The Bass Shed Podcast

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In Episode 148 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ryan Roberts sits down with bassist Ed Breckenridge of the band Thrice to talk about creativity, musicianship, and sustaining a band for more than two decades.
Ed has helped shape the sound of Thrice since the band’s earliest days, blending heavy rock energy with atmosphere, texture, and evolving songwriting. In this conversation, he shares how he came to the bass during the forming of the band, the records and players that influenced him early on, and what he discovered to be so powerful about the role of the bass in a band.
Ryan and Ed also dive into Thrice’s latest album Horizons West, the band’s twelfth studio release. They discuss the band’s collaborative songwriting process, building contrast and atmosphere within heavy music, recording bass tones in the studio, and how the band continues to evolve creatively while staying true to its identity.
A thoughtful conversation about bass, songwriting, and the long arc of a working band.
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Watch / Listen on YouTube
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Listen on Apple Podcasts
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Listen on Spotify
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THRICE
Official Website
https://thrice.net
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thrice
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thrice
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thrice
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3NChzMpu9exTlNPiqUQ2DE
Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/255352
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE
Lemur Music
https://lemurmusic.com
Use promo code THEBASSSHED (all one word) for 10% off.
Jerry Jemmott: 15 Timeless Basslines
https://www.thebassshedacademy.org/741259528234
KraftGeek Capsule Music Stand
https://kraftgeek.com
Use promo code SHED15 for 15% off.
EXPLORE THE BASS SHED
Explore the Shed Feed to discover podcast extras, bass transcriptions, lessons, Bass Bites, Listening Room breakdowns, and more.
The Bass Shed — a place for every bassist to explore artist, craft and culture.
https://www.thebassshed.com/shed-feed
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YouTube
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In Episode 147 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ryan Roberts sits down with freelance double bassist and educator Darren Sacks to explore what truly separates good playing from audition-ready playing.
Darren shares the story of hearing the Boston Symphony Orchestra live at sixteen and deciding to switch from saxophone to double bass — a decision that led to rapid advancement, conservatory training, and a performing career throughout the Boston area.
This conversation goes far beyond résumé highlights.
Ryan and Darren dive into:
• Why “innate talent” is often misunderstood
• The critical role of rhythmic precision and note length in orchestral auditions
• What adjudicators are actually listening for
• Why technique on the double bass cannot be optional
• The psychology of performing under pressure
• And how Darren’s Double Bass Audition Accelerator system prepares students for youth orchestra, festival, and conservatory auditions
If you’re preparing for auditions — or guiding someone who is — this episode is tactical, honest, and practical.
More About Darren Sacks:
https://www.darrensacksbass.com/
https://www.darrensacksbasscoach.com
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thebassshed
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Bass.Shed.official/
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Go deeper with Podcast Extras, The 5 Spot, full Listening Room breakdowns, complete Bass Bites, Lessons, LowDown gear reviews, Shed Mindset videos, and access to the Shed Studio practice tools.
Join here:
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Episode Features
Lemur Music
Serving bass players for decades with trusted instruments, accessories, and deep knowledge of the craft.
LemurMusic.com
Promo Code: THEBASSSHED
Jerry Jemmott — 15 Timeless Basslines
A transcription collection focused on feel, phrasing, and truly serving the song.
TheBassShedAcademy.org
The Wood Shed Bass
Vintage-inspired. Modern voice. Built for working players.
TheBassShed.com/wood-shed-bass
Kraft Geek Capsule Music Stand
Lightweight, collapsible, and gig-ready.
Use promo code SHED15 to save 15%.
https://kraftgeek.com/products/bravo-music-stand-209?ref=SHED15&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=
Support the show
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In Episode 146 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ryan Roberts sits down with bassist Ben Suarez to talk about rhythm before instrument, starting bass later in life, and building a band intentionally from the ground up.
Ben’s first musical language wasn’t bass — it was hip-hop. Growing up on the East Coast, he spent years freestyling and performing as a rapper before ever picking up the instrument that would eventually define his role in music. Starting bass at 20, navigating a non-linear college path, and studying privately for nearly a decade, Ben developed his voice through experience, discipline, and bandstand reality rather than traditional conservatory expectations.
The conversation also explores the formation and growth of The Hip Snacks, a Denver-based rock-and-soul outfit formed through open mics, community jams, and a shared musical vision. Ryan and Ben discuss writing as a band instead of chasing trends, supporting powerful vocals without overplaying, influences spanning soul, rock, jam, and hip-hop, recording with intention versus simply capturing live energy, bass tone decisions in the studio versus on stage, and building identity without comparing timelines.
It’s a conversation rooted in artistry, craft, and culture — about trusting your path, serving the music, and committing to something bigger than yourself.
Connect with The Hip Snacks
Website
https://www.thehipsnacks.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thehipsnacks
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheHipSnacks
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheHipSnacks
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZYfCjDymrFrCAXdI9lC
Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-hip-snacks/1693870096
Bandcamp
https://thehipsnacks.bandcamp.com
Episode Features
Lemur Music
Serving bass players for decades with trusted instruments, accessories, and deep knowledge of the craft.
LemurMusic.com
Promo Code: THEBASSSHED

