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Kathy Valentine Suffers Wrist Injury, Sits Out Tour Dates
Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine has been sidelined with a broken wrist and will have to sit out of the band’s current tour. The Go-Go’s are touring in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the hit album Vacation. Valentine, who co-wrote the album, has had surgery to realign the distal radius bone. “The surgery will allow for wrist movement much quicker...
Bass of the Week: De Gier BeBop
There are lots of interpretations of the old J-bass, but one that strikes me most is the BeBop made by Dutch boutique shop De Gier. It offers a little more in the curves department with subtle tweaks to set itself apart from the classic design. Available in 4- or 5-string versions, the De Gier BeBop comes standard with an alder...
The New Face of Bass: An Interview With Evan Brewer
With unbelievable technique and a unique musical voice, Evan Brewer is quickly becoming the face of the new wave of bass heroes. The former Animosity bassist joined the ranks of technical death metal band The Faceless last year in time to help write and record their new album Autotheism, which hit shelves August 14th. The band has just wrapped up...
Johan Hansén-Larson: One Tasty Bass Solo
Bassist Johan Hansén-Larson sent us this video, which has a neat story behind it, not to mention one of the most unique camera views we’ve seen. Johan shared, “this is my solo from the Roy Hargrove song Strasbourgh – St Denis, from a gig I did last spring here in Stockholm. In the beginning of the video you can see...
Lava Cable Introduces Grab N’ Go Configurable Pedal Board System
Lava Cable has introduced a new version of their Configurable Pedal Board System called the Lava Grab N’ Go. Built from specially formulated ABS, the board is made up of several pieces that lock together and are secured to form-fitting ABS base plates with machine screws and locking nuts for stability. The board is available in seven pre-assembled versions ranging...
Playing a Gig with No Prep Time: A Guide for Bass Players
Q: I will soon be filling in on a gig with no rehearsals or charts. I’m a little freaked out. They said we’d get a few minutes during sound check to run through a tune or two, but how can I expect to play well when I can’t really prepare? A: I feel your pain, friend! In the scenario you...
Xander Myers: Funky Bass Cover of PSY’s “Gangnam Style”
Who doesn’t like a good viral video? Korean rapper PSY scored it big with his latest hit “Gangnam Style,” which has reached over 67 million views on YouTube. The zany and infectious tune inspired Xander Myers to make a slightly funkier version with his own bass line. Check it out!
Motorhead: Live To Win – The Definitive Biography
Motorhead’s thirty-five or so year run has been chronicled by the band’s official biographer, Alan Burridge (aka “Professor Motorhead”), in a new book entitled Motorhead: Live To Win. Live To Win begins with Motorhead’s humble beginnings, with all the struggles and hardships – personal, professional and financial. Founder and bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister stood alone in his conviction that this band...
Reader Spotlight: Kayhan Golkar
Meet Kayhan Golkar, a bass player from San Francisco who makes his living playing music (mostly), and performs with a band he says is “equal parts rock, western, surf and world music”. Kayhan is our player in the spotlight for the week of August 28, 2012. Bio: I’m Kayhan Golkar, a Bay Area native. I picked up the bass 10...
Gear Review: Vigier Arpege IV Bass
In 1978, Patrice Vigier set out to become an independent luthier of guitars and basses, and Vigier Guitars was born. Thirty-four years later, the Vigier is still going strong. We got our hands on the company’s Arpege IV bass, and took it for a test drive. The Arpege IV is a lovely sounding four string bass and will easily handle...
Damien Langkamer: Bass Groove / Solo Idea
Facebook friend Alex Kalicinski sent us this great clip of UK bassist Damien Langkamer working out a groove and some solo ideas. Dig that tone! For the gear heads out there, Damien is playing a Roscoe SKB3005 bass.
Rush Releases “Clockwork Angels” Authentic Bass Tab
Alfred Music Publishing has just published Rush: Clockwork Angels for both bass and guitar, as part of their Authentic Bass TAB series. The 108 page book includes the tab for all of Geddy Lee’s bass lines from the Clockwork Angels – the album released in June of this year, as well as complete lyrics and full color artwork (view sample...