Buzz
Evan Marien: Water On The Brain Pt 2
Evan Marien shared his new video with me this week, and it is so great to see another great performance from him. In this video, Evan performs his arrangement of the Allan Holdsworth tune, “Water On The Brain Pt2”. Check out the solo! If you dig this, Evan made this available on his Soundcloud page.
Neil Young Releases Live Material From “This Note’s for You” Era
Recordings from Neil Young’s 1987-88 live dates fronting the Bluenotes (his regular backing band Crazy Horse augmented by a horn section) comprise Bluenote Café, a new release from the Neil Young Archives Performance Series. Performances by bassists Billy Talbot and the late Rick Rosas are captured on the set, which features songs from shows performed leading up to and following...
Anders Kjolholm Leaves Volbeat
Volbeat bassist and founding member Anders Kjolholm has announced that he’s left the band. The group, which is reportedly in the studio for their next album, posted a message on their website with the information. “In connection with the planning and preparation of Volbeat’s extensive future plans and wishes for 2016 and onwards, Volbeat and Anders Kjølholm part ways. All...
Acoustic Amplification Introduces Class-D/Neo Series
Acoustic Amplification has introduced a new series of Class-D/Neo bass amplifiers including heads, cabinets, and combo amps. The new models are approximately 40 percent lighter than the company’s previous models. New head units include the B300HD, B600HD, and the B1000HD. Common controls on each head are a blendable overdrive circuit, an Acousti-Comp compression, a Notch filter with frequency control, an...
Rush: Xanadu (R40 Live)
Rush hit the road this year for their “R40” tour – celebrating 40 years as a band. Each concert was a major production too: elaborate sets and the band starting with their newest work – Clockwork Angels – and moving back in time through their catalog. As they worked back, sets and equipment changed to match the time. Now they’ve...
Set Released Covering Last Years of Jazz Great Oscar Pettiford’s Career
Much of the work of late bebop pioneer Oscar Pettiford is now available in one package: The Classic Albums 1953-1960. The five disc set includes recordings made after the jazz double bassist began using the cello in earnest as his secondary instrument following an arm injury. The late Pettiford, who was a composer and bandleader as well, is known for...
SolidGoldFX Introduces The Apollo II Phaser Pedal
SolidGoldFX’s Apollo phaser has been updated to The Apollo II. The stompbox combines an all-analog, four-stage phaser circuit with the company’s tap tempo microprocessor. The Apollo II now has an 11-position detent knob that controls a variety of distinct waveforms. Combined with its three different rhythmic patterns, SolidGoldFX says the pedal offers a vast array of unique phasing options from...
Talking Technique: The Permutation Exercise
To start things off in this new series, we’re going to be working on our left hand dexterity with the “Permutation Exercise”. Each finger is assigned a number: 1 for index 2 for middle 3 for ring and 4 for our pinky By practicing each variation or permutation of the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, we can build finger...
Project RnL: Expiration Date
Project RnL and bassist Or Lubianiker shared this video earlier this week, and it is another solid performance by one of our favorite bands. “We’ve been working recently on an ‘electronic’ live setup, and here’s our first attempt at it,” they shared. The song is “Expiration Date,” originally written by Pomplamoose.
Saxon’s Latest is a Battering Ram
British heavy metal band Saxon has released its 21st studio album, Battering Ram. The record features bassist Nibbs Carter, who has been with the band since 1988. Known as one of the leading bands of the 1970’s New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon evokes some of its early 80’s sound on the album. If you love classic metal, check...
Stuart Hamm Announces Winter Tour
Stuart Hamm is hitting the road again in support of his latest album, The Book of Lies. The winter tour will include four solo dates before bringing on the bassists’s band consisting of guitarist Alex Skolnick and drummer Joel Taylor. Hamm’s outing focuses on the West Coast and Midwest. The solo dates start November 27th in Spanish Fork, Utah and...
Accompanying “Smaller” Instruments on Bass
Q: I have a question in regards to the best way to accompany “light sounding” instruments such as a ukulele, mandolin, banjo, or even just auxiliary percussion. I find that whenever I’m playing with these types of instruments I have to limit my style to playing more open, simple lines so as to not drown out the other instrument. The...