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Upright Citizens

Upright Citizens

Reuben Rogers & Bob DeBoo 130 Episodes Oct 6, 2026

Upright Citizens is a podcast hosted by two professional bassists, Bob DeBoo and Reuben Rogers, who explore music from the bass player's perspective. Each episode breaks down a real technique, recording, or story from their careers on the road and in the studio, offering practical takeaways for listeners. They cover walking bass lines, swing, groove, tone, and include interviews with legendary artists, humorous road stories, and candid advice on practicing and listening. New episodes are released monthly in both audio and video formats.

Episodes

Only Have 15 Minutes? What Pro Bassists Actually Practice
Only Have 15 Minutes? What Pro Bassists Actually Practice Oct 6, 2026 1223 You’ve got 15 minutes. Maybe it’s a borrowed bass in a new hall before soundcheck. Maybe it’s your own bass at home, with life about to catch up with you. Either way: what do you actually practice?Bob DeBoo and Reuben Rogers open with a live Ray Brown Trio recording of "St. Louis Blues," proof that a great bassist sounds like himself on any instrument, then share Ray Brown stories from a
How to Learn New Music Fast (And Make It Sound Like You've Always Known It!)
How to Learn New Music Fast (And Make It Sound Like You've Always Known It!) Sep 1, 2026 1183 You got the call. The music is deep, the deadline is short - you've got maybe a day, maybe a car ride, before you're expected to play it like you've known it for years. In Episode 2 of Upright Citizens, Bob and Reuben break down how professional musicians actually learn new music fast: not through some trick, but through a specific way of listening. They react to Ulysses Owens Jr.'s "Bett
Why Your Bass Lines Don't Swing (The Ron Carter Secret!)
Why Your Bass Lines Don't Swing (The Ron Carter Secret!) Aug 4, 2026 1113 You're playing all the right notes - the changes, the time, everything. So why does your bass line still feel like it's just not dancing? Bob and Reuben break down the 'one thing' that separates a bass line that swings from one that just sits there: note length. They react to an unreleased Ron Carter duo track, Reuben tells the story of the studio session that changed how he thinks about
Should You Practice In All 12 Keys?
Should You Practice In All 12 Keys? Jul 7, 2026 1277 ‘Practice in all  12 keys’…It’s advice we often hear, but do we really need to??? ★ Support this podcast ★
Playing with Our Heroes
Playing with Our Heroes Jun 2, 2026 1895 "Any musician always dreams of getting to play with their heroes, and we also have our own unsung personal heroes in our lives as well. Join Reuben and Bob for a candid discussion about what it's like playing with their heroes, and how their personal mentors have changed their lives forever for the better." We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out
Leading from the Bass
Leading from the Bass May 5, 2026 996 "What does it mean to lead a band from the bass? What's different, what's the same, and what do two professional bassists think about what it takes? Listen in to this discussion about what we really think about being a bass leader..."We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and le
Be You, Be the Music
Be You, Be the Music Apr 7, 2026 930 "Your life is your greatest musical asset - so go live it. In this episode of Upright Citizens, we're talking about why the best thing you can do for your playing might have nothing to do with practicing."We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know what's up. Peace! 
Mistakes are a Gift
Mistakes are a Gift Mar 3, 2026 956 "In this episode, Bob and Reuben explore the hidden beauty inside musical “mistakes” - and why the notes we didn’t mean to play might be the ones that move us forward. Through stories and reflection, they invite us to loosen our grip on perfection and discover how missteps can open the door to something honest, creative, and unexpectedly beautiful."We'd love to hear your thoughts as well!
How Much Technique Do We Really Need?
How Much Technique Do We Really Need? Feb 3, 2026 1362 "We do need to have good technique to play and say what we hear on the bass - but how much is enough? Can technique go too far, and what is essential? In this episode Reuben and Bob share their thoughts on just how much technique we really need" We'd love to hear your thoughts as well! Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know  ★ Supp
5 Things We Admire In Our Favorite Musicians
5 Things We Admire In Our Favorite Musicians Jan 6, 2026 946 "There are always certain traits, habits, or even non-tangible elements that draw us to our favorite people and artists. Find out what those elements are to Bob and Reuben in this episode."If you like Bass - you're in the right place! Interested in more music and practice advice? Check out Open Studio...where you'll find courses and much more by world-class bassists like Reuben Rogers, Ro
Nurture Your Relationships
Nurture Your Relationships Dec 2, 2025 766 "Music is all about connection, and nurturing your relationships is so important to keeping those connections happening! Hang with Bob & Reuben today as they discuss their thoughts on staying connected and keeping your relationships happening."If you like Bass - you're in the right place! Interested in more music and practice advice? Check out Open Studio...where you'll find courses a
Bassist Spotlight: Joe Sanders
Bassist Spotlight: Joe Sanders Nov 4, 2025 2079 "Bassist extraordinaire Joe Sanders is getting his flowers from the Upright Citizens this time. Nobody plays like Joe, and his writing and collaborations are always incredible. Let's listen and share thoughts on this master!" The UC Joe Sanders playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ASufk595TtFJygTLRQGt9?si=b1d483320c8043e7If you like Bass - you're in the right place! Interested in

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