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The Whigs Got Ideas: Tim’s Top-Five Favorite Bass Lines

whigslogo1Like most bands, the Whigs—guitarist/vocalist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Tim Deaux—have had to endure their fair share of rough patches during their eight-year existence, including major-label troubles and lineup changes, but perhaps these bumps in the road were merely the stars aligning for the Athens, Ga., trio. The label issues prompted them to record and release their debut album, 2005’s Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip independently, earning them the title of “the best unsigned band in America” from Rolling Stone. It wasn’t long before they were signed to ATO Records—which issued the band’s critically acclaimed second release, Mission Control, in 2008—and playing high-profile shows at festivals and late-night talk shows and touring with some really famous names. New album In The Dark is the Whigs’ grittiest and most explosive album yet. Ever the kings of the road, the Whigs are currently on tour in support of the release, but they’ll also be guest-editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with the Whigs and our 2008 feature on them.

GBVDolly

Deaux:
1. Dolly Parton “9 To 5”
This was the first piece of music I ever learned to play. Except I learned It it in the key of E on my mom’s guitar while it was still sitting upright on its guitar stand in our living room. I had to get my mom to fret the B. I think I was about five years old. Video

2. Sly And The Family Stone “If You Want Me To Stay”
After playing the guitar for years and years, this song single-handedly made me want to pick up the bass. Video

3. Guided By Voices “A Salty Salute”
The bass line is the melody that really “makes” this short song such a rock gem, and it suggested to me that a song could be written on a bass. Video

4. Herbie Hancock “Hang Up Your Hang Ups”
Paul Jackson’s use of the ringing open string while simultaneously playing upper-register melodies has always fascinated me. I’m constantly ripping that guy off. Video

5. Harry Nilsson “Jump Into The Fire”
Such a tough groove. It sounds like a freight train full of rhinos racing a tornado. There’s this incredible dive-bomb part at the end where the low note is slowly detuned until eventually you can here the loose string flapping around. It still blows my mind every time I here it. I’ve tried to mimic it in the studio, but it never works. Video