You can't take life too seriously. Sometimes you have to sing the blues. These songs were written between spring of 2009 and today. Some of these songs are collaborations with some of my musically talented friends. Enjoy, leave a note, tell your friends!

Original blues songs

The songs in this playlist are the total output of the band Concept of Innocence which I used to play in. Its first and probably final release. These songs were recorded between 2008 - 2011. Mixing was originally finished in 2012. Songs were written by Rob Wessel. Performed by Rob, with Jim Kube on drums, and guests on backing vocals on some songs.
This music is also available on itunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Deezer and other places you listen to music.
I've learned a lot about mixing since 2012, and I've got better mixing tools and a better computer today. I have updated these mixes for release in 2020. 
I have done a lot of songs just for fun, or to try out new gear, just to capture cool tones. But these were the ones I wrote that I hoped could capture listeners' attention and be the music they play over and over. 
I'm continuing to write and record progressive rock (though the group Concept of Innocence has run its course and will not be releasing more music) and I hope to get some more up for everyone to listen to.
Thankyou for listening and supporting independent artists.

Concept of Innocence progressive rock songs

A bass shootout. I found a setting on my dp3x that works a lot better in a mix than the one I used for the October 2020 bass shootout. And I included a couple more basses. 
I did turn down the treble knob a bit for some of the really bright, ringy sounding basses like the EBMM Bongo and the Parker Fly. 
All basses were recorded direct through my Tech 21 dp3x, going into a Presonus M80 preamp. 
In order, basses hear are:
1.) 1978 Rickenbacker 4001
2.) 2016 Rickenbacker 4003SW
3.) Hamer Cruise bass, neck pickup (Seymour Duncan Basslines)
4.) Hamer Cruise bass, bridge pickup (Seymour Duncan Basslines)
5.) Jackson Concert EX
6.) EBMM Bongo, both pickups
7.) EBMM Bongo, neck pickup
8.)Parker Fly, bridge pickup
9.)Parker Fly, neck pickup

Bass Shootout 3 - 7-2021

My cover of "To Build A Home". Originally recorded by Cinematic Orchestra, though I think the first version I heard was a cover by another Sound Cloud artist. A lovely song. I wanted to do a cover of it too. 
The rhythm guitars are an MJ Guitars Groovemaster. Some of the ambient guitars are a PRS DC3. The harmonies at the end are a PRS 305 through a Stomp Under Foot Red Menace into a Hiwatt DR103 amp. 
The bass is a Hamer Monaco bass through a Tech 21 SH1 preamp and cabinet emulator, recorded direct.
I recorded the bass and drums in 2021 I think. I did all the guitars and vocals in April and May 2023.

To Build A Home (cover)

Brief clip I made using my Buckethead Les Paul Studio and Revalver amplifier simulation software.

Buckethead Les Paul distorted

Last year, soundcloud artist Christopher Spirit B was at my house visiting, and we pulled out some guitars, plugged in, and played an unrehearsed version of Metallica's "Enter Sandman". 
When his dad told me they were coming to town again, I suggested we play the song together again and make a recording. 
The song was played live, to a bass and drums backing track. Just two guitars, going to one amp each, with one mike on each amp. We played the song all the way through together a few times.

Enter Sandman cover 6-24-2015 collaboration with Christopher Spirit B

A collaboration with soundcloud artist Lainie Wessel. A blues with a classic 1960's / 70's funk and soul sound, with rocking lead guitar. Female vocal by Lainie, lead and rhythm guitars by Rob, bass guitar by Rob.
That PRS McCarty with P90's I played has amazing sustain and tone!

Psycho Ex (Lainie Wessel on vocal)

A blues rock track with lead guitar, vocals and live drumming. 
Tony Jefferson on drums. Rob on vocal, guitars, bass, and Hammond organ. 

Last Days Blues

A heavy rocking blues with blistering guitar work, about a guitar picker who can't understand his bad luck in romance. I wrote the words back in 2009. Instead of trying to play "authentic" blues licks, I just cut loose on the solos. All electric guitar parts were my US Masters SG with Dimarzio PAF's. Amps were a Peavey 6505+  head into a XXX cab for rhythm, a Jet City head into a Marshall cab for the neck pickup solos, and the Peavey Penta for the bridge pickup soloing.

Got My Ol' Guitar

New version of Low Rise Jeans, remixed, with improved sound quality, and with drums re-recorded using EZ Drummer. Guitar solos redone, song remixed  in May 2014.
Remixed, remastered in 2017.

