Steve Lawson

I'll be there both days - just hanging out and maybe playing a couple of times on the MarkBass stand on Saturday, then doing a masterclass on Sunday morning. Look forward to saying hi to a a few old and new friends Steve www.stevelawson.net

[quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1324081223' post='1470793'] I'm not sure if I entirely understand why Steve has taken his music off Spotify - the precise difference between the low payout per stream (which he doesn't object to) and the role of the majors in dictating the payout policy (which he does object to) is maybe a bit too subtle for me. [/quote] Like I said, it's about fair trade. It's the difference between 'fair to me' and 'fair'. If by listening to my music, people are generating revenue for the very organisations who are lobbying so hard to censor the internet in ways that will ruin an awful lot of good and legal things about it, and for the right to do so with impunity and across international boundaries, I don't want to be a part of that. I don't want my music to be used to make money for them, even if it was also making money for me or allowing me to be 'discovered'. As it is (in reference to a later comment in this thread), I have no evidence (as I mentioned in the post) that Spotify was working as a unique discovery point for my music. I also said that at this point, for me, the fair trade argument is more important to me than the vague possibility that some people will discover me on Spotify. If I had evidence that over the last two years of me being on spotify, they'd caused x number of people to come to my shows/start reading my blog/buy or download my music from my site, then it would possibly have been a slightly harder decision to make, but my guess is that I'd have arrived at the same point. I don't think a Spotify-type service run largely to the benefit of the major labels and their lobbyists is good for music, good for culture or good for the internet. At that point, whether or not it's 'good' for me on any speculative level is moot. Steve

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1324068556' post='1470629'] Sorry for Steve but major labels don't hope that he will cease to exist as they are probably unaware of his existence in the first place. edit for tin hat [/quote] As someone else pointed out, you read it wrong - I hope they cease to exist. I have little to no concern what anyone within that particular world thinks of me. As you say, the vast likelihood is that very few people there have any idea who I am, or any inclination to find out. Steve

Hi Marvin, thanks very much! So glad you enjoyed that. that was all kinds of fun to do - what a great show! Was a real treat to get to play with Joe on trumpet too - I met him about 5 minutes before we did that tune, he was playing banjo with the Wagon Tales, but is a trumpeter that plays with Andy Williamson who was on sax. We had two great gigs down in Cornwall and Devon, so hopefully we'll be back soon! cheers Steve www.stevelawson.net

that's an excellent video, thanks - I've used bass-ified versions of all three exercises, both in my own practice, and for teaching. Still do - really useful stuff. That snare solo at the end is awesome! I wanted him to keep playing for another 5 minutes like that Steve

That's great Steve - drop me a line as soon as you want to start 'tother Steve. www.stevelawson.net

[b]Quick update:[/b] Am now firmly installed in Stirchley, Birmingham - taught my first lesson here last night, so all is well. Drop me a line if you want to book something in. We're very close to Bournville Rail, so easy to get to if you're coming from out of town (Bournville is 12 mins from Birmingham New Street, so if you come via train to New Street, you just change there). We haven't got a proper internet connection yet (Virgin Cable take a long time to get their s*** together), but as soon as we do, I'll be doing Skype lessons here too. And on occasion I'll be teaching in London... more on that ASAP. Steve

A lot depends on what features you need, if you've already got music in mind... If you're going to be doing long loops, then that knocks out the Akai Headrush and Line6 DL4, even though they are both very 'musical' pedals to use. I love using the DL4, especially with an expression pedal hooked up as well (can then do fades, and/or bring in and out delay over the loop). For the longer loop time pedals, Boss and Digitech have both recently revamped their lines, so I've not had a chance to try them out yet - the RC20xl was a pretty well designed pedal (though about 1 in 5 times I see someone use it they've accidentally turned on the metronome, and you get an effing loud snare drum instead of the first loop...). The RC50 was 'nearly' great. Too many glitches in the software to be truly magic, and now they've discontinued it. Great things can be done with it though - I guested with beatboxer Shlomo on his show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and he gets some serious mileage from it. Digitech have a new larger looper with delays in in as well - looks to be half way between the earlier jamman pedal and the DL4. Def. worth a look. The Looperlative is unbelievable, but a serious investment. Nothing in the hardware world comes close (though there are a few cool software loopers around, if you trust your laptop/OS enough. I don't ) There's also the Gibson Echoplex, Electrix Repeater and Lexicon JamMan if you're buying used, but check out the feature set on each of them first... cheers Steve www.stevelawson.net

