Margaret Explosion had a gig the day my dad died. I had been up most of that night and barely had the strength to play two sets but I remember it being good night, musically. And I remember being almost overcome with emotion during one particularly melancholy song. My mom died on Wednesday and we had a gig that night as well. It was thoroughly theropedic.
There was someone at table near the band who appeared to be studying us. He was wearing a Dan Eaton Band t-shirt and I guessed he was Adam Wilcox, the six string bass player and food reviewer. I said hi to him during the break and he said “It’s so cool that you guys don’t give a fuck.”
I said, “Actually we do.” We work pretty hard at making an improvisation sound like a song. I understand it doesn’t always come off that way. He continued, “You know what I mean. You don’t pander to people.” If you make a choice to pander to others you first have to pander to yourself. And why would someone want to do that?
3 Comments
Serious about this: anyone who plays a bass with more than four strings is a wannabe guitar player. That comment about not giving a fuck is a huge insult. You guys have worked at this for many years. I hear it.
It was not an insult. It was an interesting discussion.
I’m biased when it comes to bass players with more than four strings. Rational? Probably not. To me, it is a character flaw…they’re like people who drive new muscle cars.