Finding Bass-Friendly Music - Last.Fm

Finding music you like can be a bit of a hit and miss thing. Us low-end bassist types generally have an unusual and eclectic taste in music - and I mean that in a good way, honest!

Check out Last.fm. There are a few different elements to the system. First, the website itself - lots of interesting music, videos, pointers for events and the like... But before you knock yourself out, two other bits: The scrobbler, which runs on your music machine of choice (Mac or PC) and keeps track of what you listen to. Then the social network part of Last.Fm:

You can connect with friends, share what you are listening too and find out what they are listening too. And now the best part. Last.fm mashes all of this up to find tracks that it thinks you will like and people who share your musical tastes. How cool it that?

So, you want to get started? Here you go:

• Go to the site and sign up (it's free): Last.fm.
• I'd say connect to me, but given my taste in music, that might spin you...
• Much better idea, find some of your friends on there, or follow through to listeners of things you like (I started UK solo bassist Steve Lawson).
  
• And, don't say we don't ever give you anything! Steve is giving away (as in for free) his album "Lessons Learnt From An Aged Feline Pt I" - get it here. Give it a listen through and add a comment. It is on the very ambient end of Steve's stuff - it has been calming us down here, bringing a bit of peace and tranquility!
  

Enjoy!

Darbucka London Gig - Take Two - Write Up

Premier UK solobassist Steve Lawson pulled together an excellent evening at Darbucka in London. First up, hello to all of you who were at the gig - it turned out to be a bit of a social media fest, with a major part of the on-line UK Bass and social media community there. Sharing the gig with lots of friends made it even more enjoyable!

Steve kicked off with a solo Bass piece and got everyone settled before Lloyd Davis stepped on stage. I wouldn't have put myself down as a Ukelele fan, but Lloyd's voice captivated the audience, including me, as he treated us to wonderful songs from a former generation. Broad musical horizons make for a good bassist.


Steve and Lobelia took to the stage with a mix of their own songs and special treatments of covers. Lobelia's voice and Steve's bass playing looped together into a powerful musical mix - I'm thinking there will be an album on the way! Some-one was videoing, so you might even find a clip or two from the evening on their YouTube channel.



Yolanda Charles was not to make it on the night, but Miriam Jones stepped in, with Jez Carr on keys. It was a treat, as I've been hoping to catch her live for a while - definitely a welcome addition to the UK music circuit (yay for trans-atlantic marriages!).

Finally the Dodds/Lawson/Woods Trio took to the stage (tracks on Reverbnation here). Roy Dodds was on fire on drums, with Patrick Wood supplying some amazing Rhodes and Guitar playing. Steve did the Lawson thing on bass... Everyone around me was transfixed! I'll post here when the new album is out (due soon apparently)!

You can check out Basswulf and photo's from me of the event here. Social media is definitely changing the music world for the better - read Alan's wonderful stody about that side of the event here on the Broadstuff Blog.

Darbucka London Gig - Take Two

For anyone who went along to London Solo Bass Night or who missed it and wished they were there, you'll want to that Steve and Lobelia will be performing as a duo (congratulations Mr and Mrs Lawson!) - you can get a taster of the material in Steve and Lobelia's YouTube videos.


There will additional guests including another chance to see Yolanda Charles, as well as Lloyd Davis on Ukelele and the Dodds/Lawson/Wood trio (listen on Reverb Nation). Fuller details on the event's Facebook page or here on Steve's blog.

It will definitely be a corker, with some serious bass and ear-opening music. I'll be there, with my better half and a better camera this time, hopefully checking out the Darbucka World Music Bar menu too! I'll be reporting back...