saw BX3 last night. my review.

origami · #1 02-09-2007, 02:00 PM

I went to the BX3 concert last night in Dallas. Jeff Berlin/Stu Hamm/Billy Sheehan with backing guitarist and drummer.

Pretty cool. Oh course it was a bass nerd sausage fest, but I expected that.

I caught the last 3 songs of Jeff Berlin. He was playing his Dean bass (brown) through two 1x15 MarkBass combos. His tone was very burpy, woody sort of staccato Jaco tone, he used no effects.

I was quite impressed with his playing, he just cleanly flies through jazzy scales and didn't do the slap or shred pentatonics. Jeff Berlin was very innovative and did not use a lot of flashy note nonsense, but he did let a few pitch harmonics slip through.

His tone was really great solo, but not dynamic enough once the drums and guitar kicked in. I love this guy, he looks like your uncle (If your uncle was a killer bass player) up there with his mini moustache and paunchy belly. I can see why he is Geddy's favorite bassist. It's deserved.

Next up was Stu Hamm. He played his signature Fender Urge (red sparkle, matching headstock) he played through a older digitech effect foot pedal, but mainly stayed clean or slight boost. He played through a new Hartke 5500 Head into two 410xl Hartke cabs. As expected his tone was even across frequencies, a bit sterile and hi-fi, but punchy and perfect for slap. If fit well with the bass and drums too.

Stu is sort of dry, and told a few funny jokes throughout his set, his two handed tapping and slapping are to be reckoned with. Stu has a keen sense of not just soloing, but of composition. He did some mash up classical songs combined with the Beatles White album playing both the string, guitar, bass and vocal parts all on bass in tandem. Stu also has good pitch while singing. Maybe he had to sight sing at Berkley.

Up next is Billy Sheehan. He came out guns blazing! Didn't even wait for the song to end before he ripped out a long solo. I felt sorry for the band (who were very very good) they just stood there not knowing what to do while Billy wanked away.

He was playing his sig Yamaha Attitude bass (sea foam green) with Sims lights into some rack gear (i think it is the Piece preamp and stereo compressors) into two Ampeg SVT-4 with opposite EQs into an Ampeg 8x10. His tone was loud midrange authority, and fed back at command.

I was about 3 feet away from his side of the stage. It was great! Amazing stage theatrics, Billy doesn’t play, he attacks his bass. He played a Kings' X tune, and Shy Boy too (not bad vocals). Superb, a shred bassist's dream!

At the end of his set. Billy was joined by Stu and Jeff. They did "Crossroads" and "Big Bottom" hearing Jeff Berlin say "pink torpedo" was classic. I was Stu's birthday and they brought out a cake for him. They switched basses around for some solos, each mimicking each other. I was funny to see Jeff Berlin aping Billy with crazy finger taps or Stu with slap-o-rama.

They had a meet and great, and i got my pic with Billy (Nice guy). Yeah!

dannoman · #2 02-09-2007, 03:42 PM

I was there too... Last night was an awsome show, from start to finish...

Funny thing though, my wife was not able to go and i was stuck with an extra ticket.... Nobody would go to that show with me... I even offered it up on here for free and still no takers...

Too bad, missed a great show.

scuba steve · #3 02-09-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannoman

I was there too... Last night was an awsome show, from start to finish...

Funny thing though, my wife was not able to go and i was stuck with an extra ticket.... Nobody would go to that show with me... I even offered it up on here for free and still no takers...

Too bad, missed a great show.

yes, im very sad i didn't get to go, glad yall had fun though.

richard simmons · #4 02-09-2007, 07:45 PM

Sounds awesome. I'm gonna try to go to the Boston show.

emor · #5 02-12-2007, 06:36 PM

They appeared here in Kansas City last Saturday night.
The high point of the evening for me was Jeff Berlin's rendition of the Dizzy Gillespie tune "Groovin' High."

peteroberts · #6 02-12-2007, 07:15 PM

man, I tell you, if you only saw 3 of Jeff's tunes, you missed out! I think that he's far superior to the other two as a player. He can basically play stuff that nobody else can play. I had not seen him until I saw Bx3 here in SF a couple of weeks ago, and his performance met my expectations.

Don't get me wrong, Stu and Billy are great players too, but I really went to see Jeff. His set alone was worth the price of admission.

Planet Boulder · #7 02-13-2007, 08:12 AM

I'm an idiot. I had three chances to see them in my state earlier this month, but didn't keep up with the tour dates.

mike sancho · #8 02-14-2007, 12:41 AM

Caught them tonight in Milwaukee. Missed it last year and regretted it.
Tonight's show was KILLER! All three of them are amazing in their own right. Drummer and guitar player get kudos as well. A night of great music, humor and typical midwestern winter weather.
Catch them if you can.

sobie18 · #9 02-14-2007, 02:10 AM

I guess I'll just have to experience the BX3 shows through you guys...Sure could use those guys here on Guam...

Yee-haw!

tdogg · #10 02-14-2007, 08:59 AM

just saw this grotesque display of awesomeness the other night. my friend that joined me was not familiar with sheehan's playing and stared with his jaw hanging during sheehans entire first song. it was sweet.

PolkaHero · #11 02-15-2007, 08:39 PM

Just found out last night they're playing in Detroit on Sunday! Missed them last year, but not this time! Do you think they'd sign one of my basses?

dannoman · #12 02-15-2007, 08:49 PM

Yes... They held a meet and greet after the show and i saw a couple of people with their basses getting signed.

I was also there early and got to meet Stu before the show...

They are all really cool and down to earth guys...

Ekim · #13 02-18-2007, 02:16 PM

I went to the Indianapolis show and I loved it. If you can make it: GO!

PolkaHero · #14 02-19-2007, 12:08 AM

Just got back from the Detroit show. The performances were impeccable. Only thing that could have been better was the lousy acoustics of the theatre. Billy's distorted lines were pretty much swallowed up. Stu's playing probably came off the cleanest, probably due to his hi-fi tone. Berlin is just a monster; I could have sworn he was playing a fretless but no. His tone was just like Jaco's, sounded like he had some kind of chorus effect. Got to meet all three after the show, really cool guys. The rest of you really need to make an effort to see this show if it's coming to a town near you!

Baryonyx · #15 02-19-2007, 06:17 AM

I know a lot of people think Jeff's tone is "cheesy", but I love it! I really dig that "fretless on a fretted" thing he has going on with that chorused bridge pickup sound he has.

SBassman · #16 02-19-2007, 06:52 AM

Sure wish there would be a BX3 DVD.

LeftyLB70P · #17 02-19-2007, 08:04 AM

Caught the Friday night show in Chi-town. WOW!!!

Makes you proud to be a bass player. Got all 3 guys to sign a strap for me, very cool!