Back in 1965, prior to Criminal Minds and Joe Mantegna’s success as an actor and director on TV, and in movies, there was a band out of Chicago called The Apocryphals that released five singles on local labels.  Joe Mantegna played bass in that band.

The band was a favorite on the Teen Club and Concert Scene, and one of the badges of its success was a van with the band name painted on the side.

“Alone As I Am: https://youtu.be/8NkVaiqexR0

The Apocryphals https://youtu.be/CEZtw2zrTTo

The band’s contemporaries included The Missing Links (pre- Chicago Transit Authority).

Joe Mantegna’s connection to Chicago https://youtu.be/1z-IkWKEx8A

As we know, Joe had much greater success as an actor after hanging up his rock and roll shoes, but for those that were able to catch The Apocryphals, we are grateful for their contribution to the 60’s Chicago music scene.

Don’t let his movie-star good looks and gravity defying stage persona fool you – or me – Johnny Pisano is one well-grounded, well rounded bassist.  Doubling on upright and electric, Pisano plies his craft as the situation warrants – from punk to funk and back again and all the permutations thereof – blues, fusion, folk, reggae, cabaret, old school rock and roll, alternative rock….

 

Johnny Pisano “One Guitar Mon” https://youtu.be/XtBzTCuM8xQ

 

A singer, composer, sideman, solo recording artist, t-shirt designer, Johnny has anchored on and off Broadway and traveling theatrical productions, and has worked the pocket on stage and on record with the legends: Willie Nile, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Ryan Adams, Jessie Malin, David Johansen, Robert Gordon, and Marky Ramone to cite a very, very select few.

 

Dig Pisano with his boss Willie Nile and The Boss https://youtu.be/JjlLPFGuFo0

 

 

His lone solo slab to date is a tour de force of NYC rock and roll aptly titled Punk Rock Pizzeria.

 

Dig Pisano rendering a song from PPR “Superhero” replete with Super Man cape! https://youtu.be/WA6RGW6Egrg

 

Pisano’s weapons of choice include Fender Precision and Lakeland jazz bass.

 

And in his spare time, he’s an actor! You’ve seen him in Vinyl, The Sopranos, Law & Order, among others…

 

However, you’re more likely to see Pisano on stage, as he is among the most in-demand cats in the business. Check out www.JohnnyPisano.Com

 

By Joe Gagliardo

Back in the mid-late 70’s one of the bands that was making a lot of loud and cool noise in Chicago, literally and figuratively, was The Boyzz From Illinoizz.  Bassist Dave Angel was a key part of that aural assault.  His live wall of sound was created by three heads, driving 3 separate cabinets (2 x 12”, 8 x 10” SVT bottom, and a 15” subwoofer horn cabinet).  His axe of choice, was, and is, a John Gray custom made Explorer body bass, made of Brazilian Rosewood and Maple, with a Rosewood neck and Ebony fret board.  Dave’s playing and sound was influenced by Chris Squire (Yes), John Entwistle (The Who), and he soaked up the melodicism of Paul McCartney.

Taking it back to the beginning, Dave would spend time laying on the floor with his head between the speakers of his parents’ console record player, listening to a variety of music from the Theme from Exodus to The Beatles.  That is where he became intrigued with the sound of bass.  He started on Tuba, moved to a 1969 Kay String Bass, which is still part of his arsenal, and ultimately to his custom-made Explorer styled bass.

Fast forward to 1978, The Boyzz were signed by Steve Popovich to Epic/Cleveland International Records, and the LP Too Wild to Tame was released.

The record release led to an incendiary show at The Agora in Cleveland, where The Boyzz did a live telecast of their show, with label mate, Meatloaf as the MC.

“Destined to Die”  The Boyzz from Illinois  https://youtu.be/E7JVHvyVde8

At the end of the show, they were joined on stage by Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Karla DeVito and Ellen Foley, who were also on the label.

