Andy Hess w/ Robben Ford

coronado3 · #1 08-23-2009, 12:04 PM

I caught Robben Ford this weekend with the amazing Andy Hess and Toss Panos.

It was an incredible show.... Andy is one of my favorites and he did not fail to impress. After the show, Andy and Toss took the time to sign my pickguard, pose for a pic and chat for a bit. Both great guys! Oh yeah, Robben signed as well!

If you get a chance to see them together, DO IT!

Ezbass · #2 08-23-2009, 12:20 PM

Now I'd like to see that combo. Loved what little I've seen of Andy Hess with Govt Mule.

Hamrhed · #3 08-23-2009, 01:39 PM

A buddy of mine also went and couldnt stop gushing about Hess and Panos as well. I tried to warn him about Andy- he had to see for himself

He also said that Brad Paisley and Vince Gill had good guest jams w/ Robben...

coronado3 · #4 08-23-2009, 06:20 PM

Both Panos and Andy were incredibily humble as well. They didn't go to the signing table with Robben, so I had to walk around by the bus to see them. When I told them I wanted their autograph, they didn't believe me!

Great guys as well as being fantastic players.

Unfortunatly, I saw them at the Madison IN. ribfest on Friday, so I didn't get to see the paisley/gill jams.

Hamrhed · #5 08-23-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado3

Both Panos and Andy were incredibily humble as well. They didn't go to the signing table with Robben, so I had to walk around by the bus to see them. When I told them I wanted their autograph, they didn't believe me!

Great guys as well as being fantastic players.

I'm still sick to have missed it... nothing against Robben, but I passed on the opportunity before I knew Andy was there. I'd love to have shook his hand as he is one of my Faves!

stretchcat · #6 08-24-2009, 05:37 AM

I was also at the show in Nashville this weekend and it was incredible indeed! It was like watching a dialog between the three musicians. It was cool to have Vince Gill and Brad Paisley sitting in on a few tunes and seeing the contrast between their styles and Robben's more horn-like approach to guitar. Michael McDonald was supposed to be there to sing "Nothin' To Nobody" but could not make it unfortunately. Everyone came back out at the end for a jam on "Crossroads".

Andy played a P Bass through an Aguilar DB750 and 2 GS 4x10 cabinets and really looked like he was having a great time up there. He took a bass solo on "Nothin..." and yeah, he was tearing it up too.

Hamrhed · #7 08-24-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretchcat

Andy played a P Bass through an Aguilar DB750 and 2 GS 4x10 cabinets and really looked like he was having a great time up there. He took a bass solo on "Nothin..." and yeah, he was tearing it up too.

Boy, Aguilar sure has become a big favorite! I saw Steely Dan in Memphis a couple of weeks ago, and Freddie Washingtons Aguilar rig sounded great

Shovelbone · #8 08-24-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado3

I caught Robben Ford this weekend with the amazing Andy Hess and Toss Panos.

It was an incredible show.... Andy is one of my favorites and he did not fail to impress. After the show, Andy and Toss took the time to sign my pickguard, pose for a pic and chat for a bit. Both great guys! Oh yeah, Robben signed as well!

If you get a chance to see them together, DO IT!

Andy Hess is one bad MOFO! In my humble opinion he is one of the most underrated bass players on the scene today. I had the chance to catch him on 3 occasions with Gov't Mule and he was incredible. I hope to catch this act as well.

millsbass5 · #9 08-24-2009, 07:20 AM

Andy Hess is a remarkable player.But man,Gov't Mule seems to have went totally the opposite way stylistically with their replacement of the late Allen Woody(R.I.P.).Like I said,Andy is a monster of a player.But,I'd liked to have seen someone with more of a bass playing style like Allen Woody.Definitely one of my top 3 rock bassist.

coronado3 · #10 08-24-2009, 08:08 AM

Yeah, Andy brough a funky r&b style to the mule (which I really liked) I also like their dub stuff.

The p-bass andy played appeared to be a custom shop instrument (I believe I saw the logo on the back of the headstock.) I was surprised that he didn't have an old SVT as he is such an old school player.

Hamrhed · #11 08-24-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado3

I was surprised that he didn't have an old SVT as he is such an old school player.

