Donny Benet is a third-generation musician, Donny moved to Sydney in 2000 to study jazz double bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with renowned teacher Craig Scott. Paying his dues, Donny honed his skills playing with Australian jazz masters Mike Nock, Bernie McGann, and Vince Jones whilst being on the forefront of jazz as a member of the band Triosk.
After 10 years of performing both in Australia and throughout the world, a chance to encounter at a vintage synthesizer shop in Tokyo led Donny to purchasing his first drum machine, which reconnected him to his love of funk and electric bass.
The release of his first album Don’t Hold Back in 2011 led to the shift from jazz double bassist to solo artist and electric bass freelancer in the pop/indie scenes. The release of The Don in 2018 ignited Donny’s newfound and busy international career. Back-to-back sold out European, US and Australian tours, festival appearances and a fruitful writing period placed Donny in an excellent position to release his latest album Mr Experience in early 2020.
Donny recently toured in the USA and used the Bergantino forte HP2 and the NXT410C speaker cabinet.
“I was so so impressed with the portability, clear tone and power of the Bergantino forte HP2 and 410X Speaker cab whilst on tour this year. Gone are the days of killing your back for a huge sound – these guys deliver what I’m after”- Donny
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/donnybenet-scaled.jpeg19202560Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2024-07-26 08:08:182024-07-26 08:09:42Bergantino Artist Donny Benet
Bergantino Welcomes Marc Brownstein to Their Family of Artists
The innovative bassist/sonic explorer/DJ discusses his life of touring with Disco Biscuits, the current tour with the new album “Revolution in Motion, and more!
Whitinsville, MA (May 16, 2024) – Marc Brownstein is the king of “Trance-Fusion” – a subgenre that his band Disco Biscuits has been in the center of for the past two decades. As a founding member of the band from their days at UPenn, Marc has quite the experience under his belt, and each tour has gotten more and more exciting. Disco Biscuits is currently on tour with their new album Revolution in Motion, a full multimedia experience accompanied by a 25-minute animated film that tells a story of intergalactic travelers finding their way on Earth.
D.J. Brownie! What made you want to be a musician and start playing bass and who drew you to it?
I was drawn to music after John Lennon was assassinated. I was raised in NYC and the city was just going crazy. I was 7 years old at the time and my thought was, wow why is everyone freaking out so much, this guy must be really special. And so I started to check the Beatles out and that was the beginning of my journey with music.
A question from one of your fans and fellow bass players Karina Rykman: “How do you keep your bubble of positivity intact and thriving”?
Well it’s funny she should ask. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the run of positivity we are experiencing now began right at the beginning of tour at the beginning of January 2023 when we had Karina opening for us for a week. I can say that her positive energy on tour definitely left its mark on the rest of our tour. Some people are so naturally happy and positive that it leaves you feeling that way, sometimes permanently!
Besides the bass guitar, what other instruments do you play?
I dabble with piano, guitar, and I can make my way around a drum kit if I get into it for a few weeks. I’ve played flute and saxophone as well at different times. I also play the double bass. But I would say Piano is my second instrument at this point. I play everyday.
What is your favorite (and least favorite) thing about touring?
The best part of touring is the 4 hours on stage with the band. But also getting to visit so many great places all of the time. That’s the silver lining. The only thing I don’t love about touring is missing my family.
Tell us about your first music teacher. What lesson did you learn from this person and still use today?
My first music teacher, Mrs. Koslov, 2nd grade, I just was at her funeral a few weeks ago. I eventually became best friends with Mrs Koslov’s son and we stayed in touch for my whole life. She taught me a lot but really she was the one who gave me the courage to perform. My first public performance ever was a piano version of Eleanor Rigby.
What was the first bass you had?
This is tough. I think I had a standard Ibanez jazz style bass first. Within a year or two I got an American Fender Jazz bass.
What are the basses you have and use now?
My main bass is an Elrick 5 string by Rob Elrick. I also have a Q5 Modulus and an Alembic 5 as well. Oteil (Burbridge) sent me a Roscoe custom 6 during the Pandemic that I like to play. I also have a Sire Marcus Miller, a newer American Fender Jazz bass, a custom Ibanez SDGR, an Ibanez BTB and an Elrick 5 string Fretless bass which is my main bass at home.
