Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[lucas303]

Have youse guys tried stacking anything with it? I've only tried what is basically a Muff so far. The PD7 might be one of those pedals that can stand on its own.....?

It can definitely stand on its own imo. I did try stacking it with my Morley fuzz wah and liked the PD7 after the Morley. The PD7 seemed to bring back some of the low end cut by the Morley.

 

[scabpicker]

Unfortunately I have never even been in Texas… but if I undesterstand correctly you're from there? Or lived there back then? That place at the time, must have been so damn exctiting. All those bands from that scene were so interesting and unique. I'm jealous!

Yep, through no merit of my own, I've never lived anywhere but Texas and don't have any plans to move. It's stupid hot half the year, but it's mostly bearable for the other half of the year except on the weekends that winter stops by for a visit.

(It's never hard to spot a Texan, they never shut up about the fscking place. )

Maybe you heard about this recent band from Austin called Spray Paint? Oh, no need to mention they are WEIRD. They are from Austin after all




Love them!

Heheeh, somehow I hadn't run into them! Love it! Thankya!

BTW, I believe Trance Syndicate always had a cult following in the world, even back then… It even reached remote places like the town where I lived, with not even one single decent record store. Music magazines talked about it, even here in Italy.

Who gave me (and our friends) the chance to listen to Trance Syndicate records, was a friend who studied in Pisa, there was a great shop (and mailorder) there that was a dealer for many underground US labels, and he came back to his hometown on holidays, with his suitcase full of gems and good stuff! (he was the one who brought the AmRep stuff in our town as well...)
I still have the cassettes he made me with Drain, Pain Teens, Crust, Cherubs, Johnboy… even those I bought on vinyl or CD later

Wow, that's a good friend. I'm always surprised at how far music goes once it's recorded. There was a psychedelic label in Dallas, Rockadelic, that became kinda popular in northern Europe. I found out that the singles I'd been buying for nuttin' were actually worth some money over there. I've met a bunch of folks who were in those bands, and I was actually in one of them for a short time after they had their releases on the label.

Another label, Direct Hit, was run by a friend's wife. They got some of the same type of exposure, and released one of my favorite psychedelic singles (yeah, it's a Hawkwind cover, they did great covers):



Mentioning their great covers, their cover of Love Buzz (that was released before Nirvana's) featured the signature riff played with a vibrator.




They'd also do an awesome medley of Big Black's cover of Gary Numan's "Heartbeat" mixed with The Archie's "Sugar Sugar." I know several of them, and miss that band.

But I believe nowadays with the internet, even cult labels that don't exist anymore, like T.C., may live a second wave of popularity (although a niche popularity)... Countless bands I would have never known of, if it wasn't for Soulseek and RYM. And even bands I only "heard of" and never had the chance to listen before. I will never be done with filling in these gaps.

Oh yeah, even though these days are a tough time to make a living as a musician, it's a veritable dreamland for the music consumer. I can't count the number of records I've bought because I don't want to lose access to it when I forget how I ran into that internet link.

I'm loving all these anecdotes and memories you're sharing… that place, at that time, is LEGEND to me.

Hehehhe, I wish I remembered it better. I was bathing in hallucinogens half the time, and my memory is...odd. It's not really inaccurate, but it comes in fits and starts. I do know that the lady who became my wife decided to impulsively kiss me at an Ed Hall/Flipper/Dwarves show, and our first date was a Cherubs show. Still married to her, she's the reason me and my friends knew of the Melvins' Lysol at the time. She's still a source of marvel to me, sometimes I don't know how she finds the loony new stuff she listens to.

It did seem like there was a gap in the craziness from the late 90s to into the early part of the 00s, or I was just unaware of it. Most of the best part of Texas was into more of revivalist/americana or straight metal scene at that time, but by 2005 or so, it seemed like the crazies here were getting their act together again, or I was finally aware of them.

