ThePoneZone: Round II
Sanae, In a galaxy far, far away...
Q: What kind of music or bands did you like when you were high school student?
A: When I was in high school, my favorite bands were Prong, Tool, Pantera, White Zombie, and Guns N Roses! I was lucky to have a lot of metal acts come to Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Alex, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Q: If you had to choose, which would you be, Vampire or Werewolf?
A: Obviously a Vampire, a rockstar vampire to be exact!
John, Milwaukee, WI
Q: Have you ever had to piss so badly on stage that you didn't think you could finish the set?
A: Absolutely, that's why we have impromptu drum solos. I think everyone in the band has had this occur more than once! Back in South Bend when we had kegs on the stage, this was always a problem.
Vince Kickass, Canada
Q: Who would you pick in a cage match?
a) Gandolf the Gray
b) Obi Wan Kenobe
A: Good question, but I think an older Obi Wan Kenobe wins in a land slide, I mean come on, he's using the fuckin' force. However a younger Obi Wan might lack the experience and wherewithal to defeat an older, wiser Gandolf.
Chris, Richmond, VA
Q: What in fact does the mitten smell like?
A: It smells just like the glove!!!
Mike, Philadelphia, PA
Q: Technique inquiry: I've been playing (electric) bass for around seven years and I've found that over the past two or three years, my right-hand technique has gradually changed from one slightly different method to another, and then to yet another and then reverts back again to the beginning, so to speak. I never seem to stay comfortable for long with one particular type of plucking style, thumb position, etc. Obviously everyone's different, and my question is: how long did it take you to find a right-hand method that felt comfortable enough to stick with it permanetley? How many years of playing bass did it take you to settle on the style you play with now (if that ever happened)? Thanks.
PS: This is not a masturbation question.
PPS: 5-strings are ballin' and I thank you for rocking them. It's like a four-string but you can play lower! Why wouldn't you want that?
A: Being a self taught bass player myself, I find that learning a few different techniques is best for all players and using whatever is most comfortable to you. It's nice to be able to palm mute the strings and play with your thumb to get a fat reggae sound, or play about 12 frets above your note to get a deeper hip hop tone. I have tried the three-finger technique and Wooten's double thumb but they are techniques I have yet to master and find quite difficult to use. However, everything improves with practice. Over the years I have just gone with what feels most comfortable to me. Check out Gary Willis's three finger dampening method and Steve Bailey's artificial harmonics methods for fun too. Rip it up Mike!
Mike, Syracuse, NY
Q: Thanks for the pick the other night Pony. I've been playing with it. I was just wondering, do all of you guys share the same bus? Like Wade, Robbie, Kevin, Waful, etc... How do those guys get around? Do they have their own bus? Just curious. I can't imagine there being more than 6 bunks on your bus. Anyway come back to Syracuse anytime. Brendan should buy a house in Baldwinsville. It gets pretty hazy out there. Rawk.
A: Yes we all live in one big happy bus. 12 peeps deep plus a driver. I will leave all smells to your imagination.
Andrew, Olympia, WA
Q: One of the things I really dig about UM is the intricate arrangements and the Progressive Rock influences. Is there a specific band member that brings that to the bands music, or is it universal or what; what's up with that?
A: Each band member brings a different influence and energy to the band as a whole. We all are prog rock fans for sure, Gensis, Yes, King Crimson, Rush, even Gentle Giant are on our list of prog favorites. Jake and I definitely dig deeper into the metal/hard rock influences whereas Farag has been a true hip hop fan since his curly haired youth. Bayliss is always good for some Beatles and Joel for some Yanni or Tesh. Traveling on a bus with 12 people really expands our palette for listening. Wade and Kris have turned me on to some wonderful underground stuff. All of this is brought to the table when we improvise live. Listening as a band is just as good as practice sometimes. PROG!!!
Thanks for visiting ThePoneZone and Ill see ya'll soon! Rock!!! Submit questions here.
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