Who were the musicians who inspired you and what qualities do you admire about them?
I was deeply influenced by Phish when I discovered them in college. I admired their ability to mesh jazz, classical and rock Improvisational styles. I was very inspired by classic jazz musicians. Miles. Monk. Coltrane. Dexter Gordon. Cannonball Adderly. Mingus. This is the generation of musicians that laid the groundwork for what we do now.
You studied and started the band Disco Biscuits at UPenn. Tell us more about the origins.
The band just sort of linked up in the quad (dormitory) and we started to set up our gear and jam for fun. Within a short time I realized the guys I was playing with were really talented and so I applied to the New School for jazz and went and spent a year crash coursing music at a high level so I could return to Penn and start a band with them.
You have a new album “Revolution in Motion,” that you’re currently touring on. How is it going?
The tour has been amazing. It’s one of the best tours we ever had in our career. We sold out more than half of the shows and are receiving really great feedback across the country.
I watched the video on YT for Revolution in Motion. The Choreography, production, color, cartoon characters, and theme were so much fun. Space aliens and psychedelic art, pop ups like a comic book, and you in your alien jump suit with your baseball cap were amazing. Loved! How was this collaborated?
We have a co-writer on this project named Joey Friedman. He conceived of the concept for the album and he had a very specific vision for what the visuals would look like. He spent hours and hours with the animators (Blunt Action) and the AI animator (Todd Kushnir) working through each iteration to make it come to life in the way that it was conceived.
How would you describe the music you create for Disco Biscuits?
We always hoped that the music we created would be the weirdest and craziest music of all time but we describe it as Trance-Fusion, which was a name that was drawn from jazz-fusion, the mixing of jazz with rock and roll instruments. We found our own sound by mixing trance music with rock and roll instruments, hence the genre title. It was renamed Jamtronica many years later by the folks over at SiriusXM who started a radio show called the Jamtronica show to highlight acts from our scene. I was the host of that show for the first 3 years.
Describe the creative process when you write new music.
These days the creative process is a team effort. Usually we start by combing through improvisational sections of music from the tours to see if we can find any melodies or chord structures that are song worthy. When we find it we bring it into our DAW (ableton) and creating a grid. This is easy for us because we often play to a time clock on stage. From there we start building out the structures of the new piece of music while Joey and maybe me or Aron or Jon will start working on some lyrical concepts. Within an hour or two we start to record some of these initial lyrics and melodies and Jon usually starts to adapt them and tweak them to make them comfortable for him to sing. Usually within a few hours we are able to walk away with a very advanced demo of a new song. It’s been an extremely fruitful experience that has left us with albums worth of the best material we’ve had in decades.
The lighting for your shows is amazing. Who does the lighting design work and choreography for the tours?
Our new LD is known as Herm, but his name is Alex. We know him as Herm though. He came to us from the band Twiddle at the beginning of this year and has totally revitalized the visual elements of the stage show. He’s a really great fit and we feel grateful to have been linked up with such a massive talent. It was luck and timing and some might call it fate.
How would your bandmates describe you?
My bandmates would probably describe me as energetic and talkative and headstrong but also they might notice that I’ve become really good at going with the flow and backing their creative instincts. They may further describe me as anxious and nervous but may also notice that these elements have been remediated of recent. Mostly I think they would describe me as loyal and dedicated.
How did you find Bergantino Audio systems?
I was first introduced to it by Ed Grasmeyer who I know as Mike Gordon’s tech in Burlington. I was playing a show at Nectars and needed a backline and Ed came and set me up with the ForteHP2 and I was blown away by the tone. I then noticed Karina Rykman was using Bergantino as well and that’s when I started to think I needed to get in contact with the company. Karina was opening for the Biscuits on Boston and that’s where I had the chance to demo the forte hp2 in the context of the biscuits stage show. I haven’t looked back since that night.
Tell us about your experience with the Forté HP2 on the tour?
There are so many things that I can say about it but the most notable is that I’m not struggling to hear the frequencies that I want to hear on stage anymore. I used to have to boost the bass everywhere. In an EQ pedal, on the preamp on the actual bass. But every time you add a little of those low frequencies in those other places you risk degrading the tone of the signal. With the Forte HP2 there is a punch button that gives me exactly the frequency I’m looking for. 100 hz. 4 db. It’s perfect.
