Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 85

For Tony Levin, a bass guitar is an endless playground. However, in our recent interview, he revealed a surprisingly simple way of testing whether a bass guitar is good.

Voltage Cable Company has introduced a new cable called the Vintage Coil Cable that comes in seven retro colors: Surf Green, Electric Blue, Orange, Caramel, Black, White, and Red. The 30-foot cables have an old-school coil style that’s got modern protection.

Poland’s Mensinger Guitars has a bass model called the Joker B, and this hollowbody version of it in three-tone sunburst really caught my attention. The five-string bass is built with a medium 32-inch scale length and bolt-on construction.

After nearly 40 years in the band, Billy Greer has left Kansas. The “Dust in the Wind” rockers announced the news on social media and thanked him for his dedication.

Madrid-based musician Tomás Merlo has a band called the Jaco Pastorius Legacy 5tet, with which he pays tribute to the late bass master. Merlo and his group have released a few videos, including this new take on the masterpiece “Continuum.”

After a tumultuous breakup in 1998, Swedish hardcore punk band Refused patched things up to reunite in 2012. Now, though, they’re officially disbanding for good following a farewell tour.

Death By Audio has expanded its lineup of bass effects with the Bass War, a fuzz pedal they call a sibling to their Fuzz War pedal.

In April, Dream Theater announced they would embark on a worldwide 40th anniversary tour with the classic lineup including James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy. With those dates beginning in Europe in late October, the prog rock titans have revealed the North American leg of the run.

Fender has unveiled a new artist signature instrument with the Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass. The bassist worked with the company to modify the Player Plus Jazz to reflect her style and playing.

Oftentimes, bands tighten up their live show as a tour progresses. If that’s the case, then Janek Gwizdala’s trio must have been airtight in 2022. The bassist/bandleader has just released “Live in London,” which was captured on the first night of his European tour.

The Beat tour kicks off today, so we're thrilled to have this interview with Tony Levin, who talks about the band, his latest album, and more.

Dave Matthews Band has announced a six-night fall outing. The group will be riding high during the tour as it comes just a month after their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.