But there was a difference in the two groups. Post 2005, it seems like the bands are interested in being "bands", not part of a weird, decadent art movement. Probably the last of that kind of scene I remember was Crash Worship from San Diego. Going to one of their shows was like attending a ritual. Here's the only live vid I can find of them on YT. The music starts around 8 minutes in. It's a trapeze artist before that. Indoor hand held fireworks and torches. Under acoustic ceiling tile. Yep, not much of a wonder why those guys rarely played a club twice, more of a wonder that the clubs were able to withstand them. Floppiest guitar string, ever.

Someone on Bandcamp wrote they are like "Sun City Girls for metalheads". I don't think it's 100% spot on, to me it sounds more like Residents for metalheads, although more funny and less creepy.
(But I wish there was something like "Sun City Girls for metalheads". )

Maybe Melt Banana?

 

[kleinenenten]

Have youse guys tried stacking anything with it? I've only tried what is basically a Muff so far. The PD7 might be one of those pedals that can stand on its own.....?

I have not. Typically, I’m not a stacker. When I do, it’s light OD into heavier dirt to get more treble and gain, but nothing wild or totally different than the base tone.

 

[kleinenenten]

Anybody ever try those colored strings? Looking at “blacking out” the cheap Ibanez I just bought for some contrast - it’s a white bass with black hardware, and black strings would finish it off I think. Any experience?

 

[lucas303]

Anybody ever try those colored strings? Looking at “blacking out” the cheap Ibanez I just bought for some contrast - it’s a white bass with black hardware, and black strings would finish it off I think. Any experience?

I tried the DR Black Beauties and liked them. The coating has a different feel to it, for sure, so be prepared for that. Also I found it picked up a bit more finger noise than uncoated strings, but that could just be me sucking.

 

[kleinenenten]

I tried the DR Black Beauties and liked them. The coating has a different feel to it, for sure, so be prepared for that. Also I found it picked up a bit more finger noise than uncoated strings, but that could just be me sucking.

I also suck, so thanks for the heads up.

 

[lucas303]

I also suck, so thanks for the heads up.

I think I still have the set I used. They're not totally thrashed... If you want to cover postage I'll send them to you.

 

[kleinenenten]

I think I still have the set I used. They're not totally thrashed... If you want to cover postage I'll send them to you.

...and PM’d.

 

[oZZma]

Maybe Melt Banana?

Melt Banana IMO are a lot more joyful/playful and less hallucinated than Sun City Girls!
Not much of my cup of tea honestly… But I love most Skin Graft stuff! Top tier label.

(It's never hard to spot a Texan, they never shut up about the fscking place. )

Wow, that's a good friend. I'm always surprised at how far music goes once it's recorded. There was a psychedelic label in Dallas, Rockadelic, that became kinda popular in northern Europe. I found out that the singles I'd been buying for nuttin' were actually worth some money over there. I've met a bunch of folks who were in those bands, and I was actually in one of them for a short time after they had their releases on the label.

Another label, Direct Hit, was run by a friend's wife. They got some of the same type of exposure, and released one of my favorite psychedelic singles (yeah, it's a Hawkwind cover, they did great covers):



Mentioning their great covers, their cover of Love Buzz (that was released before Nirvana's) featured the signature riff played with a vibrator.




They'd also do an awesome medley of Big Black's cover of Gary Numan's "Heartbeat" mixed with The Archie's "Sugar Sugar." I know several of them, and miss that band.

Never Heard of Rockadelic or Direct Hit, I will need to fill this gap as well!

Oh yeah, even though these days are a tough time to make a living as a musician, it's a veritable dreamland for the music consumer. I can't count the number of records I've bought because I don't want to lose access to it when I forget how I ran into that internet link.

Yep, it has pros and cons. The good side is that so many gems would have slipped into oblivion if not for the internet. I still remember the dawn of Soulseek with lists of "stuff I read about but never had a chance to try" to check, as one of the most exciting periods, as a listener.
Another good side is the chance for independent bands to reach a broader audience, anywhere in the world… Although the fact that it's damn easy for anyone to publish stuff, made the offer so huge that is a lot more dispersive and chaotic. So many bands, so little time. I don't find music magazines to be so aligned to what I find interesting… they mostly seem to cover only the tip of the iceberg. So selection is a lot harder, and subjective. And it may tempt one to listen in a bulimic way, discarding records without giving a second listen… which is such a shame sometimes.
So true the internet lowered the attention threshold.