Did you think Jim talked too much when you met him in Boston?
I will never notice when someone talks too much because chances are I’m out talking them.
What’s your process for dealing with performance anxiety?
I used to self-medicate for this purpose but I was recently in touch with a psychiatrist who has helped me regulate my own chemical imbalances and I have found that my performance anxiety isn’t really an issue when I have the proper amount of dopamine in the system!
Imagine that you’re at a party and it’s a little stale. What’s the “party trick” (or hidden talent) that you’d bust out to liven the place up?
Before the app existed I was known as a real life fruit ninja. I take a big knife and people throw fruit from across the room and I chop it in half in mid-air. It’s not the safest party trick anymore because I lost vision in my right eye a few years ago and I’m not as accurate as I used to be!
What hobbies do you have outside of music?
I love sports. I love reading. I love word games. I love gardening. I love hiking/running/moving. My biggest hobby was snowboarding for many years but I’ve grown injury prone and stay off the mountain these days.
What is the most trouble you ever got into?
Well, I managed to stay out of trouble until college. But before weed was legalized I had a series of run-ins with the law and spent a night in the clink in Amherst Mass during my freshman year fraternity pledge trip. Luckily this isn’t an issue anymore for those of us who don’t drink or smoke cigarettes but prefer a little of the wacky tabacky to cool down.
What is the message you would give to your fans?
Well I give them so many messages all the time but the most important one that I try to remember to keep constant is a message of gratitude. Thank you so much for sticking with us through thick and thin, through ups and downs, for decades now you have allowed us to live our dreams and have the most blessed lives possible.
How do you feel social media has impacted your music?
Social media is a double edged sword. It has allowed us to create a strong community where everyone feels like a family but for someone like me who gets addicted to things easily, I really have to be vigilant with practice and writing and other aspects of my life not to spend the whole day scrolling and wasting the time away.
What is your favorite song of all time?
Right now my favorite song of all time is probably a short and beautiful little ditty by Labi Siffre called Bless the Telephone. I would suggest everyone take the 1:29 to listen to it and feel the bliss.
What did I miss for a question that you would like to share?
Bass players don’t really get to play solo shows, at least not my style of bass, so I’ve had to learn how to DJ in order to perform by myself at times and I would suggest coming out to see a DJ Brownie show at some point.
Last one! Describe your perfect meal!
I love to eat great meals. I’m partial to Asian foods but the perfect meal to me is one slice of pizza from Freddie and Peppers on 72nd and Amsterdam in NYC. PERFECTION.
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MarcB.jpg512512Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2024-05-17 07:47:182024-05-21 07:28:38Bergantino Artist Marc Brownstein
Bassist for psychedelic, Reggae-Rock titans Audic Empire shares his history as a musician.
James Tobias, a multi-talented musician and jack-of-all-trades shares his story of coming up as a musician in Texas, his journey with his band Audic Empire, and his approach to life and music. With a busy tour schedule each year, we were fortunate to catch up with him while he was out and about touring the US.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Dallas, Texas and lived in the Dallas area most of my life with the exception of 1 year in Colorado. I moved to the Austin area at age 18.
What makes the bass so special to you particularly, and how did you gravitate to it?
I honestly started playing bass because we needed a bass player and I was the one with access to a bass amp and bass. I played rhythm guitar and sang up until I met Ronnie, who I would later start “Audic Empire” with. He also played rhythm guitar and sang and we didn’t know any bass players, so we had to figure something out. I still write most of my songs on guitar, but I’ve grown to love playing the bass.
How did you learn to play, James?
I took guitar lessons growing up and spent a lot of time just learning tabs or playing by ear and kicked around as a frontman in a handful of bands playing at the local coffee shops or rec centers. Once I transitioned to bass, I really just tried to apply what I knew about guitar and stumbled through it till it sounded right. I’m still learning every time I pick it up, honestly.
You are also a song writer, recording engineer, and a fantastic singer, did you get formal training for this?
Thank you, that means a lot! I had a couple voice lessons when I was in my early teens, but didn’t really like the instructor. I did however take a few lessons recently through ACC that I enjoyed and think really helped my technique (Shout out to Adam Roberts!) I was not a naturally gifted singer, which is a nice way of saying I was pretty awful, but I just kept at it.
