Phil Lesh - Page 2

gotmule? · #21 04-24-2009, 11:52 PM

I have always loved Phil's playing. He takes a very interesting approach to bassplaying. It took me a while to understand, but if you think of his bass as a trumpet, you can understand his lines. I can't wait to see the Dead on the 28th at the Izod!

DblG · #22 04-25-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

Fixed for you.

I'm guessing you're kidding around, with using the

and all, but if you don't care for his playing, why would you click on this thread & post a negative comment???

Listen to the links provided and see if you like any of it. If you don't, no bother to me... This thread is for fans of his.

I DVR'd Letterman and it was only OK for me...maybe because the sound through my 1994 TV isn't so good. I just really dig his sound and playing in my original links (there are only snippets of him in there...you have to watch through all the other stuff)

Anyways...

My buddy/percussionist in the band I'm in has met Phil twice now. The first time was when he was in town w/ his band Phil & Friends sometime last year. He (my buddy) was in line at a coffee shop while working in the city when he turns around and says "Phil??". Yup, Phil was behind him in line. He chatted w/ him for a little and even got a picture with him. In the pic, Phil has a huge smile on his face because my buddy made him crack up when he (jokingly) asked if he could have Bobby's (Weir) number while Phil was looking through his cell phone...

Fast forward to this past Wednesday... My friend is washing windows at the hotel the Dead stayed at and once again sees Phil walking out. He says "Hey Phil, nice show last night". Phil says thanks as he walks past out the door and down to the coffee shop. A while later, Phil comes back, coffee's in hand, walks right up to my friend and starts a conversation with him. He said they talked about the shows and Phils new Ritter bass and such.
Very nice guy IMO.

I can't find the pic now, but I think it's on my computer at work...I'll post later.

BassShreddr · #23 04-25-2009, 06:03 PM

"Quote:
Originally Posted by BassShreddr View Post
Gotta love 'em and that chunka-chunka vibe Phil lays down!

There, fixed it for you.
Your welcome.

rythman6969 · #24 04-25-2009, 06:15 PM

yeah, that was totally uncalled for. Phil has done more than his share of shaping what we now know as the electric bass. I recently heard an old interview where JG said Phil was the most angular player ever. That he played the bass like he invented it. I agree. His aproach was/is so unconventional especially for 1965.
You can't listen to some '73 dead and tell me that guy isn't in some uncharted teritory. IMHO Phil is one of the Gret Ones.

BassShreddr · #25 04-25-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rythman6969

yeah, that was totally uncalled for. Phil has done more than his share of shaping what we now know as the electric bass. I recently heard an old interview where JG said Phil was the most angular player ever. That he played the bass like he invented it. I agree. His aproach was/is so unconventional especially for 1965.
You can't listen to some '73 dead and tell me that guy isn't in some uncharted teritory. IMHO Phil is one of the Gret Ones.

Well said, 69.

R D Maynard · #26 04-26-2009, 09:16 PM

If you can't appreciate what Phil has accomplished as a player, let alone his contributions to the technological aspects of the instrument, don't chime in on a thread about him.

BTW, I don't deify the man. Has anybody else noticed a similarity in the shape of the upper bout on Phil's Ritter and that of the beak of a certain Warner Bros. cartoon buzzard? ...And that brings to mind Phil's "bass-faces".

"I-i-i-i-'m bringin' home a baby bumblebee...."

Mojo-Man · #27 04-27-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

I saw Phil with his Ritter last summer and he was WAY too quiet as well. It wasn't the acoustics either, the venue sounded amazing. IMO it might be that the Ritter just doesn't cut through well. I could hear the highs occassionally crunching through, but it sounded kinda mushy. When I saw him with his Modulus, his tone was very clear.

I agree.
To me the Ritter is also butt ugly. JMO

Dark Star · #28 04-27-2009, 11:37 AM

Saw the Dead last night in Hartford. Phil, from what I heard in the first set, sounded very good, tone wise, and playing. But he was so soft in the first act.
By thr second act, I think someone turned him up because he sounded a lot louder and a lot clearer for the remainder of the concert. Still groovin' all the way through.

Phil's the man.

four2oh · #29 04-27-2009, 12:37 PM

Love for Phil..

gotmule? · #30 04-30-2009, 10:26 PM

I saw the Dead at the Izod Center on Tuesday and Phil was amazing. I thought his tone was much better than with the Modulus and it was easy to hear. He played amazing as well. It was my first Dead show since I was born in 93', but it was definitely the best concert I've ever seen. If you get the chance, go see the Dead, you won't regret it.

Dark Star · #31 05-01-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

I saw the Dead at the Izod Center on Tuesday and Phil was amazing. I thought his tone was much better than with the Modulus and it was easy to hear. He played amazing as well. It was my first Dead show since I was born in 93', but it was definitely the best concert I've ever seen. If you get the chance, go see the Dead, you won't regret it.

+1 Also, the first 'Dead' show. Born in '90. I've seen Ratdog, and Phil & Friends a few times, though.
Phil's tone sounded much cleaner and articulate with the Modulus. Still good with the Ritter, just different. Whether it's a 'good different' or 'bad different' - I have yet to decide.

gribuski · #32 05-03-2009, 01:58 PM

I've got a lot of friends who are BIG Deadheads, and I went through a phase myself. I've seen Phil and Friends and new iterations of the Dead a few times. Anyway, I have mixed feelings on Phil.

He's undoubtedly influential in his role in developing and experimenting with new basses (Alembic back in the day, 5+ string basses, Modulus, etc.). And his playing approach is very original, almost like he ignored all the bass-players before him, so I see arguments on both sides of whether or not to like him or not. I do think he carried the band for the bulk of their career, and really is the only link (sonically) tying the new stuff with the Jerry era.

I'm in the middle...I really like some of it, and really don't like some of it. Regardless, I respect the man.

mwalle1 · #33 05-06-2009, 08:51 PM

He has played a lot more gigs than any of us on here, we must show respect for that alone.

BASS GREAT LESH FILLING

Phil is a top notch way out there bass player, I listen to him almost every day on the GD station and can't seem to get enough.

The Ritter is wicked ugly, bring back the Modulus Phil!!!