Features
An Interview with Session Bassist Todd Ashburn by Jacob Ryan
An Interview with Session Bassist Todd Ashburn by Jacob Ryan…
Author Jacob RyanJacob Ryan is a Special Guest Writer for Bass Musician Magazine. The interview was held at The Tracking Room Studio in Nashville, TN.
For just over four years now, I’ve been calling Nashville home, so it shouldn’t be surprising to anyone that I’ve been meeting a lot of musicians. Of course this is Music City, so I was bound to run into a shiftless artist or two … and some real talents as well. In an effort to cover my new city, and its’ real-life scene (not the one you hear on the radio or see on TV) I’ve decided to start a series of interview write-ups with area people, and artists of interest.
One such character worthy of note is Todd Ashburn, a gifted session bassist originally from Winston-Salem, NC. We met at a restaurant we both frequent, a place where we often spent time talking about sports, music, life and even some philosophy. Recently, during one of these meeting-of-the-minds, he mentioned to me that in the early 2000s he played for a pretty shreddy band called CANDY PIG. Back then CP was starting to see some success, playing with the likes of Social Distortion, Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and, most randomly, Vanilla Ice. They were also lucky enough to catch the eye and ears of a major record label, Atlantic Records. However, not all that glitters is gold, and early success wasn’t enough to keep CANDY PIG solvent. He now makes his living backing up other amazing musicians in the studio.
Knowing I’m an aspiring music journalist, Todd asked me out to hang during one of his session gigs, at the world famous Tracking Room studio. I’ve hung out with players at countless makeshift home rigs, but this was my first time in a legit, real-deal major league studio. Watching through the glass, I was super impressed with Todd’s skills slapping da bass, and was eager to talk shop with him during a break in the action. He stepped out of the massive recording room at the studio, where he’d been playing with Steppenwolf/Rod Stewart’s axe man, Danny Johnson, TOTO band member Buddy Hyatt and hit songwriter/vocalist John Flynt Adams, all of them cracking up about something or other they’d said during the recording session. We stepped out for a drink and some conversation.
(Jacob Ryan): Well, it must be pretty bad ass to play with rock stars like Danny Johnson of Steppenwolf and Buddy Hyatt of TOTO!
(Todd Ashburn): Yeah… I would have to say that DJ (Danny Johnson) and Bud (Buddy Hyatt) have the most tasteful licks of any guitarist and keys player that I have worked with here in Nashville … I love those guys. They are also great songwriters. The dude singing, Johnny Flynt, has some serious pipes. Man can sing. I’m lucky to be able to work with such talented people here in Music City.
(JR): Very cool man. You definitely have a Les Claypool feel to your playing, has he been a major influence? Any other bassists/musicians you really vibe with?
(TA): Thanks man, I get that a lot about Les. I am a huge fan of Les Claypool. Especially the “Tommy the Cat”, “Mud” and “Jerry” stuff. He’s better than me. I have hung out with him on a couple of occasions. Honestly, we talked more about fishing than playing bass. I would say Fleas early Red Hot Chili Pepper stuff was groundbreaking as well and it has influenced me along with Geddy Lee. Also a big fan of Robert Trujillo and Louis Johnson, who are wonderful people as well as incredible bassists.
Todd on the couch taken at The Tracking Room Studio main board / engineer room
(JR): You’ve told me before about your successful rap/metal/funk band CANDY PIG, how did ya’ll get your start, and what was the ‘industry’ like for you?
(TA): It was around 1993-1994, and I was dealing with the passing of my totally and willingly supportive father, Clint Ashburn. I needed to vent, so I started to write/play some very aggressive thumpy, slap-style bass lines if you will. I was living in Charlotte, with my girlfriend at the time, and she introduced me to her best friends boyfriend … sounds like a song title for sure. His name is Jimmy Hamblin. We quickly became best buds and started writing and jamming together. He brought his awesome energy and rap style vocal to the stage and the recordings. That was the start of CANDY PIG. We later recruited a dynamic duo from Dallas, TX — Brooks Kaplan, a music school standout with crazy funky guitar licks and tones, plus Scott Sailer, “the admiral of funk”. Both were extremely talented musicians out of the Dallas’ metal scene.