As far as recording and producing, I just watched a lot of YouTube videos and asked people who know more than me when I had a question. Whenever I feel like I’m not progressing, I just pull up tracks from a couple years ago, cringe, and feel better about where I’m at but I’ve got a long way to go. Fortunately we’ve got some amazing producers I can pass everything over to once I get the songs as close to finalized as I can.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that can be improved on the bass.
I honestly don’t know what my style would be considered. We’ve got so many styles that we play and fuse together that I just try to do what works song by song. I don’t have too many tricks in the bag and just keep it simple and focus on what’s going to sound good in the overall mix. I think my strength lies in thinking about the song as a whole and what each instrument is doing, so I can compliment everything else that’s going on. What could be improved is absolutely everything, but that’s the great thing about music (and kind of anything really).
Who were your influencers in terms of other musicians earlier on or now that have made a difference and inspired you.
My dad exposed me to a lot of music early. I was playing a toy guitar while watching a VHS of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble live at SXSW on repeat at 4 years old saying I wanted to “do that” when I grew up. I was the only kid in daycare that had his own CDs that weren’t kids songs. I was listening to Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, and The Doors when I could barely talk. I would make up songs and sing them into my Panasonic slimline tape recorder and take it to my preschool to show my friends. As I got older went through a bunch of music phases. Metal, grunge, rock, punk, hip hop, reggae, ska, etc. Whatever I heard that I connected to I’d dive in and learn as much as I could about it. I was always in bands and I think I kept picking up different styles along the way and kept combining my different elements and I think that’s evident in Audic’s diverse sound.
Tell me about Audic Empire and your new release Take Over! Can you share some of the highlights you and the band are most proud of?
Takeover was an interesting one. I basically built that song on keyboard and drum loops and wrote and tracked all my vocals in one long session in my bedroom studio kind of in a stream of consciousness type of approach. I kind of thought nothing would come of it and I’d toss it out, but we slowly went back and tracked over everything with instruments and made it our own sound. I got it as far as I could with production and handed it off to Chad Wrong to work his magic and really brought it to life. Once I got Snow Owl Media involved and we started brainstorming about a music video, it quickly turned into a considerably larger production than anything we’ve done before and it was such a cool experience. I’m really excited about the final product, especially considering I initially thought it was a throwaway track.
Describe the music style of Audic Empire for us.
It’s all over the place… we advertise it as “blues, rock, reggae.” Blues because of our lead guitarist, Travis Brown’s playing style, rock because I think at the heart we’re a rock band, and reggae because we flavor everything with a little (or a lot) of reggae or ska.
How did you find Bergantino Audio Systems?
Well, my Ampeg SVT7 caught fire at a show… We were playing Stubbs in Austin and everyone kept saying they smelled something burning, and I looked back in time to see my head, perched on top of its 8×10 cab, begin billowing smoke. We had a tour coming up, so I started researching and pricing everything to try and find a new amp. I was also fronting a metal band at the time, and my bass player’s dad was a big time country bass player and said he had this really high end bass amp just sitting in a closet he’d sell me. I was apprehensive since I really didn’t know much about it and “just a little 4×10” probably wasn’t going to cut it compared to my previous setup. He said I could come over and give it a test drive, but he said he knew I was going to buy it. He was right. I immediately fell in love. I couldn’t believe the power it put out compared to this heavy head and cumbersome cab I had been breaking my back hauling all over the country and up countless staircases.
Tell us about your experience with the forte D amp and the AE 410 Speaker cabinet.
It’s been a game changer in every sense. It’s lightweight and compact. Amazing tone. And LOUD. It’s just a fantastic amp. Not to mention the customer service being top notch! You’ll be hard pressed to find another product that, if you have an issue, you can get in touch with the owner, himself. How cool is that?
Tell us about some of your favorite basses.
I was always broke and usually working part time delivering pizzas, so I just played what I could get my hands on. I went through a few pawn shop basses, swapped in new pickups, and fought with the action on them constantly. I played them through an Ampeg be115 combo amp. All the electronics in it had fried at some point, so I gutted it out and turned into a cab that I powered with a rusted up little head I bought off someone for a hundred bucks. My gear was often DIY’d and held together by electrical tape and usually had a few coats of spray paint to attempt to hide the wear and tear. I never really fell in love with any piece of gear I had till I had a supporter of our band give me an Ibanez Premium Series SDGR. I absolutely love that bass and still travel with it. I’ve since gotten another Ibanez Premium Series, but went with the 5 string BTB. It’s a fantastic sounding bass, my only complaint is it’s pretty heavy.
