R.I.P. Brad Houser

[lermgalieu]

RIP, his bassline on What I Am is obviously iconic (I can summon it in my head effortlessly and haven't heard it in decades) and LOVED Critters Buggin'

 

[Mikey F]

I was fortunate to play a bunch of shows with Critters Buggin back in the day. Brad was a genuine dude, and a complete monster of a bass player. He and Matt Chamberlain made one hell of a back line. So sad about this.

This was one of my faves : )

 

[Novarocker]

Wow, RIP. Heartfelt thoughts for friends and loved ones.

 

[Sonicfrog]

I made a vid in honor of Brad Houser. One of the Eddie Brickel and the New Bo’s songs I messed with when I was young on bass. It’s not “perfect”, but it’s mostly there.

 

[Dark Horse]

This one hurts. Brad was a “bass players bass player “. Creative, musical, always in the pocket, and always tasteful. He was one of those guys who, from the moment you met him, you were a friend. Just a kind soul, full of smiles, and always someone I looked forward to talking to. The last time I saw him was at Kerrville. We were opening for his band, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. We talked a while during soundcheck, and then again after his set. His playing was inspiring as always, and the remembrance of his laugh still makes me smile. The world was a better place for him being in it, and feels a little emptier now that he’s gone. A friend, inspirer, and a good man. RIP Brad.

 

[the_stone]

RIP.

Years and years ago I was playing with a Fort Worth blues guy and we did a show at an old movie theater in Mansfield. At the gig I found out we were opening for a singer/band from Austin I'd never heard of. When the groups changed over I did a quick "hi" nod to the next group's bass player, then loaded out my stuff so I could split. Right before I left I went back onstage to check out his rig and noticed "Critters Buggin'" stenciled on the cabinet. I went backstage where the bass player was sitting on the couch and asked "Hey, are you Brad Houser?"

He was, and he spent the next 30 minutes talking all things bass and music with Mr. No-name me. He even gave me his phone number and told me to let him know the next time I was in Austin. The dude couldn't have been nicer and more giving of his time, and I'll always remember that encounter.

 

[winston]

Crapadelic, RIP Brad!

I first became aware of him on SNL with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, and he was fantastic the one time I saw Critters Buggin'.

 

[othefool]

When I was 15 I was lucky enough to see EB&NB during their "Rubber Bands" tour in Berkeley. My bass teacher at the time also used the album to teach me how to differentiate a fretted and fretless bass by sound and "What I am" was one of my early studies. I remained a fan of Brad for life, and followed his work with Critter's although I never got to see them. I once had his signature Reverend bass, so I always felt that connection to him as well. Cool bass, it was made for the guy who picked it up from me!

I did lose track with EBNB but about 6 months ago I picked up their recent album "Hunter and the Dog Star". I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed that album - equal parts fresh and retro. Brad's playing as always on point. After he passed I re-listened to that first album, and was overcome by his gorgeously melodic fretless playing on "Air of December." We lost one of the great ones, RIP Brad!

 

[JEnglish]

Yet another of out brethren has left us.

I was in my first couple of years in college when the first New Bohemians album came out. I was also learning bass and attacked a couple of songs as best I could. At some point I wanted to use the line from Love Like We Do as the closer for a media talk show I never got around to doing. Later I would see him playing with Bob Schneider.

He was fantastic and yet another overlooked great.

Brad Houser - You Will Be Remembered.

When was he playing w Bob Schneider?