Brooks came up with the design for the logo, and was also the marketing and managing side of the band. He was multi-talented. A good friend by the name of Lincoln Baugus (R.I.P) was also a huge part of getting CANDY PIG off of the ground at that time. He put a lot of heart and soul in, truly believing the band would make it, even though we had limited success at first. Every band has friends like Lincoln who are there for you when you need them and they don’t want anything in return. He was an awesome dude; a true friend.
Anyway, after the additions, CANDY PIG was officially a band. The name was coined by — I can’t remember if it was Jimmy, Brooks, or another very talented musician friend who was hanging with us at that moment Scoot Pittman — after Jimmy received some mail by mistake to his front door. It was supposed to be delivered to his neighbor; a lady named Candy Pig. We all loved that name, so we went with it. We recorded our first demo, played, and toured heavily with that lineup.
Brooks sent out our demo and press kit to the Ticketmaster Showcase Battle of the Bands through Rolling Stone magazine, and we were one of only 25 bands to be chosen out of over 2,000 entries. Eventually The Verve Pipe won, they had that popular song “The Freshmen” that came out shortly after on RCA Records. We finished closely behind, and played a couple more high profile showcases, which lead to talks with major labels, but we weren’t able to sign a deal. The band took a hiatus, and then Brooks, Scott, and Jimmy left. Chuck Craig, Heath Harris and Lance Oglesby were recruited soon after and the Pig was reborn. Chuck and Lance were my two favorite musicians in town other than Brooks and Scott. Heath was a star in the Atlanta music scene. Lance and Heath toured and recorded a demo or so with us then there were some more line-up shuffles. Chuck was friends with a couple of guys that he new from school and around the same town by the names of Scott Brown and Johnny Carver; Scott on guitar and Johnny on the mic. Johnny with his vocal/rap skills, stage presence and overall vibe was special. He is one of those guys that you knew was a star when you were in the room with him. He brought a ton of additional label interest to the band. Scott Brown on guitar who also gave CANDY PIG a sound and vibe/flavor that was absolutely incredible. He came up with so many genius guitar licks it’s silly. We recorded our debut record, 43, which caught the attention of Clutchdog Records of Nashville. President and CEO Stephen R. Drummond liked what he heard, and his label released the record, which was on mainstream rock and alternative radio stations. The single “Slump Vibe” was a particular rotated song on these stations. Chuck eventually gracefully bowed out and we recruited Dan Lawlor, a friend of Chucks’, who was a session drummer, touring with a national recording artist, and also in a popular local Charlotte band that was going their separate ways at that time. This was the final lineup.
About this time, a local celebrity program director/DJ for one of the biggest alternative rock station in the South, 95.7 WXRC the Rock (out of Charlotte) took notice of us and pushed to have our music played even more on the hard rock and alternative markets. His name is Anthony Michaels and he is a hardcore motivator and extremely gifted in marketing. Anthony really put CANDY PIG on the national map. While he was pushing us on the radio and promoting our live shows he was also offered several major record label jobs. He chose Atlantic Records and brought us with him. Johnny, Scott, Dan and myself were in the studio recording an album for Atlantic Records, Essence of the Groove, but it was never released. The band dissolved shortly after. Wow, that’s like the “Book of Pig” right there! Sorry for rambling.
(JR): No worries, I enjoy the behind the scenes stories, and it’s always nice to show people some love. So with the various line-ups, you toured a lot, with some big name acts too, how was that experience?
(TA): CANDY PIG was very fortunate to play with a lot of major alternative acts of that time. We lived the life, and had so much fun, funking, slamming, sweating it out every night on tour. Our crowds were crazy rowdy! It was an intense time in my life.
After the Atlantic Records thing fell thru I took a break from music for a couple of years. Not long after I was reunited on the telephone with some Nashville guys that convinced me to move, and I did. Been loving it here ever since.
(JR): Nice. So what kind of bass are you playing today, and what other instruments do you mainly play, in your session work or otherwise?
