Buzz

Snail Moves Forward with “Feral”

Heavy rock band Snail’s latest album, Feral, combines emotionalism, psychedelia and sonic heft. The band returned to music making in 2008 after a short-lived initial career in the early 1990s, when they released one album and one EP. Feral is the band’s fourth 21st century studio album. The record includes two songs contributed all, or in part, by bassist Matt...

Phil Lesh Diagnosed with Cancer

Bass legend and Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh has revealed that he is battling bladder cancer. He made the announcement on the Terrapin Crossroads Facebook page while explaining canceled performances later this month. “I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in early October, and have spent the last few weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale doing tests and eventually surgery...

Can Hanging a Bass on the Wall Damage the Neck?

Q: I have several basses that I keep out of the case both on wall displays and on a Hercules stand for easy access. I’m wondering if there are any ill effects on the neck of the bass if it is left suspended by the headstock on a hanging stand for an extended period. Music stores do this all the...

Zander Zon & Miki Santamaria: Eleanor Rigby

Just yesterday, I was thinking it has been a while since we’ve seen a video by Zander Zon. This morning I opened my email and saw a note from Zander. Not only is there a new video, it features another of our favorite bassists here, Miki Santamaria. The duo take on The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”. “It’s actually my first bass...

Coheed and Cambria Tour, Release New Album

Coheed and Cambria’s latest album, The Color Before the Sun, is something different – it’s not a concept album. According to Rolling Stone, the album was recorded live in the studio with Zach Cooper on bass, and the songs, instead of having a sci-fi concept, reflect bandleader Claudio Sanchez’s impending fatherhood. “This is a new phase in my life. I’m...

Reader Spotlight: Eero Pakkanen

When Eero Pakkanen shared his story with us, it wasn’t a long one, but it was one that caught my attention. Eero is a bass player’s bass player. It almost didn’t start out that way (be sure to read the part about how he got his start). All said, this week’s reader in the spotlight is doing it right. Bio:...

Abraham Laboriel: Case of the Blues

Every time I watch Abraham Laboriel, it’s like a masterclass in “how it’s done.” His playing exudes musicality that lets his personality shine through, giving us all something to strive toward. Here’s a great clip of the master improvising a blues along with Hadley Hockensmith on guitar, Bill Maxwell on drums, Greg Mathieson on organ, and Phil Driscoll on trumpet...

Ex-Hanoi Rocks Bassist Collaborates with Former Bandmate on New Album

Sami Yaffa, onetime bassist for the Finnish band Hanoi Rocks and the New York Dolls, holds down the low end on former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe’s latest solo effort, Blackout States. The album “has all the ingredients of a perfect rock‘n’roll record – strong melodic songs with great meaningful lyrics that defy all clichés, delivered with a punky, ballsy...

Bass of the Week: Spalt Instruments Terminator 1

When we first started this column, our goal was to present instruments that range from beautiful to bizarre. This week we’re featuring a bass that falls somewhere in between. The Spalt Instruments Terminator bass is part musical instrument and part modern art, thanks to luthier Michael Spalt’s creative background. He studied painting, photography, film, and set construction between schools in...

Learning a Tune “On the Spot”

Last week I received a question about how to memorize a tune fast: “…For example, [bassist] playing a jazz tune you’ve never played before with a pianist as they shout out the changes for one chorus, then stop for the second. How can we develop skills to memorize these changes instantly?” No doubt the situation you describe can be stressful,...

BassTheWorld: 21 Bassists in 1 Video

BassTheWorld.com has followed up their “Got Bass Chops?” video with a second episode. This time, 21 bassists from around the world lay out the nastiest licks, funkiest grooves, and smoothest lines to show the scope of our beloved instrument. The bassists in order of appearance are Hadrien Feraud, Jay-Tee Teterissa, Bruno Tauzin, Andy C. Saxton, Evan Marien, Adam Ben Ezra,...

Bass Bash Announces 2016 Date, New Location [Updated]

Mark your calendars, because the Bass Bash is coming back for 2016! The annual bass-centric event will take place after the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California on January 21st from 6:30pm to 11:00pm and January 22nd from 7pm to midnight. Each night is packed with exhibits, raffles, and performances by some of the world’s best bassists. After nearly a...