It did seem like there was a gap in the craziness from the late 90s to into the early part of the 00s, or I was just unaware of it. Most of the best part of Texas was into more of revivalist/americana or straight metal scene at that time, but by 2005 or so, it seemed like the crazies here were getting their act together again, or I was finally aware of them.

But there was a difference in the two groups. Post 2005, it seems like the bands are interested in being "bands", not part of a weird, decadent art movement. Probably the last of that kind of scene I remember was Crash Worship from San Diego. Going to one of their shows was like attending a ritual. Here's the only live vid I can find of them on YT. The music starts around 8 minutes in. It's a trapeze artist before that. Indoor hand held fireworks and torches. Under acoustic ceiling tile. Yep, not much of a wonder why those guys rarely played a club twice, more of a wonder that the clubs were able to withstand them. Floppiest guitar string, ever.

Yeah, as far as I know, I find it to be accurate. There's not a "movement" anymore, like the one Trance Syndicate represented.
Oh I love Crash Worship!!
There is this band, guess from where? AUSTIN!!, that is on the same vein of tribalism and craziness, $h!t and Shine.
Even though they became more electronics and less percussions oriented in their latter releases, their masterpiece, Ladybird, IMO was somewhere between Crash Worship and Butthole Surfers:



It can't be a coincidence, there's indeed something in the water in Texas!

Hehehhe, I wish I remembered it better. I was bathing in hallucinogens half the time, and my memory is...odd. It's not really inaccurate, but it comes in fits and starts. I do know that the lady who became my wife decided to impulsively kiss me at an Ed Hall/Flipper/Dwarves show, and our first date was a Cherubs show. Still married to her, she's the reason me and my friends knew of the Melvins' Lysol at the time. She's still a source of marvel to me, sometimes I don't know how she finds the loony new stuff she listens to.

When you find someone you can share the things you love with, someone that understands the things that matter to you, that's a bond deeper than anything else. I'm really happy for you, I miss it in my life. And this story made me cry 'cause weirdly enough, your Cherubs gig is a foil to mine.
A week ago it's been four years since I met this man. A "source of marvel". That gig is where I could have had a chance to meet him again, but in the end I couldn't even find the courage to go to him and say "hi". We never met again, but four years were not enough to forget him. That's my memory of Cherubs.
I would need a drink so hard now.

 

[cornfarmer]

Anybody ever try those colored strings? Looking at “blacking out” the cheap Ibanez I just bought for some contrast - it’s a white bass with black hardware, and black strings would finish it off I think. Any experience?

That stuff eventually comes off one way or another.

 

[kleinenenten]

That stuff eventually comes off one way or another.

I know, but I figure that’s a relatively easy marker for “change your strings”! I’m used to never changing flats, so a reminder to change rounds may not be a bad thing.

 

[Speedor]

It can't be a coincidence, there's indeed something in the water in Texas!

That is sooo goood!
Also you made me remember Melt Banana and the hype I had on them like 10 or so years back. Good to see they still do pretty much the same thing.

I haven't posted here for some time now, so as an update: The band split a long time ago and right now I'm half finished with my solo project (got 5 tracks already). Something between instumental stoner rock and post metal.

 

[br1qbat]

Trying something a bit different. I replaced the chromes on the Gibbo with Hi-Beams. Can't wait til Thursday band day to see what they're like amped up. Quite like the ringing, harmonic rich tonez unplugged. Wonder if the ol' wildebeest will put out a modicrum of zing now.

 

[scabpicker]

Melt Banana IMO are a lot more joyful/playful and less hallucinated than Sun City Girls!
Not much of my cup of tea honestly… But I love most Skin Graft stuff! Top tier label.

I dunno, maybe the Butthole Surfers are the Sun City Girls for metalheads. Surely they're spooky enough.

Ok, I'll stop.

Never Heard of Rockadelic or Direct Hit, I will need to fill this gap as well!