(TA): This right here is a Spector L5C five-string, with rounds for my growl and punchy stuff. I also play an old Fender Precision with flats, another old Fender Jazz with flats, and a Music Man Stingray with rounds. I mostly use the Spector and I switch the round strings to flat strings for a warmer tone as needed. So you need lessons or what man?
(JR): Not ready to trade in my laptop just yet, but thanks! Maybe when my bank account erupts and I can afford one of those sweet Spectors… then I’ll give it a shot.
After some more small talk, I thanked him for his time and let man get back to work, tickling his bass strings. If you want to hear more from the Pig, have a listen to their last record, Essence of The Groove, right here. On the drive home I thought about how lucky I am to live in a city so rich with creative talent, how there are thousands of stories in Music City just like Todd’s … and how exciting it is to try to tell as many of those stories as humanly possible. Stay tuned for more reports on the real Nashville.
Visit Todd online at toddashburn.com
Readers have been fans of the composer, bass player, and Bass Musician contributor Alberto Rigoni for some time now.
In this interview, we had the opportunity to hear directly from Alberto about his love of music and a project near and dear to his heart, “Unexpected Lullabies”…
Could you tell our readers what makes your band different from other artists?
In 2005, I felt the urge to write original music. My first track was “Trying to Forget,” an instrumental piece with multiple bass layers (rhythm, solo, and arrangement), similar to the Twin Peaks soundtrack. When I played it for a few people, they really liked it, and I decided to continue composing based on my instinct and ear without adhering to any specific genre. In 2007, I released “Something Different” with Lion Music. The title says it all! Since then, I’ve released many solo albums, each different from the others, ranging from ambient to prog, fusion, jazz, and new age. I am very eclectic!
How did you get involved in this crazy world of music?
As a child, I listened to the music my parents enjoyed: my dad loved classical music, while my mom was into Pink Floyd, Genesis, Duran Duran, etc. These influences left a significant mark on my life. However, the turning point came at 15 when a drummer friend played me “A Change of Seasons” by Dream Theater, which was a shock! From that moment, I decided to play bass and cover Dream Theater songs, which I did for many years with my cover band, Ascra, until it disbanded in 2004. After that, I joined TwinSpirits (prog rock) led by multi-instrumentalist Daniele Liverani. Since then, I haven’t played any more covers!
Who are your musical inspirations, and what inspired the album and the songs?
My roots are in progressive rock metal, with influences from bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, and many others. However, I listen to all genres and try to keep an open mind, which helps me compose original music. On bass, I was significantly inspired by Michael Manring and Randy Coven (bassist of Ark, Steve Vai, etc.). But I don’t have a real idol; I just follow my own path without compromise.
What are your interests outside of music?
Living in Italy, I love good food and wine! Beyond that, I have a deep interest in art in general and history, not just of my country. I enjoy spending time with friends, skiing, biking, and walking in nature. This is how I spend my free time. The rest of my time is devoted to music and my family!
Tell us about the new album.
It is definitely an out-of-the-box album. When I found out last year that I was going to have a baby girl, I decided to compose a sort of lullaby album, but I didn’t want to cover already famous lullabies. So, I started composing new tunes with the goal of creating an album that was half-sweet and half-hard rock. I did include some covers like “Strangers in the Night” by Frank Sinatra, sung by Goran Edman, former lead singer of Malmsteen. It’s not exactly a lullaby, but I felt the lyrics fit the album, as does the instrumental version of “Fly Me to The Moon.” There are also tracks with just bass and piano (Nenia) or two basses (Vicky). It was definitely an interesting creative process!
What is the difference between the new album and your previous releases, and will there be any new material from your other outfit called BAD AS?
BAD AS is essentially a metal band with several influences including prog. My solo genre is quite different, although there are some metal songs on a few albums. It’s always difficult for me to categorize my music… let’s say it’s a mix of prog, ambient, fusion, and new age.
Where was the album recorded, who produced it, and how long did the process take?
