What does a bass player do?

[Rob Rybak (essenceman)]

In response to Dino's last post. A few years ago I was playing in a band with a young, inexperienced (but very talented) singer. We were learning a song where the bass didn't start until bar (measure) 17. When I started playing, he stopped singing and just said Wow!
 
I'm not THAT good! It was simply, as Dino pointed out, the effect that bass can have on people's perception of a piece of music.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Well Rob: that's the essenceman!
;-)
 
Paul

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Here's a true story and this just happened last night.  A friend of mine has been doing a solo acoustic gig every Sunday at this local pub in my hometown.  Just last night he invited me to come down and play some bass with him, unfortunatley he didn't want electric, just strictly upright.  Which I'm always happy to work on my upright chops especially when it's a no pressure gig.
Well wouldn't ya know, after every set, the regulars couldn't figure out what the big difference was other than the big fiddle standing in the corner.  Something was different, they just couldn't figure out what it was.  Needless to say my friend asked me to finish out the year with him every Sunday.  I told him it'll be tough missing The Sopranos, but I think I can cope!!! HA
Rob, you're absolutely right on the money.  The bass does have an effect on peoples perception, sometimes visually as much as sonically.  Now I need to start saving pennies for a Classico!?!?
Pretty cool huh??
 
Peace - Dino