Both put out good stuff. It was a true shame when the latter went under.

Another good side is the chance for independent bands to reach a broader audience, anywhere in the world… Although the fact that it's damn easy for anyone to publish stuff, made the offer so huge that is a lot more dispersive and chaotic. So many bands, so little time. I don't find music magazines to be so aligned to what I find interesting… they mostly seem to cover only the tip of the iceberg. So selection is a lot harder, and subjective. And it may tempt one to listen in a bulimic way, discarding records without giving a second listen… which is such a shame sometimes.
So true the internet lowered the attention threshold.

Yeah, Lightning Bolt was one of those bands that took some time to penetrate my brain. I first heard of them when The Flaming Lips sampled them for a track. I found some other recordings and other than "wow, that guy drums like a jazz drummer that took ALL the meth", I wasn't that interested. Then luckily a few years later, a friend asked if I had heard of them, and while the name rung a bell, I couldn't place it. So I looked them up again, and fell in love.

Yeah, as far as I know, I find it to be accurate. There's not a "movement" anymore, like the one Trance Syndicate represented.

Dang, because I was hoping you knew something I didn't.

There is this band, guess from where? AUSTIN!!, that is on the same vein of tribalism and craziness, $h!t and Shine.
Even though they became more electronics and less percussions oriented in their latter releases, their masterpiece, Ladybird, IMO was somewhere between Crash Worship and Butthole Surfers:

Wow, I'm pretty sure my singer has played some of their stuff for me, but I had never heard that one. Amazing.

It can't be a coincidence, there's indeed something in the water in Texas!

Hehehe, I think it's the fact that the weed's always been so cheap here. When I was a kid, the same amount of money would buy either a case of ok beer or a quarter of really good weed with seeds in it. I could kill that case of beer in a weekend, easy. The same money in weed would keep me in weed for a week, at least. Simple teenage economics!

When you find someone you can share the things you love with, someone that understands the things that matter to you, that's a bond deeper than anything else. I'm really happy for you, I miss it in my life. And this story made me cry 'cause weirdly enough, your Cherubs gig is a foil to mine.
A week ago it's been four years since I met this man. A "source of marvel". That gig is where I could have had a chance to meet him again, but in the end I couldn't even find the courage to go to him and say "hi". We never met again, but four years were not enough to forget him. That's my memory of Cherubs.
I would need a drink so hard now.

Damn, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make ya cry. All I can say to that is next time be the brave one like my darling was, if ya feel the same way. I got really lucky just sitting around and waiting for it to happen, but I think I a person with a stupid amount of good luck. On the third hand, I was dropped on my head when I was less than a day old (tile floor! true story!). So, you might take what I think with a grain of salt.

Plus, sometimes she says "I didn't realize I was marrying such a hesher." Yep, that copy of Lysol is hers, but I still like metal wayyyy more than she does. Nothing's perfect.

Ok, since I just found a recent-ish YT vid of a record in my collection from that time that I dearly love, I'm compelled to mention it. Light Bright Highway was (maybe is, haven't heard from them in years) a three piece instrumental improv psychedelic/space rock band from Texas. I seem to place them in Denton, but I could be misremembering that. The guitarist had the most amazing pedal boards I ever saw. Two double decker ones, both about 6 feet long, loaded with a guitar show's worth of pedals. The bassist had a nice setup too, but nothing like the guitarist's. The vid says untitled, but my copy says Moon Glory and the 7th Sun. The first side starts slow, but builds like a trip does, and you're going over the crest before you realize it. The second side doesn't build as slowly, but it's still gorgeous and ebbs and flows nicely.

Recorded "Live" As it happens at 70Hurtz Studio Argyle, Texas. By Dave Willingham Oct 25, 1997. No Layering, Overdubbing, or Mix-Down tricks were used in making this record.

Side A:


Side B:

 

[oZZma]

I dunno, maybe the Butthole Surfers are the Sun City Girls for metalheads. Surely they're spooky enough.

Yeah, they often went on that territory, although they were so variegated it's even difficult to place them in a specific genre. But it's the closest thing I can think about...