Low Rise Jeans

A clip from a song on an upcoming CD release by Lyndenthal. 
I've recorded a few solos using the Stomp Under Foot '73 Ram's Head Brick Muff that I got in late 2017, and I'm getting some amazing tones with it. 
The amp used is a Hiwatt DR-103 which is miked. A direct signal also goes into Amplitube, which is running a model of a Hiwatt amp plugged into a Leslie cabinet. The guitar used is a PRS 305.

On the High Seas guitar solo

A partial remake of a song I recorded in 2017. For 2018 I redid the vocals, guitar and bass. Rather than use a pick, I played the guitar with my fingers to get a more soulful, expressive blues tone.
The guitar was a sunburst PRS 305, going into a Skreddy Dynamic Mids Enhancer and then a Peavey Wiggy amp. The amp was miked with a Stedman N90 and Heil PR30 mics. 
The Waves Abbey Road Chamber reverb was used on the guitar track.
The bass is a Hamer Cruise Bass 5 string, through an EBS Billy Sheehan overdrive pedal and into a Tech 21 Landmark 300 bass amp with a Hartke speaker. 
The drums were done using EZ Drummer, with the Blues expansion kit.

No More Beer

An excerpt from a song I'm working on with my band. The harmony guitar parts were recorded using a PRS DC3 guitar, a Stomp Under Foot Red Menace fuzz, a Skreddy Dynamic Mids Enhancer, and a Hiwatt DR103 amp. 
The signal was also split off before the amp and run through an amp simulator with a rotating speaker simulation.

The Red Menace is an integral part of a rig that is allowing me to capture classic rock tones that I've been trying to nail for decades and am now finally getting those tones!

Stomp Under Foot Red Menace demo

An audio demo of Rickenbacker basses. 
Clip 1: 1978 model 4001
Clip 2: 2016 model 4003SW
Clip 3: 2018 model 4003SW 5
Clip  4003SW 5 with gain turned up a little on the preamp

All basses were recorded using the  direct out of the Tech 21 dpx3 preamp/EQ/compressor/overdrive.

The 4003SW seemed to have lower output pickups than the other two basses, so I recorded clip 4, for which I turned up the gain control on the dp3x a little to compensate.

Rickenbacker bass demo

demo of the Rickenbacker 4003SW 5 string. In order:
1) Bridge pickup, vintage mode (cap in)
2) Bridge pickup, cap bypassed
3) neck pickup
4) both pickups, cap in
5) both pickups, cap bypassed

All audio recorded through the direct out of the Tech 21 dp3x preamp/EQ/compressor/overdrive.

Rickenbacker 4003SW 5 demo

Guitar: PRS 305
Signal chain: SUF '73 Ram's Head Muff, Skreddy Dynamic Mids Enhancer, Hiwatt DR103 amplifier, Hiwatt speaker cab, Leslie cab modeled using Amplitube 4.
Stedman N90 microphone, Trident S20 mic preamp.

Muff Shootout Stomp Under Foot 73 Ram's Head V10

Muff Shootout Stomp Under Foot 73 Ram's Head V1 Vintage

A blues track about a nice church going guy who finds romance.
Guitar was a Hamer T 62 through a Stomp Under Foot Full Power Halo into a Carvin Legacy.
Bass was a Peavey Axcelerator 2T through a Tech 21 dp3x.
Organ was the Arturia B3V.

I Don't Drink Cuss Or Chew

I made a few updates and mix tweaks to a song I originally recorded around 2009-2010.
Jim Kube on drums.
The lead guitar was a Peavey USA Limited (which I don't have anymore). Rhythm guitars included a Jackson PC2, Carvin DC127  and Hamer Monaco Elite Mahogany.
The bass was a Rickenbacker 4001. 
Synths used include Arturia Jupiter 8V and my hardware Oberheim Matrix 6R.

Without Limits

An updated mix of a song I wrote and originally recorded with drummer Jim Kube in the band Concept of Innocence around 2010. Jim Kube on drums.
Guitars and bass were redone.
Guitars used included a Hamer Monaco Elite Mahogany, Carvin DC127, Hamer T62, Hamer Studio, and PRS 305.
The bass was a Rickenbacker 4001.
Vocals in the verses were redone. The chorus vocals are the original tracks from 2010, with Elaine Wessel, John Roberts and Amy Roberts on backing vocals.

NI B4 II organ and Camel Audio Alchemy strings, used on the original mix,  are still on this track, as is the Oberheim Matrix 6R. But added in this version are some new PPG 2.V sounds.

