TOP 5...

Top 5 posts in the last month on The Bass Guitar Blog:

• 4 String Bass? 5 String Bass? 6? ? ...
  
• Graphite Bass
  
• 2 String Bass - Take 2
  
• Bass Day 2008 - Manchester UK
  
• Acoustic Bass
  

More bass just across the road...

Just to add, all of the old articles are being migrated over, complete with their comments. There are also some new posts over at the Bass Guitar Blog:

MusicDojo - Learning Bass on-line

Bass Day 2008 - Manchester UK

Bass Gear Mag

BassQuake Faultline

Do check them out!

Everyone on Bass?

I had the opportunity to see Lightspeed Champion last week, at KoKo in London, as part of the iTunes festival. I've bee a long time fan, since bumping into them (well, lead Dev Hynes) on a plane last year. However, this was the first time I'd seem them live.

It was a great set (and a good crowd at the venue). What struck me most was that almost everyone in the band took a turn on bass (with only the violinist not picking up the 4 string wonder). It made me wonder two things:

1. How many bassists are multi-instrumentalists?
2. How comfortable would you be playing someone else's bass during a gig?

Having a broader outlook than just bass guitar is always a good thing - expanding your sense of melody, harmony and rhythm.

I didn't manage to convince these hardcore Lightspeed Champion fans to take up bass, which is a shame (another one of those bass not for girls say the girls moments). They did put up with me taking photos over their shoulder - fair deal.

As you can see, after the crowds have gone, KoKo is an unusual venue - it describes itself as the most opulent venue in London. The sound and lighting was excellent, and it definitely counts as a bass player friendly venue - unlike a few I could mention.

Lightspeed Champion have their own blog (strong language warning), which is quite an entertaining read. However, it didn't solve the mystery of the night for me: What is this bass:

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...

Deep 2 Deep

Wow... The week rattles by! Last weeked was the Deep to Deep meet up in the UK. Lots of church-playing bassists hanging out together. Wulf has a write up and took some great photos.

People put up with me rambling about things you can do with your right hand...
... And I got to play a double bass for the first time too (thank you Andrew)! Boy are those things monsters - very very physical!

Lakland Owners Group

Wow... The Lakland boys have been busy. They have a new owners group ("LOG"), which you can sign up to on the Lakland owners site: Laklandowners.com. Find the "Create an account" option and sign up - it does the whole funky 'sending you an e-mail' thing - and you'll have access to news, a forum and the mysterious "stable". News, Events, the Forum, the Stable, and other information. It is a subscription site - $26/year - but Lakland are promising to throw in goodies and the like. Know of any other owner's groups?

The group is planning a meet up on May 10th in Wisconsin, details here on the Lakland Blog: Inaugural LOG meeting. A good chance to meet fellow bassists and keep up with the Lakland crew!