Yeah, Lightning Bolt was one of those bands that took some time to penetrate my brain. I first heard of them when The Flaming Lips sampled them for a track. I found some other recordings and other than "wow, that guy drums like a jazz drummer that took ALL the meth", I wasn't that interested. Then luckily a few years later, a friend asked if I had heard of them, and while the name rung a bell, I couldn't place it. So I looked them up again, and fell in love.

Lightning Bolt were not easy to digest for me as well.
There are countless bands I didn't get at first and now I adore. And bands I liked and I don't like anymore 'cause became too unimaginative and predictable to me. Taste evolves with knowledge…
I usually give a record a second (and third) chance, unless something really irritates me or find it trivial.

Dang, because I was hoping you knew something I didn't.

As for Texas, not really… Sorry
As far as "weirdness" is concerned, the last "scene" I was aware of was in Providence, Rhode Island, with Lightning Bolt, Arab on Radar (my favourite by far), Six Fingers Satellite… Load records had a lot of great bands from outside their area as well. Sadly, even this label is defunct. It closed a couple of years ago...

Damn, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make ya cry. All I can say to that is next time be the brave one like my darling was, if ya feel the same way. I got really lucky just sitting around and waiting for it to happen, but I think I a person with a stupid amount of good luck. On the third hand, I was dropped on my head when I was less than a day old (tile floor! true story!). So, you might take what I think with a grain of salt.

A funny thing about regret is that it's better to regret something you have done, than to regret something that you haven't done.
BTW it wouldn't have changed anything, he would have laughed at me. Losers have happy endings only in 80s movies.

Plus, sometimes she says "I didn't realize I was marrying such a hesher."

Your wife seems a really nutty girl.

Ok, since I just found a recent-ish YT vid of a record in my collection from that time that I dearly love, I'm compelled to mention it. Light Bright Highway was (maybe is, haven't heard from them in years) a three piece instrumental improv psychedelic/space rock band from Texas. I seem to place them in Denton, but I could be misremembering that. The guitarist had the most amazing pedal boards I ever saw. Two double decker ones, both about 6 feet long, loaded with a guitar show's worth of pedals. The bassist had a nice setup too, but nothing like the guitarist's. The vid says untitled, but my copy says Moon Glory and the 7th Sun. The first side starts slow, but builds like a trip does, and you're going over the crest before you realize it. The second side doesn't build as slowly, but it's still gorgeous and ebbs and flows nicely.



Side A:


Side B:

Pass me some of that texan weed, mate...

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

Pass me some of that texan weed, mate...

Sending it vicariously

 

[Kaa]

Look who came home with me tonight. She is super shy and it's going to take a while for her to get acclimated, but I'm ready to give her the time she needs. I'm unsure about a name...definitely open to suggestions.

Karen. Lol.

 

[lucas303]

Karen. Lol.

I decided on Reba.

 

[Kaa]

My wife and I had a nice weekend in Austin this weekend. Went there to see a show by Parker McCullum, a young hottie she's drools over. Country music, sort of. The band was pretty much playing rock music whilst the singer was singing more country. I knew I would be OK when there was a Marshall half-stack and a Matchless combo for the guitarists. The bassist was playing a Carvin (I think.) through some form of Mesa. And I have to throw huge respect to the soundguy. The mix was phenomenal.

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

My wife and I had a nice weekend in Austin this weekend. Went there to see a show by Parker McCullum, a young hottie she's drools over. Country music, sort of. The band was pretty much playing rock music whilst the singer was singing more country. I knew I would be OK when there was a Marshall half-stack and a Matchless combo for the guitarists. The bassist was playing a Carvin (I think.) through some form of Mesa. And I have to throw huge respect to the soundguy. The mix was phenomenal.

Glad to hear it was good! Although I'd argue Texas lacks in "heavy" music these days you'll find no shortage of good bluesy players all over the state. Parker kind of comes from the "Texas country" or "red dirt country" movement which is definitely more blues rock influence. He's also from like 30 minutes down the road from me so that's cool I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