Bass Day UK

[Machines]

No doubt see a few other MX'ers there, i'm sure we'll let you know how it went (with pics etc) tonight.

Right, i'm on my way now :thumb:

[cAPS_lOCK]

Huh. I went to their site to check out wihich artists were there, but I didn't recognize a single name.

http://www.bassday.co.uk/profiles.htm

Not that I'm too great on famous bass players, but I reckon they could at least have brought Victor or Stu. But I'm not going, so I'm not complaining.

[Chris K]

Out of those guys, I would watch Steve Lawson and Trip just to see if he got this baby out...

http://www3.alembic.com/img/trip_frontviewm.jpg

A freind of mine went a few years ago when Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm were there, but he told me not to bother going this year, and if I'd had the time, I doubt I'd have bothered.

[Esp Griffyn]

Yeah the line up is pretty poor. Manring was really the only thing woth seeing, then he dropped out :lol:

[PaulR]

Bring back pictures please.

[trumpeter]

picutres are nice

i wish the was a bassday in the US

[Machines]

Got back about 6pm. I didn't stay to the end because some people have jobs ;).

Met up with Wintermute and sheephead, plus a couple of others i'm too rude to remember the names of :angry:. Had an awesome time, the bassists were truly amazing.

My personal favourite was Trip Walmsley, he played his Vigier Argpege 5 fretless like nothing i've ever seen.

John Reshard was tipped as 'the next Wooten, he played an initially weak, but ending strong set, very much reminding me of some Wooten.

I left just before Jan-Olof Strandberg started :upset:.

Heres the pics I got:

http://photobucket.com/albums/a7/mig29uk/Bass%20Day%20UK%202005/

[Tryxx]

That looked quite entertaining. :thumb:

[basgitarist]

@ MoH
The only bass I really liked is the upright :p

[Wintermute]

Ok...

It ruled.

The only problem was they concentrated the best acts too early.

John Lester was astonishing. Utterly unexpected. He went from someone I'v'e never heard of to one of my favourite bassists in minutes. A blues-rock singer-songwriter, equally virtuosic in fretted bass, fretless bass, upright bass and vocals. Nice guy too - I bought a live album of his and got him to sign it, had a quick chat with him at the bar. Trip Walmsley was a bolt out of the blue.

The reason Wooten is revered as the best around is, I realise now, his popularity. Trip Walmsley could give him a run for his money. He was incredible - fast, insanely accurate fretless playing with control you'd kill for. Speed, groove, composition and jokes. Didn't loiter around in the public area like the others though, unless I was being blind.

John Reshard was great - he started off a little shakey, but he quickly got to quite terrifying skill and compositions. Also a very nice guy. Also chatted with him at the bar.

Steve Lawson was great too - not so much solo bass as using his basses simply as an input for his rack of lexicons and echoplexes, and creating bizarre, ambient and/or funky soundscapes. Bought an album of his, chatted with him, got him to sign it.

From there, it was good, but it did go downhill a little. Strandberg was a bit of a disappointment, I thought, you didn't miss much there. Steve Williams brought the groove, coming on with a full band, and letting the trumpet, guitar and keyboards solo while he grooved like a bitch in the background.

Warwick, Overwater, Windmill and Shuker alll had stands - the upper range Shuker fretlesses were simply stunning.

Plus it was good to meet Sheephead and Katana_Manatee again. Been a while. :thumb:
Good to meet MachinesofHate too - talked to him a lot, lived quite near him, never actually met him.

I'll upload pictures tomorrow, when I actually get home. We grabbed an MX table right at the front, so there are some pretty good ones.

[Jamie]

Sounds like it was great!! :D


Glad you's had fun :thumb:

[lemoley]

congrats on the day guys, looks you all had a great time

[Wintermute]

John Lester.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image056.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image057.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image058.jpg

If you like solo bass, if you like singer songwriters, if you like blues rock, or if you just like music, check him out.

*note* The venue is not quite that tastelessly decorated. My cameraphone is just crap.

[Wintermute]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image064.jpg
Jon Reshard in a cool hat.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image072.jpg
Don't be fooled by the fact that the bass is upside down on his knees. Steve Lawson is in mid song. There were about 5 tracks of bass playing at that point, and he was manually altering effect parameters. Soundscapes are fun.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image061.jpg

Wooten + Manring + Violent playing + Odd humour + the Deep South = Trip Walmsley. Solo bass fans, you need him in your life.