“Whole Lotta Shakin” The Boyzz with Meatloaf, Mick Ronson, Ian Hunter https://youtu.be/r3Sl5JkRsm0

In 2019, the song “Too Wild To Tame” was re-released, as part of the Cleveland Rocks album, where The Boyzz are in the company of Bruce Springsteen, Ronnie Spector, Meatloaf, Southside Johnny, Ian Hunter and other great artists.

Cleveland Rocks commercial https://youtu.be/0lLkzhsI4Xw

After The Boyzz, Dave was in The B’zz, another band signed to Epic that appeared on American Bandstand, where the Paul McCartney influence can be heard in the song “Caught in the Middle.”

Dig Dave’s descending bass line that drives the song. https://youtu.be/dYyDMLe6NV0

These days, Dave has taken the critical listening that he learned while laying on the floor listening to music at his parents’ house, and has fulfilled his dream to be a recording engineer/producer by building Rave Song Records.

Dave is still active playing bass with The Willing, primarily a studio recording group that performs original harmony-driven songs, , and he can be seen performing live with The Raleigh Tuckers, a band that mixes originals with its favorite Beatles and other covers.

The Willing “Ultima Thule” https://youtu.be/o2rT9hnpgVU

Dave Angel: https://youtu.be/maECPVYnMU0

 

 

 

Here’s the deal -no discussion of the most influential rock ensembles of all time would be complete without citing The Pixies – icons of the indie / alternative rock genre.

 

Responding to a Boston Phoenix advert reading “band seeks bassist into Hüsker Dü and Peter, Paul and Mary, please – no chops” Kim Deal borrowed her sister’s bass and went on to anchor the band on several of its classic recordings.

 

A composer, singer, guitarist, recording artist, bandleader, among other roles; Kim the bassist is a no-frills pocket player, pure and (deceptively) simple.

 

Following her stint with The Pixies, Kim set the bass aside in favor of guitar as she commandeered yet another influential outfit -The Breeders. She’s also waxed solo sides, and one slab as bandleader of The Amps.

 

Kim’s choice of bass weaponry includes MusicMan Stingray, Steinberger, Fender Precision, and Gibson Thunderbird.

 

Kim Deal Sound & Vision….

 

The Pixies:

 

“Debaser” https://youtu.be/PVyS9JwtFoQ

 

“Here Comes Your Man” https://youtu.be/tPgf_btTFlc

 

“Where Is My Mind” https://youtu.be/N3oCS85HvpY

 

“I Bleed” https://youtu.be/KCLdP_QaP4I

 

The Breeders:

 

“Cannonball” https://youtu.be/fxvkI9MTQw4

 

The Amps

 

“Pacer” https://youtu.be/n3DF7Mufmhw

 

Courtesy of Kim Deal Com

By Joe Gagliardo

If you spend any time listening to live music in Chicago, you have likely been fortunate to see Casey McDonough on the bandstand playing his Black Fender Musicmaster, modified with a P Bass pickup, through a Fender Bassman TV Amp. Casey’s sound is reminiscent of the sounds of his bass heroes, which include; Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Joey Spampinato and Duck Dunn.

Casey picked up the bass having been inspired by his Dad’s Beatles records and The Blues Brothers movie soundtrack. Those records and the influences of his bass heroes have come together in his playing with the great NRBQ, where he has laid down the bottom since 2012.

That experience is like being on a flying trapeze without a net, as the NRBQ sets are spontaneous; there are no set lists. An NRBQ set can include everything from their deep catalog of originals, to Sun Ra and The Beach Boys.

Since 2006, Casey has also been a member of the inimitable Flat Five, a Chicago-based vocal group, which, like the NRBQ, is known for its eclectic sets, ranging from harmony-laden originals, to The 5th Dimension and Free Design, and Lesley Gore to Lee Dorsey, and everything in between. www.theflatfivechicago.com

In his spare time, Casey can be found on stage with The North Berwyn Rhythm and Soul Organization; performing solo sets; or joining one of his many musical friends for one-off shows. In addition to his bass playing, Casey is an accomplished singer and he had the honor of singing lead falsetto on a number of shows when Brian Wilson and his band were recreating Pet Sounds and Beach Boy hits on tour.

