Flaming Biff Welcomes Santa Claus

[oli@bass]

Finally we can appreciate your legendary "non existent" skills!

Great playing, nice licks, and interesting how you solved the "problem" of the descending slide line on "Boots".

 

[RaginRog]

I've also lost count of the number of times I've introduced the song at gigs with "here's some Neil Diamond for ya", and people have yelled out "mate, you're wrong, that's a Monkees song"

You mean to tell me that's NOT the MONKEES.....Oh God...somebody lift this ROCK off of ME!!!!

 

[sitonmybass]

Monkees trivia

I guess a lot of people don't realize that even though "I'm A Believer" was recorded by the Monkees it was WRITTEN by Neil Diamond. On their first two albums the instruments were played by session players even though the vocals were the Monkees. It wasn't until their third album "Monkees Headquarters" where they actually began to learn to play in order to play on that third album. Mike Nesmith had ALWAYS been a player, though. After the Monkees, Nesmith went on to become a record producer, and quite a successful one, as I understand it.

 

[bovinehost]

Finally we can appreciate your legendary "non existent" skills!

Well, it ain't exactly rocket science - or Dave LaRue work.

Great playing, nice licks, and interesting how you solved the "problem" of the descending slide line on "Boots".

First, thank you - seriously. Until a few years ago, I'd never played any stuff like that - you know, old school, Western Swing, walking, country type bass lines. I mean, unless it was a Paul McCartney adaptation of something in that vein. I just didn't - wouldn't - do it. Maybe I was busily rejecting the music of my youth or something.

So it's been an education. A very GOOD education, learning all these old tunes and adapting new tunes to sound like.....um, us.

And I was too dumb to realize that in "Boots", there was really a problem to solve! So I started playing little "songs" in the intro in order to amuse myself and now it's a tradition.

 

[RaginRog]

I guess a lot of people don't realize that even though "I'm A Believer" was recorded by the Monkees it was WRITTEN by Neil Diamond. On their first two albums the instruments were played by session players even though the vocals were the Monkees. It wasn't until their third album "Monkees Headquarters" where they actually began to learn to play in order to play on that third album. Mike Nesmith had ALWAYS been a player, though. After the Monkees, Nesmith went on to become a record producer, and quite a successful one, as I understand it.

Thanks Nick!

 

[tkarter]

So Jack is playing a Carol Kaye bass line in I'm a Believer.

tk

 

[fly]

Im really digging the picnic table cloth shirt Jack....Great job!

hahahhah.....same here........


good stuff Jack.......awesome bass playing.

 

[Musicman Nut]

see how good a four string sounds

Four String, I never knew they made any different, I once knew a guy who had a 6 String but i think it was called Axis Sport or something.

 

[Bill]

I'm loving that bass tone!!

 

[bovinehost]

I'm loving that bass tone!!

Bongo, flats, LMII and a Markbass 2-10 and 1-15 cabinet.

Nothing fancy, but it sure as hell does what I want it to do.

 

[sitonmybass]

It's a good thing that the footage is really dark and taken from the side as I don't know how the Flaming Biff Bongo would look against that shirt! And I'm not sure the hat would go with it, either. So tell us, Jack, what DOES go with the Flaming Biff Bongo?

 

[bovinehost]

So tell us, Jack, what DOES go with the Flaming Biff Bongo?

Ah, it looks pretty good with everything, really.

 

[sitonmybass]

Ah, it looks pretty good with everything, really.

I thought your response to my question was going to be: "It goes with ALL kinds of music!"

 

[kevins]

until i figured it out i thought "flaming biff" was the band name, which in my opinion would be the most kick ass name for a country band ever. perhaps i shall use this name...

 

[bovinehost]

I won't try to stop you.

BP might have a comment or two.

 

[oli@bass]

First, thank you - seriously. Until a few years ago, I'd never played any stuff like that - you know, old school, Western Swing, walking, country type bass lines. I mean, unless it was a Paul McCartney adaptation of something in that vein. I just didn't - wouldn't - do it. Maybe I was busily rejecting the music of my youth or something.

So it's been an education. A very GOOD education, learning all these old tunes and adapting new tunes to sound like.....um, us.

I'm currently on that boat. Listening to you makes me think I should invest a bit of time to learn those lines. They're really cool. I just never listened to it because it's definitely not my kind of music... (living too far from Texas an all)

And I was too dumb to realize that in "Boots", there was really a problem to solve! So I started playing little "songs" in the intro in order to amuse myself and now it's a tradition.

Haha! Well my "problem" was: "how do I replicated the sound of a a four bar slide on a double bass". I opted for a chromatic line all down the E string. Your's is more creative.