Gigging with only bass and drums?

[crj14525]

Has anyone ever attempted it? I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm not quite 100% on it yet. Do you think it would work or fail miserably?

[jelwood]

Maybe? Does one of you sing?

[crj14525]

Kind of. I do sometimes, but I have to really simplify my bass playing while I do.

[Lesfunk]

I did it once. Years ago, My group was scheduled to play outside at the beach but we were canceled at the last minute because of weather.
The drummer and I were already there but I called the other members and told them not to come.
Well we stuck around and drank and as the afternoon progressed, the weather got better and better and the club owner asked if we could play a set of music for Dinner and Drinks as payment.
Since I was the singer, bassist, and drove the equipment truck, we agreed.
We set up a monitor system and played a set for an hour and got all the free food we could eat and our rather substantial bar tab wiped out.

[crj14525]

One thing I thought is it would have to be origianals, since the bass would have to carry both rythm and melody.

[fokof]

I started an "electronica" project , me and a drummer.

He uses a V-Drum and Octopad and I use a V-Bass and "Live".
I do the keyboard part , the guitar part , and the bass parts all with the VB99 while he lays down the grooves.

Lots of fun.

[pklima]

I've done a few songs with just bass and vocals, but that was with two very good vocalists, and it was only a few songs as one of the singers also played guitar on the rest.

If you have really good vocals (that's more important than good bass or drums), it could work for a 45-minute set in a lot of genres, but more than that is pushing it unless you're doing a lot of looping etc.

[xoloder]

this. Om - Live at Amoeba - YouTube

[pklima]

Originally Posted by xoloder

this. Om - Live at Amoeba - YouTube

Om?

OM

NOM NOM NOM

[aronnes71]

Take a listen to The Norwegian band The mormones: http://www.myspace.com/themormones

Cheers
Tore

[Infrasonik B.]

I think it usually works best with heavy use of effects on bass, or maybe it's just that most of drum & bass only acts you hear are more on the electronic/dance side of things.

Either way, this guy kills it with effects (Hank & Cupcakes)
Hank and Cupcakes - Ain't No Love - Live on Fearless Music - YouTube

These guys are a bit closer to rock, but still very dance/electronic influenced (Death From Above 1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiaVAdkgp08
Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights - YouTube*

*The ''open E & scrape pick on E string'' technique used at the start of Romantic Rights always gets people going.


I can't think of any that aren't rock/electronic style but I'm sure there are some out there. It could get a little boring, especially if there aren’t any vocals but it all depends – I LOOOOVE listening to drum and (clean) bass grooves.

Try it out!

[pklima]

Originally Posted by Infrasonik B.

I can't think of any that aren't rock/electronic style but I'm sure there are some out there.

Well... this is the first thing that comes to mind: Fever - Peggy Lee - YouTube

Now, the real question is - what genre is the OP thinking about?

[HeadyVan Halen]

Originally Posted by crj14525

Has anyone ever attempted it? I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm not quite 100% on it yet. Do you think it would work or fail miserably?

It's a great idea!
However, is there a market for it?
What venue would want it?
If your just setting up somewhere, go for it

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by crj14525

Has anyone ever attempted it? I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm not quite 100% on it yet. Do you think it would work or fail miserably?

A thread like this pops up every once and a while.
I always point people to my old band, the Human Machine.
We were a bass & drum original rock band. I used a loop station on some songs to create a backing melody to solo over, or for parts that were too hard to play and sing at the same time. We had a decent amount of success in the LA area for an original bar band. No worse than any other original bar band.
Its still my favorite of all the bands Ive been in. We were just about to release and album when the band broke up.
Not sure if the myspace still exists, but you can check it out if it does... the Human Machine | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos

[noahw1]

I did it for a while and it was the most worthwhile band I ever played in. Forced me and the drummer (who I had played with for 15 years up to that point) to both sing to some degree and allowed me to use all the techniques I had learned but never could really use in a musical situations - tapping, strumming, chordal stuff, harmonics. I also used distortion, chorus and digital delay to help fill up the sound.
You can hear some of what we did here. Spirit Squad | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos
I miss it.
For us it worked pretty well and people really seemed to dig it.

[mantrabass]

If you're playing leads and experimenting in those ways, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to pull off a bass/drums duo. Good examples of duos would be LIGHTNING BOLT (noise rock) or DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 (dance punk)....

Victor and JD are a bass a drum duo, too.

[brndn123]

You should hit up Doug Jonhs, he has an "Ask a Pro" forum on TB. He regularly gigs as a duo and though he is rediculously talented, he probably has a few tips on the approach of performing with a drummer alone.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by crj14525

Has anyone ever attempted it?

Yes, going on 20 years now. Follow the link in my profile for some recordings, although many of those are multi-tracked. You'll note that I do switch to guitar or guitar synth from time to time to add a little extra spice to the mix. Live I tend to play bass around 80% of the time though, with no loop tracks or anything like that for the most part.

I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm not quite 100% on it yet. Do you think it would work or fail miserably?

Yep.

[crj14525]

Thanks for all the input, I suppose I will give it a shot. Here's hoping it works.

[foursring]

Originally Posted by crj14525

Has anyone ever attempted it? I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm not quite 100% on it yet. Do you think it would work or fail miserably?

I play in a Didgerido drum and bass band...its great!
I jam a lot with realy good djembe players...love it!!!