Jerry Jemmott — 15 Timeless Basslines
A transcription collection focused on feel, phrasing, and truly serving the song.
TheBassShedAcademy.org
The Wood Shed Bass
Vintage-inspired. Modern voice. Built for working players.
TheBassShed.com/wood-shed-bass
Kraft Geek Capsule Music Stand
Lightweight, collapsible, and gig-ready.
Use promo code SHED15 to save 15%.
https://kraftgeek.com/products/bravo-music-stand-209?ref=SHED15&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=
Support the show
Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes

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In Episode 145 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ryan Roberts sits down with bassist Mark Johnson of Unfaithful Servants to talk about serving the song, developing real feel, and sustaining a long career in music.
Mark has spent over 35 years working as a professional bassist across jazz, bluegrass, Americana, and roots music, and shares how those worlds inform his approach to time, tone, and musical support. They discuss the difference between learning music in school versus on the bandstand, the importance of community, and why restraint and listening matter more than flash.
The second half of the episode dives into Unfaithful Servants’ 2025 album Fallen Angel, exploring its deliberate arrangements, instrumental tracks, melodic bass writing, arco textures, and wide emotional shifts. Ryan and Mark break down how the band blends tradition with sophisticated musicianship while always keeping the listener in mind.
A thoughtful conversation about bass, band dynamics, and what it really means to serve the music.
The Unfaithful Servants Website
https://www.unfaithfulservants.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@theunfaithfulservants
https://www.instagram.com/theunfaithfulservants/#
https://www.facebook.com/unfaithfulservantsband
New Reslease - "Fallen Angel"
Listen on Spotify

Featured in this Episode:
Lemur Music
https://www.LemurMusic.com
Promo Code: THEBASSSHED to save 10%
Jerry Jemmott 15 Timeless Basslines
https://www.thebassshedacademy.org/741259528234
Wood Shed Bass
Kraft Geek Capsule Music Stand

🎧 LISTEN TO THE BASS SHED PODCAST
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bass-shed-podcast/id1453251074
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/10zTelN5wpYFKclXmY8vuH
🔓 JOIN THE SHED — Lessons • Transcriptions • Podcast Extras • Practice Tools • Member Community
https://www.thebassshed.com/join
🌐 THE BASS SHED (Website & Resources)
https://www.thebassshed.com
📱 FOLLOW THE BASS SHED
YouTube → https://youtube.com/@Thebassshed
Instagram → https://instagram.com/the_bass_shed
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/The.Bass.Shed.official/
🎓 THE BASS SHED ACADEMY — Nonprofit Music Education & Community Programs
https://www.thebassshedacademy.org

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In this episode, Ryan sits down with Dr. Sean Young, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine and Professor of Informatics in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences — and a lifelong bassist.
Dr. Young holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University, an M.S. in Health Services Research from Stanford School of Medicine, and a B.A. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA. His work bridges music, psychology, medicine, and technology, offering a rare perspective on how sound shapes human behavior.
Together, they explore how jazz and reggae affect pain perception, why improvisation creates narrative and emotional immersion, how personal history influences the way we hear music, and why creativity resists being reduced to algorithms. The conversation also dives into AI, culture, and the ethical limits of technology.
This episode is a thoughtful look at music as both a scientific phenomenon and a deeply human experience.

Featured in This Episode
Lemur Music
Everything you need for the double bass — strings, accessories, sheet music, and bass-specific gear.
https://www.lemurmusic.com

Jerry Jemmott: 15 Timeless Basslines
A deep dive into feel, placement, tone, and musical decision-making — co-created with Jerry Jemmott, with every transcription personally approved.
https://www.thebassshed.org

The Wood Shed Bass
Vintage-inspired design with a modern voice — built for clarity, feel, and musicality.
https://www.thebassshed.com/wood-shed-bass

KraftGeek Capsule Music Stand
Lightweight, compact, and rock-solid for gigs, rehearsals, and teaching.
Use promo code SHED15 to save 15%.
https://youtu.be/b5b0aABJgSE

The Bass Shed
Explore podcast extras, deep-dive articles, listening content, and mindset resources.
https://www.thebassshed.com/join
_____________________________________________
🎧 LISTEN TO THE BASS SHED PODCAST
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bass-shed-podcast/id1453251074
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/10zTelN5wpYFKclXmY8vuH
🔓 JOIN THE SHED — Lessons • Transcriptions • Podcast Extras • Practice Tools • Member Community
https://www.thebassshed.com/join
🌐 THE BASS SHED (Website & Resources)
https://www.thebassshed.com
📱 FOLLOW THE BASS SHED
YouTube → https://youtube.com/@Thebassshed
Instagram → https://instagram.com/the_bass_shed
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/The.Bass.Shed.official/
🎓 THE BASS SHED ACADEMY — Nonprofit Music Education & Community Progra
Support the show
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