The Bass Vault

Freddie

The View From Here — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:46:36 GMT

In 1992, I did a VERY brief stint as a 2nd monitor tech for National Audio, during Syracuse JazzFest. Nearly 100% of the local acts were overly specific about what they wanted to hear in the wedges. Before the Saturday night hit, I asked Freddie Hubbard what he’s like to hear. His reply, with a smile, was, [...]...(read more)

Back in CNY….

The View From Here — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:38:22 GMT

Hey y’all…. I’m just back from “out there”, Tour Managing for The Victor Wooten Band. Folks… it ain’t easy…and it AIN’t glamorous….. but it sure is fun. The US portion of the tour was broken up into 3 runs… 10 shows in February… 17 in March/April … and 14 in April/May. The last 2 runs were basically back [...]...(read more)

Busy...busy...busy...

dawelsch — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:58:00 GMT

Man… it’s been a long time! Fall has been beautiful here in upstate NY….but it’s starting to get chilly. The snow is coming! We have SO much going on in WootWorld…… 2008 is gonna be nutz!!! The Victor Wooten Band begins a year-long World Tour on February 6th…Vix book, “The Music Lesson” (yes, I know it’s supposed to be underlined), will be released by Penguin Publishing on April 8th….Vix new CD, ‘Palmystery’ will be released on Heads Up! on April 1st….. the Bass/Nature Reunion Camp is April 11-16...(read more)

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:57:08 GMT

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The View From Here — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:58:49 GMT

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May 6, 2007 LAX to ORD to SYR

The View From Here — Tue, 22 May 2007 13:39:44 GMT

Leave the room at 5:45 with Ted. Meet Saundra in the lobby to wait for the shuttle. It’s late. Victor has done a clinic in nearly every city on the tour. He has signed autographs for hours…. played an incredible show every night… went to bed around 3 every morning… and does it again the next [...]...(read more)

May 5, 2007 Los Angeles, CA

The View From Here — Tue, 22 May 2007 12:39:06 GMT

El Rey Theater…. Wake as we’re pulling into LA… about 9:00AM. Call the promoter and leave voice mail saying we’re in town. Call the hotel and am told that it’s only 2 blocks from the venue. Anthony, Tone’ and I set off walking…. and finally give up somewhere in the second mile. Of course, as I’m [...]...(read more)

05-03-07_1619.jpg

The View From Here — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:35:54 GMT

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May 4, 2007 San Francisco, CA

The View From Here — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:07:10 GMT

The Fillmore… “Welcome to The Fillmore”…from the back gate guard….and again from the first loader to arrive. (Early). Both are roughly the size of Cleveland and exhibit an equally sized amount of pride in the venue and it’s place in music history. This is undeniably one of the most famous stages in the world. It also [...]...(read more)

May 3, 2007 Chico, CA

The View From Here — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:09:32 GMT

Bell Memorial Auditorium, CSU@Chico Ah… the halls of higher education. To be inside the bubble again….. The day starts like so many others, with Paul’s feat of amazing bus/trailer skill. Today it’s backing into a construction area next to the “loading dock”. After unloading and watching the hands push everything up a steep ramp and then LIFT [...]...(read more)

May 2, 2007 Eugene, OR

The View From Here — Mon, 14 May 2007 11:17:54 GMT

McDonald Theater… I’m really enjoying Oregon. Lots of pretty scenery…. and nice people. There seems to be a certain consciousness up here. The load-in is next to the municipal bus company terminal and Paul has to thread our bus thru a narrow driveway behind the theater. The promoter is nearly speechless after the move. He later tells [...]...(read more)

May 1, 2007 Portland, OR

The View From Here — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:19:43 GMT

Aladdin Theater…. My cell phone wakes me… a call, not the alarm. Joseph from the front lounge…. Slight miscalculation on time today and we arrive at the venue at 9AM. Do we sit at the venue for 3 hours or go to the hotel? Can we get early check-in? Drive this thing to the hotel and then [...]...(read more)

May 6, 2007 Interlude

The View From Here — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:20:16 GMT

Well…I’m obviously way behind. I’m off the road now, and will finish the last week of the tour soon!...(read more)

April 30, 2007 Ashland, OR

The View From Here — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:01:52 GMT

The Mobius…. Very sore this morning. I went out to the bus after getting back to the hotel last night to get the printer and my second briefcase. I missed the bottom step getting off the bus and ended up on the pavement with a skinned knee and palm. Printer, briefcase, and bottle of beer from [...]...(read more)

April 29, 2007 Travel Day

The View From Here — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:01:42 GMT

