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We Are All In This Together: January 2021 Issue
Here we are in January 2021… and 2020 has been a life-altering year that has made A HISTORICAL LANDMARK of the year gone by.
I mean think about it, we have never been closer to each other by being apart, maintaining our social distance from people. And what I mean by being closer is that for one of the first times in modern history the entire world is dancing to the same exact beat at exactly the exact same time.
I have always believed in converting life’s harder challenges into an eventual reward, working with the invisible as opposed to becoming paralyzed by what I can see that I don’t yet understand.
When those situations arise, I have always looked at it as an opportunity to turn my frustrations into art and education in order to bypass what I must consider as an opportunity and not a deterrent from my true destiny. Because there are only two choices, make it better or accept that it’s going to get worst, which has never been an option for me.
You are what you eat, you are what you think, and you are who you hang out with. All this is part of the conscious journey we must take in order to adapt to the changing times that have always happened throughout history.
In this January 1, 2021 issue of Bass Musician Magazine, I decided to reach out to my most inspiring Musician Friends, Company Presidents, and Individuals that have been instrumental in my life as well as so many others around the world. These people bring happiness in one form or another as well as being the most Loyal human beings to themselves and their true mission in life… I am lucky enough to have known them.
I asked them some important questions and got some important answers that will fill your mind and soul with the energy and possibilities that you can really use as a sounding board to get you grooving and moving to your own beat in 2021.
In this issue, you will be hearing what Billy Sheehan, Rhonda Smith, Alain Caron, Kevin Brandino Brandon, Matt Eichen (President of Musicvox), Scott Fietsam (President of Morley), Sheldon Dingwall (President of Dingwall Guitars), Phil Rehm, Paul Belgrado (Belgium Luthier PBSI), Brandon Michael and the great Dr. John Manhold who is turning 102 years old and is a real-life true renascence man who has actually seen it all and even got to hang out with Albert Einstein (COME ON!!!!!!).
Visit Online: Billy Sheehan, Rhonda Smith, Alain Caron, Kevin Brandino Brandon, Matt Eichen, Scott Fietsam, Sheldon Dingwall, Phil Rehm, Paul Belgrado, Brandon Michael, Dr. John Manhold
I want to thank everyone who took part in this epic interview about the present and future, as well as Raul and Valery from BMM for letting me be me as well as all the listeners and viewers who will be taking part in this positive energy transfer.
As strange as this may all seem, we are all going through this together and that means that we are truly not alone.
Let us take advantage of this new-found extra time and really try to extract the nectar of positivity and personal evolution from it so we are ready to kick some serious new ass for when the curtain comes up to expose it in all its glory.
May this be your greatest year ever.
Love and Respect Momo
This month, we discuss right-hand techniques to minimize injury while playing bass.
Dr. Randall Kertz is the author of The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. Click here to get your copy today!
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Adam Russell, bassist for Story of the Year, hasn’t slowed down for a second.
With the band’s latest album A.R.S.O.N. dropping on February 13, 2026, they’ve not only delivered new music but also pushed their creativity further through a series of visually striking videos, several of which Adam himself co-directed and edited.
In this interview, we dive into the making of the new record, explore how Adam shapes his signature bass sound, and get the inside scoop on the band’s upcoming Camp Screamo Tour with Silverstein and Origami Angel.
Here’s Adam Russell.
Photo: Ryan Stephens
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Get ready for a conversation with one of Southern rock’s enduring forces, Tim Neilsen. For over 35 years, Drivin N Cryin has been delivering a powerful blend of grit, melody, and heart, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. With their brand-new album “Crushing Flowers” set to drop on April 10th, the band is gearing up for another exciting chapter.
At the core of that signature sound is bassist Tim Nielsen, whose driving grooves have helped define the band’s identity and earned them a place in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
In this interview, we sit down with Tim to talk about the new album, the secrets behind his unmistakable tone, and what lies ahead for Drivin N Cryin.
Here is Tim Nielsen.
Photos: Chris Neilsen, Carlton Freeman, Ted Lanthangue, and courtesy Tim Neilsen
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Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr. Champion Love Over Hate in New Single “Hush” | New Album ‘The Offering’ Out May 1.
Bassist Oteil Burbridge and vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. continue the rollout of their forthcoming collaborative album The Offering, with the release of its second single, “Hush”. A slow-burning Southern soul meditation rooted in love, peace, and emotional clarity, the track is a centerpiece on the album with a potent, thematic statement, in Williams’ words to “block out all of that nonsense” and “remember that there is more love in the world than hate.” The full-length album arrives May 1 via Flóki Studios, recorded on Iceland’s northern coast and produced by drummer, engineer, and Soulive co-founder Alan Evans.
While much of The Offering grew out of Burbridge’s banjo-based writing, “Hush” emerged from he and Williams’ shaping a deliberate sonic vision. Burbridge says they were “trying to capture a more old school Memphis, Macon, Muscle Shoals vibe,” leaning into a Southern soul feel that fits Williams’s phrasing. The end result is a song that is unhurried with a deep pocket that allows the groove and the song’s message breathe and stand at the forefront.
The album features an all-star lineup of drummer John Morgan Kimock, percussionist Weedie Braimah, organist Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, pianist and violinist Jason Crosby, guitarists Tom Guarna and Jaden Lehman — musicians whose overlapping histories connect the Allman Brothers Band, Dead & Company, the Jerry Garcia Band, Soulive, and West African percussion traditions.
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When I heard that American Vanity, formerly known as Burn the Jukebox, was gearing up to release a new album this summer, it felt like the perfect moment to catch up with bassist and vocalist Virginia Franks.
With a fresh name unveiled just this past January and a clear shift in musical direction, the band is entering an exciting new chapter, one defined by both sonic evolution and a deeper, more focused message.
In this conversation, Virginia opens up about the inspiration behind the upcoming record, how she crafts her distinctive bass tone, what fans can expect from their upcoming tour, and where she sees both herself and the band heading next.
Join me as we dive into it all.
Here is Virginia Franks.
Photo, Devin Kasparian
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