The Flat Duo Jets are one of my top favorites too - they fucking kill it as a two-peice, but their first album with Tone on upright bass was a real gem also.  The Cramps went for years with out a bassist too, no?  I don't think anyone could say their music suffered for it.

I see where the OP is coming from, but some bands can certainly pull it off to great effect.  One man bands? Rhythm is usually as simple as a stomping foot or thumb taps on the body of their geetar, and it often suits their music well. I highly recommend Scott H. Biram for a great showcase of what one person can accomplish on their own.

Early Cramps, Cheater Slicks... depends how it's done really. What I hate is when a band uses bass but you can't hear the fucking thing.

Ya see! I always forget some. How could I forget the Gories?

And, when you think about it, no one-man band has a bass, either.

I think it really depends on the style. The bands (or duos) that go for the more primitive sound don't need it.

dave said:

Yeah, some bands can do it, like The Gories or Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers.

Normally I'm with ya, but there are exceptions.

Two of my favorite bands that I've found in the last year or so are two-piece bands: Left Lane Cruiser and Restavrant. I love the raw feeling they bring to their music.

Listen to The Magnetix.
no bass but the guitar use two amps, a bass amp with an octaver so with the same signal he have one guitar fuzzed sound and also a bass drived sound !

What about a bariton guitar ?

What makes the Gories and Hound Dog Taylor's Houserockers so good is that when they played, you never missed the bass. At least one of the guitarists held down the bottom. It still sounded thin, but at least it was something.

With these other bassless bands, there's too much empty space. You're waiting for some low notes to fill in the gap, but it never arrives...

Yeah, some bands can do it, like The Gories or Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers.

Normally I'm with ya, but there are exceptions.

That's awesome.  The lead singer, Paul, also runs Mammoth Cave http://mammothcaverecording.com/ . It's one of the best labels in Canada right now. Pretty much all the bands are worth checking out.

triggahiccups said:

Saw these guys and drank many drinks with the lead singer. All great people making AMAZING psyched out jams.

The Pygmies said:

If you're looking for a great new Garage-Psych band you MUST check out the Ketamines. Definitely my favourite album of the year.

http://ketamines.bandcamp.com/

Saw these guys and drank many drinks with the lead singer. All great people making AMAZING psyched out jams.

The Pygmies said:

If you're looking for a great new Garage-Psych band you MUST check out the Ketamines. Definitely my favourite album of the year.

http://ketamines.bandcamp.com/

If you're looking for a great new Garage-Psych band you MUST check out the Ketamines. Definitely my favourite album of the year.

http://ketamines.bandcamp.com/

Now we're on to something John.  That's hideous!  

John Carlucci said:

This is really ugly! and what's with the Handle???

This is really ugly! and what's with the Handle???

Whoa! that BC Rich reminds me of someone I know who is not cool at all....I'd have to concur!

I'm with you on this, BC Rich guitars were/are some ugly and uncool monstrosities.  The epitome of cheesy metal posery.

....Also , I just saw an ad for "The Stones in Hyde Park" coming out , legitimately , for the first time , ever. If  you've never seen a bootleg copy , it's not a very good performance. Brian had just died , and Mick Taylor had been with the group a matter of days. They did what they could , under the circumstances . There are certainly moments , though , I'd say it's of more historical than musical importance . It's sloppy , even by The Stones' standards , and even though Taylor was first to admit to being scared stiff to play before an estimated 100,000 people , it's hard to imagine the others not feeling  the same , though they'd probably never admit it , themselves. It would be nice , all the same , to see the best possible quality copy. I bought a copy in Mexico for about Four American Dollars , thinking , what can I lose? It turned out to be a pretty good copy , though , somehow , that made the shortcomings more obvious than on my crap SLP copy. I don't want to prejudice anyone , but this is NOT the powerhouse band that ripped it's way through America like a buzzsaw though a package of toilet paper, in a few short months.

By Jones , I think he's got it.....Some material , particularly on albums like "Goats Head Soup" and "Black and Blue" , was'nt BAD , merely sluggish. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THEIR ARTISTIC DECLINE (THEIR WERE MORE TO FOLLOW) , THOUGH , WAS "MELODY" ON "B & B", A COLLABORATION WITH BILLY PRESTON , ONE THAT JAGGER COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR SAYING IT WAS'NT FEASIBLE TO TRY TO PERFORM , LIVE. BUT , WHEN I SAW BILL WYMAN , ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO , THAT WAS THE ONE STONES SONG HE AND HIS GROUP PERFORMED. BUT , THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD TO BE HEARD ON NEARLY ALL THEIR ALBUMS.
   
G. Wood said:

You know what... It's all good. Except some of the stuff Mick insisted on when he was in his 'dance' phase.

You know what... It's all good. Except some of the stuff Mick insisted on when he was in his 'dance' phase.

I definitely side with the Brian Jones camp. I love their early material, especially their pop songs - Blue Turns to Grey, I Am Waiting, Connection, I'm Free, Singer Not the Song. Jagger-Richards could write hooks just as solidly as Lennon-McCartney when they wanted to.

I have a documentary on VHS , BUT IT'S A STRAIGHT UP SCREAMING LORD SUTCH Bio . Joe Meek figures into the proceedings , of course , and there's some great home footage of Meek RECORDING THE SAVAGES (Probably also in this Meek/SutchBio.), but it's all about our Lord , which art in Heaven.

Done! I suggest you all download it just in case! Sorry for the lack of information.

Enjoy!

Part 1: https://vimeo.com/45539432

Part 2: https://vimeo.com/45540502

Part 3: https://vimeo.com/45541224

Part 4: https://vimeo.com/45541266

kopper said:

Have you tried posting them on Vimeo?

A bit of original film....

The Outlaws getting nicked driving a stage coach through London (1961).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_ERzBUrM1M&feature=fvwrel

There's a Great Joe Meek Doc. here:

The Pygmies said:

I can't wait to check this out. I read Screaming Lord Sutch's biography and ever since I've wanted to learn more about Joe Meek. Phil Spector found the guy too eccentric, that's when you know you're really out there!

Hi

That is exactly the one I meant.....if you can give me any details you have that would be great....that way I can search, with only "Screaming Lord Sutch" to go on I was stuck....any information gratefully received.....

Many thanks both!!

BG

I can't wait to check this out. I read Screaming Lord Sutch's biography and ever since I've wanted to learn more about Joe Meek. Phil Spector found the guy too eccentric, that's when you know you're really out there!