News - Page 209

Ed Friedland’s instructional book Rock Bass 101 has been updated for 2018 by publisher Hal Leonard. The 50-page book covers essential bass lines, techniques, theory, and grooves for the working bassist. It includes full-length songs that are available for download or streaming via Hal Leonard’s website. Specific topics include tips on playing position and posture, warm-up exercises, essential scales, and...

Thundercat, aka Stephen Bruner, has announced a handful of tour dates around the world for December. Starting with two dates in Denmark, the bassist will head to Germany and the UK before performing five days in a row in California. He’ll be rounding the year out by performing at Afro Punk Fest in Johannesburg, South Africa on New Year’s Eve....

Bassist Jason Raso has just released Bass Line Continuum, a book that examines the world of bass with interviews of dozens of the world’s best players. The 180-page book is centered around four topics: influences, practice, developing your style, and positivity. “Although people enter the bass-playing continuum at different times, their stories are comparable,” the author states. “Players study their...

Born of Osiris has announced a lineup change as bassist David DaRocha has left the band. They made the announcement on Facebook. “We want to officially state that our brother, David, has decided to take time away from the band to pursue other endeavors,” they wrote. “We’re all family and wish him the very best. We are on great terms...

Former Panic! At the Disco bassist Dallon Weekes is back in action with his new band, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (aka iDKHOW). The group, which also features ex-Falling in Reverse drummer Ryan Seaman, has just released their debut EP called 1981 Extended Play. The band’s name is taken from a Back to the Future quote. Add...

Whose Hat Is This? has just released their second album, Everything’s OK, on Ropeadope Records. The band’s completely improvised style has gotten even stronger than their self-titled debut, which was also their first ever show. Everything’s OK is also a live recording, this time from their performance at The 8×10 in Baltimore, Maryland during their Scorch Your Shorts tour with...

Phish bassist Mike Gordon is taking his solo band back out on the road for a spring 2019 tour. His group will once again include guitarist Scott Murawski, keyboardist Robert Walter, drummer John Kimock, and percussionist Craig Myers. Gordon’s touring repertoire as of late has included songs from his latest album, OGOGO, as well as new covers ranging from Spencer...

Opeth was founded nearly 30 years ago, and they’re still going strong. The Swedish metal band has just released their fourth live album, Garden of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which was captured at the famed Denver venue in May 2017. Beginning with the title track from their latest album, Sorceress, the group tears through their songs, old...

It’s been fifty years since the release of the Beatles’ self-titled album, better known as The White Album, and now it is being celebrated with special anniversary versions. The album’s thirty tracks have been remixed and remastered by producer Giles Martin and Sam Okell in stereo and 5.1 surround audio. It will also include 27 early acoustic demos and 50...

Al “The Burner” Turner has released his fifth solo album, entitled This Is. The new album is described as full of “upbeat, joyful and melodic tunes” while being centered on the groove. That’s because Turner, who has worked with artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Ron Isley, taps into his influences for the eight-song album. “Earl Klugh, Bob James, and...

Andrew Gouché’s online “Grooves From The Soul” bass lesson series is now available in a book format. The Andrew Gouché Bass Method compiles 20 grooves ranging from ’90s R&B to a Sade-inspired jam in standard music notation plus tab. Just as important as the physical book is the access it gives to online content including full speed and half-speed video...

Up the irons! Iron Maiden has announced that their Legacy of the Beast tour will be coming to North America for 34 concerts next summer. The tour, which just wrapped up in Europe, features the metal legends playing songs spanning their entire catalog. Of course, that means loads of great bass lines. “We gave a lot of thought to the...