Bass Videos
Premiere: The Roamers’ Single, Playboy… Led by Bass Player Matt Rice
Bass Musician is proud to premiere the LA-based country band, The Roamers, and their new single, “Playboy” which releases on 9/6. With enough rough edges to call it rock n roll and enough dusty twang to call it country, The Roamers embrace every genre of American music they can put their ears on!
Photo, Joe Curet
Matt Rice is the frontman and bassist for the band and shares more about the single and how he gets his sound…
“I wrote this song over 10 years ago. It didn’t fit the band I was playing in at the time so it just sat there on the back burner for a while. I always liked it and it never left my mind. Over the years, I’ve played in different bands that I liked, but I knew we wouldn’t get there with this song for one reason or another. Finally, it got the treatment that I always thought it deserved with this recording.
I love how nasty the rhythm guitars are. And Brian’s lead guitar is what I always heard in my head but couldn’t play myself. I had always imagined guitar parts for this song as some blend of Mick Taylor, Keith Richards, Mike Campbell and Johnny Thunders. I never explained that to Brian. Didn’t have to. He heard my demo and just knew exactly what was needed. Luke’s drumming has such a nice pocket. Drummers that have a great sense of song are hard to find and Luke is one of the best. He thinks like a writer/ arranger/producer in addition to being a drummer. And I dig how grooving and free my bass playing is on this track. It was fun to record.”
My Gear:
“90% of the bass playing on the album is my trusty Fender Precision Bass, which I’ve had since I was a kid. I ran that through an early ’70s Ampeg V2 head and a new Aguilar 1×12 cabinet. That’s a stripped-down version of what I often use live. It sounded great in the studio so we ran with it. We mic’d the cabinet and we split the signal direct into the board so we could have a little further bottom end and EQ control of the clean signal. What’s on the album is about a 50-50 split between a direct-to-board sound and the mic’d amp+cabinet.
I’ve got new gear too. But I’m a sucker for old stuff, whether it be guitars, amps, cars, houses or clothes. When something is mass-produced like most products, it may be great but it’s a little bit unspecial. But then once it gets to lead its life for a while, it becomes one of a kind. And I dig that.
For live shows, we rarely play venues larger than bars and clubs so I’ll often use the rig we used in the studio but with the addition of an Aguilar Tone Hammer Preamp/DI. It helps make everything sound great and allows you to control the tone if it’s also running direct to the house system. For bigger rooms, I’ll add another speaker cabinet. For a really small room, I’ll use my Ampeg Micro SVT. But always with the Tone Hammer Preamp. I also have an early 70s Acoustic 150B amp, a newer Fender Mustang Bass, an old Jerry Jones Danelectro-style Shorthorn bass with “lipstick” pickups, and a mid-’60s Kay Truetone semi-hollow body bass with a single “speedbump” pick up on it. They all get used for one thing or another. I do my songwriting most often on an acoustic guitar.”
— Matt Rice, The Roamers
Album Credits:
Brian Whelan-Guitars, Piano, Organ, Accordion, BV | Luke Adams-Drums, Percussion, BV | Matt Rice-Bass Guitar, Upright Bass,Lead Vocals, BV | Matt Pynn-Lap Steel Guitar | All Songs Written by Matt Rice | Recorded at Sharktank Recording Los Angeles, CA | Produced by Brian Whelan, Luke Adams, and Matt Rice | Engineered by Luke Adams | Mastered by James Driscoll for Hot Tonic Mastering
Visit online at theroamers.net/
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.
CONNECT WITH OTEIL BURBRIDGE
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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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For decades, we’ve had the privilege of following the remarkable career of Nathan East, listening closely to his albums, tracking his milestones with Yamaha Instruments, and watching his evolving partnership with Laney Amplification with great interest. Along the way, we’ve talked gear, tone, and technique, while hearing his unmistakable musical “voice” woven into the work of more iconic artists than we could possibly list.
Today, we’re thrilled to reconnect with this true giant of the bass world following the release of a very special new album, Father Son, produced by Nathan alongside his son, Noah East. It’s a deeply personal project that showcases not only extraordinary musicianship but also a powerful family bond.
Join us as we dive into the making of this outstanding record, explore the new Laney Nathan East Signature Bass Preamp, and look ahead to what the future holds for one of music’s most respected and influential bassists.
Here is the one and only… Mr. Nathan East.
Photos, John Abbott @johnabbottphoto
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Interview With Bassist Adam Russell
Interview With Bassist Tim Neilsen
Gear News: Fender Unveils Highly Anticipated Vintera III Series
New Music: Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr. New Single, Hush
Interview With Bassist Virginia Franks
Mar 9 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Mar 16 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Mar 23 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Mar 30 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram