate Railroad, has passed away. He was 68 years old. The news was shared on the band’s Facebook page. “It is with profound sorrow we announce that Wayne Secrest has passed away after a long illness,” they wrote “Wayne played bass with Confederate Railroad through the Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe...
Beetronics Introduces the Royal Jelly Overdrive/Fuzz Blender
Beetronics has introduced the Royal Jelly, a handmade overdrive and fuzz blender pedal that sits in their Royal series. The unit allows for running two circuits in parallel so you can blend them together or use them like two separate pedals. Two blend presets called the King and Queen give quick access to different sounds. “The presets allow the player...
Xavier Foley: Irish Fantasy
Xavier Foley’s virtuosity on the double bass is evident as soon as he starts playing. His amazing composition skills are often on display as well. Here’s a spellbinding performance of his original piece “Irish Fantasy” that takes you on a tour of the Emerald Isle and the bass at the same time. Check out his bow hair by the end!
Dimmu Borgir Announces New Bass Player; Tour Dates
Symphonic black metal outfit Dimmu Borgir has announced a new bass player, and it’s someone that will be familiar fans of the genre. Victor Brandt, formerly of Entombed A.D and Firespawn will be holding down the low end from now on, they stated on Facebook. ”We are very excited to have Victor become a part of the team! His experience,...
Ibanez Introduces Compact Acoustic Electric Basses
Ibanez has launched two new compact acoustic basses with the AVNB1E and the AVNB1FE. The basses, which are fretted and fretless models respectively, feature a 634-millimeter scale with parlor shape body. “Our short-scale parlor basses offer players compact acoustic options which are better suited for small stages, make for easier trips, and do so without sacrificing low-end tone and presence,”...
Kung Fu: Caught Up
Kung Fu is back with another track in their Ninja Cuts series. “Caught Up” is a track written by keyboardist Beau Sasser. “Caught Up is about your typical bad day,” he writes. “I was inspired by the movie ‘The Fifth Element,’ where the main character continually gets caught up in the drama of everyone he encounters…something we can all relate...
Tower of Power Celebrate 50 Years with “Soul Side of Town”
Who knew you could be so funky for so long? Tower of Power is celebrating 50 years of making music in 2018 with a new album called Soul Side of Town. While the band’s lineup has changed up through the years, the album includes original saxophonists Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka as well as the epic rhythm section of...