Band: The War on Drugs
Gear: SVT-VR
A founding member of American psychedelic-rock visionaries The War on Drugs, Dave Hartley has expanded his playing in lockstep with the band’s ever-growing sonic ambitions. From their lo-fi basement origins to the massive anthems on their 5th album, A Deeper Understanding, Hartley’s bass lines have seamlessly blended with the grooves and kept the train rolling down the tracks. His over-driven, syncopated finger-dance on “Holding On” is just one highlight of an album that also features nuanced fretless playing (“Thinking of a Place”, “Knocked Down”) and front-and-center melodic plectrum work (“Clean Living”).
Though the highlighted low-end is a recent development, the parts have been there all along: check out the John McVie-inspired groove on Future Weather deep cut “Comin’ Through”, the tucked-in but playful bass work on Wagonwheel Blues opener “Arms Like Boulders”, or the slinky fretless line on Lost in the Dream’s breakthrough-single “Red Eyes”.
A Deeper Understanding was released on August 25th, 2017.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Shawn Scruggs
Band: Bonnie Bishop
Gear: SVT-VR
Shawn Scruggs began his bass playing career in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. more than two decades ago. Always having an ear for the bass in every song, Shawn knew bass guitar would be his musical instrument of choice early … more »
Jason Hardin
Band: The Fray / Lauren Alaina
Gear: SVT-7PRO
At age 24, Jason had already been playing professionally for 10 years. His work includes sessions in Nashville and LA, TV appearances on American Idol, the Today Show, and TBN, and touring in the US, Canada, and Europe for crowds … more »
Tod Michael Bowers
Band: The Steepwater Band
Gear: SVT-VR
Website: www.steepwater.com
Tod resides in Uptown, Chicago, just blocks away from the Wilson Windsor Apartments, where Everett Hull began work on his invention of the amplified peg or “Ampeg.” Tod took music as an interest early on in life and his first … more »
ARTIST ROSTER
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