R.E.M. at Jone's Beach, Long Island, 2008

R.E.M. was performing at Jones Beach Amphitheater, Long Island; my close childhood friend called me and told em we were going. So I booked a ticket and flew over to NYC. We met up and decided to spend an hour on the beach before the concert. From Manhattan, to Brooklyn, to the LIRR, to a bus... We finally got to the beach, and then walked to the Amphitheater.

There were a lot of REM fans, all of them traveling from far and wide like Adi and I. Modest Mouse, and The Nationals were the opening bands, and as the night grew darker, the wind from the Atlantic Ocean blew in some crazy clouds. Soon the music was competing with the voices, the guitar, the bass, cymbals, snare drums, and the deep boom of the kick drum bass... oh what a battle of the bands!

The band rushed off the stage when lightning stuck the stage, and the power went off. We were all sitting ducks, in an amphitheater which was made of mostly metal. This huge storm was right on top of us, Modest Mouse was only half done playing, when everyone was evacuated out of the stadium into the parking lot. So where do we go? To our cars? We didn't have a car, we had a friend coming to pick us up later that night. Many people were in the same boat as we were.

People were super nice to each other, and suddenly there were raincoats, and ponchos for sale (where do these people appear from, really!?). Since we were wondering around in the rain, we bought two ponchos and waited to see if R.E.M. would still go on. $100 tickets! We stuck around, soaked from the rain, poor Adi had brought his fancy SLR thingy lens and all, and he couldn't take it in. I had a bag full of wet clothes from the beach, it would have helped if I had more dry clothes. The crowd knew R.E.M. would not desert their fans. I think it was about 2 hours of herding the crowds back in, and out of the building, until R.E.M. got on.We just wanted R.E.M.! They played extra long for us too, although it was mighty late All the awesome songs - Songs from Accelerate, The One I love, Get up, Stand, etc... Michael Stipe spoke to us all, he did a little campaigning for Obama, and gave the loyal audience all the dry t- shirts he and the band still had. There were a lot of Obama 2008 t-shirts he threw out. We stood there as the band played on through the night, as we all stood in the rain. I think the show finally ended at around 1 or 2 am. It was so worth it!

Adi's friend took a while getting to the parking lot, so we sought to see the band leave, but we couldn't find the right bus. Maybe we saw Modest Mouse or The Nationals, I don't remember. At this point I was beat, soaking wet from head to toe, and crashing. Finally Adi's friend picked us up and took us to his place. Strange how there were still special buses running back to the train station at this hour! We got to the friend' place ate, and fell asleep. The next day we parted ways on the LIRR. It was a night to remember! We had so much fun - A musical adventure of its own.

:-)

Before the concert, we enjoy the beach. My second time to the Atlantic Ocean, my first few times were when I was too young to remember! This is my close childhood friend Adi! What silly T-shirt was I wearing :-/

We were almost the first people there!

The Nationals and Modest Mouse opened for R.E.M.

This was Modest Mouse, until it began to storm so bad, and lightning hit the stage and they had to get off the stage.

Finally R.E.M. after the rain kind of cleared out and it was safe for them.

Adi was grumpy cause he couldn't bring his camera into the concert!

This was when we all had to evacuate the amphitheater. But check out the guy behind us! Lol!

Here they perform Orange Crush. One of my favorite songs!

Michael Stipe! He was awesome! I love this guy!

R.E.M. rocks!

Breathe!

Jammin' on the Bass

I always wanted to "jam", ever since I was young. I would see my mom jam with singers, percussionists, while she created sweet sounds on her Hawaiian guitar (Fender). She played mostly Indian classical, but also popular musics of that time. She could rock out, if she wanted to but her passion was in Indian (Hindi and Bengali songs). My uncle plays the tabla, and had the privilege to learn under the most renowned Tabla Pundits. Through him I learnt somethings about rhythm, Indian music, appreciation for classical music... Classical Piano was something I was sent to lessons for, however I was really bored, as my progress was very slow, mostly because I did not enjoy the pieces I had to practice. This as well as some other negative experiences, created a dislike for piano lessons. Perhaps I never found the piano teacher that could teach me the way I needed to learn. However this did lay down my foundation in music. I never got to jam with anyone however.

In high school, the boys would jam during break, one on the piano, guitar, and drums, and a singer. I so longed to jam, but I was not equipped with the skills to do so. It was a lifelong longing.

Until...

Ryan, was setting up his guitars, 9 months after moving, finally taking out all his guitars, acquiring a new electric drum set, and other little creatures of guitaring. I wanted to play the drums; I tried; I was not too good at it. So he handed me the bass, and it seemed to be my calling. I rocked out! We jammed several songs and I loved it. I have been learning, playing, and composing with Ryan since then. To me it is a kind of meditation, it is very deep, and  relaxing to me. It brings out my creative energies, and helps with catharsis.

One day our musician and wildlife documenter/naturalist friend, Miles Reed, invited me to come over and teach me a few bass tricks. I knew this would be an interactive learning experience with a very experienced musician, so we took our instruments over and jammed! Ryan on Rhythm , Miles on lead, and me on the bass! it was fabulous music making, so much fun, relaxing. I was so nervous prior to, although this was a dear friend, just because I didn't know what to expect, and jamming with Miles and Ry turned out to be great.

It was like group meditation if I may say. We were all into this groove, and going with it wherever it would take us. We shared a few of our own compositions with Miles, and sang a few tunes for him, although I was still shy to sing in front of other people (although I frequently leave close friends and family "singing voicemails").

Music no matter what instrument it is, has so much more meaning when coupled with other instruments, and the pleasure of it multiplies with the more instruments you add to it. I feel so lucky to be able to share in this intimate experience with music. Yes it is much like a tango! Though challenging at times, but mastered through practice, music has never brought me more joy.

Practice:
someone once told me - "don't practice - one day and you know it

two days and the critics know it

three days and the public knows it"

So practice everyday!

and remember to 

Breathe!

Best Bassists

1 - John Myung - Dream Theater
2 - Geddy Lee - Rush
3 - Paul Gray - Slipknot
4 - Steve Harris - Iron Maiden
5 - Cliff Burton - Metallica
6 - Jaco Pastorius - The Weather Report
7 - Michael Peter Balzary (Flea) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
8 - John Entwistle - The Who
9 - Victor Wooten - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones and SMV
10 - Paul McCartney - The Beatles
11 - Billy Sheehan -  Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin
12 - John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin
13 - Les Claypool - Primus
14 - Chris Squire - The Yes
15 - James Jamerson - The Funk Machine
16 - Jack Bruce - Cream
17 - Bootsy Collins - James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic
18 - Phil Lynott - Think Lizzy
19 - Mark King - Level 42
20 - Nathan East - Fourplay, Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Toto and Herbie Hancock
21 - Aston Family Man Barrett - Bob Marley and the Wailers
22 - Gary Mani Mounfield - The Stone Roses and Primal Scream
23 - Carol Kaye - Ritchie Valens, Simon and Garfunkel, Quincy Jones, and The Beach Boys
24 - Doug Wimbish - Living Color

25 - Joseph Lucky Scott - Curtis Mayfield

(according to musicradar.com)
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-25-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-279007/