Melodic Bass Villian: Charlie Roberts

No he does not want to join your band. No he did not take lessons from Victor Wooten.

Yes, he does have a CD for sale. But simply hearing the music of Charlie Roberts is not enough. You must experience the Melodic Bass Villian and his mindblowing approach to playing bass.

Charlie Roberts, a musician in his free time, moves on the bass in ways that even the most knowledgeable bassists could not imagine. When asked what genre of music he plays, Roberts jokingly responded, "ProEx--Progressive Experimental." Truly, it's like nothing you have ever heard before.

Cross Tool with Beethoven and Roberts falls somewhere between. "Imagine a symphony condensed down to one instrument, thats what it sounds like to me." I haven't peaked your interest yet? Trot on over to YouTube and search for Charlie Roberts. Ignore the oddly labeled "Charlie and the dishwasher videos" and find videos of Roberts' "Flow," "Pristine Soul," "The Gift of Funk," and "Pulse." Not impressed yet? Catch him in person.

Unfortunately Roberts has had trouble booking shows elsewhere from the Muse. Most places question how a solo bassist could have anything worthwhile to say and could actually draw a fanbase. At a recent show at the Muse, I watched an entire room full of awe-filled people watch Roberts as though they were followers trying to absorb the teachings of their one and only true master. One woman ranted as she left the venue that she had some sort of religious experience after watching Roberts play, like some sort of miracle had occured.

I can't claim that you to will find yourself overwhelmed by this solo musician, but Roberts represents a true musicianship that is rare in the music industry today. Here is someone saying, "Look I can do it all. Moreover, I can do it all on one instrument." He doesn't hide behind his effects or some MTV structured image. It's just him, his bass, and his amp.

Roberts is quiet while he plays. Rarely does his face wince with effort--rather he seems completely absorbed by the music at hand. Still, the music echoes a kind of passion that even the most romantic among us like to believe is everpresent in the underground music scene.

More information about Charlie Roberts can be found at Myspace or CharlieRoberts.net. Roberts will be playing shows at The Muse on June 27, July 6, and August 1.