I produced my last album entirely by myself, including mixing and mastering. Unlike other albums I’ve produced within a few months, this one took much longer, perhaps because I was very busy or maybe because I wanted it to be perfect for my daughter, who is now three months old. In any case, I am satisfied. Once again, I did something different from my previous albums.
What is the highlight of the album for you and why?
My favorite song is the first track titled “Vittoria,” named after my daughter. It’s the intro to the record and isn’t very long, but the melody stuck in my head. Another standout track is the instrumental version of “Fly Me to The Moon” by Frank Sinatra, where I used fretless bass. The first part is sweet, the second part definitely rocks!
How are the live shows going, and what are you and the band hoping to achieve?
With BAD AS, this year we shared the stage with David Ellefson’s (former Megadeth bassist) band and talented young singer Dino Jelusik (White Snake). We plan to continue performing all over Europe!
What’s in store for the future?
I am working on an instrumental project called Nemesis Call, a progressive shred prog metal album with various influences. It will feature guest appearances from famous musicians like drummers Mike Terrana and Thomas Lang, as well as young talents like Japanese guitarist Keiji from Zero (19), 14-year-old Indian drummer Sajan Young, and guitarists Alexandra Zerner and Alexandra Lioness, Hellena Pandora. It’s scheduled for release at the end of the year or early 2025. As an independent artist, I have launched a fundraising campaign with exclusive pledges at www.albertorigoni.net/nemesiscall. And no, I am not begging; the album will be released anyway!
What formats is the release available in?
Unexpected Lullabies is available both as a Digipack CD and on streaming platforms.
What is the official album release date?
June 4th, 2024.
Thanks for this interview Bass Musician Magazine and for the continued support to my career!
Visit Online:
www.albertorigoni.net
www.youtube.com/albertorigoni
albertorigoni.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/albertorigonibassplayer
www.facebook.com/albertorigonimusic
www.tiktok.com/@albertorigonibassist
CD Track Listing:
1. Vittoria
2. Fly Me to the Moon
3. Azzurra
4. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (feat. John Jeff Touch)
5. Out of Fear
6. Veni Laeatitia (feat. Alexandra Zerner)
7. Nenia
8. Slap Lullaby (feat. Karl Clews)
9. Saga
10. Vicky (feat. Michael Manring)
11. Ocean Travelers (feat. Vitalij Kuprij)
12. Strangers in the Night (feat. Göran Edman)
13. Peaceful
14. Un uomo che voga (feat. Eleonora Damiano)
Band Line-Up:
- Tommaso Ermolli arrangements on “Vittoria”
- Sefi Carmel on “Fly Me to the Moon” (Cover) (except for the keyboard solo by Alessandro Bertoni)
- Piano and keyboards by Alessandro Bertoni on “Azzurra”
- Leonardo Caverzan, guitars, and John Jeff Touch, vocals on “Dancing with Tears in my Eyes” (Cover)
- T. Ermolli keys on “Out of Fear”
- Alexandra Zerner everything on “Veni Laetitia”
- Daniele Bof piano on “Nenia”
- Karl Clews, piccolo bass on “Slap Lullaby”
- Jonas Erixon vocals and guitars on “Saga”
- Michael Manring bass on “Vicky”
- Vitalij Kuprij, keyboards and piano, and Josh Sapna, guitars, on “Ocean Traveler”
- Göran Edman, vocals, Emiliano Tessitore, guitars, Emiliano Bonini, drums, on “Strangers in the Night” (Cover) everything by Alberto Rigoni and vocals by Federica “Faith”
- Sciamanna on “Peaceful”
- T. Ermolli, guitars, and Eleonora Damiano, vocals, on “Un uomo che voga All drums programmed by Alberto Rigoni
If you are an electric bass player, this is an exciting time to be alive as this relatively new instrument evolves around us. Some creative individuals have taken an active role in this evolution and made giant leaps in their own direction. Lee Barker is one of these inventive people having created the Barker Bass.
Fortunately, Lee is also an excellent writer (among so many talents) and has recently released his book “Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass”. This book is a very fun read for everyone and shares a ton of details about Lee’s life in general, his experiences as a musician, a radio host, and a luthier. Now I am fortunate to have the great opportunity to gain even more insights into this renaissance man with this video interview.
Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass is available online at Amazon.com
Interview and photo courtesy of Holly Bergantino of Bergantino Audio Systems
With an expansive live show and touring, Mt. Joy bassist Michael Byrnes shares his experiences with the joyful, high-energy band!
Michael Byrnes has kept quite a busy touring schedule for the past few years with his band, Mt. Joy. With a philosophy of trial and error, he’s developed quite the routines for touring, learning musical instruments, and finding the right sound. While on the road, we were fortunate to have him share his thoughts on his music, history, and path as a musician/composer.
Let’s start from the very beginning, like all good stories. What first drew
you to music as well as the bass?
My parents required my sister and I to play an instrument. I started on piano and really didn’t like it so when I wanted to quit my parents made me switch to another instrument and I chose drums. Then as I got older and started forming bands there were never any bass players. When I turned 17 I bought a bass and started getting lessons. I think with drums I loved music and I loved the idea of playing music but when I started playing bass I really got lost in it. I was completely hooked.
Can you tell us where you learned about music, singing, and composing?
A bit from teachers and school but honestly I learned the most from just going out and trying it. I still feel like most of the time I don’t know what I am doing but I do know that if I try things I will learn.
What other instruments do you play?
A bit of drums but that’s it. For composing I play a lot of things but I fake it till I make and what I can’t fake I will ask a friend!
I know you are also a composer for film and video. Can you share more
about this with us?
Pretty new to it at the moment. It is weirdly similar to the role of a bass player in the band. You are using music to emphasize and lift up the storyline. Which I feel I do with the bass in a band setting. Kind of putting my efforts into lifting the song and the other musicians on it.
Everybody loves talking about gear. How do you achieve your “fat” sound?
I just tinker till it’s fat lol. Right now solid-state amps have been helping me get there a little quicker than tube amps. That’s why I have been using the Bergantino Forté HP2 – Otherwise I have to say the cliche because it is true…. It’s in the hands.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that you’d like
to explore on the bass.
I like to think of myself as a pretty catchy bass player. I need to ask my bandmates to confirm! But I think when improvising and writing bass parts I always am trying to sneak little earworms into the music. I want to explore 5-string more!
Who are your influences?
I can’t not mention James Jamerson. Where would any of us be if it wasn’t for him? A lesser-known bassist who had a huge effect on me is Ben Kenney. He is the second bassist in the band Incubus and his playing on the Crow Left the Murder album completely opened me up to the type of bass playing I aspire towards. When I first started playing I was really just listening to a lot of virtuosic bassists. I was loving that but I couldn’t see myself realistically playing like that. It wasn’t from a place of self-doubt I just deep down knew that wasn’t me. Ben has no problem shredding but I was struck by how much he would influence the song through smaller movements and reharmonizing underneath the band. His playing isn’t really in your face but from within the music, he could move mountains. That’s how I want to play.
What was the first bass you had? Do you still have it?
A MIM Fender Jazz and I do still have it. It’s in my studio as we speak. I rarely use it these days but I would never get rid of it.
(Every bass player’s favorite part of an interview and a read!) Tell us about
your favorite bass or basses. 🙂
I guess I would need to say that MIM Jazz bass even though I don’t play it much. I feel connected to that one. Otherwise, I have been playing lots of great amazing basses through the years. I have a Serek that I always have with me on the road (shout out Jake). Also have a 70’s Mustang that 8 times out of 10 times is what I use on recordings. Otherwise, I am always switching it up. I find that after a while the road I just cycle basses in and out. Even if I cycle out a P bass for another P bass.
What led you to Bergantino Audio Systems?
My friend and former roommate Edison is a monster bassist and he would gig with a cab of yours all the time years ago. Then when I was shopping for a solid state amp the Bergantino Forté HP2 kept popping up. Then I saw Justin Meldal Johnsen using it on tour with St. Vincent and I thought alright I’ll give it a try!
