Gonzalo Silva

Petary791 · #1 03-27-2005, 03:03 PM

Anybody heard of this guy? My bass teacher went to school with him. He's a busker, and he's insane. He has a tone a lot like Colonel Claypool and I think he flamenco's as well. It's just him singing and playing bass. It's real cool. I want to get more info on him. He really does love the 7 chord.

**j-raj** · #2 03-28-2005, 10:53 AM

Yes, I know him VERY well!!!

He used to be a busker on the streets of Boston and Cambridge, MA! I used to see him for his weekly gig at the Middle east. He played the newyears gig 2000 there, then the next day he left to move to NYC and a week later my girl and I left for ATL.

He used to gig as a duo with this drummer cat, Jason Gardner (I'm actually going up to Boston this week and staying with a guitarist that plays with jason), kinda cool player that does juggl'ing and tons of fun percussive stuff at the same time.

You'll probably find that Bostonians like Brianrost and some others might remember seeing him in any Redline T station.

We both used to have a Hohner headless, except mine is fretless, his was fretted. I miss that cat, interesting bassist.... but more importantly he is a great singer/songwriter... he used to look like a tall thin version of Tony Levin last I saw him 5 years ago...

Small darn world!

Petary791 · #3 03-28-2005, 10:56 AM

That's sweet! This guys is simply amazing how it's just him singing and playing with no accompniament (sp.) The CD I have is (ironically) called Busker.

EDIT: Yeah I did see on the cover of the CD, he played some sort of headless bass. Does he only play a 4-string?

**j-raj** · #4 03-28-2005, 11:08 AM

for the most part, I think that he is a devout 4-stringer... things could have changed in the last 5 years... who knows. I have mentioned him a couple times on these boards. Funny that there is a thread about him now.

There is another cat in Boston that was doing the same unaccompanied bass with voice parts, Tommy Bianci... He used to have the most humourous way of getting people's attention in the Subways of Boston. Plus he is a smoking bassist.

fretlessrock · #5 03-30-2005, 09:16 AM

Every year for the past few years Tom Bianchi, Gonzalo, and Seth Horan do a show called "Three Men on Bass" that is simply a "must see" event. I've been to two of them. I think I missed this year's show and that dull thudding is the sound of me kicking myself....

Tom's links page with a link to Gonzalo's site. Also check out Tom's main page and his schedule.

fretlessrock · #6 03-30-2005, 09:20 AM

Oh, Every time I see Gonzalo he is playing the same 4-string headless bass, and I think it is a Hohner. Makes a lot of sense for a guy who travels as light as he does.

**j-raj** · #7 03-30-2005, 09:43 AM

yup it definitely makes sense to use that bass, Gonzalo is very much a pragmatic minimalist, efficient... Tom Biachi is really funny in the subway (T) stop at Park street in Boston... He sings this parody off of The Police's "Roxanne":

Park Street!!! Wait for the Redline...
Park Street!!! Wait for the Redline...
....etc.