Buzz
The Melvins’ Record Features Tour Bassist Jeff Pinkus
The Melvins have not one, but two members of the Butthole Surfers appearing on the group’s latest album . The Surfers’ Jeff Pinkus, who has also toured with The Melvins, is sitting in for regular bassist Jared Warren, who is on paternity leave from the band. The Sufers’ guitarist Paul Leary is also on the record. The Melvins’ Buzz Osborne...
Vox Unveils amPlug G2 Bass Headphone Amplifier
Vox has upgraded their amPlug line of headphone amplifiers including a bass-specific version. The amPlug G2 Bass plugs into your bass’s output jack and allows you to plug in headphones for silent practicing. Among the new features, the amPlug G2 Bass has had its analog circuit improved with the company’s Bassilator circuit, which Vox says reproduces the low punch distinctive...
Snarky Puppy: “What About Me” Live at Berklee Beantown Jazz Fest
One of the stops on Snarky Puppy’s current world tour was the Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival in Boston, on September 27th. Luckily, cameras were rolling. Here’s the band performing “What About Me” at the Festival, from their latest album, We Like It Here. This one has it all, including the great bass faces from Michael League.
bnd Products Announces bnd/one Stand
bnd Products has introduced the bnd/one, a flexible bass and guitar stand that bends to fit inside a bass or guitar case. The stand, which can support both basses and guitars, features a three-piece design. Its bendable neck snaps onto the base and neck support. The neck support also bends to cradle your bass’s neck. The bnd/one comes in black...
Bass Players To Know: Tom Hamilton
Since Bill Wyman was the focus of the previous Bass Players to Know column, I’ve suddenly found myself excited by the timeless tradition of rock and roll. Whether it’s the loud guitars, eccentric front men, or iconic songs, the great rock and roll bands embody the sound, image, and appeal of “cool.” As a child of the 90’s (when music...
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra: Lone Wolf
If you haven’t caught on, I’m a big Jonathan Scales Fourchestra fan. The combination of steel drummer Scales, bassist Cody Wright and drummer Phill Bronson gets such a tight yet exploratory sound. Here’s the band performing “Lone Wolf” at a concert in Fairfield, Connecticut earlier this year. Wright kicks things off with some beautiful artificial harmonics before moving into the...
Bassists Galore Featured on “Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy” Album
Don’t call the Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy a jazz big band. Instead, the San Francisco-based 15-piece band led by Igoe is something else. “We’re a rock band in a jazz band’s body,” said Igoe, a distinguished drummer. And it’s definitely a group with plenty of low end. Dewayne Pate serves as the band’s primary bassist, but on the group’s ,...
Jackson Steel Guitar Company Introduces SlideKing Bass
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen. The Jackson Steel Guitar Company has introduced the SlideKing Bass, an instrument that blends a bass guitar with a pedal steel guitar. Introduced at Summer NAMM this year, the bass is set up horizontally with pedals and comes in 4- or 5-string models. It’s built with a solid hard rock maple body and neck...
Old School: 1972 Fender Jazz Bass
For many readers, the gold standard of basses is the Fender Jazz. For No Treble reader Ken Burgner, the Jazz is his dream bass. Ken started out with a 1972 Jazz with a Lake Placid blue re-finish. But when he saw a ’72 with a sunburst finish listed for sale on TalkBass, he knew it was the bass he had...
Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Today we’re celebrating the birthday of the great Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, and the man known simply as Flea. Here’s Flea doing his funky thing on “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie”, which appeared on their 2011 release, I’m With You. Happy birthday, Flea… Keep doing your thing.
Dave Holland Teams with Pianist Kenny Barron on Duo Album
Double bassist Dave Holland and pianist Kenny Barron started performing live together as a duo in 2012, and now they’ve committed the sound they’ve been creating on stages to album. isn’t the first time they’ve recorded together — that occurred back in 1985 on Barron’s trio LP Scratch. However, this new record features the pair just working as a duo....
Dealing with a Bad Band Leader
Q: Since you have travelled and played with many you might be able to shed some light on this: My band has enjoyed some success in our home country, we have an album released via a label and have played the better venues of our area. We are now on our first tour – a three-piece, and well, to be...