Love your new video Take Over! Let us know what you’re currently working on (studio, tour, side projects, etc.)
Thank you!! We’ve got a LOT of stuff we’re working on right now actually. Having 2 writers in the band means we never have a shortage of material. It’s more about getting everything tracked and ready for release and all that goes into that. We just got through filming videos for 2 new unreleased tracks with Snow Owl Media, who did the videos for both Love Hate and Pain and Takeover. Both of these songs have surprise features which I’m really excited about since these will be the first singles since our last album we have other artists on. We’ve also got a lot of shows coming up and I’ve also just launched my solo project as well. The debut single, “Raisin’ Hell” is available now everywhere. You can go here to find all the links https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jamestobias/raisin-hell
What else do you do besides music?
For work, I own a handyman service here in Austin doing a lot of drywall, painting, etc. I have a lot of hobbies and side hustles as well. I make custom guitar straps and other leather work. I do a lot of artwork and have done most of our merch designs and a lot of our cover art. I’m really into (and borderline obsessed) with health, fitness, and sober living. I have a hard time sitting still, but fortunately there’s always a lot to do when you’re self-employed and running a band!
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/jamesnoshirtaudic-featured.jpg11361440Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2024-04-11 07:20:002024-07-25 07:24:31Bergantino Artist James Tobias
Bergantino Welcomes Mike Gordon to Their Family of Artists
The Phish bass phenom discusses his path on bass and how his love of technology has enhanced his career and led him to Bergantino amps
Whitinsville, MA (October 17th, 2023) – For forty years Mike Gordon has served as the sonic foundation of the biggest jam band in the world. In that span, Phish has gone from a small college outfit in Vermont to having millions of fans all over the world and one of the biggest devoted followings in music history. By melding rock, jam, reggae, funk, and blues into a sound all their own, their studio recording span a wide range of sonic territory, which is all anchored by the steady propulsion of Gordon’s playing. And when it comes to live performances, Phish outpaces any contemporaries. Known for playing extended, multiple sets each night, Gordon juggles complex riffs, sings counter-harmonies, and navigates a serious pedalboard, all while holding down his impeccable groove.
As a solo artist, Gordon has released 13 albums, with the most recent being the infinitely funky and danceable Flying Games [2023]. Much like his musical voice, Gordon’s rig is always evolving, which includes the many effects on his pedalboard, his arsenal of basses, and of course, his amp. On his recent solo tours, Gordon began using Bergantino Forté HP heads, which have now become his go-to for those shows. Bergantino Audio Systems is honored and excited to welcome accomplished bassist Mike Gordon as a featured artist. Our Marc Stranger-Najjar had an opportunity to meet Mike at a recent show and ask him a few questions.
When did you start playing bass and what drew you to it?
I started playing in high school. My family went to the Bahamas when I was 12 and I saw a calypso band perform called The Mustangs. They played this song “Ya Mar,” which Phish covers, and I was listening to it in the pool when I decided I loved the vibration of the bass. I could feel it in the water. I knew that that was the instrument I wanted to play.
What was the first bass you had?
It was a KENT and I bought it for $99 from my babysitter Kenny Getz. It came with a tube stereo amp and speaker that he had built from scratch.
You’ve mentioned in interviews that you’ve been influenced by Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. What drew you to his approach on bass?
It was the way Phil seemed so uninhibited melodically, able to playfully vary the melody and the rhythm of his phrases. He simultaneously provides the oomph that creates a powerful propulsion. Also, the sweetness of his tone.
You’re known for your use of effects. What was your first effects pedal?
Oh, I’m trying to remember … ahmm… (still thinking). Well, the oldest one I can remember was The Funky Filter, a kitschy little envelope filter I used with Phish back in the day.
What led you to Bergantino?
Ed Grasmeyer, bass tech extraordinaire for my solo band, had some experience with Bergantino, and he encouraged me to try out your amps. I happily drank the Kool Aid.
What do you think of the Forté HP2?
