Brian Ritchie

slackdaddy · #1 08-03-2004, 11:19 AM

I have always thought that Brian Ritchie was really underrated. He is one of my all time favorites. Always thinking and playing outside of the box. Are there any other Brian Ritchie fans here?

chris4001asat · #2 08-03-2004, 12:10 PM

Yeah, the first Femmes album should be required listening to all

The Golden Boy · #3 08-03-2004, 12:34 PM

Great bass player. Those first two Femmes albums should be required.

(Even though I was friends with his ex-wife for years, I still got a huge kick out of him using my bass rig for a show!)

peteroberts · #4 08-03-2004, 01:24 PM

I agree. Totally on top of the beat and a little out of tune at times, but it's the *spirit* of those records that grabs me. I saw them live once in DC and they blew the roof off the place.

slackdaddy · #5 08-30-2004, 09:07 AM

I thought this was cool, I just got back from playing a show in Milwaukee (we flew there from Atlanta) and I was concerned about whether management had arranged backline. Well, they did. The Violent Femmes lent us their bass and guitar rigs. I couldn't believe that I was playing through Brian Richie's amp. He was supposed to come out but the inclement weather kept him away (so I was told). It was a great sounding Trace Elliot set up.

The Golden Boy · #6 08-30-2004, 09:22 AM

Did you do that Gil Fest thing?

The Golden Boy · #7 08-30-2004, 09:25 AM

I just checked your profile! Damn, I was going to see that (I actually have Fly Me Courageous in my CD player in my car right now!) but I opted for Beatallica instead. How did the show go?

slackdaddy · #8 08-30-2004, 11:31 AM

It was cool! Milwaukee was a fun town. It was cool to see where Kevn grew up! The weather was a bit nasty for a good portion of the day but there were some die hard fans out and luckily the rain stopped before we went on. The derailers were fantastic. That Beatallica show sounded interesting. We should be coming back to Milwaukee in a few months for the "Sun Tangled Angel Revival" tour. The record comes out on September 21st and should be in stores nation wide. "Fly me Courageous" is a great record.

chris4001asat · #9 08-30-2004, 11:54 AM

Fly Me Courageous, That was Drivin 'n'Cryin Right.
Hey Golden Boy, if I remember a past thread correctly, you were the bassist for Bodeans. Correct?

The Golden Boy · #10 08-30-2004, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slackdaddy

It was cool! Milwaukee was a fun town. It was cool to see where Kevn grew up! The weather was a bit nasty for a good portion of the day but there were some die hard fans out and luckily the rain stopped before we went on. The derailers were fantastic. That Beatallica show sounded interesting. We should be coming back to Milwaukee in a few months for the "Sun Tangled Angel Revival" tour. The record comes out on September 21st and should be in stores nation wide. "Fly me Courageous" is a great record.

PM me before you get here! But it'll be winter.

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for the record. I haven't seen Kevin since 92 or 93, it was Kevin and Chainfall (basically Die Kreuzen with a friend on guitar)- ask him about that nite. No, really ask him, I want to know how that went I- was so plowed I don't remember a damn thing about the show!

The Golden Boy · #11 08-30-2004, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris4001asat

Fly Me Courageous, That was Drivin 'n'Cryin Right.
Hey Golden Boy, if I remember a past thread correctly, you were the bassist for Bodeans. Correct?

Fly Me Courageous was Drivin' 'n' Cryin.' No, sorry Chris, haven't played with the BoDeans, but I did own the guitar that was used on the first record!

And I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night either...

chris4001asat · #12 08-30-2004, 01:37 PM

I just love that first record. I always wondered if those were real drums or fake ones. I finally decided it was a combination!

The Golden Boy · #13 08-30-2004, 03:14 PM

Love, Hope, Sex and Dreams?

lownote2 · #14 10-09-2004, 02:48 PM

New to site. I've looked all over the internet and not found very much at all about Brian Ritchie anywhere else. The fact that he is mentioned here let's me know that there are other bass players that really appreciate the femmes music. I have almost every CD they have. I agree, Brian Ritchie is very underated. Or at the very least, there are just not enough VF fans out there to appreciate his playing. He is a very talented musician, and I love his style. He's the reason I went out and purchased an acoustic bass myself, and I never realized how much fun I could have with it. I've never seen the femmes in concert, they never come around here, but someday..........

chris4001asat · #15 10-11-2004, 07:56 AM

Hey Golden Boy, Sorry so long in getting back to you. I didn't know you replied till the new post! Yes, Love, hope, sex, and dreams. Incredible album. Bought it both on vinyl and cd. Especially on the hi-hat. If it's not a machine, there must be a REALLY tight gate on it.

slackdaddy · #16 05-03-2006, 11:16 AM

May issue features Brian Ritchie!

Planet Boulder · #17 05-03-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slackdaddy

May issue features Brian Ritchie!

An excellent interview - I gained newfound respect for him, so much so that I went out and bought the first CD (I had it on tape but never got around to getting it on CD).

slackdaddy · #18 05-03-2006, 11:40 AM

You should check out some of his "Shakuhachi Club NYC" CD's as well. The man is a bass monster and does it on his terms. Glad to finally see him getting some attention.

cptnhook · #19 05-03-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slackdaddy

May issue features Brian Ritchie!

That is one crazy fretless Wishbass he's shown playing: +40" scale and the upper horn connecting to the headstock.

MaskedJackal · #20 05-03-2006, 11:56 AM

Man, Brian's playing is just so intense. Just as expressive angstwise for the Femmes as Gordon's vox, IMO. A longtime influence on me. Great tones from that big ol' EB Earthwood bass, and his versatility as a musician is amazing.

I'ma have to pickup that BP issue reallll soon, now.