Welcome to... Music GUNFLINT LODGE www.gunflint.com • info@gunflint.com 1-800-328-3325 or 1-218-388-2296 Slapping the Bass Thunder Bay Bassist Ryan Redemption Romantic Weekends Dave Z By Kris Ketonen T hunder Bay bassist Ryan Redemption has some ad- vice for his fellow Thunder Bay musicians: get out there. “A lot of people I talk to don’t even want to put up a Youtube video because they’re scared of the negative reac- tion they’ll get,” Redemption says, during an interview at a south side coffee shop. “But with good comes bad, and with bad comes good. So I have 4,000 views on a video. It may only get 19 thumbs up, but only one person out of 4,000 took the time [...] to put a thumbs down? I’m happy with that.” Redemption is a prolific Youtuber, with weekly uploads to his bass guitar-driven channel. The videos, together, have garnered more than 193,000 views, and the channel boasts more than 500 fol- lowers. “It’s just been very impres- sive,” Redemption says. “I’ve been doing my channel for about three years now, and last year in May, I was getting a little discouraged with it. Then I got an email from Bass Musician Magazine wanting to give me an interview. It gave me that little breath of fresh air. All the discouragement—gone.” It’s one of many online successes Redemption has seen lately. He’s been profiled by several online publica- tions, and also earned a pair of con- test wins at indi.com in the solo in- strumental performance category. “It’s a website every musician in Thunder Bay needs to get on,” Redemption Anniversary Getaway packages says. “If a bass player can win a con- test, I think every musician in town should be (entering).” This is all building toward a larger goal for Redemption, which is to seek out some endorsements from music companies to further his musical career. “Once you get en- dorsed by companies, they actually really help you,” he says. “They put you out all over the world, they send you places. So next year, I’m going to try to apply for a whole bunch of endorsements to maybe get a little farther than Thunder Bay.” In the meantime, you can hear Redemption play with his band Grindcorchestra, or check out his videos at youtube.com/user/ legomanhaircut. Lakeside Fireplace Cabins Full food & beverage service, riding stable and 2+ hour Canopy Tour! 1 hour north of Grand Marais on the famous Gunflint Trail- The largest selection of new and used vinyl in Thunder Bay! 270 Bay Street facebook.com/hardcopyrecords www.hardcopyrecords.com 54 a beautiful paved Scenic Byway 143 South Gunflint Lake, Grand Marais, MN 55604 The Walleye