CURRENT PROJECTS<<>>AUDIO OUTLAWS-Teays Valley, WV-Upright & Electric Basses<<>>THE HELLBLINKI SEXTET-Asheville, NC-Upright & Electric Basses/Cornet<<>>ALLAN JAMES PROJECT-Washington, DC-Upright & Electric Basses<<>>MARSHALL BARNHOUSE III-Hurricane, WV-Upright & Electric Basses<<>>TODD BURGE & THE ODD URGES-Upright & Electric Basses.
Influences
Jesus, My Parents, Stanley Clarke, Dee Dee Ramone, Tony Franklin, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee, Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Jaco, Geezer Butler, Bob Marley, Steve Harris, Mel Schacher, Paul McCartney, Tom Peterson, Doug Pinnick, Beaver Felton, Rocco Prestia, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Buffett, The Blues and American Roots Music.
Sounds Like
The way a bass should sound. The bass the material calls for with a deep pocket, tight rhythyms and a deep down flair with an ear candy attitude.
Free website - Wix.com
I play bass. All kinds of bass, Upright, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 12 string fretted and fretless. I've played bass for a long time and never wanted to play anything else. I knew from early on that I was never going to be a songwriter or singer (to a degree I'm happy with), so I set out on a course to become a technician on my instrument that people who were great singers, songwriters and bands would seek to be part of their musical vision. I don't play any particular style, I only play bass and am adept at most styles from Big Band Swing to Metal, Cabaret to Funk and Blues to Progressive/Alternative. I started very young in the late 70's playing in garage bands and playing clubs when I was underage with musicians much older than me. I played in the Jazz Lab in high school where I studied music theory, classical, swing and Jazz. I went on to Marshall University where I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with Jazz Legend, Professor Vincent Lewis. I played in bands throughout college and upon graduation, moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to join a premiere Southwest Metal band "Angelis Domini". After a summer of fun playing in the southwest, I moved to Washington DC to pursue music on a more full time basis. My time in DC was wonderfully inspirational. I was befriended by phenomenal musicians Allan James and Donnie Gray. Allan took me into his projects where I played in the studio and live. Allan is a wonderfully talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer and allowed me to spend 5 great years with him as bassist at "Arc of Light Studios". I played in a studio environment with original material on an almost daily basis. Allan is a great friend and an influential part of my musical development. I was fortunate to play in the studio constantly and perform some great large scale live shows. After Allan, I had the opportunity to join the "World’s Greatest Surf. Metal, Punk, Power Pop Band". "Danny Blitz and The New FBI". Performing all original material, we played some great shows on the East Coast; DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore & New York City. A great time to bring my training and experience into a professional live showcase forum. Some great times playing at world famous venues such as CBGB's, The Bayou Theatre, The 9:30 and playing with great acts from The Ramones & The Talking Heads to RUN DMC & Blondie. In the early 90's I moved to Charleston, WV where I formed "Crazy Jane" with Andy Park, Karen Allen and Mark Davis. We were signed to Bedlam Records and I was involved in several recording projects as well as many live shows in the region. Throughout the mid to late 90's I played and recorded with a variety of musicians in the Charleston and Huntington Area. I played many live shows in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia and recorded with "Gas Cap" and "Distal". We performed almost exclusively original material and were a well respected group in the original alternative music scene. In 2001, I was asked to play bass for "The Global Harmony Orchestra". A 25 piece Big Band/Orchestra under the direction of Professor Marshall Barnhouse III. This was the beginning of 5 years of sharpening my site reading skills, playing original and arranged charts from composers and musicians from around the world, and performing on upright and electric bass on a weekly basis. When the group switched from Big Band style to Classical I played Flugel Horn and Cornet in the Brass Section. I continue to study privately with Professor Barnhouse as I continue my quest to be the best bassist I can be. I have recently, since 2004, been playing with "The Walken Christopers" and "Greathouse", two acoustic oriented bands where I play upright bass exclusively. Both bands perfrom around the Charleston/Huntington area. Since October 2007, I have had to opportunity to fill the bass spot for The Hellblinki Sextet, an original gypsy, cabaret, pirate blues, vaudeville group from Asheville, NC/Augusta, GA. I am one of the rotating cast of musicians who make up this phenomenal band. I have toured with them and had the opportunity to play venues in Asheville, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, New York City, Boston, Albany, Cincinnati, Columbus, Huntington and Charleston, WV. Touring with the Hellblinki's is a great experience for me and allows me to go from traditional upright bass to heavily effected experimental 5 string electric and back to traditional again during the course of each performance. I also play on the new Hellblinki Sextet CD, "Oratory", which is currently available. In 2008-09 I am recording material for the new Allan James CD, "Music in Mind", to be released in the spring of 2009 as well as playing live shows with Allan in the DC area. Also playing with Audio Outlaws, a powerhouse 7 piece outlaw country/rock group touring regionally, headlining and opening for national acts. I am currently engineering and producing material for our new CD at Valley Bass Studios (www.myspace.com/valleybassstudio). Our first single recorded at ValleyBass received extensive regional airplay. In 2008 I had the opportunity to play in the pit orchestra at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre for a Broadway review and look forward to more experiences with the theatre. My playing schedule also includes bass duties wth Connections United Methodist Community in Teays Valley every Sunday morning with a very talented group of faith based pop/rock/praise musicians.
In 2009, I will be performing bass duties for the fabulous Todd Burge with in his band Odd Urge on a February Mini Tour <<>> 2009: Touring and Recording with AUDIO OUTLAWS, THE HELLBLINKI SEXTET, ALLAN JAMES BAND, MARSHALL BARNHOUSE, III and TODD BURGE & ODD URGE.
Thanks for reading!
Rodney
www.myspace.com/bassinthevalley
BassInTheValley@gmail.com
304-552-1597 Cell
Rodney I never got a chance to tell ya. But thanks for everything you do for the Audio Outlaws. You kicked major ass at Tomahawks Saturday. Your energy was amazing and you and Pete are starting to really click. Keep rocking bro we got a lot of shows ahead of us.
Just wanted to tell you to "break a leg" Friday (well, not literally)!! You guys are gonna be fabulous!! That will be a great stress relief..:) hugs, m
I see Hellblinki is recording at your place. New material/ album I assume. Did you move the studio into your Marshall room? Hope things are going well for ya. Things have been a bit slow for me workwise. That's why as soon as I'm out of school this May, I'm hoping to be relocated to Asheville by Septemebr. I already have a project lined up down there with people calling. Doesn't seem like anyone can get off their arse to do anything in this area. Keep up the great work with your projects!
Hey Rodney, I enjoyed meeting you and especially hearing you play, you were the favorite pinch hitter of the night! Good luck with the music and hope to run into you again down the road. ~Rachel
Hey Rodney... sitting here in Pburg listening to The Hellblinki Sextet ... doesn't get much hipper than that. Looking forward to Thursday's folk invasion of the Empty Glass... hope the Glass is full.. or half full... har. Todd
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