Bass and Drums only

[Mecklenburg]

Hi all,

Looking at starting a new musical adventure - well a drummer and I have been talking about it for long enough!

It will just be me and the drummer. Anyone else done this sort of thing before? Obviously there's the doom band OM, who are great.

What have you used in terms of gear, I'm thinking of using my AB/Y box and two amps with different FX on each.

Any tips on filling the sound out, don't want it to sound empty - if that's the right word?

Cheers!

[OldGit]

We have a local Drum + Bass brothers Duo called Kinky Wizzards who are great showmen and players
Myspace
[url="http://www.myspace.com/kinkywizzards"]http://www.myspace.com/kinkywizzards[/url]

Vid
[url="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=40129968"]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoID=40129968[/url]

I have to say though that it gets a bit tedious once you've seen them a few times, or after a few tunes. I've only ever seen them do 20 mins and that was enough. You quickly start wishing for a vocal, a tune or other instruments to play some different sounds ...

So, plan carefully and make sure you are entertaining to normal humans as well as other players who go "wow" once or twice

[Mr. Foxen]

More amps and more cabs is a definite theme.

Heres a local band that do it: [url="http://www.myspace.com/bignaturalsrock"]Fun finding their website on google.[/url]

[derrenleepoole]

The group Shotgun Face (or Mike Bendy, never sure which) used to be just bass and drums. Their newer stuff is a trio I believe. If you can find their early stuff it's pretty wacked out

[OldGit]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='657945' date='Nov 18 2009, 11:34 AM']More amps and more cabs is a definite theme.

Heres a local band that do it: [url="http://www.myspace.com/bignaturalsrock"]Fun finding their website on google.[/url][/quote]


ha ha yeah I can imagine

Meanwhile ....
Now despite the more simple playing than the Kinky Wizzards I think that is a lot better to listen to.
Loops and samples would be good too..

[derrenleepoole]

Shotgun Face:

[Musky]

Ruins. Very noisy, mathy type stuff, though Tetsuya is now working under the moniker Ruins Alone - [url="http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~ruins/eng/magaibutsu_eng.html"]http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~ruins/eng/magaibutsu_eng.html[/url]

[dangerboy]

Paging mattcitizenbass! Mattcitizenbass to this thread please!

[TimR]

A looper?

[tjkennelly]

I'm rather surprised noones mentioned Death From Above 1979. They were just a drummer and a bassist and had vocals too.

[markl]

Lightning Bolt - you owe it to yourself to see them and they are over in the UK next month.

[cm261]

^ Yeah exactly, I was just about to say that as well. [EDIT: @ tj]

Best example I reckon, as kinda 'novelty' stuff like that can get boring after a while (another example of this being Lightning Bolt), but DFA1979 pull it off perfectly, I could happily listen to a set lasting hours. The 'secret' seems to be lots of effects laid onto the high end of a split signal, but done tastefully, to give a very full sound. A lot of people are very surprised to learn that its just a drum and bass 2 piece, and that there isn't a guitarist, and this is the key IMO.

EDIT: Hah, got in there before me with Lightning Bolt, and with a very different opinion apprently

Edited November 18, 2009 by cm261

[Mecklenburg]

Thanks guys, a few new bands there to check out!
I'm thinking split signal to start off with and progress from there, we haven't even played a note in anger yet! If anything good happens I shall let you know. I could do with a meaty 2nd amp and more cabs!!

[PauBass]

Check out this band, Clatter:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhQ2F56Gn0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhQ2F56Gn0[/url]

Also here, posted before on this forum, you'll find more about her rig:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HbKRkPnpA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HbKRkPnpA[/url]

[Stingray5]

[quote name='TimR' post='658106' date='Nov 18 2009, 02:07 PM']A looper?[/quote]
That was my thought too. Something like a Digitech JamMan maybe?
Depends on musical style, whether it suits, etc.

[markl]

Lightning Bolt in action - usually you can't see what they are doing this well as they don't play on stages and the crowd around them is a giant mosh pit; watch the bass players feet, that's how to do pedal changes.

[spacecowboy]

[quote name='markl' post='658150' date='Nov 18 2009, 02:36 PM']Lightning Bolt - you owe it to yourself to see them and they are over in the UK next month.[/quote]


Gah someone beat me too it! Definitely a massive +1 on checking this band out! Energy Personified! I saw them once about 3 years ago and i can still hear my ears ringing!

You may want to check out Fingerthing too, not necessarily a live drummer and bass, but a double bassist and a non flashy DJ who primarily just drops beats and soundscapes! worth the view!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Stingray5' post='658212' date='Nov 18 2009, 03:33 PM']That was my thought too. Something like a [b]Digitech JamMan [/b]maybe?
Depends on musical style, whether it suits, etc.[/quote]
There's one up for grabs in the F/S section right now. :brow:

[OldGit]

[quote name='PauBass' post='658210' date='Nov 18 2009, 03:32 PM']Check out this band, Clatter:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhQ2F56Gn0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhQ2F56Gn0[/url]

Also here, posted before on this forum, you'll find more about her rig:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HbKRkPnpA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HbKRkPnpA[/url][/quote]


Excellent explanation.
She has a12 string here too
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24FFBDaoFgk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24FFBDaoFgk[/url]

That's the winner for me so far:) The Jazz stuff is a bit "Ummm. Nice" and the Metalish stuff just sounds like a normal metalish band.

[BottomEndian]

Big Business started out as a bass/drums duo, although they've now expanded to include a guitar. Still very much bass-centred.

There's a couple of guys called Calcius Repton who are doing something pretty cool. It's all a bit noodle-widdle for me, but impressive nonetheless:

[dannybuoy]

I saw a band called Bitches at one of Steve's (Dangerboy) nights... bass and drums, with a MicroPOG and Russian Muff to fill out the space, sounded bitchin'!

[rapscallion]

Definately check out Toast Machine! Couple of guys in a funk duo, they're awesome, really know how to keep you hooked even with no vocals

These guys are pretty awesome

www.myspace.com/bottlenosedolphins

and

www.myspace.com/falenizzahorsepower

[benebass]

[quote name='spacecowboy' post='658245' date='Nov 18 2009, 03:57 PM']Gah someone beat me too it! Definitely a massive +1 on checking this band out! Energy Personified! I saw them once about 3 years ago and i can still hear my ears ringing!

You may want to check out Fingerthing too, not necessarily a live drummer and bass, but a double bassist and a non flashy DJ who primarily just drops beats and soundscapes! worth the view![/quote]

+1 on Fingathing - Sneaky the bassist now has a new project on the go, which is mostly just him & a drummer. Saw them at a festival this summer & they were amazing!

[url="http://www.thisissneaky.co.uk/videos/"]http://www.thisissneaky.co.uk/videos/[/url]

Cheers,

B.

[Mr. Foxen]

The Larryginal G can do alright with just bass and drums. I would also apprecitate tips on getting that sound:

[rOB]

[quote name='cm261' post='658151' date='Nov 18 2009, 02:37 PM']DFA1979 pull it off perfectly, I could happily listen to a set lasting hours. The 'secret' seems to be lots of effects laid onto the high end of a split signal, but done tastefully, to give a very full sound. A lot of people are very surprised to learn that its just a drum and bass 2 piece, and that there isn't a guitarist, and this is the key IMO.[/quote]

+1 love DFA 1979, great band, gutted when they split.