[Wintermute]

Shuker fretless five-string neck-thru singlecut

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image068.jpg


Reshard And I

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image077.jpg

Steve Williams being unbearably groovy

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image074.jpg

[Tryxx]

Reshard And I

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image077.jpg


Really, Alex, we know you're an audiophile and bit of a sound geek; the headphones are NOT necessary! :lol:

[Wintermute]

Those headphones are NEVER more than two metres from me. Usually on my ears or round my neck. Plus it's rare to see me without my mp3 player clipped to my belt. :)

[trumpeter]

Those headphones are NEVER more than two metres from me. Usually on my ears or round my neck. Plus it's rare to see me without my mp3 player clipped to my belt. :)


nice headphones.

[Tryxx]

Those headphones are NEVER more than two metres from me. Usually on my ears or round my neck. Plus it's rare to see me without my mp3 player clipped to my belt. :)

Hah. You know I jest, who can turn off good music? :thumb:

[Untitled]

Reshard And I

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image077.jpg


You seriously look like your about 12. :thumb:

[Wintermute]

Haha, I get that a lot. I'm actually only one year younger than Reshard. (19)

[trumpeter]

nice floyd shirt btw.

[Bassinator89]

Nice pics, looks like a fun day. I would love to have gone, that being said I live across an ocean.

[Untitled]

Haha, I get that a lot. I'm actually only one year younger than Reshard. (19)
I think its becuase you look realy clean shaven, if you grew a beard or something you'd look older, well, obviously.

Is that the thing in manchester where you was at, i might of considored going if i rememberd.?

[Wintermute]

Yep. The Life Cafe, down Deansgate way.

[sixxbassist90]

I think its becuase you look realy clean shaven, if you grew a beard or something you'd look older, well, obviously.

Is that the thing in manchester where you was at, i might of considored going if i rememberd.?
exactly what i was gonna say.

[Jamie]

Grrrr, wish I was there!


I'll be there next year though (if its on?)


Did you get to play the shuker?

[Wintermute]

I had a quick diddle on the Shuker I posted a picture of... though unfortunately not through the amp - that was in use by someone who was actually contemplating buying, and so got priority. :lol:

Obviously I couldn't hear how it sounded, but it was very smooth to play. :thumb:

I watched/spoke with the guy playing the fretless Artist series... looked and sounded gorgeous. VERY nice.

[SUBassist]

I cant believe i missed it, i had two tickets reserved and couldnt go because of work....

[Machines]

I wish I'd bothered to talk to some of the acts, but the only guy I really wanted to talk to was Trip, and he was nowhere to be found :upset:.

EDIT: Both me and Wintermute are misquoting his name, its WAMSLEY, not Walmsley.

http://www.tripwamsley.com/

[Jamie]

I cant believe i missed it, i had two tickets reserved and couldnt go because of work....


I had one :p


:upset:

[Wintermute]

Wamsley? Ok, fair enough... I'm sure it said Walmsley on the signs. :p

Whoever he was, he was a touch mindblowing.

[Az_Holl]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MXWintermute/Image064.jpg




Is that a Mark Bass cab with the yellow speakers?
Those things rock so hard.

[Wintermute]

Yeah, it was a Mark Bass rig. I'm not sure whose it was - a couple of people used it onstage.

[Az_Holl]

Yeah, it was a Mark Bass rig. I'm not sure whose it was - a couple of people used it onstage.
I was thinking about getting one, but Australia pwn's me yet again.

[Wintermute]

Trip Wamsley - Chickenboy (http://www.tripwamsley.com/free/Trip%20Wamsley%20-%20Free%20CD%20-%2003.mp3)

John Lester - Ways of a Woman (http://www.johnlestermusic.com/JLesterMp3's/The%20Happy%20Man-demo.mp3) (Clip)

The Lester track is fretless six-string with a loop pedal.

[Esp Griffyn]

The reason Wooten is revered as the best around is, I realise now, his popularity. Trip Walmsley could give him a run for his money.

If I had quid for everytime I hear this kind of thing being bandied around, Id have enough for a shiny Malmsteen Strat.

[Machines]

If I had quid for everytime I hear this kind of thing being bandied around, Id have enough for a shiny Malmsteen Strat.

What's your point, bucko ?

[Esp Griffyn]

What's your point, bucko ?

My point is, that there a a thousand pretenders, but only one king, bucko.

