The first time I seen Mike Watt was that Union Street in Detroit before show they were playing at Alvin's the bartender told me to put my cigar out .and I said why .the guys right behind me are smoking cigars and it end up being Mike Watt and George Hurley we all laughed they signed our tickets before the show we went and seen them at Alvin's and then ended up partying with them at the red door. And anytime Mike Watt plays in Detroit I bring them cigars to the show. Macanudo
That's funny, a guy I knew was bassist in a band called Skiploader in the 90s, and has a similar story about meeting Watt, and Watt grabbing his hands like that, but said he was checking if they were "bass hands."
YES! That is a phenomenal story. I interviewed Watt for my zine in the late 90s and his publicist had to cut in on the call and steer him to the next interview because he been talking to me, this nerdy kid in Palm Beach with a zine that less than 100 people would ever see, for OVER AN HOUR about John Coltrane.
😂😂🤣 this is just soo Watt 🤣😂. He’s the warmest humblest man alive . Endlessly inspiring and funny as hell . Brutal honesty . I cherish every time I get to hang with Watt . The greatest for me ever always will be ! As Watt would say “Keep on Keeping on”
Fretless is another animal. I play bass too, but when I de-fretted my cheap Squier Jazz, and only play fretless, it was a high learning curve. You have to play differently, because you now have to play ON the fret line, or your off. Because I play some Turkish style music too, the fretless is a necessity for microtones. But i would suspect that any bassist, given a lot of time and practice could relearn their finger positioning, likely having to look at the lines (if they are there), but it's not intuitive. Watt is my idol. Seen Minutemen about 3 times and Firehose many.
Saw Watt play with fIREHOSE in 1987 at the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis, X, and fIREHOSE show. After that saw fIREHOSE probably 20 times. Good times. Saw Watt a couple years ago in Fort Collins with his trio.
Great story! However, I don't think I agree with Watt as I recall Watt playing fretless on a tune on fIREHOSE's Flyin' the Flannel album and it sounded great.
That 100% sounds like Mike Watt. He is truly a unique individual and has always stood out among bassists. This was a cool vid!
Watt is the man!
@@cricketbowsofficial Fact!
Lol shook watts hand after a show and it was like shaking a mechanics hand
You gotta have your whole hands like moccasins
The first time I seen Mike Watt was that Union Street in Detroit before show they were playing at Alvin's the bartender told me to put my cigar out .and I said why .the guys right behind me are smoking cigars and it end up being Mike Watt and George Hurley we all laughed they signed our tickets before the show we went and seen them at Alvin's and then ended up partying with them at the red door. And anytime Mike Watt plays in Detroit I bring them cigars to the show. Macanudo
Nice!!!
That's funny, a guy I knew was bassist in a band called Skiploader in the 90s, and has a similar story about meeting Watt, and Watt grabbing his hands like that, but said he was checking if they were "bass hands."
YES! That is a phenomenal story. I interviewed Watt for my zine in the late 90s and his publicist had to cut in on the call and steer him to the next interview because he been talking to me, this nerdy kid in Palm Beach with a zine that less than 100 people would ever see, for OVER AN HOUR about John Coltrane.
😂😂🤣 this is just soo Watt 🤣😂. He’s the warmest humblest man alive . Endlessly inspiring and funny as hell . Brutal honesty .
I cherish every time I get to hang with Watt . The greatest for me ever always will be !
As Watt would say “Keep on Keeping on”
Perhaps the best watt story I’ve heard
Fretless is another animal. I play bass too, but when I de-fretted my cheap Squier Jazz, and only play fretless, it was a high learning curve. You have to play differently, because you now have to play ON the fret line, or your off. Because I play some Turkish style music too, the fretless is a necessity for microtones. But i would suspect that any bassist, given a lot of time and practice could relearn their finger positioning, likely having to look at the lines (if they are there), but it's not intuitive. Watt is my idol. Seen Minutemen about 3 times and Firehose many.
That's Watt for ya. Dig the Brainiac shirt too
Hometown pride for the Brainiac gang. Good friends of some of our members.
Saw Watt play with fIREHOSE in 1987 at the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis, X, and fIREHOSE show. After that saw fIREHOSE probably 20 times. Good times. Saw Watt a couple years ago in Fort Collins with his trio.
but he did on the Bootstrappers album
What city was this? I was the guy you handed the Bass too.
That's awesome! It was Cincinnati, OH at Bogart's. That night changed my life. Thank you for the assist!!!
He had to be joking about the fretless.
I think it was more about the soft touch and ear it takes to play fretless - Watt is a master in his form but it’s a whole other technique.
what a bizarre response..bummer
Great story! However, I don't think I agree with Watt as I recall Watt playing fretless on a tune on fIREHOSE's Flyin' the Flannel album and it sounded great.
Get a PBASS