Michael Cera's Bass

[thesteve]

A supergroup that I never heard of until they got Michael was my point. I know a few of the guys have been in big bands like Modest Mouse, but even that group isn't that big (but a lot better IMO). They are all indie guys no? I think all indie bands are suffering right now putting food on the table with the scraps they make playing live (since no one is selling albums) and that's where MC comes in. Like I said I can't blame them, but it doesn't make for good music IMO. "A band is only as strong as it's weakest link."

I could be mistaken, but I've had the impression that (signed) "indie" music is actually doing better than ever right now.

I don't think whether a band's bass player is amatuer or not - unless he's known for something totally different. Then I have to wonder what the fuss is all about. As far as I can tell, it's not about his bass playing, it's that a super popular actor kid is in a band now and that's hip.

Gotcha...so this is more about actually knowing he's relatively inexperienced vs. whether or not another bass player is inexperienced. That's fair. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I could be mistaken, but I've had the impression that (signed) "indie" music is actually doing better than ever right now.

You could be right. I thought pretty much everybody in the music industry except Ditty Dirty Money and Justin Beeber were struggling compared to a decade ago. I hope you're right because I like a lot of indie music and hope things are getting better.

Gotcha...so this is more about actually knowing he's relatively inexperienced vs. whether or not another bass player is inexperienced. That's fair. Thanks for clearing that up.

Definitely. Everybody starts somewhere and I was playing in a band after only playing for days or maybe weeks. I see lots of inexperienced bass players that are just starting out and props to them for learning a new skill. Props to MC for learning too, but I don't think he's nearly as good as the buzz creates and they're putting forth the image that he's a pro because he's playing in a band of (pretty) seasoned pros.

 

[davec]

TheBrain is so dead on, I mean there are guys with BA's in music not getting gigs like that. An Michael J Fox stole all of Flea's thunder on the Back to the Future series, "Needles" kicked azz

For some reason people follow celebrities, dumb I know, but it ain't changing anytime soon

 

[thesteve]

You could be right. I thought pretty much everybody in the music industry except Ditty Dirty Money and Justin Beeber were struggling compared to a decade ago. I hope you're right because I like a lot of indie music and hope things are getting better.

I admit my assumption is based on the fact that because indie artists didn't achieve the same heights as mainstream performers, they didn't have as much to lose in the recession. On top of that, I feel like I hear some new indie song every time I turn the radio on.

 

[martyman5000]

That is an ugly bass IMHO

 

[The Bass Clef]

What no one in this thread realises is that thebrain was kicked out as the bassplayer in the band Cera is now playing in.

Now that was a clever comment. That made me lol.

 

[Bass Hole]

Wow. Just wow. Someone is jealous that someone else fast tracked to a better gig.

"I was pointing out that he's not an accomplished bass player and who would want to see an amateur touring the world?"

What does someone have to "accomplish" to earn a spot on a tour? If he's touring the world, I don't think you can call him amateur... regardless of his actual skill.

 

[thedrones]

Um, why would the guy from Modest Mouse want a bad bass player in his band? I' m sure he wants his band to sound good, Cera probably auditioned and played fine. Plus, he seems like a nice guy to have in a band.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Wow. Just wow. Someone is jealous that someone else fast tracked to a better gig.

"I was pointing out that he's not an accomplished bass player and who would want to see an amateur touring the world?"

What does someone have to "accomplish" to earn a spot on a tour? If he's touring the world, I don't think you can call him amateur... regardless of his actual skill.

I think just because you drive a car or might ride a snowboard doesn't mean you should race Nascar or compete in the X Games either. He's an amatuer IMO, maybe not yours but it doesn't bother me that you don't agree.

There are lots of nozzles that I don't think deserve to be where they're at and everybody has a few people that they think that about. But I'm not trying to change the world here or MC's musical career, it's just my opinion. You don't agree, so get over it. I don't care to play in MC's band, I don't like their music very much at all, it isn't my thing. I have no desire to play professionally even, I make better $$ doing what I do. I just love playing because it's fun for me. I'm sure MC has fun playing too, I just don't have fun listening to him. If you do then cool. Who cares?

 

[M0ses]

The only point at which I disagree with you, thebrain, is about Modest Mouse. They are huge. And you could be wrong about the wealth of indie bands, but I don't really care about that and it's hard to say.

