MyFaveBands.com

Each musician has a hero or two whose art has influenced them-and in some cases, changed their lives.  I remember looking at the back of a Righteous Bros. album and seeing this woman’s picture. As a little girl in the 60’s, this blew me away…and the caption read something like “Carol Kaye-bass”.

A GIRL as a pro musician?  Commonplace as that is today, this was a big deal then…and it changed my life.  I could dream of doing the same. And I did, thanks to the inspiration of this incredible musician.

The theme to “Mission: Impossible”…the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”…Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made for Walking”… Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made to Love Her”…the Monkees’ “I’m A Believer”….The Supremes, Quincy Jones, Barbara Streisand…yeah, folks, there’s a good chance that’s a chick on bass. And the list goes on and on!!

Carol not only is a bassist, but has laid tracks on guitar for an amazing number of major hits as well.  Carol’s gear includes Ibanez guitars, Gallien-Krueger gear, and George Benson and Thomastik strings.  She remains very active on the music scene, and provides lessons to some of the best.

So, bassists, consult the best! She has a website (www.carolkaye.com) where you can find all kinds of history, articles, charts, audio and video clips, etc…it’s all info you can use. You, too WILL be inspired.  Tell her myfavebands.com sent you (she does answer emails…go for it!…you will be able to say with all honesty that you have corresponded with a legend!!).

One day, I will shake the hand that inspired me.

Until that day, I will use her website! She is in fact the “first lady of bass”, and to her I will be eternally grateful.

Carol, thank you. YOU ROCK!

We’ll be keeping tabs on this group…am SO looking forward to hearing this indie rock band’s production when it’s completed this summer. I had found Leah Rushforth, guitarist and lead singer, on her own MySpace site last year, and was impressed with her look, and her throaty, intense vocals. In fact, she was among the top 30 finalists in the 2005 Australia Idol competition.

Looks like she’s currently hooked up with musician Michael Setter, and together along with multi-instrumentalist Terry Van Stead and engineer Clayton Segalov of Brain Studio Surrey Hills, are planning a release sometime this summer. There’s an entertaining little video on their site (www.myspace.com/wearethemakeup), too, so, take a look and a listen at the MakeUp…see if you agree with me that this New South Wales group just might be the next hot ticket this year…

Now, how the heck could a group with THAT name make me cry?

Well the story is: While at the North American Folk Alliance in Memphis last month, I was walking down a corridor at the hotel, and heard this music-all stringed instruments, played with unique rhythm and a edgy Celtic feel…I followed the sound, and found this quite handsome group of young people playing in their hotel room, door open, rehearsing…I stepped partway in, stayed still and listened…and by the end of whatever song it was they were playing, found myself with tears rolling down my face! The music, and the energy they created amongst themselves, was beautiful.

Then it seemed they were everywhere for the remainder of the week! These musicians worked so hard…they played anywhere-and anytime-they could. I was constantly running into them…LUCKY ME!!!

BMUZ (I love it!) hails from Boston, Massachusetts, and play frequently in the area, as well as at many festivals. Bronwyn Bird, Andy Reiner, Mariel Vandersteel, and Stash are among some of the most talented musicans around. You can see them and hear samples of their music at www.bmuz.net or myspace.com/unbuttonedzippers.

Take a listen to Mirror Pal (www.myspace.com/mirrorpal), an amazing indie band based near Orlando, Florida. Describing their music as “soul/rock/ambient” on their website, these guys really do put out a sound that fits that description.

Last year, I walked into a club in the Daytona Beach area…and found myself stopping dead in my tracks alongside the stage…because of the music. Mirror Pal was performing, and what was emanating from the stage was intricate, mesmerizing, and very impressive. I was enjoying the moment, and became an instant fan. “Enjoy life” happens to be a Mirror Pal motto.
So, let’s see: instant fanship….enjoying life…sounds like doses of Mirror Pal comes with some pretty good side effects.

No, it’s not the name of Jim’s band….for those of us just now learning about these things, the Chapman Stick is the name of his musical INSTRUMENT, and its sound is gorgeous. The music Jim creates with his accomplished voice and this one instrument (yes, that’s bass AND guitar-type sounds at once) is amazing. Jim hails from Singapore, lives in Houston, and calls himself a Haamster-he’s a member of the Houston Association of Acoustic Musicians.

Go to www.jimkam.com to hear the music, chuckle at a few of his wry comments (I found myself frequently laughing out loud), and to read about the Chapman Stick, so that YOU won’t have to ask, ” What the heck IS that thing?”.