Stu Hamm is back on tour with Satriani!

threshar · #1 04-24-2008, 07:06 AM

I got news from Stu that he's going to be playing bass on Satch's upcoming european tour!

What do you guys think?

MonetBass · #2 04-24-2008, 08:08 AM

I think they need to come to the U.S.

spade2you · #3 04-24-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

I think they need to come to the U.S.

+1000! And I'll need some backstage tickets to get my Urge basses signed.

Rudyboy98 · #4 04-24-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

+1000! And I'll need some backstage tickets to get my Urge basses signed.

I'd be happy to just simply be there and meet these guys...

...then I'd ask if I could just hold one of his basses and have a pic taken with it...!

Baryonyx · #5 04-25-2008, 03:27 AM

I was gonna say Jeff, I got this news on the day I sold my Stu Hamm Urge standard! But I'm so glad I've got front row center seats for the Newcastle show!

threshar · #6 04-25-2008, 06:12 AM

You sold your urge eh?

Hows the status doing?

Joe called Stu about 3 days before official rehearsals for the tour started. Def. a last minute thing.

Stu's also doing some clinics down under too.

lowb1970 · #7 04-25-2008, 06:20 AM

Well that's great I guess. I prefer Dave LaRue's playing anyday for that type of music, but that's just my opinion. The thing about Stu is in all the years everything you see from clinics to videos on youtube, all stems around stuff he played on his slap pop and tap video many years ago....(I was just a youngin in the military still living in Japan). I like Stu's playing, don't get me wrong, I would just love to see him do something different and NEW. This is just an opinion and in no way am I bashing on Stu....I like his playing. He has great technique and a unique approach to the instrument. No matter how stale I think he is getting lately; nobody can take the innovation he has contributed away.

***disclaimer*** sorry for all the "this is just an opinion" stuff. I feel there are a few TB'ers out there that don't like when your opinion doesn't match theirs. :-)

threshar · #8 04-25-2008, 06:55 AM

Are you talking more his style or the stuff he does when he's in solo mode? ie country music/moonlight? I'm a huuuuge Stu fan and I agree some of it is old and should get a vacation, but those tunes are also somewhat of his trademark and lots of folks expect to hear it and start firebombing if they don't.

You should checkout the _insane_ stuff he has done with frank gamble & steve smith!

lowb1970 · #9 04-25-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threshar

Are you talking more his style or the stuff he does when he's in solo mode? ie country music/moonlight?

You should checkout the _insane_ stuff he has done with frank gamble & steve smith!

Yeah, more his style...but I haven't heard the stuff you mentioned. I would love to check that out. Is there anywhere online I can listen before I purchase? I know of Frank Gambale from Chick Corea Electric Band days. I can only imagine what this stuff sounds like. I wanna hear it

Thanks for the information.

threshar · #10 04-25-2008, 07:08 AM

http://http://threshar65536.tripod....l_traveler.mp3

There's one tune. on the bx3 tour stu played 'katahdin' which is a ghs tune.

The first album - show me what you can do - is a complete an utter wankfest, however that is what they wanted to do. The other two are more oh, less wanky (but still lots of blatant showing off)

threshar · #11 05-05-2008, 09:11 AM

Stu's posting a video blog of the tour.
There's a great intro movie there

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/user/hammstu

he's going to post some vids soon of his setup for the tour in the next couple days.

Ian Perge · #12 05-06-2008, 07:53 AM

I have to confess I also liked the differences that were brought to the band buy both Dave LaRue as well as Matt Bissonette, an extremely underrated player IMO while Stu took his time off to be a "Stay-At-Home-STUUU."

Dave's Bongo FOH tone was to DIE for... as well as his Bank Vault-tight fingerstyle playing, and Matt has some extremely tasty chops as well - his looped fretless solo is a beautiful thing.

...basically, I'm a big fan of Stu but not of his overall tone (part "Urge II", part Hartke - I'm very much not a fan of the latter) and not of his very stale solo - change some things up in that!

JimmyM · #13 05-06-2008, 11:09 PM

Put me in the LaRue camp, too, and it's not because I used to take lessons from him

Stu Hamm is a very good player, but sometimes I think he relies too much on gimmicks, whereas Dave is all about moving his fingers very fast to make music.

lefty007 · #14 05-08-2008, 08:55 AM

Never liked Stu (or Satriani) much, although there is some good stuff here and there. Rather see/hear Vai and Sheehan.

Baryonyx · #15 05-08-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threshar

You sold your urge eh?

Hows the status doing?

