Musician Journey
Upright Bass, Punk Bass, and Everything Between
A classical upright bass student discovers punk rock and spends a career refusing to choose just one.
Sam started on upright bass at seven because it was the only instrument left in the school orchestra program, and it turned out to be a stroke of luck. By fifteen a friend's older brother's punk records had completely rewired what Sam thought bass was supposed to sound like.
Now Sam plays both — upright in a jazz trio on Tuesdays, distorted punk bass in a four-piece on Fridays — and considers that range the whole point.
The Journey
7 to 25 — milestone by milestone
-
7 age
Last Instrument Standing
Upright BassSchool orchestra sign-up sheet — upright bass was the only instrument left. Turned out to be the right one.
-
15 age
Punk Rock Discovery
Electric BassA friend's older brother's record collection introduced Sam to a completely different way to play bass.
-
20 age
Two Bands, Two Genres
Bass (both)Joined both a jazz trio and a punk four-piece in the same semester — never looked back from playing both.
-
25 age
Building a Bass Studio
Bass (both)Now teaches both upright and electric bass to students who assume they have to pick a lane.