I don’t think I’ve ever written before about playing bass, which is kind of strange, because I’ve been playing bass ever since I just picked up a friend’s on a whim back in 1986-ish and started jamming. (I’ve been playing other instruments for much longer than that, since the 1970’s.) Today, I play most Sundays at CPC Newton, where we have the rockingest praise & worship band on the east coast. (Probably not, but allow me a little hyperbole.) And half of the Saturdays, I also play bass at Ruach Israel.

[Update: I’m no longer at CPC Newton.]

Music for me is a labor of love and passion, as I have only earned a penny or two at most from my music, and that I’m sure is because someone felt guilty for enjoying what I have to offer. I’ve also recorded songs for fun, like my semi-unplugged rendition of “Amazing Grace." (I’m doing everything in that recording, by the way, even though my brother and I originally performed it together, him on guitar, me on bass.)

Several weeks ago, Mario called me in a non-obvious semi-panic, wondering if I could play bass for In the Deep, because most of their other musicians had to cancel at the last minute. When I describe In the Deep, I say it’s candlelight ambience, loud worship music. I agreed to play. That was a fun, fun gig. Almost made me want to start another band again… But that’s a different story.

Afterward, I received a number of complements on my rockin’ bass playing. At first, I attributed them to two facts: 1. Mario had actually introduced me publicly to the group as the stand-in bassist, and 2. Dan the drummer and I have been playing together for years on Sunday mornings. We groove together, almost without thinking, so much so that sometimes I wonder if we’ve gotten into a rut. So when I subbed in at In the Deep, opposite Dan, we naturally provided all the backing needed. Yeah, that could be it.

But after thinking about it more, I’m thinking there’s more to it than that.