If this was indeed a supergroup, then why didn't they get a super bass player? Obviously there are players lined up for blocks for a gig like that, who have been playing professionally for years, and can play circles around MC. He wasn't picked for his skill. That's all thebrain is saying, and that he doesn't like it. I don't like it either.

And people, come on. "Sounds like someone's jealous..." Please. You're kind of pathetic. The first comment by Mark about thebrain being kicked out was witty, but the rest of you fail.

 

[Bass Hole]

I didn't know it was a competition to get that gig. Some people never go pro, some go faster than others. I'm happy for anyone who can get a gig playing music if it's what they want to do. If it makes you feel better to rag on the guy for not having "accomplished" himself is just strange. What I don't understand is what does one have to accomplish?
I had a good gig back in the early 90's, but nothing huge... how do I know when/if I am considered "accomplished?" I'll be playing with a "hall of fame" guitarist next spring for a few gigs and I'm worried that I'm an amateur.

 

[perfektspace6]

I didn't know I was making a case for it, but as a matter of fact, I saw Dogstar play at the Doheny Days Rock Festival back in ~'98 and he unknowingly played with his E string about a 1/2 step out of tune. He couldn't separate his fingers on his left hand and played with one finger on his right too (which I like to call the "hook and hoof" technique).

Michael Cera.. well he's been playing for all of well.. since they shot the movie earlier this year, but now he's touring as a "pro". I like music that's played by musicians personally.

Don't you know you have to empirically prove everything you post on the internet. Come on man, get with it!

I listened to the posted youtube clips. No better than scores of bands that you can see at the local club, if that.

 

[The Bass Clef]

TheBrain is so dead on, I mean there are guys with BA's in music not getting gigs like that. An Michael J Fox stole all of Flea's thunder on the Back to the Future series, "Needles" kicked azz

For some reason people follow celebrities, dumb I know, but it ain't changing anytime soon

The only point at which I disagree with you, thebrain, is about Modest Mouse. They are huge. And you could be wrong about the wealth of indie bands, but I don't really care about that and it's hard to say.

If this was indeed a supergroup, then why didn't they get a super bass player? Obviously there are players lined up for blocks for a gig like that, who have been playing professionally for years, and can play circles around MC. He wasn't picked for his skill. That's all thebrain is saying, and that he doesn't like it. I don't like it either.

And people, come on. "Sounds like someone's jealous..." Please. You're kind of pathetic. The first comment by Mark about thebrain being kicked out was witty, but the rest of you fail.

Don't you know you have to empirically prove everything you post on the internet. Come on man, get with it!

I listened to the posted youtube clips. No better than scores of bands that you can see at the local club, if that.

Thanks guys, I appreciate that you can see what I'm saying. I don't hate the guy, I really think he's one of the coolest young actors in Hollywood.

The rest of you guys that don't like that the fact I think he's unaccomplished will just have to accept it or I guess you could keep beating a dead horse trying to change my mind if you like, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

I'm not assigning a time frame to be considered "accomplished". I'm not talking about everyone in general, just MC. There are guys I've met that can play amazingly in just a couple years so it's passion, soul, and raw artistry that make the difference, not years of playing. But I don't think MC has that fire in his playing. Maybe he will be really good in a year or 2, or maybe never, but he's isn't there to me yet (obviously). To me, an accomplished musician has that fire in their playing.

There is a line between amateur and pro, accomplished and unaccomplished. I can't lay those requirements out broadly and precisely like some of you are asking, but I didn't make up the concept. There is a point at which someone used to be unaccomplished and then they become accomplished. My niece is unaccomplished and Bill Wyman is accomplished.

My niece may become accomplished someday (just as some of you that seem to be worried whether you are or not may too), but I don't know when, if, or how that will occur. It will or it won't. But until it does, I think people who don't have that fire shouldn't be in the forefront of music. That's not to say they shouldn't be playing out, just not in the forefront IMO because I feel they are taking up limited space from better bands/musicians.

You wouldn't say someone who's been playing for a week and doesn't know how to tune their bass is accomplished would you? But you have heroes that you think are. So there is a line there somewhere isn't there? If not, then I suppose you think everybody is equally as good and everybody deserves to be known for their art?

