The experiment of the BassUp! Solo Bass
Open Mic went pretty well lastnight. I must admit I was leaning towards the apprehensive side going into the show. Several
players that had either signed up or expressed interest in signing up emailed me earlier this week to back out.
Although many had very sound reasons for withdrawal,
they still left me disappointed. Not to sound like I’m a seasoned veteran of solo bass or anything, but I would have given
my plucking fingers for a chance to perform solo bass when I was younger. Heck, I might even do that now! It slays me to see
so many players just blowing off a rare golden opportunity. This was a safe haven to share your music with the community.
This was the time to seize the moment. This was the time to seize the day… or well, the night. So those of you
who chickened out, I hope you can see me shaking my finger at you and hear my resounding “tisk, tisk, tisk.”
Enough of my belly-achin’. The reason the Open
Mic was successful was the two guys, Blake Branch and Alex Landry, who blazed the trail where others faltered. They signed
up and showed up. Both those guys are killer players! Even though they used many of the same techniques, they offered
unique styles and thoughtful compositions. Most important of all, these guys were musical. They didn’t just hop up there and
play a series of slick riffs. They played solid music, and the crowd of bassists and non-bassists really dug it! They
proved to us that the electric bass is an instrument in the round and its future is indeed luminous.
I kicked of the night with a few of my tunes. Then
Blake Branch (www.myspace.com/blakebranchbass) educated us in how the Dothan, Alabama, bassists
roll. I, for one, learned a lot. The crowd had thickened up, so I hopped back up on stage and gave away a few t-shirts (thanks
IIB!), stickers, and CDs. Then I played a few more of my tunes as Alex Landry (www.myspace.com/landrybass) walked through the door. Alex got up and played a great set. The guy is really progressing.
After Alex, Blake played another couple of tunes, one being a very hip rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” Then we ended the night with a three-bass version of “House of the Rising Sun.”
I had a blast playing with those fellows! Thanks
guys for staying committed. Though the world is chock full of wonderful players, you guys are displaying the qualities it
takes to lead the pack. Keep charging!
To all the bassists who kept declaring, “I’m just
a groover. I can’t play that solo stuff!” I deeply believe there is a solo voice in “just groovin’.” It’s an area that definitely
needs to be explored. I hope to hear one of you folks up there playing the Solo Bass Open Mic next year!
By the way, photos of the whole deal can be seen
here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bassup/sets/72157594338371440. Thanks to my photo-snapping wife, Cindy!
Also big thank yous go to Mocha Match Coffee Bar
(www.mochamatch.net), Sam Anderson, Atlanta Bass Gallery (www.atlantabassgallery.com), and the crowd. Thanks to Mocha Match for the venue for this crazy idea. Thanks to Sam Anderson
for spreading the word and being “good people.” Thanks to Atlanta Bass Gallery for letting us borrow a killer EBS combo amp.
It is very flexible, sounds killer, and is still available for sale at the gallery. Big thanks to the crowd for coming out
to support these guys and for your enthusiasm.
See you guys Sunday, October 22nd, at
Atlanta Institute of Music for the Bassup! 2006 main event (www.bassup.net).
