New Orleans Big Brass Circus Rock Music
Beyond excited about my recent score at Guitar Center. This stylish baby comes with a matching bag and stretchy mouth piece. I’m gonna use her for practice while on the road. I think I’ll call her Bessie.
In other news we play tonight in Cambridge Massachusetts at the Lizard Lounge. Doors 8:30, show starts at 9:30. It’s gonna be a great night.
– Sandra Love
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (October 7, 1798 – March 19, 1875) 
Master luthier, inventor, and general badass, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was not one to accept the limitations of his time. A constant experimenter, Vuillaume sought to improve existing string instruments and extend the range of the orchestra. This leads us to my favorite of his inventions, the octobass.
Standing at an imposing eleven and a half feet tall, the octobass is so large, players have to pull levers on the heel of the neck, connected to pads over the fingerboard, to fret the strings. The three string octobass was tuned an octave below a modern double bass with an extension, all the way down to a C0 (16.25 Hertz). That is a full octave lower than the lowest C on a piano.
Unfortunately the size and cost of the octobass stifled it’s adoption throughout the world. It is used to great effect in some orchestras who are lucky enough to own a surviving example or modern recreation
Here is a short video of Nico Abondolo warming up on an octobass before a recording session.
Here is an octobass playing with an orchestra for a bit more context.
P.S. Gig tonight at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. Show starts at 9:30.
– Bassman
Tonight we return to Cambridge, MA for our debut show at the Lizard Lounge! We’ll be coming at you with 2 full-hour, high-powered sets with things kicking off with the great Jeremy Lyons of the Members of Morphine/Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band! Doors open at 8:30, and the show kicks off at 9.
Show tonight upstairs in the Lizard Lounge!
Doors at 8:00
Pennsylvania’s own LavaCave is opening up the night,
Dirty Bourbon River Show at 10:30
Dirty Bourbon River Show 