The Lowdown Society Podcast

Ashley Reeve and her world-class drummer husband Chris Reeve join us in this episode recorded in their home in Las Vegas, NV. We get to hear about Ashley's roots as a Salsa bass player growing up in Los Angeles, and how she moved on to enjoy a career in so many different genres. We also get to hear about her own version of using her nail instead of a pick, aka "The Flipper. In gear nerd land Ashley also tells us about her close collaboration with Dingwall basses and her approach to a tone that works for most of her applications. As an already seasoned Vegas performer with Cher, Ashley also talks about playing in a residency show vs. playing on the road. This episode, most importantly, has all the good vibes!

Björn "Nalle" Påhlsson has been a major player in the Swedish music scene for many years with hundreds of album credits to his name. His distinct, pick-style playing leaves a very identifiable thumb print and a lot of attitude on every project he is a part of. This episode features a lot of Swedish music along with the details of Nalle's 1986 Yamaha BB1600 bass that has been on pretty much every project he has worked on for the past 35 years. We talk about the mental challenges of touring and about remaining true to his voice and style no matter how much genres and environments change around him. When I started this podcast, the idea was to hopefully pick the brains of some of the players who have influenced me in the most profound way, and in this episode, recorded in Stockholm, I was lucky enough to do just that.

Brian Allen is a player who can be heard by more and more albums made in Nashville these days. His versatility has landed him gigs playing upright with artists as diverse as Robben Ford and Korn's Jonathan Davis. His session credits include songs we have all heard like the song "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Brian is also a go-to bass player for famed producer Dave Cobb which he talks about in this episode. We also get to hear about albums by Barry Gibb and Country great Jamey Johnson among many others. This episode wouldn't be complete without all the nerdy details about his bass arsenal, D.I collection and his love for Michael Tobias' basses on Country sessions. How could you not want to hear the story behind that? Much to learn and great stories in this episode.

Adam Nitti is a guy who can often be found mentioned in same breath as some of the greatest solo bass artists of our time. His compositional and playing styles are both highly developed and highly unique. Adam is also known as a great educator who teaches at one of the most acclaimed music universities in the U.S, Belmont university in Nashville, TN. In this episode we get to hear about the development and evolution of his successful signature bass with Ibanez as well as his proven approaches to practicing. Adam also shares about the bass rigs of his early touring days and how the making of his solo albums has changed from having Fusion overtones into his latest Rock-leaning project. We only scratch the surface of this guy's wealth of knowledge in this episode, but get your notebooks out, class is most definitely in session. “Adam Nitti is one of the amazing players who is at the forefront of the bass movement. I always look forward to hearing his CDs just to see what he will do next.” -Victor Wooten

A veteran touring ace of the Nashville music scene, Mark has held down both the bass and Musical Director positions with superstar Carrie Underwood for over 15 years. In this episode we get to hear about Mark's early Gospel influences, his vintage P-basses and what it entails to be the MD for an artist who does everything from unplugged specials to arena shows to collaborations with a symphony orchestra. Mark also talks about his recent sessions for rapper DMX and the one time a bass DI box led to Steven Tyler singing two extra songs. Intrigued yet? Mark is one of the most soulful players in Music City and a gem of a guy who graciously invited us into his home for the recording of this episode.

If you are not familiar with Ian Allison from his Instagram account, you are missing out on a player who plays selfless, song-oriented bass with an inspiring, creative approach that is all his own. His videos dissecting synth bass lines are incredibly detailed and precise. His playing, his contagious personality and his linguistic prowess has landed him a spot as a regular contributor to Scottsbasslessons.com. In this episode we get to hear about growing up on "Hair Metal" in Montana and hard-earned lessons early in Ian's studio career. We also get incredible tips on some boutique pedal makers and a thorough explanation of why his number one bass shouldn't be great, but absolutely is! Fun and so much knowledge ahead in this episode with Ian. To support The Lowdown Society Podcast: patreon.com/TLSpodcast PayPal: thelowdownsocietypodcast@gmail.com Cashapp: $TLSpodcast

