Bakithi Kumalo’s bass playing helped define one of the most iconic albums of all time: Paul Simon’s Graceland. But his story goes far beyond those legendary fretless lines. In this episode of The Bass Nerds, Bakithi talks with Marc and Jody about his early days in South Africa, finding his voice on the bass, and what it was like recording with legends like Simon, Herbie Hancock, and Harry Belafonte. He also shares insight into his gear, his musical instincts, and how he continues to mentor the n...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 30
We're excited to welcome Kevin Scott to the Bass Nerds Podcast. Kevin is a dynamic and innovative bassist known for his work with Govt Mule, Warren Haynes band, Wayne Krantz, Col Bruce Hampton, Jimmy Herring, Forq, and many others. In this episode, we sit down to talk about his musical journey, the evolution of his tone and technique, and the mindset behind his unique style of playing. Kevin shares insights on his early influences, his approach to improvisation, and what it's like collaborating ...
May 19, 2025•2 hr 24 min•Ep. 29
On this episode of the Bass Nerds Podcast, we sit down with the legendary Horace Panter, bassist for the iconic ska band The Specials. Horace shares stories from his early days, the rise of 2 Tone, and how he crafted his unmistakable bass style that helped define a genre. We dive into his influences, gear, and the creative process behind some of the band's biggest tracks. Whether you're a fan of ska, bass guitar, or music history, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 28
In this episode of The Bass Nerds Podcast, we dive into the world of Pops Magellan, the versatile bassist and producer shaking up the industry. From her early days playing in Brazil to touring with Adam Lambert, Willow, and Avril Lavigne, Pops has built a dynamic career blending rock, funk, and Brazilian influences. We’ll explore her journey, her role as a session and touring bassist, and her upcoming solo EP *DAMAGE*. Tune in for an in-depth look at what makes Pops Magellan a true force in the ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 27
The legendary Donny Benet joins The Bass Nerds Podcast to talk all things groove, bass, and sophisticated funk! From his signature vintage synth-bass tones to his deep pocket grooves, Donny shares insights on his creative process, inspirations, and the art of crafting timeless music. We dive into his approach to bass, the balance between synth and electric, and what it takes to keep the groove alive. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a fellow low-end lover, this episode is packed with bass wisdom...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 26
In this episode of the Bass Nerds Podcast, we’re thrilled to have Chester Hansen, the laid-back and super talented bassist from BADBADNOTGOOD, join us for a fun and insightful chat. Chester opens up about his journey from jazz to experimenting with hip-hop and electronic music, and how he crafts those signature, boundary-pushing basslines we all love. We dive into his creative process, the highs and lows of collaborating with artists like Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean, and what keeps him in...
Dec 31, 2024•48 min•Ep. 25
Brian Cook of Russian Circles, Sumac and These Arms are Snakes stopped by the studio for an epic interview. Brian has toured the world and shared stories of the road, gear, growing up and much more. Thankful for Chicago Music Exchange for sharing their space. https://russiancircles.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sumacbandofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/thesearmsaresnakesofficial/...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 24
The Bass Nerds welcome Michael Byrnes of Mt Joy! Michael is currently carrying the low end with Mt Joy, they have been touring non stop. Michael has roots in Chicago where he attended Columbia College for music before heading out west to LA to elevate his music career. Mikey shares some incredible stories of the road, gigging, studying under Chuck Webb and much more. Special thanks to Chicago Music Exchange for sharing their space and letting us record. https://www.instagram.com/mtjoyband/ . Fol...
Nov 23, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 23
We welcome Dezron Douglas! Dezron is currently holding down the low end with Trey Anastasio Band and the Dezron Douglas Quartet. Dezron shares some incredible stories of his early days at The Hartt College School, studying under Dr Jackie McLean and much more. Special thanks to Chicago Music Exchange for sharing their space and letting us record. https://www.instagram.com/dezthought . https://www.dezrondouglasmusic.com/ Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcast/ https:/...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 22
We welcome Zachary Cooper on this episode of the Bass Nerds. Zach hails from New York and shares his journey from local music store jobs to touring with one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Thank you to the Coheed family for giving us a little bit of their time. Special thanks to Chicago Music Exchange for sharing their space and letting us record. https://www.coheedandcambria.com/ https://www.instagram.com/zacharyacooper/ Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcas...
