Gloves?

[SH69]

I just got back from seeing John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension at the House of Blues in Boston and wanted to ask about the bassist Etienne Mbappe and the fact that he wore gloves on both hands throughout the show and shredded like crazy!!!

I've never heard of wearing gloves before? whats the deal with that?

 

[SH69]

heres a youtube clip

 

[zachoff]

If it's an outdoor gig in the middle of January I might wear my fishing gloves, but that's weird to me. Dude's good though.

 

[bassbrad]

They are silk gloves and he likes the feel, sound and the fact that strings last a long time.

 

[Squirefan01]

I was there too! 2nd row on the balcony. I had my binocs on the bassist (Etienne Mbappe) as much as McLaughlin. Loved the dueling drum solo towards the end. Great night but long drive in the rain back to The Cape afterwards!

 

[Squirefan01]

BTW, here's an interview with Etienne:

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/06/08/an-interview-with-etienne-mbappe/

I thought maybe they added a bit of a muted sound to his awesome tone. I was also impressed by his lack of anything crazy in his rig. No effects at all (great bass though). He just flat out played his ass off.

 

[SH69]

I was there too! 2nd row on the balcony. I had my binocs on the bassist (Etienne Mbappe) as much as McLaughlin. Loved the dueling drum solo towards the end. Great night but long drive in the rain back to The Cape afterwards!

cool. i was on the back row on the balcony but went down to the floor when McLaughlin came on because it didnt look too crowded. Great show. that keyboard player doubling up on drums was pretty amazing. very talented guy.

 

[Squirefan01]

Our tickets were for the back row on the balcony too, but we ended up grabbing some lower seats and never got bumped out so that worked out well. The floor must have been great. I love that place. Yes, Gary Husband was the keyboardist/drummer. He sat in with the opening band for a song on drums too. I'm always blown away by the guys that can play multiple instruments (in different families of instruments) that well!

 

[pasta4lnch]

BTW, here's an interview with Etienne:

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/06/08/an-interview-with-etienne-mbappe/

I thought maybe they added a bit of a muted sound to his awesome tone. I was also impressed by his lack of anything crazy in his rig. No effects at all (great bass though). He just flat out played his ass off.

wow - I would have thought they dulled the sound too . . .

great vid, killer playing!!

 

[Winnb]

Those gloves must be really REALLY thin.

 

[SH69]

Thats what i would have thought. For the first half hour or so, he kept adjusting them after each song so it looked like he wasnt that comfortable but man can that guy play.

 

[Squirefan01]

He reminded me of Nomar at the plate with his glove adjustments

 

[Johnny Crab]

These fingerless gloves work for me.
Borrowed permanently from my youngest son for an outdoor winter gig but now I sometimes put them on during the 1st set especially if I've not had time to warm up or if the air conditioning is send ice to my hands.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

This is a first for me - I've never heard of anyone using full glove to play bass.

You see something new every day, I suppose.