I just got my first upright bass a week ago. I'm 57 years old. Been a bassist for 40 years but now I'm getting into Western Swing, rockabilly, real old-school stuff. This instrument is fun!
My friend and I had the pleasure of seeing Joe play in a bar on Beale St in Memphis way back in 2008 when he was with The Dempseys. I even chatted with him briefly when I bought their two CD's. Real nice guy and thoroughly entertaining and the show those 3 guys put on was simply superb and a welcome relief from the down tempo Blues that was everywhere else. We're from London England and were on a road trip in a original '49 Chevy and Memphis was my last port of call before I had to head back to Chicago on a Greyhound to catch my flight home. I still play those CD's to this day and they always bring a smile to my face.
Met Joe when we both lived in Memphis, TN. Saw him play twice with The Dempseys back in the day at the Elvis Presley restaurant/club, on Beale Street when it was open. Their shows were insane showmanship, centered around using his bass for all kinds of stunts and antics, it was like acrobatics. The Dempsey videos here on RU-vid don't come close to the stuff I saw them do live turn of the century. One time Joe was playing the bass sort of at a 45 degrees angle towards his left hand, and the lead player jumped up on the upper bout and played a lead solo. Insane stuff. Joe is a genuinely nice guy. Talked to him at a music store before he moved to Nashville.
Is the high action needed? Looking at the string height on his bass and it looks very high. I'm looking at my own upright and it's set up much lower...easier on my left hand. Gotta woodshed on Slick Joe Fick videos I reckon!
Joe Fick is just amazing. Thank you for this video, but it is really sad, that the video-guy cut off Joes right hand when he showes his technique. The right hand is the most important and who is filming this should have a minimal understanding of music.
