First Round of Answers to The Pone Zone
Thanks to everyone who has already submitted questions to The Pone Zone. It has been fun to read through all of the submissions -- way too many for me to answer this first go around, so if I didn't reply this time, be sure to stay tuned for future posts.
Keep those questions coming!
- RS
Mike, Granger, Indiana:
Q: hey pony, what are some of your favorite tools (toys) in your pedal board? if you only had one which would it be
A: My tuner! I'm a musician right? So I have to be in tune, ha. No, seriously I would say that the Boss Octave pedal is my favorite. It has two different sounds that i really dig. I like to set the direct all the way off and the oct all the way up to get a deep house bass sound and I like to set both the direct/octave knobs at around one o'clock to get a dirty funk octave sound. A close second would be the Moogerfooger Low-Pass-Filter pedal with an expression pedal controlling the cutoff.
Mitch, Ottawa, Illinois
Q: I was just wondering if you still had the RaTT tail growing man. RaTT N Roll!!!!
A: I do still have a rattail and I plan on keeping it until football season where it will be braided and adorned with black and gold beads. Although I have rocked the mullet, a spike, a blue mohawk, too many bad bleachings, and even shaved lines circa 1986, I have never paid homage to the rattail. Plus I made a bet that I would grow it four inches for a hundred bucks. However, I have grown quite found of it and I am thinking of naming it as well. Have a nice day!
Pete, St. John, Indiana
Q: Does Kris Myers ever give private drum lessons when Umphrey's is off the road at home in Chicago?
A: Why yes he does, and he is planning on giving lessons in August in Chicago for a very fair price! He takes credit cards, personal checks, sexual favors, and of course cash!
Greg, Athens, Georgia
Q: I was curious about the picture of a Rickenbacker bass in the Mantis booklet, then Jake mentioned it at the Summercamp workshop. He said that it's his and that you've used it on a few albums. Which songs? Any chance of busting it out live? Thanks.
A: It is Jake's. It is 4001 Rickenbacker from 1984. Sick tones and a delight to play. I used it on over 90% of Mantis. I think Turn and Run and Mantis were the only tracks that I used the blue Lakland. I am pretty used to playing a 5-string bass and the Rickenbacker is more of a studio bass that we record with and is primarily used on all of Jake's demos.
Greg, Rockford, Illinois
Q: How do you prepare for a show? Do you have any rituals you have to perform or traditions you have to do before going up on stage?
A: I drink a "Pone Loc Special" (secret recipe), take two puffs off a Marlboro Red, do 13 push-ups and rub one out into a Crown Royal bag. Showtime!!!
Andy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Q: Will Umphrey's McGee ever play G-Song again?
A: No, it is a crew song now.
David, Columbus, Ohio
Q: What is your favorite beer?
A: BUDWEISER
Brad, Muncie, Inidian
Q: Crunchy or Creamy peanutbutter?
A: Crunchy.
Josh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Q: Go Pens. Talked to you at Mountain Jam 5 briefly about the Pens. And we got er done.
So here is my question.
I cant find UMphrey's bass tabs anywhere and i am desperately trying to learn a few UM songs. How about a tab or a video tutorial for Mantis, Made to Measure, 1348. Anything. Even a older UM song like Bright Lights, Big City I know you rip a funky bass line on that.
Thanks so much Pony. Little things like this is what makes Umphrey's the best band on the planet.
Pittsburgh is the City of Champions.
A: Our friend Kevin Langan has done guitar tabs for us and we spoke last night in Richmond. He is planning on doing some bass tabs in the near future. Some oldies and some new ones from Mantis.