Carole Kaye gives Gene Simmons a bass lesson

Bridget Everett!

Bridget Everett and the Tender Moments!! I had the incredible honor of subbing on bass here (for no other than Adam aka Ad Rock, Tender Moment's bassist) at Joe's Pub last week. Hands down one of the best shows I've played in years. I laughed so hard the first half of the set my eyes were watering but like a pro, I played the straight (wo)man. You should have seen my surprise when I saw the titles of the set list. Uh...

Listen to and buy her single here. It will be worth it and be sure to blast it.

Bridget Everett "TITTIES."

Bass Instruction

Sad, sad news today...

Because of the passing of Adam Yauch today, May 4th. My heart goes out to his friends and family. Still shocked by this news....

kira roessler - bet you didn't know Black Flag had a female bassist

Kira Roessler, bassist for Black Flag 1983-85
above, Black Flag promo picture.

MORE on Kira Roessler Here

Women in 1978

Oh, these are all SO, SO good. This started when I posted A Taste Of Honey's "Boogie Oogie Oogie" on Dec 20, 2011 and wanted to compare it to other songs from that year. This may be my favorite posting so far. Also in 1978 Loretta Lynn wins best country artist of the year, Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" soundtrack is no.1, Nancy Spungen dies in Chelsea Hotel.

Finally, all the words to "Ring My Bell"...

Always reminds me of making up a dance routine to this with my babysitter on the beige living room carpet. Also of George Hamilton as Dracula in that Love at First Bite movie...

BASS LINE. Bass appreciation week starts now.

Watch this for the introductory guitar solo by Nancy Wilson.

When Joan Jett fronted the band, no Cherie Currie. Great song.

Unusual song by Siouxie. Just can't get enough of this.

In my heart I'm into glam rock the most.

Carol Kaye

Friend her on Facebook and see the fabulous lessons she posts daily (HERE). She is a role model teacher and one of the greatest bassists ever.

A Taste of Honey - watch that BASS hand...

R&B/Disco band "A Taste of Honey" (1971-82) from Los Angeles were Janice Marie Johnson (bass) and Hazel Payne (guitar), as well as Perry Kibble (keys) and Donald Johnson (drums). As any bassist knows, its not so easy to sing and play at the same time - especially over disco rhythms and riffs.

I saw this on VH1 Classics about 15 years ago and have been searching for a video of it ever since. Her bass hand and style really blew me away. I remember sitting on a couch at a friend's apartment on Bowery and seeing this, both of us saying "whoa" at the same time. And I never forgot it after all these years. Thanks to the internet, I was able to find out that it was "A Taste of Honey" and here it is.

The 5, 6, 7, 8's...

Saw them play at Mercury Lounge on Saturday 11-12-11, poised, perfect, gorgeous, and better than ever...

Not the best video I found on youtube...but you get the idea.

http://www.the5678s.net/

Bass Appreciation Week

My friend Matt and I send each other emails called "weekend updates" where we discuss what we did this week and what we've learned (everything from 'there's a conspiracy behind the ipod shuffle' to 'Six Point Sweet Action is not actually sweet"...etc...it gets more hilarious and intellectual than that, I swear.) This week has turned to Bass Appreciation Week, beginning with seeing Mike Watt play bass with Iggy Pop on Wednesday. I also learned this week that I am the only person who is not a huge Fleetwood Mac, nor Stevie fan (I know, I've lost all my friends now), but I can easily say that John McVie's BASS parts are TRULY my favorite part of those songs! Matt suggested trying the bassline in "Ramble On" and whoa...! Its not so easy... I'm excited about bass appreciation week.

Of course NUMBER 1 bassist is CAROL KAYE. She holds the record of the most recorded bassist, male or female, OF ALL TIME. She's on HUNDREDS of hit songs, in fact there's SO MANY I can't even list them all here or you'd get overwhelmed and just hit something in your menu bar quick to get the hell-outta here. Here's some:

The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Ritchie Valens, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Leon Russel, Sonny & Cher, Joe Cocker, Barbara Streisand, Ray Charles, Frank Zappa, Ike & Tina Turner, Johnny Mathis, Simon & Garfunkle, The Righteous Brothers, Herb Alpert, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Monkees, Bill Withers, The Crystals, The Temptations, Wayne Newton, Frank Black (!!), Quincy Jones.

TV show bass lines include: Hawaii Five-O, Mission Impossible, Kojak, Love Boat, Peyton Place, ,The Adams Family, Bonanza, Wonder Woman.

Carol Kaye official WEBSITE

Carol Kaye in WIKIPEDIA

And a Dusty Springfield video...just for THAT AMAZING BASS LINE...by Tommy Cogbill (Elvis, Aretha, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Diamond...etc). Listen to how unbelievable the guitar, vocals, and bass play off each other....! (sorry, I'm a teacher, can't help myself.)