However, regardless of how much or little attention they get from the audience, those responsible for laying down the low frequencies and establishing a groove are widely regarded as the unsung heroes of the group.

But what is it that makes the bass so appealing to those who opted to learn it, particularly when so many others are drawn to guitar or drums? The Post-Journal recently spoke with three local bassists currently appearing in ensembles that can be seen in and around the greater Jamestown area to find what keeps these groove masters engaged and, ideally, the rest of their band anchored to a solid foundation.

The following are the responses we received from Ryan Ecklund, Jason Tonon and Jason Mowrey in their own words:

RYAN ECKLUND

Jason Tanon is a member of Trip the Deuce of Jamestown and can be seen sporting an unconventional six-string bass that man wouldn’t dare try.

Ryan Ecklund is no stranger to Jamestown’s music scene. Having just recognized the 20th anniversary of when he received his first bass and practice amp, he has spent nearly two decades performing in several notable original groups to have formed in the area. He previously performed in the renowned reggae group Atica, and can now be seen in local powerhouse groups such as Smackdab, The Audience and, most recently, Spooky Wescott.

Ecklund: When I was in high school, all of my friends, including myself, were playing guitar. However, there were very few bass players and I was rather intrigued by the bass. I figured if nobody else was playing bass, then I might as well give it a go. So, I got my first bass and practice amp for my 16th birthday (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

It was a Washburn Lyon Precision-style bass and a Park 25-watt 12-inch practice amp, which I would eventually blow up by rocking so hard in my bedroom playing along to all of my favorite albums at the time. We had a global studies teacher at Maple Grove High School, Jeff Julian, who gave guitar lessons in his basement on Saturday mornings.

He taught me string names, notes, some scales and handful of tunes, and sent me off running. From that point, I would lock myself in my bedroom every day after school and on the weekends and learn to play the basslines to my favorite songs, usually an entire album from start to finish.

It didn’t take me long before I was playing in bands with my friends. I still remember playing those first handful of gigs and the rush of performing on stage in front of people. It was pretty evident to me early on that playing bass and performing in front of people was what I was destined to do. I loved everything about it and still do.

Jason Mowrey is a Warren, Pa., based bassist with more than 20 years experience in various projects.

(There’s) something about creating music with your closest friends and seeing the way people positively react to the music that you’re creating. It’s just an incredible feeling. To see people dancing and smiling and having a great time as you’re playing, well, that’s what really drives me to continue doing what I’m doing.

I certainly don’t do it for the money, though I wouldn’t mind playing fulltime if I were able to successfully support my family in doing that. That’s the dream right there. I must say though that I am extremely fortunate to have a wife, Nellie, and daughter, Aubrey, who have been my biggest supporters in putting up with all of my musical aspirations and allow me to continue living out my dream. They’re so good to me!

You can catch me performing with any of my bands — Smackdab, Spooky Wescott and The Audience — both locally and regionally. I love playing in all three bands, as I get to play pretty much every style of music that I love.

Smackdab is more of a funk-soul vibe, with a little bit of a rock twist. Spooky Wescott, my newest project, is a heavy dub-roots reggae band, and The Audience is straight indie rock. So they’re all different styles of music, and I love being able to play each style and keep it fresh and exciting. I also signed an endorsement deal with MTD Kingston basses a little over a year ago, and I would have to say that’s probably my biggest accomplishment so far in my bass playing career.

JASON TONON

Jason Tonon may have gotten a later start than others when it comes to playing, but he’s more than made up for it with his current and past projects, as well as his affinity for writing his own music. He can currently be seen performing around the area with Jamestown’s own Trip the Deuce, sporting an unconventional six-string bass that few would dare play before becoming well-acquainted with the instrument.

Tonon: The bass is the best. I love tones, but rhythm is where it’s at. You can get a gigantic crowd moving with just rhythm; it’s primal. Lower frequencies tap into hardwired parts of the brain linked to time and rhythm perception, so when people listen to a piece of music they tend to be following the bass. When I’m really into something I’m playing on the bass, I get close to the vaulted “flow state,” where I notice myself less and link up with what’s around me. It’s almost spiritual. I guess that’s a nerdy way of saying that playing bass makes me feel good.

