Buzz
The Kinky Wizzards: Live
The last time we featured The Kinky Wizzards, it generated some buzz. They’re back with a new video featuring a live performance of three of their tunes. Originally a duo formed by two brothers (bassist Mathew ‘Miffy’ Griffiths and drummer Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Griffiths), the group has now added guitarist Ryan Elliott to the mix. Here’s the track list for the...
The Darkness Release “Last of Our Kind”
The Darkness is back with Last of Our Kind, a stripped-down album that hearkens back to the original spirit of rock. Anchored by bassist Frankie Poullain, the band’s fourth studio effort was written in Ireland and thematically centers around defiance. It’s also the first and only of their albums to featured drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who replaced original drummer Ed...
Adding Some New School Playing to an Old School Bassist
Q: I’ve been playing a certain way or style (as in thump, pop or blues) for as long as I can remember. Today’s bass players tend to play a lot – it seems way busier. What do you recommend for an old school bassist who wants to update to today’s styles so it sticks? A: That is an interesting question...
Bootsy’s Rubber Band: Another Point of View, Live 1976
We’re going old school today with a clip of Bootsy Collins and his Rubber Band in concert from 1976. Taken from their concert at the Summit in Houston, Texas, the video has Bootsy and the gang getting down on “Another Point of View.” The performance came just two months after the release of the bassist’s debut solo album, Stretchin’ Out...
Reader Spotlight: Steve Carriere
Meet Steve Carriere, a man who started early in life in music, and made it his career – now spanning 25 years (teaching) and 37 years (playing bass). Steve is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 1st, 2015. Here’s his story. Bio: I started playing bass in jazz band and with the “pop” singer groups...
Dean Zelinsky Introduces the Mule Bass
Guitar and bass maker Dean Zelinsky has unveiled the Mule bass. Available in four- and five-string versions, the model is Zelinsky’s first to feature his patented Z-Glide Reduced Friction Neck. The back of the maple neck features a precisely engraved pattern that reduces surface area by putting a little air between your thumb and the neck. Another unique feature is...
Jansen, Barbieri, Karn & Wilson: Bestial Cluster
Mick Karn was the master of creating bass lines that were somehow simple, angular, and melodic all at the same time. Check out this clip of Karn with Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, and Steve Wilson performing “Bestial Cluster” for 2 Meter Session on Dutch television. Karn gets a gnarly distortion to lay down a fat and simple bass line before...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in May 2015
Time for one of our favorite roundups – the top 10 most popular bass gear stories on No Treble. Here are the reader favorites for May, 2015. 1. MK Passive Jazz Electric Upright Bass Electric upright bass company MK has announced a new passive jazz model of their flagship bass. The Jazz-P features piezo transducer pickups and passive electronics, which...
Bass of the Week: Salzmann Virutero NT
This week we’re getting a taste of Argentina with the Virutero NT by luthier Leandro Salzmann. Made in Buenos Aires, Salzmann’s Virutero model shows the bass builder has a strong grasp of creating an organic instrument that features exotic species of woods. The Virutero NT is a neck-thru bass that features a five-piece maple and cancharana with a Guayacán fretboard....
Three Exercises for Releasing and Relaxing the Left Hand Thumb
Keeping the thumb of our left hand flexible is a key component in achieving an agile fingering hand. Ideally, any pressure exerted by the thumb against the neck should be minimal. Below are a few exercises that should help you keep your thumb relaxed and your left hand injury free. 1. Thumb independence Pick a note, pick a finger (perhaps...
Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: Teramobil’s “Temporaly Recompressed Pulse” Playthrough
Here’s another jaw-dropping playthrough by Dominic “Forest” Lapointe. The bassist burns it up on Teramobil’s “Temporaly Recompressed Pulse” with lightning fast riffs and creative two-handed tapping. The track comes from the band’s Multispectral Supercontinuum EP, but Lapointe tells us Teramobil is working on a full album.
The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management Now Available as eBook
Dr. Randy Kertz has reissued his seminal work, The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, as a downloadable eBook. The book covers a wide range of common and uncommon physical issues that bass players may face. Dr. Kertz explains injuries and conditions that may occur as well as prevention and treatment options for each. A symptom guide helps players to pinpoint...