In this episode we get to meet B Dub who makes the most danceable, joyful bass snippets for his Instagram account. He stands out as a guy who plays the song and makes it feel good, ridiculously good, instead of just throwing too many spices in the stew. We get to hear about his upbringing in Compton, Los Angeles where Gospel was mixed with the West Coast Hip Hop the neighborhood is so well-known for. Bdub also tells us about his childhood memories of drumming in church and how he realized quickly how his musical instincts differed from other musicians even at an early age. Even though he occasionally does one offs with bigger names, he does most of his business from his home studio over the internet or on local gigs in Southern California. Obviously the lowdown on his bass gear setup is also included. No Lowdown Society Podcast would be complete without it. Hang out with Bdub for an hour and feel your groove improve!

Finally there is an episode of The Lowdown Society featuring a tech. After almost a year of trying to be in the same place at the same time, we were able to make it happen. Teching for a bass legend for 15 years, Terry Welty has been heavily involved with the design of all the signature-model instruments, amps and pedals that bears Geezer's name. We get to hear details about amp design as well as theories on speaker builds. Terry is currently touring with the legendary band Foreigner, where he is responsible for Bass Player/Bandleader Jeff Pilson's rig. We get to hear about recent changes in Jeff's setup as well. Terry tells us stories of "learning while doing" that are both fun and inspirational. A wealth of knowledge and many lessons in this episode...and a few cocktails as well.

In this very spirited episode of The Lowdown Society we get to meet my fellow Nashvillian-turned-Angeleno, Mr. Kyle Whalum. Kyle tells us about growing up in an exceptionally musical family where many family members have worked with or are currently working with music business royalty. We also get to hear about Kyle's passion for 100-mile Ultra Marathons with the training and lifestyle that goes with it. His journey to two of the biggest female-fronted gigs in the world is detailed, including nerdy gear talk and honest discourse about mental health as a musician. Lots to learn from this very busy guy who was able to talk to us on his first real break since starting his gig as the only bass player on a daytime national TV talk show.

Rudy Sarzo has played with a lot of legendary Hard Rock bands and can currently be seen touring with The Guess Who. In this extra long episode we get to hear about his studio contributions to classic recordings such as Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel The Noise" and plenty of stories from his extensive touring career. We also get to hear details about several of his signature model basses with different manufacturers and all the work that went into the design work of those instruments. Rudy tells vivid stories of the Sunset Strip scene in Los Angeles during the 70's and 80's where he cut his teeth and made his mark as a musician at the beginning of his career. Rudy also discusses working with legendary guitar player Randy Rhoads in an effort to answer questions about the topic he claims he get asked the most about. We had entirely too much fun recording this podcast. "Beavis & Butthead" like chuckles are peppered throughout the talk. If you are ready for those as well as lots of positive energy from a legendary guy who is as excited about bass and music as he ever was, it is time to press play!

Whynot Jansveld is a great bass player who might have flown slightly under the radar as far as the world of bass goes, but as far as taste, restraint and deep pocket goes Whynot is nothing short of world class. He is currently doing touring work simultaneously for soulful British pop songstress Natasha Bedingfield, Pop legend Richard Marx and Los Angeles based producer-songwriter-to-the-stars Butch Walker. Whynot is also busy in the L.A session scene as a bass player, composer and mastering engineer. In this episode we get to hear about Whynot starting his musical journey back in his native Holland listening to Level 42 and Kiss, his move to the United States as well as his exciting professional beginnings as the house bass player at the Bitter End in New York City. He also tells us about first major artist tour with the at the time breaking Gavin DeGraw. A fellow musician at a recording session recently told Whynot after listening back to a particularly "stanky" bass performance, "I hear a lot of toxic masculinity in your playing". This event deserves an honorable mention in the podcast description. You have to listen now, right? Enjoy!

