Bocchi the Rock! Difference in bass performance [Ryo vs Kikuri]

Literally "God anime" Bocchi the Rock!
Ryo's performance in EP.8
Kikuri's performance in EP.6

[hibiki]

Kikuri's performance is much more technical because her performance had to keep the rhythm and fill for the song. It was more showcasing her talent as a bassist playing a song she doesn't know for the first time. Ryo's performance (considering she wrote the instrumental for the song) just fits bringing in that deep bass group that supports Nijika-chan and contrasts Kita-chan's rhythm guitar.

[SmileRYO]

I didn't even realize Bocchi's street playing was "That Band". God damn what a good show.

[jovanekiii]

The amount of detail they put into Bocchi always amazes me, even from the way the bands play they always become unique that it's honestly impressive how much dedication they had for this anime.

Hoping for a season 2

[alicewilson]

I can't get over how perfect this is. Kikuri and Ryo are exact opposites, and their performances are not only both great, they're both perfectly in character: Ryo works out her parts ahead of time, she wrote her part for the song, and it fits much more typically into the kind of music Kessoku band plays. Seika says that Ryo's playing is 'in it's own little world' because she worked it out separately. Ryo is aloof and confident (even arrogant) about her abilities so she wrote a faster, more difficult part. It works well, but only because the other characters are following her lead.

Kikuri is the exact opposite of Ryo. Ryo is cool, confident, and aloof, but Kikuri is an drunken, passionate, emotional mess. Her playing is improvised on the spot based on what she hears in Hitori's playing, and it sounds like it. Her part is looser, and less technical, but it supports the guitar part, outlines the harmony/melody, and lets Hitori take the lead, which is exactly what she needed to build her confidence in front of an audience. Hitori thought she was going to just take advantage of her at first, but in the end Kikuri's playing is all about helping Hitori because that's what she set up their impromptu performance to do.

It says so much about both characters. Ryo is already a great musician, but she has too much ego and she has a harder time connecting with the rest of the band. She is detached, facetious, and self-centered. She spends money irresponsibly forcing the rest of the band to work harder, she brags about her abilities, and she's absent for non-musical activities like designing band-merch. Seika is right. She is in her own world and that's something she needs to work on. Kikuri on the other hand is barely holding onto a functional life because she's too empathetic, too selfless, too attached and it's made her alcoholic, anxious, and depressed. But on a personal and musical level she's able to do what Ryo can't.

What both characters share though, is how deeply they care about their music. Ryo is the only member of Kessoku Band to join without an agenda other than playing music. Hitori wants to have friends and be seen, Kita joined because she's in love with Ryo, and Nijika wants to help her sister's business survive and thrive. Ryo left her old band because she didn't care about success at all, she only wanted to play music she thought was meaningful with musicians who gave a shit.

When we meet Kikuri she seems like just a sad, lecherous, pitiable drunk, but when she has a bass in her hands she becomes a different person. She's suddenly calm and content, she can express herself with music in a way that she can't with words, and we can see that she genuinely was listening to Hitori and trying to help her out in the only way she possibly could. Kikuri is getting older and her failure to overcome her issues with alcoholism is consuming her, but her virtues still shine through in her music. Ryo is young and although her playing reveals some flaws, we know she has hope to grow and change as a person, just like Hitori, Kita, and Nijika do.

[billlee]

You can clearly hear how Kikuri is sort of "reacting" or "responding" to Hitori's playing and improvise on it. It immediately convinces you she has only heard this song for the first time (or maybe the bassist irl was actually method acting there lol), either way it's awesome
EDIT: How the hell does this get another100 likes everytime I look at it lol

[WiqidBritt]

The truly went above and beyond for this anime. They didn't need to record two different basslines for this song, but doing so means that the kind of people who would notice that kind of thing really appreciate it. Kind of like Bocchi's lyrics, really. Lots of people would be just kind of like 'cool, whatever' but if it resonates with you, you really notice it.

[PariahYeng]

All the comments be comparing them, but the truth is Ryo's bassline was meant to support the whole band to play their very best. Meanwhile Kikuri' performance was improvising alongside Bocchi because it's her first time hearing the song.

[seronhee__]

Remember that Kikuri just played without knowing the song...

[icer-sama]

Has a bassist myself, I have to say that kikuri's the most outstanding one and by far, she can choose the right notes on improvisation, and that's a REALLY hard work to do, I do struggle to play along with friend who like to just smash some random chords 😭

[koba]

ive been searching everywhere for Kukuri's performance isolated for so long, this is exactly what i was looking for, now it's time to tab it out! awesome stuff!

[patata]

Ryo's version is non the less amazing but damn Kikuri's technicalities as a musician really shines in when doing improv its so good that it makes me groove

[tydavis]

As a bassist, one of the most important things I've heard between the both is how the first fits so well into the pocket and how the second has more ranged controls the dynamics of how they play, as well as improvisation.

[strymoon]

kikuri's improvisation is impressive but people underestimate how hard it is to play ryo's bassline too. it's fast and she doesn't use a pick. the intro is pretty difficult to play clean without any strings ringing out (partially because it's high up on the neck and action there is higher). her slide fill-ins during the verses are tricky to play as well

[noncrediblecase]

Kikuri, despite primarily being a rock bassist, strikes me as if she had a jazz or jazz fusion background. Her ear training is top notch, she has the ability and confidence to improv and experiment with her part, and that little tag she does at the end (2:55-2:59) has such a funky and bluesy feel to it. She'd kill it in a fusion band.

[Daniel-jztd]

I love the fact that discussions here about their performances take them as of they were actually real, that's the power of this anime to get you invested in their characters and their skills.

[Kosmostars]

Hiroi's performance is improvisation that fills in for the band and supports Bocchi. Ryo's bassline drives the song in tandem with drums and its pulse makes you want to headbang. Both are exactly the right fit for their circumstances.

[ramsonk]

great work i think ano band and the constellation song have the best basswork. Also Roy yamada is incredible

[ElfireII]

Kikuri kind of reminds me of 8bitdrummer. Her improv to be able to react to and play appropriately based off bocchi's perfomance is so good.

[Leonlion]

So nice to find videos like this and see bassists in the comments to do some analysis. I only know drums so it's nice to know how much details the production staff has put in on other instruments.

[zatoby]

This is so sick. Thanks for sharing. I love this kind of stuff