By Thomas Semioli

The hooks were massive….

For a brief, shining moment Catatonia were contenders for the Brit-Pop throne by way of their hallowed status in the Welsh “Cool Cymru” movement -a BBC term embracing young Welsh film / music artists in the late 1990s.  However the hits dried up as the genre imploded due to over-saturation – as pop musical factions are prone to do.

Catatonia also crossed the pond to the States seeking fame and fortune (I had the good fortune to interview Cerys Matthews), however akin to many of their peers (Manic Street Preachers, The Stereophonics), their UK brand of pop rock failed to ignite the hysteria they enjoyed at home. Hence the band broke up and Ms. Matthews went on to wax Americana influenced slabs, whilst the rest of Catatonia returned to civilian life.

Which brings us to bassist Paul Jones, who was noticeably older than his Cardiff bandmates. A fluid player who infused soulful passages throughout Cerys Matthews and Mark Roberts’ tuneful rockers and weepy ballads, Jones was that rare blokey among his peers -many of whom came to the instrument because the guitar chair was occupied – who was a bass player first and foremost!

“Londimonium” https://youtu.be/Wp0Pqcj1Nis

“I Am The Mob” https://youtu.be/41SkP55Xyjk

“Road Rage” https://youtu.be/U_bL0EqlDEk

“Mulder & Scully” https://youtu.be/FEhpmuXHmRQ

Dig Catatonia live 1999 at the Bizarre Festival https://youtu.be/uWwprHmIlCU

By Thomas Semioli

The Verve brought forth bombast (“This Is Music”) and grandeur (“Bittersweet Symphony”) to Britpop during their early to mid-1990s glory years. Bassist Simon Jones served as the bridge between guitarist Nick McCabe’s sonic din and the acquired taste croon of Robert Ashcroft – rendering pocket grooves which he enhanced with neo-psychedelic melodic motifs aplenty.

Working a Fender Jazz, and Fender Precision with the treble (mostly) rolled off, Jones’ fat tone filled out The Verve’s chart-topping sound, though they eventually brought in keyboardist Simon Tong to flesh out the proceedings.

Amid The Verve’s numerous splits and reunions, Simon ably anchored The Shining – a Britpop all-star collective featuring The Stone Roses’ guitarist John Squire – along with ensembles led by singer songwriters Cathy Davey and Howie Day, among others.

“This Is The Music” https://youtu.be/PgsPAsno4OU

“Bittersweet Symphony” https://youtu.be/1lyu1KKwC74

“Sit and Wonder” https://youtu.be/1PIzTNI9auc

With Howie Day “Come Lay Down” https://youtu.be/G_AjaCuK024

Welsh Brit Poppers? Classic rockers? Indie heroes? Alt rock raconteurs?

All of the above and then some. Three decades into their stellar career, The Sterophonics, led by raspy voiced singer, songwriter Kelly Jones – continue to wax platters that matter to the masses, despite the fact that they hardly garner the attention of their peers, some of whom coast on past glories.

Founding bassist Richard Jones (no relation) is a solid song / pocket player who outlines the changes with the utmost economy in support of the singer and his songs.  No frills, no problems. Jones has a ‘jones’ for Fender Jazz basses, along with the occasional Gibson hollow body, among other weapons of choice.

Dig “Maybe Tomorrow” https://youtu.be/2q9_ZEtuTR8

Dig “Handbags & Gladrags” https://youtu.be/51GuG6N2qHE

Dig “Dakota” https://youtu.be/SzBJQnD7TRM

Dig “A Minute Longer” https://youtu.be/5fJ2P5JQFNc

From their brash punk rock roots on through their remarkable body of work which traverses glam, dance, folk, pop, arena, and alternative rock – Nicholas Jones, aka Nicky Wire (a name inspired by his lanky frame) has anchored the iconic Welsh ensemble Manic Street Preachers since their formation in Blackwood in 1986.

Dig Nicky on “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” https://youtu.be/lx6T9cfInp4

An “outspoken” lyricist, composer, solo recording artist, and producer with a decidedly eccentric taste in clothing, Wire plies his craft with several instruments – Fender Jazz, Precision, Rickenbacker, Gibson Thunderbird, Italia Maranello, among others, and myriad of effects.

Dig Nicky on “Stay Beautiful” https://youtu.be/hM_oov3dU6A

Dig Nicky on the title track from his lone solo slab “I Killed the Zeitgeist” https://youtu.be/401ldfS1GFM

By Thomas Semioli

Alonza Bevan is composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist – and anchors the on-off again psychedelic Brit pop purveyors Kula Shaker. A fluid pocket and melodic player, Bevan also helmed the solo album/band debut of The Smiths’ guitar icon Johnny Marr with The Healers also featuring drummer Zachery Starkey. Alonza’s primary weapon of choice is the Fender Jazz, wherein he works a fat tone which replicates the resonance of the British Invasion greats of yore. Nowadays Alonza collaborates with his wife Audrey on a delightfully trippy folk infused collection under the banner of Tumblewild.

Dig Alonza with Kula Shaker “Govinda” https://youtu.be/9QZOHzWLF9w

Dig Alonza’s fat upper register groove with live Johnny “The Last Ride” https://youtu.be/XXKpQG0uu48

Dig Alonza with Tumblewild The World Had Four Corners https://youtu.be/ZnjQrM3aXzo

Their moniker was based on John Lennon’s “Bad Finger Boogie” working title for “With A Little Help from My Friends” – though I prefer George’s revelation that it was inspired by a stripper who worked the Hamburg music scene as Helga Fabdinger. A gifted composer/singer, the late Tom Evans anchored the brilliant yet doomed Badfinger. Originally a guitarist for The Iveys, his bass playing cemented the classic line-up with Pete Ham, Joey Molland, and Mike Gibbins.

Akin to their Apple bosses, Evans and Badfinger were exemplary song players – rendering exactly what the compositions and recordings required harmonically, rhythmically, and aesthetically.

Tom Evans Sound & Vision…

“Baby Blue” https://youtu.be/9k_aj6b2xsA

“No Matter What” https://youtu.be/9x1MZEDQbtA

“Come and Get It” https://youtu.be/9tOnbeNAxdU

“Day After Day” https://youtu.be/XonFZjuyc6E

To my ears, no band “Americanized” the British Invasion sound more so than the legendary Big Star.

Denied the commercial success they so richly deserved, Big Star are among indie rock’s most influential ensembles – with such indie rock icons as The Replacements and R.E.M. citing the original quartet as their heroes.

The late Andy Hummel, who also rendered vocals and penned tunes, was the model power pop rock bassist, supporting the compositions of Alex Chilton and Chris Bell with refined pocket grooves and an occasional melodic flourish.

Dig Andy on “In The Street” https://youtu.be/2iXukwny37U

Andy on his co-composition with Alex Chilton “Life Is White” https://youtu.be/v_ddynyb_JA

Simply put, he brought the groove to Simply Red.

A composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer with a wide array of credits spanning such ensembles as The Durutti Column (a founding member), Ray Tarintino, and The Mothmen among others, Tony Bowers’ fluid, funky pocket passages in the service of Mick Hucknall turned millions of young ears on to soul music – with a decidedly pop veneer.

Dig Tony on “Money’s Too Tight” https://youtu.be/04zwhjRiCbo

Dig Tony on “The Right Thing” https://youtu.be/jLTJ5ktfyw8

A versatile bassist who also doubled on upright, Gary was an early adopter of the Steinberger XL.       

Photo by Jamie Moroni