Mark Stoermer - Killer Instinct

Despite its reputation as a last destination for recording artists rather than a springboard for new ones, Las Vegas still has a few surprises up its sleeve. One is the new indie rock band the Killers anchored by skilled bassist Mark Stoermer. Not content to slow-brew for several albums,the Killers" post-punk-inspired debut, Hot Fuss Lizard King-Island, lit up like a well-chosen slot machine upon its June'04 release. With successful singles like''Somebody Told Me''and ''Mr. Brightside,'' Stoermer and the band are coming off a year-end Australian tour and are looking toward a return trip to the U.K. in early '05. ''I feel that bass is a half percussion instrument and half melodic instrument,''Mark explains. ''It's best when it fits right in the middle, but still gives something interesting to the listener.''Stoermer's bass lines do exactly that: On tracks like ''Jenny Was a Friend of Mine,'' Stoermer deals out sharp lead riffs in the verses but retreats to a supportive thunder in the choruses. The result is a dynamic style that breathes with the song, heeding the music's changing needs. But Mark is always aware of his role's priority. ''The main thing is to lock in with the drums and be the foundation. But you can add to a song's melodic side without taking away from the vocals. That’s my favorite kind of bass playing.''

Stoermer may have seemed an unlikely choice for the Killers. Originally a trumpet player and then a guitarist, this son of a big band-style musician didn't actively listen to rock music until he heard Nirvana. But working as a medical courier when the band formed in 2002, Stoermer had the time to school himself on rock music and bass guitar. ''It was basically a driver job with a CD player, so it allowed me to discover a lot of music,''he says. In addition to listening to many of the bands often cited as Killers influences (the Cure, U2, New Order), Stoermer delved into the work of seminal bassists Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who's John Entwistle, and Paul McCartney.

''I love the punch and grit of a pick,'' says Stoermer, mostly a pick player himself, ''and that comes a lot from McCartney. I do a lot of unconscious palm muting. I love how you can instantly get that clunky tone with shorter notes. It's a great sound.'' Stoermer's entire instrument collection consists of two Fender basses: an American-made stock 2004 Jazz Bass, and his constant companion, a black Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. Mark strings both basses with medium-gauge GHS Boomers and tunes down by a half-step. He runs his basses into an Ampeg SVT Classic with an Ampeg 8x10 cabinet. ''Live, I sometimes beef it up with a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal,'' he explains, ''and I use a Boss GE-7 EQ pedal to take out some of the treble.'' Mark also employs a Sovtek Big Muff pedal live on ''Andy, You're a Star.''

Often billed in the media as one of indie rock's ''next big thing''bands, the Killers haven't been taking it easy. And even though Stoermer has been steadily touring since last year, he always keeps things in perspective. ''It gets grueling, but a really good show makes it all worth it.''