Aug 31, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 21
Nicole Row, bassist of Incubus sits down with the Bass Nerds to chat bass, dogs, yardwork and more! Nicole has played with some of the greatest artist of today and we are grateful to have a little bit of her time to be on the podcast. Incubus is on Tour right now in North America and Latin America. Get your TICKETS! https://www.incubushq.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nicolesrow/ Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/bassnerdspodcast/ Subs...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 20
Marc and Jody took a trip to NYC and they were super excited to sit down with at the artist loft. Mike is the director of sales at Fodera and monster player. Maybe you have seen the Mike Bendy signature Fodera? Short scale headless 6 string? Mike is a New Yorker thru and thru. Great stories and fun time. Special thanks to Fodera for letting us use their space and tour their shop. https://www.instagram.com/mikebendy https://www.instagram.com/foderaguitars www.fodera.com Follow The Bass Nerds...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, we sat down with our friends Eric Cocco (La Bella Strings), James Carbonetti (Carbonetti Guitars), and Mitch Friedman (NYC-based session bassist and overall top-tier bass guru) in the La Bella / Carbonetti showroom in Brooklyn. Special thanks to La Bella Strings and Carbonetti Guitars for hosting us in their amazing showroom (Guitar Shop NYC). https://www.labella.com/ https://theguitarshopnyc.com/ https://carbonettiguitars.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mitchthebassplayer Follow...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 18
In this episode we welcome Ben Carr, better known as Carrtoons You may be familiar with Carrtoons from his recent performance on Tiny Desk or touring with Nate Smith & Keifer. Carrtoons has released several albums with his latest release being "Saturday Night". We chat about gigging in NYC, music, influences and much much more in this episode of The Bass Nerds. Carrtoons is touring all over the US, check the link below for dates near you. Carrtoons is also very active on his instagram so go ...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 17
In this episode we welcome Karina Rykman. Karina is a killer bass player who has been sharing the stage with some of the baddest bands on the planet and sits in with the Seth Meyers band from time to time. Karina recently released her debut album, Joyride. We chat gear, touring, favorite pizza in NYC and much much more in this episode of The Bass Nerds. Karina is touring all over the US, check the link below for dates near you. Check out Karina HERE: https://www.karinarykman.com/ https://www.ins...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 16
In this episode we welcome Ryan Stasik of Umphrey's McGee and Doom Flamingo. Ryan shares stories, thoughts on gear, and his views on shopping cart etiquette. We also discover that Jody is a douche for his poor shopping cart etiquette. Special thanks to Chicago Music Exchange for allowing us to use their studiio to shoot this episode. Umphrey's is on tour so be sure to check their website for dates near you.
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, we meet with monster session player, touring guru, producer, carrier of the low end.... Tim Lefebvre. Tim has a long history of playing with some of the greatest musicians in the world. Tim can be heard on countless records and some of the most iconic soundtracks. Tim has toured and shared the stage with the likes of Derek Trucks, Black Crowes, Nate Smith, Chris Botti, and many more. In this episode Tim shares some stories of the road, his early influences and some football. Che...
Jan 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, we meet with the incredibly talented Ellis Hahn of LEH Guitars! Ellis has a long history of building some of the finest basses on the planet - from their time as the shop manger for Roger Sadowsky, to establishing LEH Guitars and moving the shop to Portland just a few years ago. Enjoy as we talk basses, pasta, and Ellis does a magnificent job not dying from cringing at Jody/Marc’s Antics Check out LEH Guitars HERE: https://www.lehguitars.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lehguitars...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 13
The Bass Nerds welcome John Ferrera, Bass Phenom of Consider The Source and Mono Means One. John is probably most known for his bass tapping abilities who is constantly innovating his craft. His band Consider the Source is Syfy fusion trio with wailing guitar, intricate bass lines and hypnotic drum beats. John is also touring with his solo project Mono Means One which is a looping layering one man band. John is an endorsing artist of Fodera Basses, Hartke Amp, Darkglass and many more. You can se...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 12
The Bass Nerds welcome Keith Stixx, Founder of Tsunami Cables (and preamps) to the Podcast. Keith makes some of the most high quality and customizable cables on the market. Tsunami Cables has a roster of monster players using their cables and Keith just dropped a new recording Preamp. Tsunami Website: https://www.tsunamicables.com/ Tsunami IG https://www.instagram.com/tsunamicables/ Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/bassnerdspodcast/ S...