I was surprised by that also: when I saw Mule a couple years ago, Andy's SVT rig sounded great! Wonder if it was because the Aguilar rig is lighter, easier to maintain, or Andy wanted a change

coronado3 · #12 08-24-2009, 01:01 PM

I was thinking that too ... Perhaps the aguilar and the non-vintage (re.valuable!) p-bass are easier and less stressful to tour with... He got the warm bottom heavy tones from this combination, but for his solo, he brought up the volume and tone and he got a raspy overdriven tone. Luckily I was in in the front so I could catch the sound of his rig.

Andy's playing struck me as a perfect melding of jack bruce, james jamerson, and duck dunn.

()smoke() · #13 08-24-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado3

Andy's playing struck me as a perfect melding of jack bruce, james jamerson, and duck dunn.

that sounds amazing!

ElMon · #14 08-24-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

I was surprised by that also: when I saw Mule a couple years ago, Andy's SVT rig sounded great! Wonder if it was because the Aguilar rig is lighter, easier to maintain, or Andy wanted a change

The DB750, IMO/IME, is very much in the ballpark of the SVT sound, but a LOT cleaner sounding on stage. That would be my guess at why he made the switch. Just like people refer to Sadowsky basses as 'Fenders on Steroids', I refer to my Aguilar rig as 'Ampeg on Steroids'. YMMV. Either way, Andy rocks.

KJung · #15 08-24-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Boy, Aguilar sure has become a big favorite! I saw Steely Dan in Memphis a couple of weeks ago, and Freddie Washingtons Aguilar rig sounded great

My guess is you heard a very good DI, and none of the Aguilar tone (or any backline) out front.

I believe Carlton uses a DB750, and my guess is, that was the rig they had in the truck for Ford's tour (I assume Andy was just subbing and he used 'what was there').

Hamrhed · #16 08-24-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronado3

Andy's playing struck me as a perfect melding of jack bruce, james jamerson, and duck dunn.

For me- in doesnt get any better than that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElMon

The DB750, IMO/IME, is very much in the ballpark of the SVT sound, but a LOT cleaner sounding on stage. That would be my guess at why he made the switch

I can see that Aguilar is definitely a future consideration for my amp needs

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

My guess is you heard a very good DI, and none of the Aguilar tone (or any backline) out front

That could be, Jung- I cant say for sure that Freddie's rig was miked since we were waaay in the back

Bernie Connors · #17 08-24-2009, 02:43 PM

For me, the jury is out on whether I prefer Jorgen Carlsson over Andy Hess with Gov't Mule. I've seen him once with them so far and I'll see them again, once or twice, in October.

I know that Warren wanted someone with a different style than Andy. Jorgen is more of a straight-ahead rock player than Andy is. Andy wasn't a pick player and didn't have a trebly-overdriven tone. I much prefer Andy's tone from what I've heard from Jorgen though. Sometimes he uses a very zingy and overdriven tone that I just don't dig.

I'll have a better idea once I see them in October. When I saw them last November with Jorgen, he was still quite new to the band.

coronado3 · #18 08-24-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I believe Carlton uses a DB750, and my guess is, that was the rig they had in the truck for Ford's tour (I assume Andy was just subbing and he used 'what was there').

No, Andy was doing a month tour with Robben according to his site. That seems like a long time to be using someone elses rig!

Hamrhed · #19 08-24-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Connors

I know that Warren wanted someone with a different style than Andy. Jorgen is more of a straight-ahead rock player than Andy is. Andy wasn't a pick player and didn't have a trebly-overdriven tone. I much prefer Andy's tone from what I've heard from Jorgen though. Sometimes he uses a very zingy and overdriven tone that I just don't dig

Was it Warren or Andy that ended the gig? As long as Andy was w/ GM, seems like he might have gotten tired of touring so much. I liked Allen Woody- but Andy was more what I like: a Bassist as opposed to a Bass guitarist

Bernie Connors · #20 08-24-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Was it Warren or Andy that ended the gig? As long as Andy was w/ GM, seems like he might have gotten tired of touring so much. I liked Allen Woody- but Andy was more what I like: a Bassist as opposed to a Bass guitarist

I believe it was Andy's decision. The press releases said that Warren was looking for a different approach from their new bassist. Sounds amicable.

I agree with you. Andy was the stuff.

While we're on the subject, this is what a bass solo is all about, IMO. Soloing within a groove context. The same approach that Willie Weeks uses and Andy does masterfully here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjm_qcezWIw