The Bass Geek

It’s testament to the size of Voodoo festival that it’s almost impossible to get a cell signal from the show due to the overloaded cell towers. I’ve been trying to keep up with the show via Twitter, and it’s been tricky. I think I’v gotten most of it up there, though. Overall, the quality of the music has been outstanding (with one notable exception being the band preceding Fishbone), whether it was older acts like Fishbone or Shudder To Think, bigger names like Erykah Badu, TV On The Radio and Thievery Corporation, or locals like “Wolfman” Washington or Marva Wright. The festival is superbly organized and maintained, and it never feels too crowded despite the number of folks. One more night to go; highlights include Ozomatli, Sharon Jones, Irma Thomas, R.E.M. and more.

Even in late October, the humidity clings down here as soon as you get off the plane. And it stuck around through an amazing Italian dinner, coffee and ramd musical happenings. Somebody in a bright pink beehive treated Frenchman St. to some free jazz-funk, and the group met all my standards for excellence:

1. Stellar bass (via tuba).
2. Horns supporting the song when not soloing or playing the head.
3. TIGHT!

Tomorrow should bring vintage guitar hunting and the first day of Voodoo. And more humidity. But the former should make the latter bearable.

Radio Radio has Pete Francis (Dispatch) Friday night and Hillbilly Casino Saturday.  The former is jammy, the latter is rockabilly.

Sam’s Saloon features Holding Mercury and Deep Cricket Night (both from Chicago) Friday night and DJ HaBlack O’Bama (from Other People’s Money) Saturday.

Deano’s Vino hosts New Augusta Friday night and the John Harden Project on Saturday.  Also, it’s Swing Night at the Fountain Square Theater.

The new IMN podcast can be downloaded here or heard at the site or at WFYI HD2 Thursdays at 4pm.

I’ll be in New Orleans for a long weekend for the Voodoo Music Festival, and I’ll most likely be blogging or Twittering from there.  Keep the place together while I’m gone.

Depending on your preferred playing style or tone, bass strings are either something you change near-daily (for the working pros) or leave on for ages (thumpy dub, country, or just plain forgotten instruments).  In any case, when the time comes to change them, most folks seem to have a ritual.  They have the tools they need, they have the strings they prefer, and they repeat the process that works for them (in my case, start with the A, work up, and then do the E string last, with all strings cut after about four inches after a bend and each winding on the string going below the previous one).  Simple, takes just a few minutes, stretch and tune, and I’m good.

This is, of course, assuming that all of the strings come in a handy package.  Most bass guitars have four strings, so four is the normal package size.  You end up with 5- and 6-string packages as well, but there aren’t as many options there.  And one string company (one that I prefer for my 5-string) offers only 4-string sets with optional add-ons for the 5th string.  Which is great for those who want to customize the width of their low B string, but it’s a little annoying where you’re trying to keep everything together.

Or when you accidentally order the ACOUSTIC BASS GUITAR version of the B string you wanted.  Which is now totally useless to me, as I long ago took a vow never to own such a monstrosity.  So, lessons learned:

• It’s good to stupid-proof packaging whenever possible (manufacturers, take note)
• It’s also good to read the fine print when it comes to purchasing (me, I’m talking to you)
• Acoustic bass guitars still inflict evil wherever they can, even on those who won’t use them

Feh.

• Last book purchased?  World War Z.
• Last album purchased?  Goblin’s original motion picture soundtrack for Suspiria.
• Last musical viewed?  Evil Dead: The Musical (the last part is what tipped me off that it was a musical).
• Next big vacation?  Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans.
• Last sporting event watched?  Steelers vs. Bengals.  Pretty sure someone from Cincinnati lost their soul on one of those hits.

And the giant spiders have once again taken roost on the Fountain Square building.  I’m awaiting the return of the Swamp Thing and assorted gargoyles that littered the neighborhood last year.