Driving into California and then up to Ashland, OR today….. 14 hour ride. Miss all but 2 hours of it. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz……. Check into hotel….discover that internet is down and not expected back on until tomorrow. Some have trouble with rooms and have to move. Decide to never stay at a Super 8 again. Go to the venue to [...]...(read more)

April 28, 2007 Salt Lake City, UT

The View From Here — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:12:10 GMT

The Depot…. I’m into a good daily rhythm…so I plan on today being an easy one. We decide that we’ll do a webcast into TheBassVault tonite… and Vic forgot to bring a tripod. We have a great runner today and Saundra, Ant, Paul and I head off to the hotel…which we discover is further away than [...]...(read more)

April 27, 2007 Fort Collins, CO

The View From Here — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:57:44 GMT

Aggie Theater….. Have you noticed a trend here? Yup…. each day is basically the same. Pull into town… load-in… see what’s missing from the rider…. Vic heads off to do a clinic…. Jack and Ted set-up….the band sets-up… find the runner… band to hotel…. band back from hotel… soundcheck starts… wait for Vic to get back [...]...(read more)

April 26, 2007 Boulder, CO

The View From Here — Thu, 03 May 2007 04:16:05 GMT

Fox Theater…. another homecoming. The VWB has played here many times. Carl is the stage manager and our runner. Nice guy….albeit a bit unorganized. The arrival food doesn’t arrive until soundcheck…. dressingroom food arrives in time for the hit. No matter…. we meet up with some friends from Bass/Nature Camp and walk a ways for good [...]...(read more)

April 25, 2007 Lawrence, KS

The View From Here — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:21:31 GMT

Granada…the second. Another rainy day. Wake up parked behind the venue. A phone call later, the production director arrives and the crew gets ready to push…. in the pouring rain. Runner arrives….take Paul to the hotel…. stop at a hardware store for a new MagLight…. Tour Rule #2: There are times when the hours that you spent advancing [...]...(read more)

April 24, 2007 Fayetteville, AR

The View From Here — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:28:40 GMT

George’s Majestic Lounge….. in beautiful downtown Fayetteville. The day starts with Paul threading the bus into the parking lot next to the venue. Paul is an incredible driver….. 23 years pulling everyone from Cher to Peter Frampton. His next run is The Doobie Brothers about 10 days after he deadheads back to Nashville. He’ll have [...]...(read more)

April 24, 2007 Dallas, TX

The View From Here — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:26:43 GMT

Wake as the bus is pulling into the parking lot behind the venue. Nice old theater…great shape…beautiful murals…. nice staff…. or so it would seem. It’s sad how a person’s entire being can change when things don’t go their way. Sad. Chuck Rainey lives near here. It was great to see him at the show. Brian Mulholland [...]...(read more)

April 23, 2007 New Orleans, LA

The View From Here — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:54:28 GMT

Planned to wake up in time to see some of Katrina’s aftermath…. but Paul is such a good driver that we get into town before my alarm goes off. Wake up a few blocks from the venue. Hotels remain a source of stress…early check-in is hard enough… but in a city like this, it’s nearly impossible. [...]...(read more)

April 21, 2007 - Atlanta, GA

dawelsch — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 07:33:00 GMT

Wake up at 9:30AM...thinking the bus is still moving.... but it's actually parked behind the venue. Already well over 60 degrees. Quite a change from upstate NY. Loaders arrive right on time... easy load-in.... get crew.... great promoter. Variety Showcase is always a great venue for this band. Our Booking Agent lives here..... and MC Divinity (member of the band, but currently out with Beyonce) is from here... No “Soul Circus” set on this run, so Jack, Ted, and Anthony have the stage ready in and...(read more)

April 20, 2007 Boone, NC

dawelsch — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 07:12:00 GMT

Wake up somewhere in the hills of North Carolina. Called this one fairly well…. we’ll hit town about an hour before or scheduled load-in. Tragedy strikes. No coffee aboard. This must be rectified ASAP. Glance out the window in time to see “Welcome to Blowing Rock, NC”. An interesting looking little hamlet amid climbing ‘S’-turns that Paul, our driver, has been negotiating for the past 30 minutes. Randy Kelly, the promoter, runs the only nightclub in the country that has national-caliber entertainment...(read more)

April 19, 2007: Nashville

dawelsch — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:47:00 GMT

Busy day. Collect Saundra at the airport at 8AM…. pick-up a truck to transport gear to the bus… collect Jack…. inventory merch….load truck…drive thru Nashville….pick-up lights from Flecktones’ storage….stop for a Strawberry/Chocolate Chip popsicle…. load bus and trailer…. stop for Chinese food from PF Chang’s…..eat said-same…..shower….chill…. and head for a midnight meeting with the band at the bus. 1:23 AM CST: Left Nashville about 45 minutes ago…. headed to our first show of the tour in Boone,...(read more)