 

[thesteve]

Honestly, I think some of the issue with the whole "accomplished/unaccomplished" debate revolves around what is in the "forefront", so to speak. For example, a couple years ago Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy got a signature Fender bass. The rumor regarding his bass playing is that he doesn't even lay his own tracks in the studio, the lead singer/guitarist (Patrick Stump) plays them for him. Whether or not that's true I have no idea, but I suspect that's where some of the skewing comes from.

 

[Billy3000]

Modest Mouse, Man Man, and Islands (the three bands that the other members come from) are all pretty well known. You might not know them, or they may not be your thing, but all those bands are pretty well respected. Modest Mouse is obviously the most notable, but the other two are definitely well known, especially in the indie rock scene. Judging by the fact that the only tour they have is a short west coast run, I highly doubt that they plan on making Mister Heavenly a huge part of their musical career. It sounds like they were just 3 friends from different bands that wanted to make music together and they got Michael Cera to play with them because he was their friend, and they don't necessarily want to make it a serious full time commitment. If they were trying to ride his coat-tails I would imagine they'd be trying to put themselves out there a lot more than they are instead of just playing an opening slot on a short west coast tour.

 

[Steven1207]

Modest Mouse, Man Man, and Islands (the three bands that the other members come from) are all pretty well known. You might not know them, or they may not be your thing, but all those bands are pretty well respected. Modest Mouse is obviously the most notable, but the other two are definitely well known, especially in the indie rock scene. Judging by the fact that the only tour they have is a short west coast run, I highly doubt that they plan on making Mister Heavenly a huge part of their musical career. It sounds like they were just 3 friends from different bands that wanted to make music together and they got Michael Cera to play with them because he was their friend, and they don't necessarily want to make it a serious full time commitment. If they were trying to ride his coat-tails I would imagine they'd be trying to put themselves out there a lot more than they are instead of just playing an opening slot on a short west coast tour.

I agree with this 100%

Plus I had a listen to them on Youtube and Michael Cera isn't a bad bassist, he sounded alright to me. I mean he's not spectacular or anything but he does the job just fine. I dont see what all the fuss is about.

 

[viper4000]

Since when did experience or virtuosity become a requirement to play in a band?

 

[CTbass613]

there are plenty of not worthy musicians playing in famous bands...but we can't knock every actor turned musicians, look at Jared Leto guys got a monster voice, whether you like his band or not...they probably wouldn't be as big though had it not been jared leto, backing the group not only finacially but with this career. Being a pro doesn't just mean you are a top player, though it does help. But alot of being in a pro band, is beyond just how good you can play, but what you can bring to the table, he brings a marketing campaign, and is a good enough player to get by...the guy from modest mouse, as creative as he is, is a horendous singer (by that i mean he is rarely in key) So michael cera's ability may fit the band, realistically lets say we put...Victor wooten in that band does that make sense at all? no it doesn't so image is a big part of why he may have been chosen as well. I will complete agree to be a refined bass player he probably has a long way to go...but he probably doesn't need to ever get to that level to play in the bands that he likes and fits with.

 

[P-oddz]

All the haters need to step off!

I agree with previous comments. The bands these guys are coming from are big bands. I doubt they need to ride anyone's coat tails to accomplish anything. And for the skill level of Cera - you guys don't know. You are merely projecting your lack of going anywhere into Cera "just riding out his celebrity". Perhaps a smidgeon of that comes into play, but as previously mentioned - I doubt they would let him on stage if he didn't at least have the chops to hold down the low end (which, yes - sometimes that is all that is required in a band, and not having the skill to slap like Wooten).

There are other actors who do have talent that extends beyond just being a face. As mentioned before, Jared Leto's (30 Seconds to Mars) has got some pipes, so does Zooey Deschanel (She & Him). Jason Schwartzman (Coconut Records) is an absolutely talented musician. Vice-versa, there are some really talented musicians that can act well too (for example: Glen Hansard in the movie Once, from solo work and also of The Frames fame). Just because they act, doesn't mean that is their only talent.

I'm guessing any one of you guys learned to walk and chew gum at the same time. And you probably can do it fairly successfully at this point.

 

[The Bass Clef]

You are merely projecting your lack of going anywhere into Cera "just riding out his celebrity".

You don't get the point, and probably never will. You have no idea what my musical background is.