Amplitudes: The Mesa Boogie Blog
Artist, Video
Artist Spotlight: Mark Potter & Pete Turner ~ Elbow
UK Alternative Rock band Elbow have a new album out and like their previous releases, Build a Rocket Boys! is yet another crowning achievement of sonic richness, soulful musicality and above all, exceptional and signature songcraft that cements the band in elite company in Rock history. Moody, textural soundscapes from guitar, bass and keyboards creates the lush background from which vocalist Guy Garvey's words melt into your mind through your ears…
Elbow's guitarist Mark Potter has been a Boogie enthusiast for many years starting with a Tremoverb combo he faithfully used through many of the bands earlier albums like Asleep in the Back and Cast of Thousands.
With a wide selection of prized vintage gear used in the recording of Build a Rocket Boys!, Mark was faced with the need for a wide variety of great guitar tones but in a compact, reliable, switchable, tour-worthy format. He found all this in the MESA Roadster.....now the only amp he uses and needs onstage. Mark's use of the Rectifier sound is not what people normally expect from the diamond plate-clad line and it's a great example of the extended versatility that multi-channel Mesa amps like the Roadster can deliver.
Pete Turner handles the bass duties for the band and when they went into Blueprint Studios to start recording the new album, Mark suggested that Pete give MESA bass gear a try. A big Block 750 fit the bill for a tryout and the amp hit the mark right away.
Pete told us, "I love this amp. Mark suggested we try MESA and the moment I plugged in, it just felt right. It gives me a great range of sounds – it's all over the new record!" Pete decided on a Vintage Powerhouse Bass 4x12 as the matching cabinet for the Big Block 750. The Vintage look fit nicely into the vibe onstage and the 4x12s were the sonic winner to match the grit and growl of some of Pete's bass sounds on this and previous records.
If you know Elbow, you know this is yet another superb effort from the boys on the heels of their successful previous release The Seldom Seen Kid. If you're not familiar with Elbow, have a watch and a listen to the title track of their new album below.
Elbow are a band of exceptional songwriters, engaging performers and in our book, heroes in the sport of songcraft. Mesa is proud to be a part of their musical delivery and congratulate them on yet another compelling album. We look forward to seeing them live this year and to more great music from them in the future! Thanks, Mark, Pete and Elbow - wishing you all the best and much continued success, gentlemen!
