For the longest time, many have held the impression that the bass guitar only serves an auxiliary role in the grand scheme of music. A role that is to strictly support any given arrangement of instruments for the primary purpose of augmenting their potential. Albeit merited for its conventional use across a multitude of genres, this line of thought has consequently resulted in the bass guitar being seen as nothing more than complimentary. It’s a pervasive notion that has stifled the instrument’s evolution, relative to others, since the inception of the bass guitar in the 1930’s.
Nevertheless, in the modern era of music, few musicians have shown through masterful playing that the instrument is in fact capable of so much more. Whether it be from the likes of Jaco Pastorius, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, or Michael Manring, the bass guitar has been demonstrated as a powerful solo instrument, fully capable of captivating an audience from start to finish. However, one musician in particular has continued to push the boundaries by way of altered tunings, ethereal harmonics, and through an awe-inspiring playing style. That musician is none other than Mike Hall, who has quickly taken the world of solo bass playing by storm.
Hailing from Madison, New Jersey, Hall was raised among a family of musicians that sculpted his affinity for music at an early age. He first played the cello, until transitioning onto the upright bass, which he played all the way through high school. From that point forward, Hall has dedicated himself solely to the bass guitar, which has served as the foundation of his career as both an artist and as a creative. However, Hall’s trajectory as a bass guitar virtuoso has been anything but ordinary.
Upon entering college at Centenary University, Hall managed and co-founded a pop rock band by the name of Running Late. With the band, he performed alongside a bevy of major label artists such as the Plain White T’s, Lifehouse, Blondie, Switchfoot, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, 3 Doors Down, Third Eye Blind, Blues Traveler, and many others. After graduating as a pre-law student, Hall elected to forgo law school to pursue touring across the east coast with Running Late. A few years later, Hall attended business school at Fairleigh Dickinson University, graduated with an MBA in marketing, and made the decision to launch a solo career under the name “Mike Hall Bass” at the beginning of quarantine.
Although regarded across the tri-state as an extremely talented bassist in pop and rock music, it wasn’t until Hall started to create solo bass arrangements that his talent was recognized by the world at large. Over the past year, Hall has accrued a highly engaged fanbase across Facebook (@MikeHallBass), Instagram (@mikehall.bass), Twitter (@MikeHallBass), and YouTube for his rather original interpretations of popular tracks old and new. His recent takes on songs such as “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Heartless” by The Weeknd have been viewed tens of thousands of times, leaving fans and critics longing for more.
Hall’s success is primarily attributed to a creative approach that blazes a trail of new possibilities. His bass playing exhibits innovation that is all his own, and is something that will surely continue to ignite audiences worldwide for years to come.
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