Can you share a little bit with us about your experience with the Bergantino
forte HP amplifier? I know you had this out on tour in 2023 and I am pretty
certain the forte HP has been to more countries than I have.
It has been great! I had been touring with a 70’s SVT which was great but from room to room, it was a little inconsistent. I really was picky with the type of power that we had on stage. After a while, I thought maybe it is time to just retire this to the studio. So I got that Forte because I had heard that it isn’t too far of a leap from a tube amp tone-wise. Plus I knew our crew would be much happier loading a small solid state amp over against the 60 lbs of SVT. It has sounded great and has really remained pretty much the same from night to night. Sometimes I catch myself hitting the bright switch depending on the room and occasionally I will use the drive on it.
You have recently added the new Berg NXT410-C speaker cabinet to your
arsenal. Thoughts so far?
It has sounded great in the studio. I haven’t gotten a chance to take it on the road with us but I am excited to put it through the paces!
You have been touring like a madman all over the world for the past few
years. Any touring advice for other musicians/bass players? And can I go to Dublin, Ireland with you all??
Exercise! That’s probably the number one thing I can say. Exercise is what keeps me sane on the road and helps me regulate the ups and downs of it. Please come to Dublin! I can put you on the guest list!
It’s a cool story on how the Mt. Joy band has grown so quickly! Tell us
more about Mt. Joy, how it started, where the name comes from, who the
members are and a little bit about this great group?
Our singer and guitarist knew each other in high school and have made music together off and on since. Once they both found themselves living in LA they decided to record a couple songs and put out a Craigslist ad looking for a bassist. At the time I had just moved to LA and was looking for anyone to play with. We linked up and we recorded what would become the first Mt. Joy songs in my house with my friend Caleb producing. Caleb has since produced our third album and is working on our fourth with us now. Once those songs came out we needed to form a full band to be able to do live shows. I knew our drummer from gigging around LA and a mutual friend of all of us recommended Jackie. From then on we’ve been on the road and in the studio. Even through Covid.
Describe the music style of Mt. Joy for me.
Folk Rock with Jam influences
What are your favorite songs to perform?
Always changing but right now it is ‘Let Loose’
What else do you love to do besides bass?
Exercise!
I always throw in a question about food. What is your favorite food?
I love a good chocolate croissant.
Follow Michael Byrnes:
Instagram: @mikeyblaster
Follow Mt. Joy Band:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtjoyband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtjoyband
I am sure many of you are very familiar with Mark Egan as we have been following him and his music for many years now. The last time we chatted was in 2020.
Mark teamed up with drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Shane Theriot to produce a new album, “Cross Currents” released on March 8th, 2024. I have been listening to this album in its entirety and it is simply superb (See my review).
Now, I am excited to hear about this project from Mark himself and share this conversation with our bass community in Bass Musician Magazine.
Photo courtesy of Mark Egan
Visit Online:
markegan.com
markegan.bandcamp.com
Apple Music
Amazon Music
Bassist Adam Sullivan…
Hailing from Minnesota since 2012, By the Thousands has produced some serious Technical Metal/Deathcore music. Following their recent EP “The Decent”s release, I have the great opportunity to chat with bassist Adam Sullivan.
Join me as we hear about Adam’s musical Journey, his Influences, how he gets his sound, and the band’s plans for the future
Photo, Laura Baker
Featured Videos:
Follow On Social
IG &FB @bythethousands
YTB @BytheThousands
Gear News: Future Impact V4 Guitar & Bass Synth Now Available in the U.S.
Interview With Barker Bass’s Inventor and Writer Lee Barker
Working-Class Zeros: Episode #4 – Boutique and Vintage Basses, Dress Code for Summer Gigs
Gear News: Ibanez & Graph Tech Launch Multi-Scale Bass with Cutting-Edge Tuning
Album: John Entwistle, Rarities Oxhumed – Volume Two
July 22 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Gear News: Positive Grid Launches Spark 2
Gear Review: Exploring the Joyo Gloam – Sub Octave Fuzz Pedal for Bass
Alberto Rigoni On Unexpected Lullabies