There is a clarity and immediacy that I feel with the Forte HP amp, and on top of that there is a lot of punch. It’s almost a cliche, but that’s what we bassists seek a lot of the time – punch – and the Forté HP amp has it! Moreover, there is a lot of control – I feel like I can really dial in the sound with the drive, VRC and punch controls. Every knob I turn up makes it sound even better. Win win!
You have a background in electrical engineering. Does this influence the evolution of your rig? If so, how?
To be honest, I really fizzled out of my EE major pretty early on. I was 2.5 years in before changing majors, but I didn’t get much out of it that applies. I’ve been building gadgets since I was 5, so there was always the inclination to tinker. I suppose when I discovered that ported cabinets can be modeled as electrical circuits (speaker resonance, cubic volume, and port size relating to capacitance, inductance, and resistance), I was able to draw on my EE knowledge.
One of our favorite things about you is how inventive you are. For instance, the custom lanyard you created for your daughter to communicate with her during your shows. Care to tell us more about that and how it works?
It was other people who designed and built it, but I call it The Tessa Box, and it sits on my pedal board. My daughter Tessa has a fob, and when she’s out in the audience at a show, she can remotely signal me with a bright light on the box that lets me know she’s watching the show (other times she’s backstage). And then indicate with a dimmer light whether she’s stage left, front of house, or stage right. Then I can give a signal to acknowledge her. It’s a nice feeling and it can lead to better playing!
About Bergantino Audio Systems: Bergantino Audio Systems has been dedicated to developing and building the highest quality audio products and bass guitar amplification systems since 2001. Founder Jim Bergantino has worked in a number of fields in his career, from high-tech electrical engineering to the high-end professional audio world. After designing custom bass cabinets for many other leading brands, he started his own Bergantino Audio Systems. BAS has received numerous accolades within the musical instrument industry and continues to look forward via their designs and unique approach to developing products. https://bergantino.com
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MikeGordon.webp783760Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2023-11-07 11:12:512023-11-07 11:13:49Bergantino Artist Mike Gordon
Bergantino was very excited to have Bassist Ryan Stasik using the Bergantino Forté HP2 on tour with Umphrey McGee!
Equal parts trained pianist and self-taught rocker, Ryan Stasik the bassist is a confluence of musical forces. As a student at the University of Notre Dame, he co-founded Umphrey’s McGee, known as much for their irreverent stage presence as their complex musicality. Ryan is truly a musician knowing no boundaries.
Ryan shares: “I was fortunate enough to take a Bergantino forté HP2 out on tour. This amp is awesome. Truly allows you to carve out a myriad of tones from vintage to modern. Jim went above and beyond in his attention to detail to make this beast a true tone monster.
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ryanst.jpg11751170Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2023-11-02 12:22:452023-11-02 12:26:41Bassist Ryan Stasik using the Bergantino Forté HP2 on tour with Umphrey McGee!
Bergantino Welcomes Bassist Aaron Rieseberg to our Family of Artists
Photo credit to “James Rexroad”
In this Bergantino artist spotlight we are excited to introduce our new artist, the amazing Aaron Rieseberg. As the bass player for Eugene, Oregon doom metal band YOB, Aaron is a talented addition to the Bergantino family. We wanted to get to know Aaron a little better, so we asked him some questions and he enthusiastically answered them for us.
Tell us how you started on your bass journey.
It all began when my dad took me and my older brother to see AC/DC. I think I was 12. The show was so powerful, loud, and entertaining, and we were utterly floored. On the way home we talked to dad about how badly we wanted instruments, but my brother wanted me to play bass because he was gonna play guitar. That Christmas dad got me a cheap Ibanez starter pack and I was off.
You’re currently on tour with your doom metal band YOB. Can you share more about the band?
YOB is a trio where the music is crushingly heavy and pays equal attention to both song craft and enormous riffs. A lot of attention is paid to the minutiae in the way the songs unfold with a lot of small twists and turns. We don’t consider ourselves a progressive band, but on occasion it gets heady and a tad bit ADD [laughs]. It’s not uncommon for lengths of songs to reach past the 10-minute mark, sometimes well beyond. Dynamics also play a big role, and we play with space a lot. There is a deep well of influence ranging from the many forms of metal, rock, singer/songwriter, punk, alternative, folk, and country. Funnel all this through A-standard tuning and heavy distortion and you have an idea what YOB sounds like.
What does YOB stand for?