This episode was recorded on board the Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2019 with the sound of the waves of the Carribbean coming through the cabin door. You get to hear immense amounts of Spector bass talk and fun stories from these great Rock bass players. Bruno Ravel is the bassist, multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer behind the band Danger Danger. He also did sideman work for artists as diverse as German 80's superstar Nena and legendary Soul crooner Michael Bolton. Marty O'Brien tours regularly with Rock legend Lita Ford and has recorded for Celine Dion and Kelly Clarkson among others. This is a fun, spirited hang with two great Rock'n Roll bass players that hold nothing back when it comes to just how nerdy they will get when talking about basses and the world of Rock in general, exactly the kind of people we love to have on The Lowdown Society Podcast.

Nashville touring & session player Anton Nesbitt is one of my absolute favorites of the world-class players residing in Music City, USA. His subdued funkiness and musical versatility are equally impressive and contributes to a style all his own. In this episode we get to hear how the TV show "Hee-Haw" played a role in him becoming a bass player in the first place. We get the lowdown on his gear out on his most recent tour with LeAnn Rimes and the lowdown on some of his recording gear secrets. This episode also contains a joyful discussion and celebration of inexpensive basses. His resume includes Stacey Orrico, Boys II Men, Chrisette Michelle, Take 6 as well as an incredibly wide variety of other acts. Anton took time out away from his family on a rainy Friday night to meet me in Nashville to record this episode for you guys.

Dmitry shares a ton of knowledge in this episode on a wide range of topics from life struggles to arena touring. He started on upright and grew up heavily influenced by Jazz in his native Belarus. We get to hear specific details on how he approaches his gig with one of the biggest stars and best musicians/songwriters in the current Pop scene, Charlie Puth. We also get to hear about him growing up in Belarus and cutting his teeth in the United States in New York City. Dmitry also tells us about his exciting improvisational live album that was just released. With an aggressive, deeply funky approach to bass playing, Dmitry is definitely worth checking out!

This week our guest is Tarron Crayton who hails from Memphis, Tennessee. He has made a big impact on the Los Angeles music scene in his few years in town. Tarron takes us into specifics of some of the bass lines he plays on tour with Demi Lovato. He also shares personal stories of growing up in church and how it gave him the opportunity to have extended time playing instruments in his spare time. As if this isn't enough, Tarron also gives us the lowdown on the synths and basses he uses on tour. Having accomplished a lot as a bassist already at a fairly young age, he also tells us what he has planned for the future. Released almost a year after its recording, please enjoy the sit down with this great bass cat.

Joe Chemay's tone and intent always cuts through even when he plays a tender ballad. Out of all the great session bassists that have been active in Nashville over the years, Joe is my personal favorite. The modern Country records that rewrote what the genre could sound like in the mid-90's were filled with with Joe's signature driving, melodic pick style playing. Joe is a man of few words, but an astoundingly gracious and kind guy who shares great memories of being in the studio with super producer Mutt Lange and how he ended up of some of Lionel Richie's most influential songs when Lionel first struck out on his own after his stint in The Commodores. Joe's list of credits is astoundingly long and diverse. Spending some time listening to his work in many genres is highly encouraged. As if all this isn't enough, Joe has also been an in-demand session background vocalist which we also get a little sample of in this episode of The Lowdown Society.

Derek Frank has spent 24 years in Los Angeles as a professional bassist. In the past few years he has landed some big gigs that required him to wear many hats as a bass player as well as retooling his rigs for all the different applications. We get to hear about playing in Gwen Stefani's current Vegas production and we also get to hear a few samples of the bass lines he enjoyed playing the most on his last few tours. It rocked so incredibly hard that our little podcast recording device started distorting. Derek can also be found in the house band for one of L.A's most acclaimed monthly musician jams "Soundcheck Live". If you guys travel through Los Angeles, make sure you check him out there. Spending an hour with a guy like Derek, who succesfully has many exciting irons in the musical fire in the city with the world's most competitive music scene, is the kind of thing that only happens here on The Lowdown Society Podcast. Today's episode is brought to you by the DSM Noisemaker OmniCab Sim Tweakable Cabinet Simulator.

