The Bass Geek

1. Unbolted tires should move away from a car very easily. When they do not, call a friend with a large metal hammer.
2. Truss rod adjustments are miracles and should never be taken for granted. It’s like I have a new bass.
3. Wireless networking (and the gadgets that make it happen) are nice to use but horribly annoying to install.
4. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has posted a countdown clock for training camp, and it depresses me every time I look at it.

Radio Radio salvages part of the the cancelled Rockabilly Rebel Weekend with the Midwest Rockabilly Fest this Saturday. Also, I must start talking early about the visit of Unknown Hinson to Radio Radio on July 3rd. He’s the happy little rockabilly vampire to your left – he plays music and provides the voice for a redneck squid. Frankly, I’m not sure what more he can give you people.

Sam’s Saloon has Deacon Sean and the Bar Brawlers and Dom Weir Saturday night.

Deano’s Vino has the Michael Huston Group tonight and the John Harden Project tomorrow. And it’s Swing Dance Night at the Fountain Square Theater.

Rob G. sits in once again, and it rocks.  Download it directly or listen at the site.

The Warner Gear does some more recording tonight – well, the other folks have been recording for a bit, but I’m just now getting back into the Coop now that I’m not playing three shows a week (for a few weeks) and trying to write two books at the same time.  Therefore, I have no idea where the project stands or what I have to do.  I’m planning on just playing bass wherever they tell me to, and I’m planning on using the P-Bass for the majority of it.

Rock Band gets a virtual P-Bass.

Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero get a virtual MusicMan Stingray.

Although I still like my real ones better (I’m trying to decide which one to use for “The Wiz” next month, as both will work wonderfully for solid, soulful playing), it’s an important step forward for bass visibility.

*cue swelling music*

No longer are we subjugated to bastardized plastic simulacrums of our proud instruments when we waste our time playing a glorified musical Simon game. No, our standard flies high today and forever more. Stand tall and proud, fellow bassists. Tall and proud.

*Fade on satisfying, glorious cadence*

The newest version of Guitar Hero allegedly sports some touch pads on the controller to help simulate the playing of slap bass. Of this, I am skeptical.

Not that I’m bashing the game by any means – it’s fun, and it’s just a game. No biggie. I just think touch pads can’t simulate the feel of the thumb striking and bouncing of the strings without a string-like object there.

It also can’t simulate the rolled eyes and exaggerated sighs you get when you go off-script for a bit during rehearsal and slap out the intro to the song in double-time. Which, after all, is the reason to do such things.

The weekend was full of quality overtime spent finishing some writing projects, and it’s probably a good thing that they’re done now. My wife gave me an Xbox 360 for my birthday (wisely withholding games until the weekend was done), and now I can see GTA IV and the Orange Box (my first two selections) eating up the formerly productive home time.

For a good long time, there wasn’t a modern console in our general living area – there’s an old Genesis moldering in the closet, and I occasionally fire up a PS1 to remember the good old days of the Pittsburgh Steelers under Kordell Stewart (such magical times – the mental equivalent of suffering a Theismann injury), but I know what kind of time drain I face when I’m around these things. I can probably justify it a bit as research into video game music, but that’s a hollow reason. It’s just time to accept a bunch of wasted time.

I wonder if my wife know she may never be able to use the big TV again?

Radio Radio brings all the scooter-riding hoodlums in from the Gasoline Rally to see Dan Glenzig and The Marones tomorrow night. It’s free if you were at the rally, $5 if you weren’t.

Sam’s Saloon has The Hardees and Thistle tonight. The Punk Night for Sunday looks like it’s been canceled by the bands involved, but go ahead and stop in for a drink or something.

Deano’s Vino has the Jude Juggers tonight and Shogun Attractions tomorrow.

As for where I’ll end up, I have no idea. My wife has managed to keep all of my birthday activities secreted away in one form or another, so anything after I conclude teaching my 5:30 bass lesson is a hazy mystery.

The new IMN podcast is available right now – seriously, download it now or listen to it on the site.

Also, I’ll be providing musical entertainment for the FountainSplash! networking event this very evening at Santorini’s in beautiful Fountain Square. I don’t think the bellydancers will be there, but I’m going to try and be ready for them just in case.