Joe Campbell

What do you teach at Loudlands?

I'm the Director of Operations as well as teach bands and group classes

When did you start playing?

In fourth grade on clarinet

What's your favorite aspect of music or your instrument?

On bass guitar you can control the feel of a song and push the rest of the band to react

Who are some of your favorite bands/musicians and why?

I love A Tribe Called Quest. I think their use of samples in combination with performances with jazz players like Ron Carter really opened the door for current artists that fuse those elements into their music. Some other acts that I spin a lot are Thin Lizzy, Rush and The Replacements because they all push rock n' roll with very authentic, distinct sounds.

What are some of your current and/or past music projects?

Currently I play bass in Me In Capris, Air Traffic Controller, Emi McSwain, Brady Dallas Jones, Zola Simone, Jake Swamp And The Pine and The Mail. In the past, I've played bass and/or guitar with New Legs, The Godfreys, Dead Generals, Canyon King as well as have done some session work for various other bands.

How would you describe your music and playing style?

Playing bass, I get the unique opportunity to play in a lot of different styles, but generally I focus on playing with lyrically and always, ALWAYS trying to lock in with the kick drum. I also try to find ways to have the bass interact with other melodic instruments using counterpoint and reinforce the melody.

Can you please describe your gear of choice?

I use a Fender P Bass in every act I play with 99% of the time with flatwound strings. It's a classic bass that seems to easily fit into any mix, whether I'm playing country, rock or hip hop. I primarily use a Markbass TTE 500 tube head and matching cabs. Markbass gear seems to have a very balanced EQ and the mids always cut.

Any general advice you'd like to give to beginner musicians or someone looking to get started?

When starting to learn your instrument, take time to learn songs you naturally listen to. Make your learning meaningful by learning songs by bands or players you already love. Also, we learn language by ear, build awareness with learning letters and then increasingly larger components of language. Treat learning your instrument the same way. Really listen and focus on small, sequential steps of playing to build your mastery of the instrument.

Aside from playing/making music, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

I love sci-fi and traveling.

If you were battling a physically identical but evil android version of yourself on top of a skyscraper during a thunderstorm and someone miraculously intervened, how would they know which one was the real you?

Ask the android who they like more, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. If they say The Beatles, then you know it's not me!