[sheephead]

John Lester
http://tinypic.com/fxz81d.jpg

Trip Wamlsey
http://tinypic.com/fxz89g.jpg

Jon Reshard
http://tinypic.com/fxz8fp.jpg

Steve Lawson
http://tinypic.com/fxz8lk.jpg

All in all, £10 well spent. I bought Trip's CD because, as Alex and Matt have said, he was amazing, although his CD is mainly tapping fretless rather the awesome funk on fretted. John Lester was awesome, I loved the Dear Tehioh (sp?) song. Reshard was, after a few minutes, was pretty awesome too, though I expected it from him, unlike the others. I found Steve Lawson pretty disappointing to be honest. The Steve Williams Band was a breath of fresh air, with a cool version of The Baron. The foreign dude was interesting- he had a very harsh attack method on the acoustic that sounded cool and he was a pretty good showman.

[sheephead]

Steve Williams Band
http://tinypic.com/fxz8nt.jpg

Sandberg
http://tinypic.com/fxz955.jpg

Me and Jon (I wasn't nervous - I swear!)
http://tinypic.com/fxz98n.jpg

[Wintermute]

Me and Jon (I wasn't nervous - I swear!)
http://tinypic.com/fxz98n.jpg

Not nervous... you were like a schoolgirl! :lol:

My point is, that there a a thousand pretenders, but only one king, bucko.

Making snap judgements on people you've never heard of, heard, or seen is fun. Does tend to make you look like an idiot though.

[Esp Griffyn]

Does tend to make you look like an idiot though.

And throwing around flavour of the month names with pretenses like "the Next Wooten" doesnt?

[Wintermute]

When did I say that?

I said that on technical ability, they are closer to even than Wooten's far greater fame would make you think. This I based on watching him perform live. What are you basing your comments on?

[Zetora]

Winter; thanks for the clips, though now I am very disappointed I couldn't make it. Looks like it was a very good night, damn other commitments.

Does Trip have a site to download his CD UK wises, the sites listed on his site was foreign ones, unless I just missed the UK one?

Any more clips :P

Zet.

[Esp Griffyn]

When did I say that?

I said that on technical ability, they are closer to even than Wooten's far greater fame would make you think. This I based on watching him perform live. What are you basing your comments on?

Its the way things happen, someone sees musician X live, comes to MX and spouts off about them. the number of times Ive heard "Joe Strump, the next Malmsteen!", "Matt Heafy, the next James Hetfield!", etc, goes into the dozens. So some guy coming into a thread, ranting about how awesome musician X is doesnt hold a lot of water to me.

[Wintermute]

That's understandable, of course, but I'm not saying Trip's going to be the next Wooten. Odds are he's going to carry on at about his current level of fame - breaking it even, making a living, but not going nova. Damn good player though.

[katana_manatee]

Now that was a day to remember, absolutely brilliant! Only problem I had was being up for two days straight and feeling really ill at the end. It was good to meet 'mute and Sheephead again and cool to meet machinesofhate.

Some of the performances were mind blowing. John Lester was really interesting and made beautiful music. His voice was great too. Sound guy as well, chatted with him for about ten minutes or so.

Trip Wamsley was amazing. His groove and precision and melodies were great. I spoke to him for about half an hour or so and met him several times. Everyone else left way too early, most of the bass players came out of the wood work after you guys left.:lol: But yeah, Trip is a great laugh and a really guy.

John Reshard was also incredible, but too much of a Wooten clone. Some of the pieces he played were just mind blowing, especially a pretty new piece of his dedicated to his girlfriend, the tapping was some of the craziest I have seen of any bass player. Guy was great to talk to as well and performed a personal card trick for me and my mate Jason just as we left.

Steve Lawson was great and very interesting, his use of loops and effects is very experimental. Quite a nice guy too, spoke to him several times over the course of the day.

I didn't catch much of Jan-Olof Strandberg's set as Jason and I went off for some pizza, but the start of his set was a little boring to me, he was basically just molesting an acoustic bass guitar and playing some chords with a really harsh tone.

[Wintermute]

I didn't catch much of Jan-Olof Strandberg's set as Jason and I went off for some pizza, but the start of his set was a little boring to me, he was basically just molesting an acoustic bass guitar and playing some chords with a really harsh tone.

Oh, he moved on from there!

To molesting an Alembic with a really harsh tone.

Didn't enjoy his set too much.

[I play that funky music]

Is there a bass day type thing in the US?