For your listening pleasure, check out “Happy Talk” https://bit.ly/34cr3ND with the NRBQ and “The Raven” with The Flat Five https://youtu.be/Y6BQPcw5JBM

Dan Alfano, Baby Huey and the Babysitters, by Joe Gagliardo

 

In the late 60’s one of the bands that was shaking stages in Chicago, and wherever they played, including the Merv Griffin Show, was Baby Huey and the Babysitters.  The 10-piece band was thunderous, and Baby Huey, aka James Ramey, fronted the band.  From 1968 until weeks before Ramey’s untimely death in 1970, Dan Alfano worked the pocket for that powerful band, with his trusty Fender Jazz bass.

Influenced by James Brown, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and anything Soul, Dan’s playing was precise and to the point.  Curtis Mayfield signed the band to his Curtom record label, and one posthumous LP was released in 1971, The Baby Huey Story.  Helping to direct the studio work was Donny Hathaway.

Two examples of Dan’s handily working the pocket are “Mighty Mighty Children Part 1” https://youtu.be/jtpFtlzjJ5s  and “Hard Times” https://youtu.be/zMIzTh0Lafg

While the LP did not have an impact when released, it has gone on to achieve legendary status as a funk n’ soul masterpiece.  The song “Hard Times” has been heavily sampled, and it was covered by John Legend and The Roots on the Wake Up album, and was featured, almost in full, in the movie Stand Up Guys, starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken.

Today, you can catch Dan working his fluid bass lines with the Bluz Brothers.

“You know the breakdown in the B-52’s ‘Love Shack’? That’s what got me hooked on the bass!”

Inspired by that oh-so-funky passage as rendered by ace studio bassist Sara Lee – singer, songwriter, recording artist, and half of Common Ancestors (with David DeMarco), among other endeavors d’art – Apryl Electra Storms brings the force of the universe to the almighty groove!

Dig the dangerous curves … with a Fender Jazz as wielded by this urban / urbane chanteuse “Follow The Breeze” https://youtu.be/E-cYhH7yTuQ

Randy Kertz is an active bass player who can be seen in the clubs around Chicago, and can be heard holding down the bottom on three of Racing the Sun CDs, including L’Habitat Naturel, the band’s latest release, which is the band’s latest release: https://www.reverbnation.com/racingthesun

Randy’s bass heroes and influences include Jack Bruce (Cream, Solo, and so much more), Trevor Bolder (Uriah Heep, Spiders from Mars, Wishbone Ash), Felix Pappalardi (Mountain and his extensive production work, including Cream, The Youngbloods, Jack Bruce, and Chicago’s The Flock), Mark Clarke (Uriah Heep, Mountain, and Tempest), John Wetton (Uriah Heep, Family, and King Crimson)  and John Gustafson (Roxy Music, Hard Stuff, Quatermass and Ian Gillan).

 A common thread here is his affinity for English bassists, and those influences can be heard in his playing.

 In a departure from his harder rock influences, Randy and bassist Chris Clemente have created BassScapes; ambient music meant to promote relaxation, with the bass as the lead instrument. Check out BassScapes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OaK8uJ

Randy has also been practicing chiropractic and acupuncture for over 20 years, and has treated musicians for various injuries they may sustain on the road, or locally.

He is the on-call chiropractor for a number of local music venues.  Melding his extensive health care background with his lengthy experience as an active bass player, he has written “The Bassists Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health” (https://amzn.to/2Dan0pW ) and developed with David Ellefson of Megadeth and Gruv Gear, a more ergonomic bass strap, the “Recoil” (Sweetwater: https://bit.ly/2OaKykN) and is releasing the Helix Neck System ergonomic bass guitar neck with Lace Music.