Jun 02, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 11
The Bass Nerds welcome Mohini Dey to the Podcast. Mo is a monster on the bass and has traveled the world performing with some of the baddest musicians on the planet. We were lucky to catch her while she was in town and we had a blast recording this and getting to know each other. You can also check out her youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@mohinidey5945 MaMoGi, her latest project https://www.youtube.com/@mamogi3176 Mohini is very active on IG https://www.instagram.com/dey_bass/?hl=e...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 10
The Bass Nerds welcome Chuck Webb to the Podcast. Chuck is a Chicago Bass legend who has performed with icons! Chuck is a master of both electric and upright bass, he performs with numerous bands, teaches at Columbia College, and also performs in pit orchestras for some of the biggest musicals. https://chuckwebbmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/chuckwebbbass Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/bassnerdspodcast/ Subscribe to us on APPLE...
Jan 10, 2022•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 9
The Bass Nerds welcome Corey Brown, founder of No Treble. Recently No Treble started a GoFundMe and we hope you are able to donate. Please click here to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/no-treble-reader-support https://www.notreble.com Follow The Bass Nerds at: https://www.facebook.com/bassnerdspodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/bassnerdspodcast/ Subscribe to us on APPLE!!! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bass-nerds/id1439046056
Nov 04, 2021•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 8
In this episode The Bass Nerds welcome Vuyani Wakaba, Will Howard, and Jauqo III-X to offer their prospective on what its like being a Black Musician in America. The current social climate in the United States are pretty tense with lots of protests and BLM movements so The Bass Nerds wanted to offer a platform for some POC to share their views.
Nov 04, 2020•2 hr 48 min•Ep. 7
Dr Kertz is a Major ambassador of the bass community and as a Chiropractor/Acupuncturist he is a resource to help mitigate and manage performance based injuries. Dr Kertz is a contributing editor to Bass Musician Magazine, Author, educator, designer and much more. In this podcast we go on a magical journey through 30+ years of Dr Kertz working within the music world, from stories of Lemmy, Manowar, Megadeth, and more. For more info on Dr Randall Kertz: https://www.drkertz.com/ https://bassmusici...
Sep 14, 2020•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 6
The Bass Nerds traveled to Namm 2020 and we ran into Jon D'Auria at The Bass Bash who is Editor-in-Chief of Bass Magazine. One thing lead to another and before we knew it, we were recording a podcast in the back of the Bass Bash. Jon is an ambassador of all things bass and while we were only able to chat with him for a short time, it was a blast. We would of went longer but Jon was co hosting the bash and had to run off to take care of some responsibilities. Bass Magazine is an Online Only publi...
Jun 22, 2020•37 min•Ep. 5
The Bass Nerds were super lucky to score an interview with Sire Basses founder Kyle Kim. Not only is Kyle the owner of Sire Basses but he is also a builder and musician. Kyle discusses the origins of SIre Basses, relationship with Marcus Miller, and much more. In this podcast we also feature Vuyani Wakaba and Jauqo III-X. At the end of the podcast Kyle offered to send The Bass Nerds a Bass to giveaway. SO GUESS WHAT! The Bass Nerds are giving away a V10 Marcus Miller 5 string! To enter to win we...
May 19, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 4
Kevin Scott is seasoned bass player who plays with an endless list of stellar musicians/bands including Forq, Wayne Krantz, Jimmy Herring, Wednesday Night Titans, Col Bruce Hampton, WAXPaper, and much more. Kevin offers lessons and recording remotely, be sure to contact him at kscott26@gmail.com and check his website out at www.kevinscottmusic.com. He also has a pretty awesome Instagram www.instagram.com/thekingseye .Hope you enjoy the podcast!...
Apr 24, 2020•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 3
Jauqo III-X is a Chicago bassist who has friends in all the right places. Im always captivated and appreciative of the moments I have with Jauqo, he always has a great story or some wisdom to share. Jauqo has music and books available at http://www.jauqoiii-x.com/
Jan 06, 2020•2 hr 40 min•Ep. 2
Our first episode of The Bass Nerds Podcast! In our first episode we welcome Jake Serek of Serek Basses. Serek Basses are handmade in Chicago and Jake has a great story to tell. Everything from meeting Lemmy, working at Lakland, and building custom basses for some of the best players on Earth. https://www.serekbasses.com/ https://www.instagram.com/serek_basses/
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 1