[Jamie]

^^^Yes, thats where it originated (in New York I do believe)


Look for the "Bass Day '98 " DVD :thumb:

[Chris K]

My point is, that there a a thousand pretenders, but only one king, bucko.

So true, The Shack went to 4 of Trip's clinics in California, and met Trip. As he said "good, but there are many better".

[PaulR]

Are there any pictures of all the MXers together?

[neal_672]

I'm so so so so so jealous of you lot :upset:

[sheephead]

Are there any pictures of all the MXers together?

Nope. Shame really.

[katana_manatee]

Grrr, my internet keeps crashing, I didn't get to finish my post last time, somehow i hit submit and then the whole thing stopped working. Bloody wireless... So here be the rest of my post. :lol:

Janek Gwizdala was very good but seemed a little bit big headed. His chops and be bop lines were crazy but he used some effects which really made it sound like ****. Still pretty good though.

Lorenzo Feliciati was great, he played with a great band. He could groove like a mofo and his solos were really tasteful. The band's songs were great.

Linley Marthe came late and did a completely improvised set for about 20 minutes and had a jam with a drummer. Basically it was a chops fest and was a head ****. Only thing I didn't like about him was his tone and lack of tunes but it was all improv I guess.

Overall it was a great day, a lot of amazing players who you just don't get to hear about. I am definately going next year.:)

[Bass Day UK]

Hi All

Just noticed this thread about Bass Day UK.

I am one of the organisers and just wanted to thank you guys for the support.

Basically 4 of us (Bass Players) decided it was about time the UK had it's version of a Bass Day event.

I myself run the Bass Tech UK (www.basstechuk.net) site for the UK.

This was our first event and although some of the players are not huge names (do you know how it cost's to get htem over here!!) they were all great.

As it was our first event you can appreciate some people were wary (and righfully so I suppose) about getting involved in this event, so much... well most... well actually all of it was funded by ourselves.

The response form the industry to this event has been huge and we will be meeting up on Monday to start discussing a 2006 event which should be bigger and better than this years.

Let us know who you would like to see next year and anything we could do to improve it. We had already had comments about seating space and food (I don't think Life realised how musch bass players eat) :lol: but that should not be an issue for a 2006 event.

There were stands at the event but to be honest this event it more aimed at the players themselves and there are plenty of trade shows already to pick up gear. We wanted this to come accross as more of a gig atmosphere than a trade event.

P.S The Shuker fretless (singlecut) is mine, thanks for the comments. :cool: Jon made it for me late last year and I can highly recommend his basses. One of the nicest guys you will meet and will make a bass exactly to your needs which is what I got with mine.

Again thanks to the guys who came and lets hope we see you next year.

Keep an eye on the Bass Day site as we will be updating it soon with pictures and video from the day.

Gary

[Jamie]

Ahhh Gary from Bassworld :D



Glad Bass Day was a huge success and I'll definately be there 2006! Congratulations on (from what I've been hearing) a brilliant day :thumb:

[Bass Day UK]

lol yes that'll be me.

Thanks Jamie, it was a long long day (out of bed at 7:30 Sun AM and got to bed Mon 2AM) but was worth it all. The response from eveyone who attended has be fantastic and we never expected so many positive comments. We were astounded at people queuing before the doors opened.

The artist's who played have played bass day events all over the world and they all commented that it was the best Bass day event they had all played at which was unbelievable and really satifying for us to hear.

See you next year :thumb:

[Wintermute]

Video? Great, I'll keep my eyes open for that. :)

Thanks for putting it all together, well worth the ticket price and train fare. Though it has upped my GAS for a fretless six no end. :lol:

[sheephead]

We were astounded at people queuing before the doors opened.

That's cos you opened the doors about 25 minutes after you were supposed to! It was freezing, too! And, in my infinite wisdom, I left my coat in the car thinking I wouldn't be outside long...

Thanks for the great day though, it was awesome. Absolute bargain at £10! I now have a new favourite bassist in Trip, too. Cheers.

[Bass Day UK]

opps sorry Sheephead

I think I was lugging the biggest flight cases in the world down flights of stairs around then.

Glad you enjoyed.

P.S I do know Trip went back to the hotel for a kip for a while but came back later on.

P.P.S as a bit of a taster, Adam Nitti has already agreed to perform for us next year but bbviously we have to sort everything out first before a lot of these guys can confirm they are available.