mickyz + Musician in Golden Valley, MN

SEEKING

ABOUT

An experienced cover-band bassist and guitarist who plays about everything - rhythm, lead, slide, acoustic, 12-string, bass, and even a bit of mandolin and Irish whistle. My playing style for guitar seems to be a cross between Clapton and Santana. I also gigged playing bass for 20 years in the style of Led Zeppelin, Yes, and Rush.

I believe in hard work, doing musical homework at home, being ready at practice, practicing hard but keeping things light and communication open, and integrity at the gig. No drama, no drugs, no drunkenness. Team player.

The songs listed here are my originals. I performed all tracks (the drums were programmed), and recorded them in my home studio.

The videos listed were performed under the auspices of Rock Camp Experience (rockcampexperience), which is a fun organization that provides an opportunity for new players to come out of the bedroom/basement to perform in public, and older players to keep their hand in and play stuff they've always wanted to play, or perhaps try music styles they haven't tried before. A great group of folks.

If currently uncommitted to a band, I would be open to considering the right band opportunity. One practice a week and 2-4 giging nights a month would be ideal, usually within an hour's drive of the 494/694 loop, although I'm flexible for the right situations.

Screen name:

mickyz

Member since:

Mar 24 2006

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

40

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

1 time per week

Available to gig:

1 night a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

Influences, or stuff I like to play? Def Leppard, Eric Clapton, Allman Brothers, Yes, Genesis, Toto, Journey, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Muse, Heart, Pat Benatar, Robert Palmer, Little Feat, CSN, the Cars, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Sugarland. I also appreciate artists such as Imogen Heap, Peter Gabriel, and (yes) Taylor Swift.

A Word In Defense of Older Players (2018)
Paul McCartney is 75. Jimi Hendrix would turn 75 this year, and Duane Allman would turn 71. Clapton, Page, Beck, Joe Walsh, and Keith Richards are all in their upper 60s or early 70s. Billy Gibbons is a youngster at 68. EVH is my age, and SRV would be a year older. No one is telling them to get off the stage because they're too old. They may not have the wild energy they had in their youth, but that has been replaced with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the music they play now. The rest of us who are older may not have had the chance to hit it big when we were young, but if we're still playing, then we too have that deeper understanding and appreciation. We grew up listening to and idolizing the names mentioned above. We have that music deep in our bones; it's made us who we are. We still feel 24 inside, despite the grey hair, and we still want to bring the freshest music we can make. If you're looking for good music more than just random primal-scream gross-motor energy, you really can't do much better than picking a player who has been breathing music for decade after decade. Give us a try!

Instrument experience:

Bass Guitar:

Expert

Rhythm Guitar:

Advanced

Lead Guitar:

Advanced

Acoustic Guitar:

Advanced

Vocalist:

Moderate

Vocalist - Baritone:

Moderate

Background Singer:

Moderate

Dobro:

Moderate

Mandolin:

Beginner

EQUIPMENT

Ron Kirn Signature custom Strat, Neal Schon Signature Les Paul, Les Paul Custom R7 3-pickup, Les Paul Standard R9, Les Paul Standard R6, Les Paul Custom R4, PRS Custom 24, (2) ES-135s, '61 ES-125TCD, Yamaha SG1500, American Deluxe Telecaster, Gretsch 5422, Olson dreadnaught, Taylor GSBA, Seagull Maritime SWS, Taylor T-5, Taylor 750 12-string, Gretsch Dobro, Eastman MD-615 mandolin

Rickenbacker 4003, Fender Ultra Precision, MusicMan Stingray 4, MusicMan Stingray 5, Carvin LB75, D'Angelico Excel acoustic bass guitar

Two-Rock Jet Sig, Friedman Smallbox, Friedman JJ Jr., Vox AC4HW1, Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 15, Bad Cat Hot Cat 15, Splawn Street Rod, Rivera Venus 6, Peavey Classic 30, Reverend Goblin, Marshall DSL5C, Victoria 518, Fender Concert, Fender CyberTwin, Fishman Loudbox, Eden WorldTour 800, Markbass Big Bang, Bergantino HT-322, (2) Hartke HX112, Fender Rumble 40, Hartke KB12, Headrush FX Pedalboard

4 Bose PAS's, 2 Chauvet PAR38 systems

And then the whole home studio thing using Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer Edition, Ozone 4, and a bunch of outboard gear...

MUSIC