OK, looks like we've found a place and are moving first week(ish) in Sept. So teaching from about the 12th Sept in Stirchley. Until the end of the month, I'm still available in London, and will hopefully still be doing a day a month down here after I move (TBC). Drop me a line if you want to book something in in Brum or London Steve www.stevelawson.net

...for those who can't get to London or Brum and still want a lesson or 10, I'm now teaching via Skype too... see here for info: [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/2011/07/teaching-bass-via-skype/"]http://www.stevelawson.net/2011/07/teaching-bass-via-skype/[/url] Steve

we're house hunting at the moment - so not sure, mainly looking in Stirchley and the Jewellery Quarter

We'll be moving out of london in a few weeks time, so anyone wanting a lesson before I move should get in touch now (I will be back down periodically, but I'm not sure just how often as yet...) In the meantime, if you're in the Birmingham area and want lessons, I'll be starting teaching up there just as soon as we move Steve www.stevelawson.net

[quote name='LLOYDWT' post='1301802' date='Jul 13 2011, 12:58 AM']Really enjoyed this post. Really interesting to get your insight on the subject and I like your perspective on the relationship between artist & company.[/quote] Thanks! Very glad it was useful... The lust for 'free gear' never made sense to me, given how damaging the 'wrong' gear was to the way I was trying to make music! There have been a few companies who aggressively pursued pretty much any player who appeared in magazines to use their stuff. I lost a fair amount of respect for any player who jumped ship just for the free gear. I understand it a little more at the 'paid to play level' (those 5-10 players who are in the situation) given that part of their livelihood depends on it, and they can for the most part quite easily afford to have other gear for recording (I know of at least one fairly well known player with a signature bass from a mass-production company who apparently never uses it in the studio...) Likewise, I understood Flea moving from Modulus to making his own bass so that the kids who want a Fleabass just cos Flea plays it can afford to get it... I just wish he'd made a better bass Steve

I wrote a blog post about this, after being asked loads of questions about Endorsements - it's 5 or 6 years old, but pretty much still makes sense... the question of who's endorsing who is a really good one - ideally it's a two way thing. You play the gear you love, and the company - grateful for the exposure and support - reciprocate with the kind of support they can offer, with cheaper equipment, gear shipped to venues, loaner gear, adverts (which are definitely a bonus for both parties)... Anyway, here's the post, hope it's of some use: [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/2006/10/how_music_gear_/"]http://www.stevelawson.net/2006/10/how_music_gear_/[/url] Steve

Good job, Si! Owen's an amazing player and a really lovely guy. His playing floored me when I saw the Roots at Kentish Town Forum a few years back, and I've been an avid fan of his playing ever since. The record with John Legend is spectacular. Need to get the Mister Barrington stuff! Steve

...just to clarify my experience - I traveled for over a decade with my bass in a gig bag and got it onboard the plane every single time. Never had to check it. Then in I think 2004 or 5, I had my two 6 string Moduluses in a double gig bag and was forced to gate-check it on the way to the US (that's when it's taken off you at the door of the plane and given back to you in the same place the other side). I got away with it and the basses emerged unscathed. After that, I started to plan to check it - was way too risky to pull that one again. So I used my Modulus hardshell case for one trip, then I got a molded compressed foam case from Dean that I used for a coupla years before getting an InCase bag. To call the InCase bag a 'gigbag' is a tad misleading. It's a semi-solid, incredibly well padded case, with various kinds of bracing. Given that one of the main things you need a case to do for checking it on a plane is for it to absorb the shock of being bounced onto the deck from about 8 or 9 feet up, this case actually feels a lot safer than many hardshell cases that would take none of the sting out of a shock like that... I also pack it with clothes etc to make it as cushioned as possible... The one time it was smashed up, the case didn't have a mark on it, so I'm assuming it was taken out of the case and smashed. The body (which is pretty damned thick) had a crack right the way through it, and the top was split.) that's the only trouble I've had in a large number of flights, and BA paid up the maximum amount they were legally permitted to pay so that I could replace it. ..My next bass will almost certainly be a headless 6 string fretless, so I can fit it in a normal guitar case and go back to carrying it on board... Steve www.stevelawson.net