I’m probably different than most in that I didn’t really start playing until college. I was briefly in concert band in sixth grade but I played the snare drum, badly. I remember taking guitar lessons at Germaine and Pappalardo in high school for a short time but never really took to it.

The big change came in my first year of college at Jamestown Community College upon joining Rock Ensembles. I played the bass because everyone else wanted to play the guitar, and thank god for that because I ended up falling in love with it. One of the songs we played was the overture to Rush’s “2112,” which as a bass beginner may have been overly ambitious, but we pulled it off and I learned how to learn music. After that I just played the bass alone in my room, writing music.

I never really bothered to learn to play other people’s music, I just sat by myself for hours creating. It wasn’t until almost a decade later that I first played in a psychedelic heavy rock band a lucky few remember, The No Good Doo-Gooders. I love those guys for getting me started. I’ve been a happier man since joining a band.

My first bass was a cheap Fender Squire Precision bass. Nothing special, but it’s a reliable workhorse that can hold its tuning through some pretty rough treatment. I still have it but I just use it to experiment and stretch my ability. Right now it’s tuned to fourths like a cello, and I practice the prelude to Bach’s “Cello Suite No. 1.” I love that piece; it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

What I like about playing so much is that it’s just that: play. I have fun. I feel fulfilled. Every time I pick up my bass I feel at least some excitement. However, if it wasn’t for my current band, Trip the Deuce, I don’t think I’d keep up with playing. I didn’t play music at all for a few years until joining The No Good Doo-Gooders, and I doubt I would be playing much now if it weren’t for Trip the Deuce.

Preparing for live shows keeps me motivated to practice, but the joy of creation is really what keeps me going. I love writing music. It makes my brain tingle. Creating songs and music from nothing is one of the most satisfying experiences of my life, and I get to do it with good friends.

And I can’t say enough about playing with a good drummer. When I started playing with Marc Scapelitte, I instantly got better. From the moment we started playing together he was able to translate my oddest material into something workable. And I have to give a shout out to Zeke Witruke, frontman for Trip the Deuce, who I consider to be the most offbeat and creative song writer in the area. He keeps it fresh and challenging for me. I get bored easily, but I constantly have to readjust and diversify my approach to the instrument to effectively support his songs. Plus, they’re catchy as hell.

JASON MOWREY

Jason Mowrey is a Warren, Pa., based bassist who has over 20 years of experience providing the low end for various projects. He can currently be found playing with the three-piece rock trio Slow Motion Breakdown, which will be making its next Jamestown appearance on Friday, May 5, at Mojo’s Music Bar.

Mowrey: Necessity is what originally drew me to playing bass. I was the singer in a local progressive rock band, Twist of Fate, for about six months when our bassist left the project. I had been playing guitar for a quite a while and loved the band so I figured I’d give bass a shot. It was during that time that our guitarist dragged me out (grudgingly) to see Rush during the “Test for Echoes” tour. Needless to say, one night of watching Geddy Lee play impossible riffs using a single finger had me hooked forever.

It was around ’96 when I began playing bass. I would say that, as a bassist, I’m mostly self-taught. When I first began I incorporated a lot of “bad” habits from my previous experience playing guitar. Although I’ve studied a lot of bass styles since then (mostly stolen from watching other players), I still incorporate many of those habits in my playing as I believe it defines my style as being uniquely mine.

My first bass was a Fender P-Lyte. It was one of the best basses I’ve ever owned. Like I did with so many belongings from my youth, I traded it away for another instrument and I still regret it.

What I love most about being a bassist is knowing my part makes up the backbone of the overall piece. I also feel that there is an inherent versatility to the instrument. It’s especially noticeable in my current project Slow Motion Breakdown.

A bassist in a power trio has a unique job in every song. They are sometimes holding the rhythm, andsometimes taking the lead. They are always keeping the groove; that glue that keeps the melody, the rhythm, the lead and the percussion working as separate parts of a single entity. In my opinion, there’s no greater feeling then exploding out of the pocket then falling back into it, all while keeping a harmonious continuity with the other instruments. Bass is so much more than the bottom end of a song, it’s the life blood of the music.