{"podcast":{"title":"Why Bass? with Donivan Blair","slug":"why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653","podcast_index_feed_id":7722653,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/whybass/","website_url":"https://www.ruinousmedia.com/whybass","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/215f39ec-db71-4187-a40a-ca46747455ac/Ruinous-WhyBass2.png","author":"Donivan Blair","episode_count":12,"summary":"‘Why Bass?” Is a podcast that shifts the focus from a bass players history and CV to that age old question - why would anyone want to play the bass guitar? Donivan Blair asks this question with bassist’s of all styles and ranges on each episode and allows the guest to tell the audience in their own words who inspired them, why they chose the instrument and their gear of choice. ‘Why Bass?’ Is hosted by Donivan Blair who does not understand why anyone needs more than four strings and has been obsessed with the bass guitar since 1985. He started the punk band Hagfish with brother Zach in 1991, left their hometown of Sherman, TX and never looked back. Touring the world with Only Crime and Armstrong led him to joining the Toadies in 2008. Donivan knows why he plays the bass but is curious to find out why others have decided to follow this particular yellow brick road.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T16:19:54.685738+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653"},"episode":{"title":"Dominic \"Rocky\" Laroche-Voivod","slug":"dominic-rocky-laroche-voivod","published_at":"2026-05-14T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653/dominic-rocky-laroche-voivod","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653","url":"https://www.ruinousmedia.com/whybass","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/097cc7b9-e0ca-40dd-a241-d978113a56de.mp3","summary":"Today Donivan interviews Dominic \"Rocky\" La Roche, the bassist for his favorite band, the iconic Voivod. They discuss Rocky's life in music, his early influences, and the evolution of Voivod's sound. Rocky shares personal anecdotes about his first bass, his first show with Voivod, and the impact the band has had on his life and career. The conversation highlights the importance of perseverance, inspiration, and Rocky’s unique musical experience. Donivan and Rocky discuss the importance of connecting with the audience, the universal language of music, and the inspiration that musicians can provide to the next generation. They touche on the readiness for opportunities in the music industry, the significance of gear in live performance, and the emotional weight of tributes and covers in honoring musical legends. Our partners help make this show happen! Please give them a visit. Unleash the full force of your guitar and bass set up with our friends at Jim Dunlop. Jim Dunlop offers the absolute BEST in pedals, effects, picks, and strings and more. Go to Jim Dunlop For 50 years, Schecter Guitars has pushed the limits of craftsmanship, innovation, and tone—building instruments trusted by players who demand more from their sound. This milestone celebrates a legacy forged on stages and in studios worldwide, while looking boldly ahead to the next era of performance-driven design. Have your mind blown here. Schecter Guitars Mentioned in this episode: Jim Dunlop Why Bass? is brought to you by Jim Dunlop/MXR. Head to https://www.jimdunlop.com/ Schecter Guitars Why Bass? is sponsored by Schecter Guitars. Head over to Schecter for all your guitar needs. https://www.schecterguitars.com/","meta_description":"Today Donivan interviews Dominic \"Rocky\" La Roche, the bassist for his favorite band, the iconic Voivod. They discuss Rocky's life in music, his early inf…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3978,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653/episodes/dominic-rocky-laroche-voivod/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/why-bass-with-donivan-blair-7722653/dominic-rocky-laroche-voivod.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}