Soundcheck Smackdown: Rock's Bottom End
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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Bassist Ira Wolf Tuton of Yeasayer (Zruda/flickr)
Marquee rock acts like the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are getting along just fine without a bass guitarist. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate the importance of bass guitar in rock music. Plus: Regina Spektor got her start in New York's anti-folk scene. Now she's working with Ben Folds and contributing a song to the latest "Chronicles of Narnia" film. She joins us to perform live in our studio.
Guests:
Regina SpektorSoundcheck Smackdown: Aces of Bass
In the rock world, bass guitar is a bit like Rodney Dangerfield: no respect. Bassists often live in the shadow of flashy guitarists and charismatic singers. Now, some of rock's most successful acts -- the White Stripes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Black Keys among them -- don't even ...
Regina Spektor
Since she got her start in New York’s anti-folk scene of the ‘90s, Regina Spektor has made quirky, eclectic and always personal music. This summer she can be heard performing the duet "You Don't Know Me" with Ben Folds, and her song “The Call” is featured in the movie “The ...
Bass-less Allegations?
First of all, everybody calm down. We are not really suggesting that the electric bass is expendable. But sometimes you just gotta stir the pot a bit, you know? And it is true that what used to be a novelty (“hey look – the Doors don’t have a bass player”; ...
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