The Status has been sold, I'm playing a Spector 4 string these days! I'm very happy with it, so I can see this one going a long way with me!

Tactician · #16 05-17-2008, 01:43 AM

I can understand some of the misunderstanding about what Stuart plays - mostly it's because when he's doing concerts with Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Gambale - and people want to hear what they've heard before. It's a familiarity thing.

I was lucky enough to be on one of Stuart's 6 day workshops last year - all six days were hosted by Stuart - no flashing in a for a guest appearance. He's one hell of a player and very deeply into harmony, a completely understanding the fretboard and what harmonics, sounds, techniques he can apply. (He also found our weaknesses and had us practicing our scales, yoga, arpreggios and finger stretches every day at 9.00 sharp! But that's another story as they say)

Stuart comes from a very musical family and it shows in his taste and the projects he puts together every year. Guys like Stuart don't have the likes of the Sony Corporation promoting the hell out of them and convincing fans what to love. It's tough to stay on top of your game and I think Stuart does a great job.

Go back and listen to the Outbound CD, or the one with Frank Gambale and the latest 3x - you'll find a vert tasteful player with a lot to say. Much more than he does on tour with the guitar greats - after all as Stuart says in this context, "We're here to serve."

I'm off to the Satriani and Paul Gilbert show tomorrow in Bournemouth UK - I'll report back. Stu's solo is still a highlight I hear! I'll let you know.

Baryonyx · #17 05-17-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Put me in the LaRue camp, too, and it's not because I used to take lessons from him

Stu Hamm is a very good player, but sometimes I think he relies too much on gimmicks, whereas Dave is all about moving his fingers very fast to make music.

I have seen Satch 3 times now. Matt Bissonette was alright, very deep grooves but not that interesting. Dave was great to watch and had a great tone, and did a few neat things over the course of the night. I saw Stuart the other night and he was just incredible.

Absolutely amazing tone (I was in the front row sitting right in front of his amps), ridiculously good playing and so much stage presence. His solo was amazing too (my brother got it all on video). Very emotive throughout "Going to California" and it was nice to hear some of the Castro Hustle too. Stu was great, he threw me and my brother the picks he used during "Flying in a Blue Dream" and shook our hands at the end of the show. Absolutely magical! Not only that but when I watched his Youtube video from the first part of the show I noticed you can see me and my brother next to the stage!

Here is a photo my brother took during the show. I love that bass!

threshar · #18 05-17-2008, 08:14 AM

My fave stu stuff is the work he does with frank gambale and steve smith. He usually plays country music because its "his hit" and crowds expect it (chances are high a lot more people would be upset if he didn't play it than if he did.)

I know one of my fears is writing some song that I may not like that much and have that become my hit, forever doomed to playing it. (however, those royalty checks would sure be nice!)

srptopdog · #19 05-17-2008, 08:49 AM

I love Stu's solo playing. There is a video of him playing solo on bassplayer.tv where he combines The Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" with Beethovan's "Moonlight Sonata." It's quite remarkable, IMO. Try playing some of his stuff. It's not easy! Granted he's not always flying all over the fretboard; but so many other players do that really well. I enjoy a player who offers something a bit different.

Baryonyx · #20 05-17-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threshar

My fave stu stuff is the work he does with frank gambale and steve smith. He usually plays country music because its "his hit" and crowds expect it (chances are high a lot more people would be upset if he didn't play it than if he did.)

I know one of my fears is writing some song that I may not like that much and have that become my hit, forever doomed to playing it. (however, those royalty checks would sure be nice!)

I love the GHS trio, and it's a real treat to hear Stuart and Steve making music together. My favourite stuff of his I'd say is his old solo stuff though, particularly the "Kings of Sleep" album. The song "Kings of Sleep" is without a doubt one of the finest pieces of music I have ever heard, and the ending is one of the most stunning things ever imo. Such a beautiful arrangement.

Stuart has long been a huge influence on me. I've never been particularly brilliant at tapping so playing some of his stuff has been a real challenge for me, but from him, I've learned so much just about making music. He was the first bassist to make me think there was more to the instrument than root notes. Despite there being a great deal of fantastic bassists I love, from the likes of Jonas Hellborg, Stanley Clarke, Mark King to Jaco, Victor Wooten and Bakithi Kumalo, Stuart Hamm remains my #1 favourite alongside Geddy Lee. Not only a remarkable musician but also from what I've seen, a great guy. His sense of humor comes through on stage and wherever I see him, he's making jokes and smiling as he goes. He's a real inspiration for me!