That is pretty cool. It looks like she’s playing the Merc in Temecula on March 14th. I’m going to try to check her out.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Band with two bass players
- Thread starter BklynKen
- Start date
That is pretty cool. It looks like she’s playing the Merc in Temecula on March 14th. I’m going to try to check her out.
Girls Against Boys really are great, esp. their album House of GVSG!
(Their cover of Joy Division's She's Lost Control is A MA ZING!)
Also, a really great local band from here (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) does the 2 basses thing, along with 2 drummers and a bit of guitars and 2 violins as well...
Also, an old local doom metal band from the early 90's called Seized did that quite well and had relative success by touring North America and played with a lit of slow bands (Noothgrush, even Corrrupted i think...) and fast bands (Monster X, Devoid of Faith, etc.).
Locally as well, with plenty of bass, we had the amazing Leonard Cohen...but that bass was in the voice rather than the actual bassists!
Cop Shot Cop : is the band name fairly accurate of how i think it may sound ie heavy and uncompromizing?
(Their cover of Joy Division's She's Lost Control is A MA ZING!)
Also, a really great local band from here (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) does the 2 basses thing, along with 2 drummers and a bit of guitars and 2 violins as well...
Also, an old local doom metal band from the early 90's called Seized did that quite well and had relative success by touring North America and played with a lit of slow bands (Noothgrush, even Corrrupted i think...) and fast bands (Monster X, Devoid of Faith, etc.).
Locally as well, with plenty of bass, we had the amazing Leonard Cohen...but that bass was in the voice rather than the actual bassists!
Cop Shot Cop : is the band name fairly accurate of how i think it may sound ie heavy and uncompromizing?
I’m in an instrumental doom/sludge band. Me on a fretted fiver with a ton of dirt flavors, the other guy on a fretless fiver playing clean, and a drummer. I’m sort of bass and rhythm guitar combined, and he does a lot of melodic stuff. He’s about to start adding keys to some of the stuff.
Dumpstafunk does great with two bassists each playing bass lines, plus rhythm guitar and keys and a monster drummer.
Don’t let the curmudgeons drive you away from this idea, it’s a great idea. In metal these days 8-string downtuned guitars are all over the place and no one says that doesn’t work. But two basses and all of the traditionalists go insane. Ignore them! Follow your ideas!
It does take some thoughtful arranging and composing but I think it’s a great idea and challenge.
What was that bass duet thing Watt was doing with Kira? That was killer too.
Don’t let the curmudgeons drive you away from this idea, it’s a great idea. In metal these days 8-string downtuned guitars are all over the place and no one says that doesn’t work. But two basses and all of the traditionalists go insane. Ignore them! Follow your ideas!
It does take some thoughtful arranging and composing but I think it’s a great idea and challenge.
What was that bass duet thing Watt was doing with Kira? That was killer too.
Check out Dumpstaphunk- one fingerstyle clean meaty tone, the other guy often slapping and uses effects, lots of filters and flanger type tones. Their lines weave and intertwine in a very, very funky way! They maintain some range separation, but it’s definitely two bass lines.Not disingenuous. Possibly ignorant on my part maybe since I’m genuinely not familiar with them. But definitely not disingenuous. At least as far as I understand the meaning of disingenuous.
But back to an earlier question I had: Do they have two simultaneous bass parts going - or is it more there’s two bass guitars with one handling the bass role and the other doing more a guitar role?
Update: Ok. I just caught a few vids over on YT. Pretty clever on their part using a Fender and a Ric - and yes! both doing separate bass parts but with contrasting voices.
So ok. I stand corrected. There’s at least one band that made it work.
Thx for bringing them to my attention.
Please consider listening to Pinback.
Pinback - Loro, two basses:
They have other songs where the instrumentation may differ but the concept is similar. Two basses could create a sound like this if this is what you're after.
Pinback - Loro, two basses:
They have other songs where the instrumentation may differ but the concept is similar. Two basses could create a sound like this if this is what you're after.
SO.... now your weekend warrior band will have TWO bass players wanking off in the corner behind the drums, still only three people in the audience will even know what they are playing, and your measly $52 paycheck will get cut down to $26....after the two hour drive, the $33,000 equipment invested, 27 months of unpaid rehearsals, and before you pay the $300 band bar tab.
'Sounds like a great business plan.....
'Sounds like a great business plan.....
Check out Mike Watt and Kira Roessler. 2 basses and the occasional vocals.
If you ever end up playing a show in NYC, post about it here! I'd love to come check it out. One thing to keep in mind is that most practice spaces in Manhattan & Brooklyn -- at least all the ones I've been to -- only have one bass amp & cab in each room. You can always run one bass through one of the many guitar amps they'll have or the PA.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,066
- 45,998
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I've done it in several bands. For me it worked best when my housemate was the other bassist and we rehearsed together daily. We both made it a point to each play a third as many notes as usual (for us at least). Not nearly as fun or successful with the two other guys I tried it with in that band. I resorted to stunt bass a lot more, and I actually prefer more space when I go that route.
As far as commercial bands that have made it work, at least IMHO:
Miles Davis
Ornette Coleman
Pharoah Sanders
Sun Ra
Jack DeJohnette (w/tuba + AUB)
Talking Heads
Willie Nelson
Victor Wooten Band
Stanley Clarke Band
They certainly got my attention when they arrived on stage with four bass players and the drummer on lead vocals. They also have a very distinctive look.