Thanks Kev - I'm really glad you're enjoying the music. Have you found [url="http://music.stevelawson.net"]http://music.stevelawson.net[/url] - pretty much everything I've ever released is there, including two duo albums with Trip Wamsley - all priced 'pay what you think it's worth' and fully streamable too. Steve www.stevelawson.net

Si, would be great to see you! Drop me an email when you've got some dates in mind, and we'll fit something in Steve

Hi all, happy new year - just a quick note to say that I'm back teaching after a few months off (last flat ended up being too small for teaching and baby, and eBay don't let you sell babies...) - an in Muswell Hill, North London for the next few months. Full details at [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/bass_tuition/"]http://www.stevelawson.net/bass_tuition/[/url] cheers! Steve www.stevelawson.net

you could try [url="http://www.circularlabs.com/"]http://www.circularlabs.com/[/url] - Mobius has quite a strong user base, and I know a few people who are using it live and in the studio... Steve

Hi cycrowave, I am indeed in Catford - drop me a line if you've got any questions: [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/get-in-touch/"]http://www.stevelawson.net/get-in-touch/[/url] cheers! Steve

Sorry to take so long getting back to this - was on tour, now home, and jetlagged But anyway, yes, with the looperlative you can do multiple loops of different lengths, either unsynced or as multiples of any one of the tracks (the track that acts as master for the sync can be changed at any point too) OR you can resample the incoming signal with any combination of the tracks onto another track (bounce), to cut the track length down, or change the time sig by dropping a beat or two. OR you can use the quantised replace function to create rhythmic stuff that way... I've been using that on a couple of tunes - the version of Grace And Gratitude on the end of the brand new live album heads in that direction: [url="http://music.stevelawson.net/album/live-so-far"]http://music.stevelawson.net/album/live-so-far[/url] as does my cover of Hello: [url="http://soundcloud.com/solobasssteve/hello"]http://soundcloud.com/solobasssteve/hello[/url] (audio) [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sf9yKrw9dQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sf9yKrw9dQ[/url] (video) Also of looperlative interest would be the untitled duet with Todd Reynolds on the live album (which has some fairly major transitions going on, as well as a bit at the end where I record different notes to different tracks on the looperlative and then pitch shift them independently to change the chord (sounds like a keyboard player playing a string pad through some pretty weird changes ) On 'Born On The 3rd of July', I swap between a slide solo being played, and the fretless solo that is looped and controlled with a volume pedal... and the newer arrangement of Love Is A Battlefield (newer than the video posted earlier) also has some fairly major Looperlative abuse at the end of it - either of the 2nd and 3rd vids on this page: [url="http://solobasssteve.posterous.com/three-views-of-a-solo"]http://solobasssteve.posterous.com/three-views-of-a-solo[/url] ..... As far as the digitech stuff goes - they've revamped the line a little. I really like the look of the new stereo looper with the delay stuff added in as well... If it does what it says it can do, it'll be fab Steve

Dood, Digitech have just updated the range - the new stereo looper and the one with the built in delays look really good... worth checking out. I wouldn't swap the looperlative for anything, but there are certainly stepping stones on the way there, and Digitech seem to be doing good things these days... There is a looperlative foot pedal version coming at some point, which I'm sure will be worth investigating... not sure on the ETA though. Steve

lovely pictures! Thanks very much for posting those. Excellent work, sir. Really glad you enjoyed the gig. So did we Steve

For those of you following my nomadic trek round London,[b] I've now moved to Catford[/b], and am teaching here from home. It's an easy place to get to from central london, with [b]direct trains from Victoria, Charing Cross, Waterloo East, London Bridge and Cannon Street. [/b] best place to check for up to date info on teaching [b]details, cost, venue[/b] etc. is [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/wordpress/bass_tuition/"]http://www.stevelawson.net/wordpress/bass_tuition/[/url] That's the authoritative source for info, not here Also worth checking out is my other bass teaching option, [b]Beyond Bass Camp[/b] - here's the website [url="http://www.beyondbasscamp.com"]http://www.beyondbasscamp.com[/url] As always, feel free to message here, via email, or through my site, if you've got any questions, cheers! Steve