The Useless Critic 2.0

April is now upon us, And I had a lot of fun working with the page “Nader's Guitarists of the Week" posting Irish guitar videos all March. Now, that April is in action, I am also giving this month a theme, and it will be all electric bass guitar videos all April. I love promoting solo bass guitarists, and in fact, that was the whole reason I created the guitar page. So All Electric / All April. QATFYG: Speaking of things electric, would you ever have sex with a robot?

Hey, So the name « Esperanza Spalding, » is now getting an enormous amount of attention on the internet, and I have to confess before she won that little Gram Gram statue, I had no idea who she was. Did a Jazz musician really win Best New Artist this year? Anyway, I love the double bass, I love the bass guitar, I love compositions for the bass and bass guitar, so this bassist seems like she would be a perfect fit for someone like me. However, despite my obsession with Bassies, I am not that big of a Jazz fan. In this live song, she is rather awesome though. There is energy, and there is also what some people refer to as SOUL. Whether you like Jazz or not, this song and performance is awesome. But in this video below, I really lose a lot of the sensual energy. I think the bass is extremely well-played, but the arrangement is just not for me. She has a good voice, but it is not sitting well with me because of that silly Je ne sais quoi. She is definitely worth checking out though. QATFYG...

So this is a window into the existence that is Nader Bouberhan. I hope that it will give some people a closer glimpse into who I am. Also, I hope you like Solo Bass Guitarists. I honestly could not pick a single album for some years, so here is a sloppy and choppy list of things created by Moi. Tie: REM Green and Radio Free Albumuth by Stuart Hamm 1988 Flow my Tears the Policeman Said by Stu Hamm The Offspring 1989 “Jennifer Lost the War.” YES Judas Priest Painkiller 1990 Painkiller Pearl Jam Ten 1991 Black = You could pick any song off of this album. Great Stuff= Iced Earth Night of the Stormrider 1992 Night of the Stormrider Tool Undertow 1993 Piano Cover Sober Running Wild Black Hand Inn 1994 Black Hand Inn Gamma Ray Land of the Free 1995 Rebellion in Dreamland In High School Gamma Ray was my Band. They were mine. Victor Wooten A show of Hands 1996 Me and my Bass Guitar Gamma Ray Somewhere out in Space 1997 Valley of the Kings 1998-1999 I don’t have a favorite. Nevermore De...

So another group that is totally boss is George Smed’s Hot Noodles (with Sauce). I almost pulled off a decent rhyme…close but no cigar gosh dammit. This is a musical style that was practically invented for Nader Bouberhan (that doesn’t happen very often). Back when Britt posted The Yelle Interview, I was reminded of George Smed and the noodle-tricked out duo. I once requested an interview from George, and I don’t think he ever got back to me. Never-the-less, I am still a fan. Or if you speak British English, “I am like WICKED obsessed.” The group is a two person act from Ohio, and George Smed is on bass and lead vocals, forming a bass and drums combo. I love the lyrics, and overall, there is just a strong comedic feel that owns. It owns! I learned of George Smed because of his videos as a solo bass guitarist. He puts out some original compositions that are entertaining and well-performed, and he also adds some covers and arrangements of other pieces that are equally BA (stands for bad...

So there has been some talk about posting Mid-Summer Mixes. Here is mine, just for the heck of it. This is a short list. I’ll start with some early summer Music. The Offspring-Want You Bad This is the song I think about for the beginning of Summer. Moving onward….. Donna Summer—She Works Hard for the Money I’ve posted about this song before. I used to hear this song as a jingle all the time, but it is engrained in my mind as a Childhood Memory of Midsummer. The Tornadoes- Bustin’ Surfboards Anything by the Tornadoes really feels like Summer, just like MJ and those Ball Park commercials. And James-Laid (American Pie nostalgia) This is my song for the end of summer. I was going to add LA Baby from the “Jonas Brothers,” but then I really did not feel like it. It’s weird how that happens sometimes. QATFYG: Any posters want to publish their midsummer mixes? And to seal this with my signature, Since I like Bass Instruments so much Here is a Russian Bass Balalaika soloist. They need more vids...

I like Bass Players. This guy is impressivo. Jayen Varma from India holds the world record as the world’s fastest bass player, playing up to 36 notes a second. See if you count to 36 in one second. jayen varma His stuff is listed as nontraditional, but it doesn't sound at all like western music. I'm not a super huge fan of his arrangements, but his abilities trump all that silly nonsense. QATFYG: Do you like Indian music? Do you like Fast or Slow (not a serious question)? And how fast can you count to 36?

Toady I was torn between posting about Nick Jonas or Marco Panascia. I chose Marco Panascia. I hope no one is offended. Marco P is an upright bass and electric bass player born in Itlay, but now residing in NYC. Listening to his music can be described with one word:Fun And the only advice I would give is really focus. I mean REALLY FOCUS. It's just fun to see and to watch. So catch Marco P. playing some classics from Jazz, Blues, and other genres. It's great. http://www.marcopanascia.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxnurDFZCgQ

Christmas List: Then I saw this And I began to hear a voice that sounded like a cross between Old Blue Eyes and Eric Millegan singing.... Love is a many-splendored thing, It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring, In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still, Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing, Yes, true love's a many-splendored thing. QATFYG: Anybody have any other shnazzy guitar pics?