How Bout Some Luv for Rascal Flatts' Bassist?

jaywa · #1 09-03-2008, 10:51 AM

Jay DeMarcus - Very tasty, great groove, sings, also plays the piano. Plus, just seems like the kind of guy it would be great to have a few brews with.

Couldn't hear him very well when I saw him live, but I've seen some concert clips with much better sound and the guy can PLAY.

jerry · #2 09-03-2008, 03:56 PM

I saw him on the Live From Abbey Road show on the Sundance channel. I really dug his playing, super tasty! I didn't really know much about them before but I was really impressed with the whole band.

**ExaltBass** · #3 09-03-2008, 07:09 PM

Great chops! (I'm a fan)

nortonrider · #4 09-03-2008, 07:15 PM

I can't take the nasally whining (singing) long enough to actually listen to any of their songs.

Planets Collide · #5 09-04-2008, 01:23 AM

i really dislike any country made after the early 70s, but those guys are always ridiculous musicians.

Dr_Funkdamental · #6 09-06-2008, 12:56 AM

I'll be checking them out next week when they have a concert in Norfolk/Va Beach. MY first country concert (I dont dig it, but Im diverse enough to check it out).

cb56 · #7 09-07-2008, 06:03 PM

Along with being a top notch bass player, Jay DeMarcus also produced Chicago's latest CD. He and Jason Scheff are buds.

Kitsapbass · #8 09-07-2008, 07:46 PM

Saw them when they opened up for Kenny Chesney back in 04...they were a lot better than Kenny Chesney's band...even played some cover stuff from the 80's (Def Leppard, Van Halen, etc.). One of the better concerts I've seen, and probably one of the best bass tones I've heard live (Laklands into God knows what).

JimK · #9 09-08-2008, 04:01 PM

We've opened for them about 3xs...the drummer, IMO, is the best player in that band.

IIRC, the bass player was using a 5-string Music Man back then.

Kitsapbass · #10 09-09-2008, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

We've opened for them about 3xs...the drummer, IMO, is the best player in that band.

IIRC, the bass player was using a 5-string Music Man back then.

Nope - I'm VERY sure it was a Lakland...I saw the headstock on the big screen - it was a 3+2 style headstock, and the pickups were a mm+J with no pickguard...

Maybe he was using a MM at the beginning of the tour, but at that show it was a Lakland.

Don't get me wrong - I've heard the live cd and he sounded great there too, and that was a Music Man. Actually, if I had to pick which one I would play, I would rather use the MM...I'm a 34" scale guy

!!!!

KJung · #11 09-09-2008, 02:30 AM

I like his playing a lot. When Rascal Flatts first hit, I saw a live performance on TV and he was playing a MM. He had a very modern tone, and was even slapping a bit (which didn't really fit the music, IMO). Now, he seems to have moved to a more old school P Bass thing, which works very well.

He's the type of player I aspire to be... clean, decent chops that are only used when needed.

JimK · #12 09-09-2008, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsapbass

Nope - I'm VERY sure it was a Lakland...I saw the headstock on the big screen - it was a 3+2 style headstock, and the pickups were a mm+J with no pickguard...

Maybe he was using a MM at the beginning of the tour, but at that show it was a Lakland.

Don't get me wrong - I've heard the live cd and he sounded great there too, and that was a Music Man. Actually, if I had to pick which one I would play, I would rather use the MM...I'm a 34" scale guy

!!!!

KJ-
I'm talking about 4-5 years ago...& I was about 2 feet away. This was definitely in the time frame when it seemed every New Country act we opened for had a guy playing a MM bass. I coulda joined the party with my '78 Sting Ray (a 'real' MM)

...but nope, it stays at home.
No doubt, Lakland basses were beginning to appear as 'the choice', too.

Bassic83 · #13 09-09-2008, 04:29 AM

Looks just like one of the operators at my plant- I even go up to him and say "Hey, didn't you used to be the bass player from Rascal Flatts?" We both get a kick out of that...

Seriously, he is a great musician overall, and his production chops are pretty good as well. The whole band is good, and I actually own one of their CDs, which is surprising, considering I'm generally allergic to country! But good tunes is good tunes, and they have it in spades. He plays lines that are melodic without trashing the song, and sometimes not what I would have thought to play, so I actually enjoy listening to them. Great vocals, too.

jaywa · #14 09-09-2008, 10:19 AM

I also see him playing some sweet vintage looking J-Basses sometimes. Unless they are the Lakland J-types. And/or, maybe just video props.