One scoop of vanilla ice cream after dinner sounds harmless until it turns into a band tradition, and it’s the perfect opener for a conversation that quickly gets real about what a working musician’s life actually looks like. We’re joined by Les Janssen, a New York bassist with deep roots in rock, a love for great feel, and the kind of touring experience that forces you to think about everything from stage sound to airport baggage claims.
We talk about playing at Daryl’s House and why consistent production changes the entire night for both musicians and the crowd. From there, Les walks us through his early start on bass, the influence of growing up in a musical family, and how the discipline of learning technical music (hello, Rush) can be a gift and a challenge when you’re trying to get back to pure rock and roll groove. He also shares advice he gives younger players: don’t become a pattern player, learn the basics, and stay open-minded so you don’t trap yourself in one lane.
Then we dig into gear and career realities: the Michael Kelly bass he helped design for real-world fly dates, the small design choices that make an instrument feel “high-end,” and what the NAMM show is like when you’re working a booth, meeting other pros, and still squeezing in performances. Les also connects the dots between Journey tribute worlds like The Voyage and playing with Steve Augieri, plus the travel stories that come with it including a private jet sprint stuffed with gear.
We wrap with studio life, from tape-era lessons and apprenticeship habits to modern home recording with Universal Audio Apollo interfaces, Cubase, and remote session work. If you’re a bass player, producer, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of touring and recording, this one is packed with practical takeaways. Subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review with your favorite road or studio lesson.
Episode Links
- Les Jansson: https://www.lesjansson.com/
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