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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:

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!