Mike came upon the name YOB while watching a Chuck Jones cartoon called Rocket-Bye Baby. There was an alien called Yob. He liked that it didn’t sound like anything or paint the band in any sort of corner.
People hate this question, but If you were constructing your personal Bass Mt. Rushmore, who are the four players that would make the cut and why?
John Entwistle – I picked up The Who’s live at Leeds early on in my teens and really was knocked out by his playing as well as his sound – a big gnarly P-Bass cranked through all those Hi-Watts. It’s so fun listening to a bass player who can play so busy and it still serves a song so well. John had dynamics for days, I love the calm delicate passages before the storm of fury and distortion rolls back in.
James Jamerson – who is probably on most people’s Rushmore. Absolutely mind-boggling player. He just completely changed the game as far as what the bass could do melodically and rhythmically in a pop song. James had impeccable taste for when to lean in and when to lay back.
Dave Edwardson (Neurosis) – total hero of mine. In the world of heavy music there is a different set of physics and obstacles. Dave is wildly creative and a master within this realm. When Neurosis plays live he embellishes/improvises in ways that inspire me. And great use of effects too. He gets truly monolithic tones that sound awesome beneath a dense wall of guitars.
Geezer Butler – I can’t think of a more crucial contributor to my own personal development as a player. He is the complete package: songwriter, lyricist, and true pioneer of the bass. When I was cutting my teeth, I learned as many Black Sabbath lines as I could get my hands on.
Tell us about some of your favorite basses.
With YOB lately I’ve been playing my old 1988 Gibson Thunderbird. I swapped the stock bridge to a Hipshot super tone and I put in a set of Thunderbucker Ranch ’63 pickups. It sounds stout in the bottom and has a certain wood-like midrange crunch that fills out a 3-piece very well. For recording I have used a Rickenbacker many times, though they don’t work quite as well live for me for some reason. I have a couple old Fender-style basses that get a LOT of mileage at home. A ’74 P-bass, a ’68 jazz and a Moollon P-Classic. I played the P on the YOB record, Atma. The sound, the feel, everything about that bass is great.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that can be improved on the bass.
I play primarily with my fingers unless the song is demanding a pick. My instinct is to try and make the rhythm sound as big as possible. I have a tendency is to play way behind the beat which heavily plays into that. I believe that my ability to play slowly with a tight pocket is one of my biggest strengths. There is a lot of power in patience. I’m very fortunate to play with such monster players in Mike and Dave. I like playing with variations on where space is left open, where to let the daylight in and where to block it out. I learned by ear for the most part. I’d like to make improvements with my music theory. It would be mega helpful and fun to be able to analyze and communicate better at that level.
You have a monstrous bass tone. What lead you to incorporate large amounts of drive in your sound?
I think it came from listening to music and being drawn to that type of sound. The bands I’ve played in have always been in a heavy genre and to a certain extent it comes with the territory. A lot of times distortion and monstrous sounds is what helps make the music speak. I’m a little obsessive about how the bottom end comes through and about the way it helps to balance out the sound of the whole band.
Tell us about your experience with Bergantino and the forte D amp as well as the NV610. What settings do you use on the amp?
The Forte D is a new addition for me and I’m blown away by this thing. I’ve always been way into tube amps, and I was looking for something that could cop that sound very convincingly without having to shell out the money on maintenance. The amp is simple so it’s easy to dial in. I like running the drive about 1/2 way up so it sounds like tubes getting pushed, then I use pedals for when I need extra grind.
The NV610 is the best combination of tone, volume, and portability. It’s got punch for days, warm present mids, and a pleasing treble range (zero ice pick). I love deep and full bottom without flub. This cab has been on countless tours at this point and hasn’t let me down once.
What else do you like to do besides playing bass?
I love playing basketball. I get outside a lot and soak up the nature. It’s the best part about the Portland area other than all the good food. I love to eat.
Follow Aaron:
@bleachlightning (personal)
@quantumyob (Yob)
@living_gate (living gate)
https://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/yobaaron-1.jpg13632048Bergantino Audiohttps://bergantino.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bergantino-logo-green-white-RGB-300x80.pngBergantino Audio2023-10-17 16:43:542023-10-17 16:46:51Bergantino Artist Bassist Aaron Rieseberg is in the Artist Spotlight
