Name: Michael “Guido” Esteves
Location: Champaign, IL
Band: 90’s Daughter, Live Karaoke Band

What got you started playing bass?

I saw a video of Nikki Sixx playing with his leg on fire and that got my attention. What put me over was the fact that he was the main song writer of the band and I always aspired to write music as well as play.

What bass players inspire you?

Growing up it was all about John Paul Jones,James Jamerson, Donald “Duck” Dunn and Cliff Burton. Nowadays I find my inspiration by seeing as much live music as I can when I have time off.

What song has challenged you the most?

One time I had to learn Cowboys from Hell and It really put me through the ringer. Recently, learning to sing the background vocal part for “the pretender” by foo fighters while playing bass was a beast for me.

What’s your favorite song to play in your current band’s set?

We do a ska version of “Come On Eileen” in the Brass Junkies that I’m really digging. I just got to play a set of disco songs for an event that were a blast to play.

What’s the most overplayed song?

Me and Bobby McGee

What’s the most memorable thing that happened to you at a gig?

Too many to count but two that stand out are:

1) Professionally it was playing with Rick Neilson of Cheap Trick in front of 22,000 people at a Chicago Blackhawks game and getting into Rolling Stone.

2) Personally,  it was getting engaged on stage at my bday jam in front of a capacity crowd at The Cowboy Monkey. I recreated the wedding scene from the movie “love actually”with a full band,a 10 piece horn section and a painting by artist John Jansky. It’s something I’ll never forget.

What’s your current rig?

My main bass is a Ernie Ball stingray. I’ve also been playing a Palintino electric upright any chance I can get.

I play a lot gigs with no amp, so I use a Mesa Boogie pre amp to dial in my tone.

For most gigs I use an Ampeg BA 115.

My rock set up is an Ampeg SVT through an Eden 4×10 cab.