Wavelengths

An updated mix of a song that I recorded in about 2008-09 with the band Concept of Innocence. 
Jim Kube on drums. 
The bass is a Rickenbacker 4001. 
Guitars included Hamers, Carvins, a Jackson PC2 and a Peavey USA limited. 
Synths include Camel Audio Alchemy, Pro 53, Z3ta, Vanguard, and my hardware Oberheim Matrix 6R. 
Some lead vocals were redone.

House With Two Books

An updated mix of a song I recorded with the band Concept of Innocence around 2010. Jim Kube on drums. Phil Neubauer joined me on backing vocals. 

Camel Audio Alchemy, refx Vanguard and my Oberheim Matrix 6R are feautured on this piece. The Waldorf PPG 2.V and Korg Wavestation are heard here too. 
Thanks to Kevin Brown for lending me the beautiful Schecter 5 string bass used on this track.
I remember using my PRS 305 for the lead solo, so I was still working on recording parts in summer 2011. 
A Carvin AE185 12 string, a US Masters SG, and Carvin DC127 and DC135 are also used for guitar parts in this song.

As In Art

Another updated mix of a song I recorded with Concept of Innocence in 2008-2010. 
Jim Kube played live drums.
Bass and drum tones are greatly improved in this mix, as is the drum ambience. 
Guitar tones were also tweaked and improved. 
The bass was an Ibanez GB-35 Gary Willis signature fretless. 
The lead and melody guitars were a Peavey USA Limited (which I no longer have). A 12 string part was played on a Carvin AE-185 12 string. Palm muted chugging and E Bow melodies were done on a Hamer Studio. 

Synths used include Vanguard, ImpOSCAR, Korg Wavestation, Korg M1 and PPG2.V.

Songs From the Heart

From the Heart

From The Heart

A gospel blues with vocal, guitar and bass by Rob, drums by Kirk McFarlin, organ by Kevin Brown. Lyrics by Rob.
The guitar was  Hamer Newport Pro Custom, through a Way Huge Pork Loin for a little overdrive.  Bass was a Hamer Monaco bass.

Grace n' Peace Blues

Christian country song with vocal harmonies, lead guitar and corny title.

Remixed in September 2017 using J37 and Kramer Master Tape, British Channel, Butch Vig vocal channel, NLS, Vinyl, Ultra reverb, Abbey Road Plates. Lead vocal redone. Remastered using Lursen mastering console.

Jesus Put the Twang in My Guitar

A bass shootout. 
Basses heard, in order:
1. Rickenbacker 4001, through EBS Billy Sheehan overdrive, Tech 21 Landmark 300 amp, Hartke speaker, Telefunken M82 mic
2. Rickenbacker 4001 direct through a Tech 21 dp3x
3. Jackson Concert EX P bass pickup (Dimarzio Split P) direct through a Tech 21 dp3x
4. Jackson Concert EX J bass pickup (Dimarzio Ultra Jazz Bass)direct through a Tech 21 dp3x
5. EBMM Bongo BFR bridge pickup direct through a Tech 21 dp3x
6. EBMM Bongo BFR neck pickup direct through a Tech 21 dp3x
7. Hamer USA Cruise Bass 5 string with Seymour Duncan Basslines active Jazz Bass bridge pickup through Tech 21 dp3x
8. Hamer USA Cruise Bass 5 string with Seymour Duncan Basslines active Jazz Bass neck pickup through Tech 21 dp3x

Gain settings on the dp3x preamp were adjusted to best suit each bass's output, which varied widely from bass to bass. Treble knob was backed off a bit for the Jackson Concert EX.

The last clip was a nice surprise. You'd expect a deep, round active Fender bass tone from the neck pickup of my Hamer Cruise bass, but it sounds like a cross between a Fender and a Rickenbacker, a very nice Rickenbacker with a little more meat to the tone.
The bridge pickup of the Hamer Cruise bass is nice too. Less metallic ring than the J bass pickup on my Jackson Concert EX, and some more midrange meat.

Bass Shootout 10 - 8-2020

A page that started out back around 2010 with Rob posting blues, rock, country and pop tunes recorded with fellow musicians and singers, and a few on which Rob does all vocals, guitars and bass, and EZ Drummer plays drums.
Since 2019, Rob  has been devoting all his musical energies to writing and recording progressive rock. Fewer songs but more elaborate compositions and fancier playing.
There are tracks from other projects/bands Rob plays in here too.

NOTE: Do not send me messages offering likes and reposts.

RWzBlues

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