Vato Negro: Dos
From Racer X to Mars Volta to Deltron 3030, Juan Alderete has been killing it for years. Today, we’re celebrating his birthday with a clip of his project Vato Negro throwing down at Fuji Rock 2010. The song (which starts at the 1:10 mark) brings out an eclectic side of the group with a nice mix of groove and heaviness....
Bill Gould: New Faith No More Album in 2015
It’s been 17 years since Faith No More released an album, but that streak will be broken in April 2015 according to Bill Gould. The bassist, who will also be producing the group’s untitled seventh album, broke the news to Rolling Stone. The release will be on their own imprint, Reclamation Records. “The name has to do with the fact...
Finding Home: An Interview with Kristin Korb
Packing up everything you own and moving over 5,000 miles to make a new home is a life-changing event. It forces you to learn a new culture, a new language, meet new people, and generally get you completely out of your comfort zone. That’s precisely what happened to bassist and vocalist Kristin Korb after she left sunny Southern California for...
You Bred Raptors?: Yukon
Named after a quote from Jurassic Park, You Bred Raptors? is a trio that does things differently. Musically it features cello, drums and a knockout 8-string bass played by Peat Rains. The band stands out even further by performing with an array of bizarres masks on. The group was recently featured on BreakThru Radio for a performance and interview on...
BOSS Announces RC-1 Loop Station
Taking a step towards simplicity, BOSS has announced a new entry-level looping pedal called the RC-1 Loop Station. The RC-1 strips away all the extra functions the series is known for and is designed solely for recording loops. Made with bassists and guitarists in mind, the Loop Station offers up to 12 minutes of stereo recording time and will store...
Bass of the Week: Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat
Allen Woody wasn’t just a phenomenal bass player, he was an avid collector of vintage basses. The bassist – who laid down the low end for The Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule – owned over 450 basses before his untimely passing in 2000. Before he passed away, he worked with Epiphone on what would become a signature bass called the...
Morning Bound: I Did Fine
Ever since Morning Bound released the video for their first self-titled single, I’ve been craving more. Now the trio, consisting of vocalist Tammy Scheffer, bassist Panagiotis Andreou and drummer Ronen Itzik, has just posted a new video for the second single from their EP called “I Did Fine.” Their beautiful use of dynamics and textures make this track as much...
ZZ Top Cancels Tour Dates After Dusty Hill Injury
It’s been a rough year for Dusty Hill. Last month, the ZZ Top bassist was sidelined for surgery to remove kidney stones. Now the band has announced that the rest of their co-headlining tour dates with Jeff Beck have been canceled after Hill fell and injured his hip. Live Nation officials stated he fell inside the band’s tour bus, adding...
Rodrigo y Gabriela with Robert Trujillo: Metallica Medley
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo recently sat in with Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela to create a memorable encore at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. After some solo riffing, Trujillo kicks into the bridge of “Orion” to begin a four-song medley from the legendary metal band’s repertoire. The trio tackles “Orion,” “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “The Frayed Ends...
Paul Lairat Unveils Travel Bass
French luthier Paul Lairat has unveiled his latest creation called the Travel Bass. The bass features a headless design with a trimmed back body shape. Combined with its reduced 32-inch scale, the bass is ideal for taking on the road. Lairat handcrafts the model in 4-, 5-, or 6-string builds with two versions: a mahogany body with a maple top...
Fender Introduces Classic Player Rascal Bass
Back in 2013, Fender Master Builder Jason Smith created the retro styled Rascal Bass to display at the NAMM Show. “I wanted to build a short-scale bass that was reminiscent of some of the Kay and Danelectro basses,” Smith stated. This week Fender announced that the Rascal Bass would be put into full production as part of their Classic Player...
Led Zeppelin: How Many More Times, Live 1969
John Paul Jones doesn’t get the credit he deserves. His organic lines and fat tone are what tied Led Zeppelin together. Case in point, here’s a great clip of the band live on Danish TV in 1969 playing through “How Many More Times.” Though the cameraman focuses on Plant and Page, it’s Jones and Bonham who are laying down some...