BB’s double progressive concept album “Scenes From The Flood” featuring Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Guthrie Govan. Mike Keneally, Ray Hearne (Haken), Gene Hoglan (Dethklok) and more – now available on 2CD and 2LP vinyl in the Shop!
BB is currently #stayinghome due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Joe Satriani and Aristocrats tours are in the process of being postponed/rescheduled. Watch the LIVE page for details. For remote recording sessions and lessons, you can reach him using the CONTACT page. Thanks and stay safe!
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SECRET SATRIANI SESSIONS?: It’s been tough for the four of us who were going to be Joe Satriani’s touring band for his Shapeshifting tour this year. Joe, me, drummer Kenny Aronoff Fan Page, and keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Rai Thistlethwayte were psyched to hit the road and play that new material, as well as some of the Satch classics. As we all know, life went sideways and it’s been postponed. But us four have been texting each other updates, funny memes, music, and more ever since we entered quarantine life. And Joe started sending us a bunch of new material he’s working on. I have to say, it was pretty awesome getting to hear embryonic SatchMusic in demo form - I joked to a close confidant that it was like having the world’s most exclusive Patreon subscription.
This isn’t something I would ever discuss in a public forum, and I had no plans of mentioning it, until I saw this article suddenly appear on Blabbermouth, drawing on an interview with Joe himself! Well, that cat’s out of the bag, now, isn’t it?
The gist of it is, Satch wants to track two albums during this strange time in our lives, one instrumental and one vocal. And we would do it remotely (which Joe *never* does for his own albums). He proposed the idea to us in our group text thread, and of course, Kenny, Rai and I were all like “hell yeah!”. There is a depth and richness to the material I’ve heard so far that I think is really special, and speaks to the moment we’re all living through and figuring out in real time. So I’m very, very excited about this.
Now, to be clear, this is a WAYS off, and I’m surprised it even went public at all. But I checked with Joe to make sure it was ok to talk about this, and he gave the thumbs up. Like he said, I guess now we *have* to do it, don’t we?!
JOE SATRIANI Is Working On Two New Albums While In Quarantine
Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani spoke to Australian Musician about how he has been staying busy during the coronavirus downtime. He said (see video below): "I got it in my head that I wanted to cr...“BUNKISTAN” BASS SOLO VIDEO - FOR A GREAT D’ADDARIO CAUSE: My friends at D'Addario and Co. (whose strings I heart very much) asked me to send in a short clip for their “Tasty Licks” Memorial Day Weekend video series. They’ve converted part of their assembly line from making drum heads to face shields for COVID-19 medical first responders, and the more views this video (and the others in the series) get, the more face shields Big D will donate to the cause. So, here's my very first video of anything from "Scenes From The Flood" - the bass solo from a love song for separated musicians (eerily on topic), called "Bunkistan". Good people of the Internet, you know what to do. 🙂
Here’s to all of those on the front lines of our latest battle - and, on this solemn day, to those who gave all so we could be here to have it.
MOHINI DEY/BB INTERVIEW NOW LIVE! I mentioned this the other day, but ICYMI, I had the privilege of being the latest guest on bass phenom Mohini dey's new YouTube talk show "What A Melophile Wants". It's a full hour of bassist to bassist geekery that starts off about showmanship and stage presence, and then goes all over the place. Fun! Thanks so much to Mohini for having me on.
Ep7.What A Melophile Wants?-A Talk Show By Mohini Dey Feat.Bryan Beller
"Get To Know The Inside" With Mohini Dey on Her Brand New Talk Show -'What a Melophile Wants?' Episode No.8 is with the one and only "Nathan East" on the 28t...BIG BOOK FOR BORED BASSISTS: The hardcores already know this, but for more recent followers...did you know I have a complete bass transcription book for every song on my 2008 studio release “Thanks in Advance”? Nine songs, an hour of music, every single bass note on the album transcribed in notation and tab in a beautiful old-fashioned full-size 9” x 12” book, like we had in the olden times. Plus you get bass/drums-only and no-bass mixes of every song on the album. I know a lot of folks out there are taking this time to level up their skills and take on serious playing/practicing challenges. This would be one. 😉
"Thanks In Advance" was more of a fusion-y album than "Scenes From The Flood". And it had busier bass parts as well. "Love Terror Adrenaline" has a frightening 16-bar unison melody a la John Scofield's "Protocol" (yes, the secret is finally revealed, that's where I ripped off that idea from); "Blind Sideways" is about the closest I'll ever get to a true bass fusion nerd solo; and the ballad title track has a bass solo that's two minutes long (a first and last for me!). But all of the lines and grooves have something to sink your teeth into, if you're into that sort of thing.
I remembered I had this because someone found the old Store page from my previous website - which is still online if you look hard enough for it - and ordered it. (Well done, random person!) So I'm going to direct-link (an anchor link, my god) that page right to the book. ONE THING though: I can only ship this to the continental USA. It's too expensive to ship overseas - it just doesn't make any sense. So if you're overseas and want a digital version (or, hell, if you're Stateside and want a digital version), just message me and we'll figure it out.
THE OLD STORE TRANSCRIPTION BOOK LINK:
www.bryanbeller.com/cms/index.php?page=shop#TIATB
(please don't order anything else from that page - if you feel compelled to Buy Moar Stuff you can do that here:
bryanbeller.com/index.php/shop )
Godspeed if you're one of the brave bassists to take this on. And many thanks to Stevie Glasgow who worked tirelessly on these transcriptions with me all those years ago.
COMING THIS WEEKEND: I've been working on a little something for a charity effort my dear friends at D'Addario and Co. are leading. Is it possible that I...actually...made a video of me playing something from "Scenes From The Flood"? I've been more than a bit trepidatious about getting into this game, but this one's for a great cause. Watch their socials this weekend!
SECRET SATCH SESSIONS? Some news you can use in this @chickenfootjoe interview. Plan = two new albums, 1 w/vox & 1 w/out, and the live band of @AronoffOFFICIAL, @RaiThisMusic & your humble narrator to cut it remotely during C19time! Sounds like fun. 😉😎 https://t.co/zuoUt5d5lj
“BUNKISTAN” BASS SOLO VIDEO FOR GREAT CAUSE: @DaddarioandCo asked 4 a clip for their “Tasty Licks” video series. More views=more donated face shields (which BigD makes).
Here’s 2 all on the front lines of our latest battle & 2 those who gave all so we could be here to have it.
The incredible @bryanbeller supplies us a sample from his song “Bunkistan”, off his latest album, “Scenes From The Flood”. Find the tabs at https://t.co/zwHvWWGq8E. #WeWillPlayOn
MOHINI DEY/BB INTERVIEW NOW LIVE! ICYMI, I had the privilege of being on bass phenom Mohini Dey's YouTube talk show "What A Melophile Wants". 1hr of geekery re: showmanship, stage presence, & other fun stuff. Thanks so much to Mohini for having me on.
https://t.co/ZMQOv8qKIW