Dirk Lance (vs Ben Kenney)

Sir Edward V · #1 06-30-2008, 07:09 PM

I did a search, but only saw some really old threads about Dirk Lance/Alex Katunich, so I thought I'd bring him up. I have been listening to more and more Incubus lately. S.C.I.E.N.C.E. has always been my favorite album by them, with Make Yourself and Fungus Amungus coming next, but I have liked their new music less and less. I think a lot of it has to do with Dirk being gone.

I think Ben Kenney's role in the band now is waaaay more of a supporting role than Dirk ever was. Dirk's basslines were a big part of the songs. I think with Ben's stuff, you wouldn't notice as much if he weren't there.

Basically, I like crazy Incubus. I still like Boyd's singing, Einziger's guitar solos are still sick on occasion. idk about the drummer or this new DJ, I don't notice them as much anymore... I just read that their first DJ left after science, so maybe that had something to do with it too...

I was looking more into him on wikipedia and I found this:

Katunich was an avid user of Warwick Streamer Stage II's (much like his contemporary P-Nut of 311), which included both fretted and fretless models. They were usually installed with active Basslines pickups and pre-amps. He has also used acoustic-electric basses at unplugged gigs and playing songs such as Mexico live, as well as on Wish You Were Here and a few other occasions he has dug out a red mid-60's Fender Jazz Bass. He has also used a Warwick Infinity NT, as seen in the video for "Drive".( just for the video, as he hasn't used it in live sessions )

For his career with Incubus he used Eden Amplification products. With his somewhat complicated setup, he would divide his sound 6 ways. Firstly, he would carry a clean signal and a 'dirty' signal. Each of these signals would further be separated 3 ways into low frequencies, low mids, and high mid frequencies. Usually Eden WT 100 preamps and WT 1000 power amps were employed. This results in two tri-amped signals, one clean and one with effects. Other gear in his setup included, but not limited to, were a Demeter Tube Compressor, a DBX 120 XP Sub-harmonic synthesizer, a Tech 21 Sansamp PSA-1, a custom switcher/router, a Boss PH-2 Super Phaser pedal, a MXR Phase 90 pedal, and an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff pedal. His use of effects seemed to decrease throughout his time with Incubus. He also used custom designed monitors powered by an Eden WT 80 poweramp. He has been quoted as saying "Everyone makes fun of how huge my rig is until they actually hear it. My tone makes people cry!"

6 Amps... thats friggin' ridiculous, but I like how he thinks. I really want to know what the fuzz/distortion he used on science was, particularly on songs like Nebula around 2:10. I don't think there is any way that is a Big Muff... Maybe... but I doubt it! Maybe I will do a search...

I'm sure some of you have heard that before, but it's new for me.

I think I had more to say, but I don't feel like reviewing this post any more... Point: I like Dirk!

fourstringdrums · #2 06-30-2008, 07:13 PM

I'm only familiar with Ben's work on the Light Grenades album. I didn't really like Crow Left of the Murder. But I was listening the other day and thought that I liked Ben's role within the band. I think he brings more of a melodic, and musical vibe to the band.

FloydPepper05 · #3 06-30-2008, 07:19 PM

I've been a huge Incubus fan for a long time now and was really bummed when Dirk left the band but Ben has become one of my favorite bass players. I really dig his tone (I just switched to flats on my jazz) and the way his parts fit in with Incubus' style nowadays.

I saw Ben play with his solo band a few weeks ago and he was on guitar with another guy playing bass. It was a very tight trio, I was super impressed. Love the sound of the Laklands through Walkabouts.

OptimusPrime · #4 06-30-2008, 07:19 PM

Dirk Lance is a badass. This new guy is a clown. That is a sick tone in Nebula. Deep Inside is a great song too. We roll down the street with that blaring at 3 AM all the time.

fourstringdrums · #5 06-30-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime

Dirk Lance is a badass. This new guy is a clown. That is a sick tone in Nebula. Deep Inside is a great song too. We roll down the street with that blaring at 3 AM all the time.

Your last sentence gives the first and second less credibility.

Does Ben slap with flats too or does he change basses?

Ampeg SVT · #6 06-30-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

Your last sentence gives the first and second less credibility.

Does Ben slap with flats too or does he change basses?

Ben doesnt even slap....
watch a certain shade of green at red rocks and it sounds terrible. ben is just way too busy imo when they are doing that and stellar.
I like dirks tone much better, both really great bassists but i just dont like the way ben handles some of the older funkier songs, he just kills the feel

fourstringdrums · #7 06-30-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

Ben doesnt even slap....
watch a certain shade of green at red rocks and it sounds terrible. ben is just way too busy imo when they are doing that and stellar.
I like dirks tone much better, both really great bassists but i just dont like the way ben handles some of the older funkier songs, he just kills the feel

Oh he doesn't? I assumed that he would still slap the old songs.

funkydanbass · #8 06-30-2008, 11:25 PM

I think they're both great players but I generally like the music the band wrote when Dirk was on board more....