In his spare time, he is a frequent lecturer on the topic of injury prevention for musicians locally and internationally.

To learn more about Randy, visit www.DrKertz.Com  (Photos courtesy of DrKertz Com and GruvGear Com)

Dennis Keith Johnson by Joe Gagliardo

 

In 1971, you couldn’t turn the radio on without “Get It On” by Chase exploding out of your car’s sound system! Who can forget that driving bass, and that line-up of trumpets led by Bill Chase?! Back then, we knew little about the musicians in bands—that information was not readily available.  Due to the success of “Get It On, and the band’s Chicago home base, there was a taping of a live concert that was broadcast on TV, and I was lucky to be there.  Now, I’m seeing this bass player, Dennis Keith Johnson, in a live setting, and I’m thinking, ‘where the hell did this guy come from, and how did he learn to play bass like that!’ He was a monster, and he was barely 21.

Go check out “Get It On” and “Open Up Wide” from the first Chase LP, and “So Many People” from the Ennea LP, and you will know what I’m talking about.  After hearing those songs, it is no surprise that Dennis’ playing was influenced by Tim Bogert, Motown, and Ron Carter.

Fast forward to about 1977, and I am in a Chicago club checking out this hot new band, Survivor, and there is Dennis Keith Johnson again, laying down a heavy rock bottom.

Check out the first Survivor LP, where Dennis and drummer, Gary Smith, cause the opening track, “Somewhere in America,” to chug like a freight train.  Also “Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind.”

Back in those Survivor days, you would often see Dennis wearing a T Shirt that said “More Bass,” shirts he had made as a reminder to the sound person to make sure the bass was heard in the live mix, after he received complaints that the bass could not be heard!

Back in the Chase and Survivor days, Dennis’ go-to basses were a ‘62 Jazz bass, and a ‘72 P bass.  Today, his bass of choice is a 35-inch scale Modulus bass, with a graphite neck.

You can catch Dennis with his project of over 31 years, the Dennis Keith Experience.

“Get It On” https://youtu.be/j4QBZanJKyA

“Open Up Wide” https://youtu.be/dBogxn5ObgA

“Somewhere in America” https://youtu.be/OjllHLUFWOk

“Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind” https://youtu.be/whhLMG0wKYU

By Joe Gagliardo

Like many of us, Mike Gorman’s first electric guitar was a 6 string, but once he held a bass in his hands, and heard those warm deep tones, he was hooked!

Starting with a Gibson EB-0, and influenced by the bass pillars of the British Invasion, including Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), John Entwistle (The Who), Peter Quaife (The Kinks), and Rick Huxley (Dave Clark Five), among others, Mike has been a constant on the Chicago music scene, and his playing has crossed many genres.

Mike has waxed slabs with Power Pop legends Pezband and Off Broadway, played with Wild Blue, and is currently laying down the bottom with the rootsy Redmonds, and his latest recorded rock project, The Outfit.

In Pezband Mike assumed the role of many of his bass heroes co-writing a number of the group’s memorable songs, while handling some of the lead vocals.

Though Mike still treasures that Gibson EB-0, his mainstay basses have been a Fender P/J four string, and a 30-year-old Ibanez 5-string.

In light of his influences, it is no surprise that Mike’s melodic playing holds and fills the pocket well. Though Mike can pump and thump with the best of them, he is a meat and potatoes bassist, who plays for the song.

He just wants to keep it moving!

To get a taste of Mike’s style, check out Pezband’s Hippy Hippy Shake recorded live at Dingwalls in England, Off Broadway’s Automatic, or Lucky One by The Outfit, who blast a rock sound reminiscent of the Les Paul/Marshall-driven bands, we all love.

Better yet, try and catch him live with The Redmonds if you are in the Chicago-area, or catch him with The Outfit, currently touring in support of their debut cd, The Outfit, and their soon to be released cd, Viking.