Matt Gold, Bass Musician Magazine Q&A

Bass Musician Magazine Q&A with Bassist Matt Gold…

Name

Matt Gold

Born In What City

Las Vegas, NV

Current Band(s) I Play With: 

Goldrush

Former Bands I Have Played With: 

Unnamed high school garage band, later named by my wife as “Two Jews, a Mormon, and Mike”

CD’s I’ve Released/ Been a Part Of: 

All Goldrush, Long Arm’s “Long Arms to Hold You”, Horsehead “It’s Christmastime Again”

Describe The Way You Play Bass: 

I’m always trying to make the song the very best it can be, knowing what my role is, where I need to groove, stay out of the way, or do more to make the song hook you and never let you go!

What Made Me Decide to Play Bass: 

In the fourth grade, when we were getting to decide which instruments we were going to play, I was sitting on the floor, and my teacher (Hi, Mrs. Dunlap!) brought in this giant bass and stuck the endpin in the floor right in front of me and started to shake the room.  I could really feel it, and I’ve been a low-frequency junkie ever since.  Was I really going to choose to keep playing the violin?!

Musical Influences: 

I learn from everything!  From the Liber Usualis, Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Prokofiev…  Miles, Motown, Stax, The Beatles, Yes, Van Halen, Steve Vai, The Scorpions, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Busta Rhymes, Mos Def, Rodrigo y Gabriela, K-Paz de la Sierra…  Weird enough for ya?

Favorite Musical Styles: 

I love’m all! (see above) In high school I was all about hair metal and lightning guitar playing. I met my wife in college and learned allllll about The Beatles (Hi, Treesa!), and now it’s kind of a free-for-all. For bass playing and this band specifically, the more I can channel Paul McCartney and James Jamerson, the better!

My Bass(es): 

Rumano Solano Panormo copy, blue-soon-to-be-purple Squier P-bass

My Amps and Other Gear: 

SWR Super Redhead, GK410 cabinet, Headway EDB-1 Preamp, BBE Sonic Stomp, BBE Opto Stomp Compressor

Best Bass Advice I’ve Ever Received: 

In grad school, a friend of mine walked into my lesson and asked how I was doing.  I responded derogatorily “Slashing through Mozart, as always”. My friend laughed and left the room, right before my teacher REALLY let me have it.  He had never been so stern with me.  He coldly looked me deep in the eye and told me that I was wasting my time with concerning myself with how good or bad I was, and needed to focus on what the music needed to be better, and what I had to do to get it there.  He had never said anything like that since, and it really stuck with me.

One Piece Of Advice For Other Bassists:  

It’s very important to learn what the role of the bass is, and to stay true with what is needed in whatever style of music you’re playing.  More often than not, the bass plays a very simple but crucial role.  What’s most important in those settings, is making sure the timing, style and pitch is right with the rest of the group.  There’s so much to be said about a bass player that’s really on top of the beat, in-tune and is playing with a lot of style.

Favorite Quote or Life Philosophy: 

Treat others as you’d like to be treated.

Most Amazing Gig so Far: 

Opening up for The Head and The Heart at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.

Dream Gig: 

Musical guest and HOST of Saturday Night Live!

Most Embarrassing Moment on Stage: 

Every time I open my mouth to contribute to stage banter, I’m always talking over Treesa and I stop.  So I don’t do it anymore!

Favorite Tip to Share on Traveling With Your Bass: 

Never trust ANYTHING that goes on in a bar.  No one is going to look out for your instrument other than you.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t A Musician: 

Wishing I were a musician.

The Question No One Ever Asks Me, But I Have Been Dying to Share: 

Well, I teach a lot, so I get asked a LOT of questions…  I guess the one thing that doesn’t get spoken about enough is coordination.  It’s the key to being able to do anything, and it’s so simple.  In your mind, you have to know what it is ahead of time you want to do and what it should sound like exactly.  Prepare each note with both hands before you have to play it, and wait for the EXACT right moment you let it go.  If you’re waiting on each note, you’re ready to go faster.  If there’s a spot you’re not prepared for, figure out what’s keeping you from preparing it ahead of time, fix it, and go on.

What You Can Look Forward to From Me This Year:

Goldrush may be coming to your town!  Look us up!

Find Me Online: 

Website www.goldrushlovesyou.com

Twitter @Goldrushtweets, @purplebassmagic

Facebook @ facebook.com/goldrushtheband