Dig from the new album is a great song though.

Sir Edward V · #9 07-10-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

I think he brings more of a melodic, and musical vibe to the band.

...maaaybe... I think I disagree...

I think Dirk had a better groove and was genuinely more creative/inventive. You could call Ben's stuff more melodic, I guess...

zero_cool · #10 07-10-2008, 10:55 PM

I liked incubus's music with dirk more but I also would put light grenades in my top 20 cds. But I personally like ben more and I don't really know why because I agree that dirk is probably better.

Mcfunkinstein · #11 07-10-2008, 11:26 PM

depends on my mood dirk is the best for his funky and jazzy sound and "are you in" and "Battlestar Scralatchtica" are some of examples of this too
but ben kenny has more of a hip hop sound which makes sense since he used to be in the roots

Sir Edward V · #12 07-11-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcfunkinstein

depends on my mood dirk is the best for his funky and jazzy sound and "are you in" and "Battlestar Scralatchtica" are some of examples of this too
but ben kenny has more of a hip hop sound which makes sense since he used to be in the roots

I thought he was still with them?

James Hart · #13 07-11-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkydanbass

I think they're both great players but I generally like the music the band wrote when Dirk was on board more....

agreed on them both being great players... but I think I dig Ben's era better.

BobaFret · #14 07-11-2008, 08:47 PM

Dirk is great
Ben is great
and the greatest thing about it is they are not even close to similar in styles. I can find stuff by both guys I really like. It was funny to see someone say Ben was too busy at times. That is like saying you prefer Victor Wooten because Jamerson is too busy.

J. Crawford · #15 07-11-2008, 08:49 PM

Um, I dont follow on the new members? Jose and DJ Kilmore are original members? They havent changed any members except Dirk/Alex. Or am I going onto some type of unknowing idiocy?

EDIT: I also read that Mike wrote most of Dirks lines, but Ben is completely original. Any brownie points for the Root?

Brittain · #16 07-12-2008, 07:00 PM

Hilakus, nuff said.

Dirk's playing is incredible, he is without a doubt a world class funk/rock bassist, the Fungus Amungus album is hard proof of this.

I'm not a fan of Ben Kenney, to be honest when compared to Dirk it's all a little... drab.

It's like wiping your ass with really thin toilet paper knowing full well you just passed up the opportunity to use some nice thick stuff.

Get what I mean?

J. Crawford · #17 07-12-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brittain

Hilakus, nuff said.

Dirk's playing is incredible, he is without a doubt a world class funk/rock bassist, the Fungus Amungus album is hard proof of this.

I'm not a fan of Ben Kenney, to be honest when compared to Dirk it's all a little... drab.

It's like wiping your ass with really thin toilet paper knowing full well you just passed up the opportunity to use some nice thick stuff.

Get what I mean?

Good comparison?

Brittain · #18 07-13-2008, 05:27 PM

I fear I wrote that comment whilst slightly intoxicated and in the early hours of the morning, which I feel shows off my spelling and grammar skills over my ability to actually form a coherent statement.

To be honest comparing Fungus Amungus to say... A Crow Left of the Murder, different bass styles apart I just don't feel that Ben adds anything to the mix like Dirk did.
Maybe it's personal preference but I think the new albums are like listening to a completely different band that's lost the core 'groove' that Dirk provided and I can't help but feel perhaps Ben is something to do with that, I know that Mike writes virtually all the music but I think if he was regarding Ben's particular style at the time of writing it's affected the overall outcome of the music.

I hope that makes more sense...

J. Crawford · #19 07-13-2008, 05:30 PM

I personally PICK Ben, pun intended, and think he could SLAP Dirk, pun intended. Actually, what I just typed was only because I wanted to throw those puns out there. Theyre both great, I listen to all stages of the 'Bus, but the musicianship and fun/playful attitude with the band that Ben has just makes him soo much better in my mind. He isnt as dark, and secretive as Dirk. Opinions, opinions.

Andrew.Glose · #20 07-13-2008, 05:43 PM

I love the lines Dirk provided. Very cool.

And I've actually seen Ben live. He was kinda on my once-immature '$hit list' simply because he wasn't Dirk.

But my attitude shifted after that. I like his lines. I like how he runs up and down the bass as some points. It's just fun. He's got energy, and it's musical.

Andrew

PS. I will say that I'm not a fan of Brandon's new approach to singing. Or wailing all the damn time.