In this epiosde of The Lowdown Society we get to hang with one of the great players from Memphis currently doing big things in the L.A Pop/R&B scene, Mr. Brandon Brown. His resume is already a mile long and includes The Jacksons, Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, Boys II Men, TLC and many more. Brandon invited us to his studio in L.A where we recorded this podcast with neighboring studios jamming on the other side of the wall and with our amps turned up with bass and keybass plugged in. Brandon's love for all things bass is on full display when he laughs, pontificates and jams his way through this bass hang. We get to hear about everything from his early days in Memphis playing with Isaac Hayes and Stevie Wonder, to all the latest news about his own Funk project The Brandon Brown Collective. Big thanks to Memphis Bass master Mr. Jackie Clark for making this episode possible.

Steve Mackey is the kind of rock solid, soulful bass player that many of us professional bass colleagues wish we could play like. His funky-yet-subdued feel is highly in demand. In this episode Steve talks about moving to Nashville in the 80's, being in the studio with Garth Brooks & Dolly Parton and about his admiration for Willie Weeks, Duck Dunn and Randy Jackson among other topics. Steve also talks in depth about how he approaches a recording session, step-by-step, invaluable information for anyone looking to be proficient studio bass player. Steve can currently be seen on tour holding down the bottom end for The Wallflowers. In this episode both the guest and the host get riled up a few times about bass talk so nerdy, it can only be found on The Lowdown Society Podcast.  Professor Mackey is in the house, let the lesson commence.

In this episode I got to sit down in a Minneapolis bar with one of my bass heroes Mr. Sonny Thompson, aka "Sonny T" from the original and best version of The New Power Generation. His funky and completely original approach to bass can be heard on quite a few amazing Prince songs, some of them hits and some of them undiscovered treasures to many. In this podcast we get down to the nitty gritty and discuss song details with the man himself after listening to excerpts of the songs. Sonny also talks about working with Prince and his approach to using effects among other topics. My guest host in this episode is Mr. Anthony Rankin, a Prince fanatic and super musician in his own right. Anthony helps us dig deep with some of the great bass lines on Prince albums throughout the years featuring other bass players as well as Prince himself. It's about to get fonky and very, very nerdy.

Sean Hurley's resumé contains a who's who of popular music, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox, Lana Del Ray, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Leonard Cohen, Robin Thicke, Vertical Horizon and many others. In this episode Sean talks about his bass recording gear, the way the Los Angeles music scene is evolving, his favorites among the tracks he has played on and he also shares many other useful tips and stories. To spend an hour with this beacon of good bass playing taste should be a prerequisite for all bass players, beginners to professionals. Luckily, that hour can be found right here on The Lowdown Society Podcast. Enjoy!

When I first saw the "P!nk: The Funhouse Tour Live In Australia" DVD about 9 years ago I was taken back not only by P!nk's showmanship but also by the tightness and enthusiasm of her band. It was a true pleasure to sit down with Miss Eva Gardner who holds perhaps the biggest, but most certainly the best gig in Pop music today. Eva shares valuable advice about her career playing for not only P!nk, but also other Pop superstars like Cher and Gwen Stefani.

Amos took time out from being a very busy dad and in demand bass player to sit down to discuss everything from loving Classical Music and Heavy Metal growing up, to the current state of pop music, to Britney Spears bass lines, to his main gig playing bass for Taylor Swift. He was also kind enough to play one of his favorite bass parts from Taylor's show and discuss how he prepared for all the world-class guest artists he had to back up on the latest tour. Too much good stuff from this one guy. Fellow bass nerds and music nerds in general, rejoice!

For this first episode I sat down and laughed a lot with my good friend Jim Mayer from Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band. We get to hear about everything from Jim's beginnings as an upright bass player in the Jazz scene in St. Louis, competing with his brother who could practice the longest, to stories from his many tours as a Coral Reefer. Toward the end of the episode we get to meet Jim's alter ego, children's entertainer "Uncle Jim". Oh, and we also get a solo bass performance of "Margaritaville".