As I said the first week I’m writing this blog to help bring marginalized bassists into the spotlight and to get things rolling I want to address a certain issues that has been bothering me quite a while. Back in high school I had a very beloved English teacher who the students had nicknamed “Daddy.” Now one of the reasons he was so well liked by my classmates (who were all guys being as I attended some hoity-toity private Catholic school) is that he felt that in order for students to grasp literature they also had to grasp music. Every Tuesday he would introduce the class to a new artist and have us analyze the lyrics.
For a bro from Michigan Daddy actually had a surprisingly diverse music taste ranging from classic rock to hip-hop to obscure indie-rock. Given my music background I absolutely loved these Tuesday forays into the music world until one fateful day when he decided to crash into some DMB. Now I have nothing against the one and only Dave Matthews Band, in fact, I think they are some of the greatest touring musicians in the world, it’s just Daddy made a fateful omission that left my bassist senses tingling, and not in the good way.
So I’m sitting in class content as humanly possible and he begins his discussion with his signature “Aah-kay class. Today we have one a band that I have personally seen 30-odd times” (as only can be expected given his heritage), “This band is made up of the virtuoso violinist Boyd Tinsley, the world’s greatest drummer Carter Beauford, and of course the brilliant Dave Matthews.”
At this moment my mind is racing. Every fabric of my being wants him to remember that he had forgotten to at least mention Stefan Lessard, the genius bassist and fourth member of the band, but alas it is all for not. Daddy continues unhindered to talk about the recently deceased saxophonist and some mind-numbing story about throwing frisbees at one of their shows completely unaware of the spite he has just cast upon me. I’m heartbroken. How could this happen? Even “Grey Street” can’t keep the rest of the class leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
This, my friends, is exactly the marginalization that I am fighting to end! Bassists are just as much a part of the band as any other musician so people should treat them like people! Viva la Revolucion! Okay maybe I’m getting carried away, but regardless us bass players could use a bit more respect. In the mean time watch Lessard tear it up.
bassrespect 