Differents ends of the spectrum

[Apex]

You see a bass solo like this and kinda go "whoa".

Link to original page on YouTube.


Then you see one like this and you go WTF?

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Apex]

Typed the links wrong...FIXED

[ungluck]

it says embedding is wrong on the first..

eitherway..first guy is def not some schmuck who was a friend of a guitar player, so he picke dup the bass so they could have a band.

i assume your a musician??

i did 2 years(nonstop) and a **** ton of 12 week courses at berklee(boston). been playing drums/percussion for 23 years almost.

[Apex]

One of my little hobbies. I used to do gigs. Mainly just to goof around with these days. I lost all my chops years ago, but I still have fun jamming every now and again, even though I suck. hahaha I remember a few of the bass/guitar solo's I came up with, I just lost my speed so badly I can't even dream of playing them anymore.

[bob706]

Michael Anthony FTW. The first video was really good but the guy is playing on a street corner for petes sake. Cool trumps technical skills almost always.

[ungluck]

spoken like a non-musician...cool is cool. talent is more rewarding, IMHO

[Apex]

Agreed.

One of my favorite bassists....

Link to original page on YouTube.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Too bad Primus split up...that band was awesome...

[bob706]

Originally Posted by ungluck

spoken like a non-musician...cool is cool. talent is more rewarding, IMHO

Meh. I've been playing for twenty years or so. If the point of this is to prove guys that play with "feeling" are somehow inferior to technically savy players then so be it. I can appreciate both equally.

[Apex]

Well we can't forget the luck factor. There are plenty of pro musicians out there with hardly any talent, but they got lucky in getting with the right group at the right time, and playing for the right person at the right time.

[bob706]

Originally Posted by Apex

Well we can't forget the luck factor. There are plenty of pro musicians out there with hardly any talent, but they got lucky in getting with the right group at the right time, and playing for the right person at the right time.

This is true but I would not diminish the talent of Mike Anthony because he played what some would say is a sloppy solo. There is also the "listen with your eyes factor", which is what your first video lacked.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by bob706

This is true but I would not diminish the talent of Mike Anthony because he played what some would say is a sloppy solo. There is also the "listen with your eyes factor", which is what your first video lacked.

Well, there is truth in that, but music is about music, not showmanship.

If it was all about showmanship, then this guy would have never been popular:

Link to original page on YouTube.

Typically you could always find SRV, or even Hendrix, just standing there jamming. Music these days is less about the music and more about the show. I've been playing instruments since before I was in 6th grade. To me the music is the most important factor. There are a quite a few of the mainstream acts that couldn't (fully) write a song if their life depended on it, yet they can put on a decent show. To me a lot of these acts are no better than Milli Vanilli, and they won a Grammy by lip syncing.

Britney Spears, it was like what, her 4th album before she even tried to write her first song? Gimmie a break. Oh and that is just the lyrics, I doubt she could actually write the music to save her life. To me a true musician is one that creates and controls all aspects of the music. I used to write, produce, do everything to my music. I decided I needed to get a life, so I quit the music scene. Shortly after that I met a lady and got married. Now it is just a pastime of mine that I keep around for a rainy day.

I'll say it, I am a musical quitter! hahahahaha

I guess I'm more old school when it comes to music and performances. I must admit, everyone likes their own thing. I'm a classically trained musician. I would rather play a trombone, baritone or tuba than a guitar. To me, music needs to flow, be able to show feeling, and just blend together seamlessly. That is why I still listen to classical music. I jump up and down when I find a rock act that can do the same thing. A person that can put feeling in a guitar is great at what he/she does. SRV is a great illustration of that.

A good example of "feeling" in a song is Strength and Honor by Hans Zimmer. A short portion of the Gladiator soundtrack, but still an amazing piece.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Of course, I'm not saying you are wrong and I am right, I'm just simply stating my point of view on the subject.

There are just too many hack jobs out there that piece together a song and get lucky (one hit wonders). What was that band that did the song "Freshmen"? Google saves me again, the Verve Pipe. That was the band. They had the one song that hit them off, then didn't they remix the song one or two more times trying to get the radio play they once had? I can't remember, it was long ago.

Ok, I'm just going on and on. Forgive me if I offended anyone, just stating my view point on the subject, and well, that may be slightly distorted with the medicine I'm on right now. HAHAHAHAHA I'm a little light headed right now. WEEEEeee!

[bob706]

Originally Posted by Apex

Well, there is truth in that, but music is about music, not showmanship.

If it was all about showmanship, then this guy would have never been popular:

Music is more often than not about both the music and showmanship. Even when you buy music it's packaged in a way to catch your eye. How many artists sell their music in a plain paper bag?

SRV had some serious chops but he was also a showman. From the way he dressed on stage to playing behind his back. Same with Hendrix. Paul Gilbert comes to mind with his picks on a drill shtick.

Of the two videos you first posted, the Van Hagar solo stands out to me because you have this nut on a stage running around with a Jack Daniels bottle shaped bass having fun. If I were to listen to both solos with my eyes closed, the other guys solo would stand out.

[DRivero]

Just popping in to say: LOVED Primus, back in the day. Hmm....no clue what's happened to my old CD's. Too bad.

[ungluck]

i completely agree, i didn't pick up drums as a kid because i wante dot be technically inclined.. i picked it up because i felt it. it moved me emotionally, it gave me an outlet and a rush..and i still, to this day..think going to school..was a huge waste of time lol

[ungluck]

PS. saw SRV play in a cast, drunker than hell in a little bar is somewhat northern VA...was awesome..one of my fav guitarist ever fo sho...you used to blast his cover of little wing in my headphones before our jump back into hunter airfield....song is a turn it to 11 all the time tune.

[heylookitsfranco]

+1 for luck. look at the metal scene. almost always every member of the band is exquisitely talented and can play some very technical stuff (more often than not, vocalist and lyricist excluded), but nearly nobody wants to hear it. it ultimately depends on what the vast majority want to hear/ what the machine wants you to hear. apparently it's ke$ha

[DRivero]

nearly nobody wants to hear it

Me. I want to hear it.

apparently it's ke$ha

Yeah, um.....not...

[heylookitsfranco]

nearly
hey don't knock ke$ha. she's deep, and. wholesome. and. um. talented?

[onetruevibe]

I agree, music is about more than just the show.

But then again, isn't that what a gig is - a show? If it were just about the sound waves, why do professional musicians (pick your genre) spend the majority of their time on buses travelling around from town to town on tour playing in front large groups of people? Engaging multiple modalities can make any experience richer, IMHO.

Although, I imagine a sloppy fat dude spilling his beer all over my wife would have a negative impact on my listening experience.....