Drummer Talk

No Drummer Talk for March 4, 2010

Dave — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:30:15 +0000

Sorry everyone, but due to schedules, we won’t be able to have Drummer Talk this week. We’ll be back next week!

Drummer Talk 02/25/2010 – Frame Drum Technique

Dave — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:33:45 +0000

We’re back from our week break and we bring you a show on frame drum technique and Michael Jackson drummer, Jonathan Moffett is the drummer of the week. In the news is Brady Drums, RIP Jake Hanna,

DVD Review – Behind the Player: Stephen Perkins

JABB — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:43:39 +0000

Hola! Yeah, I know it has been a while but now I’m back!

To make up for slacking I’m doing a trio of videos to make up for lost time. The three videos come from a new series of instructional videos I discovered on Netflix. A Los Angeles based company called IMV has flooded Netflix with its line of “Behind the Player” (BTP) DVDs. They have videos for guitarists, bassists, and drummers and they feature mostly artists of the rock/metal/alt variety. They also donate a portion of their earnings to a charity called Little Kids Rock. I suspect it’s all a part of an evil plot concocted to boost membership in the KISS Army, but that’s just my theory.

On to the review!

Content

Stephen Perkins is best known for drumming with Jane’s Addiction but he’s also played for Porno for Pyros, Infectious Grooves and he currently plays with Banyan. Of course, if you have seen this DVD before you would already know that because player history is one of main features of a BTP DVD. All of these BTP features have the same basic structure: there will be a BTP section, 2 or 3 song lessons, and some extras.

The BTP section is where the featured artist: gives you their background, talks about their lives in the band, gives general advice, and talks about their gear. If you didn’t know much about the player before you watched this section, you will by the time you’re done. Stephen chose to talk about getting his first drum set, the different drummers that influenced him, why he plays barefoot, and what each member of Jane’s Addiction contributed to their sound.

I had heard of Jane’s Addiction and Stephen Perkins before I rented this video but I had not listened to much of their music before. I can now say I’m a fan of Jane’s Addiction and it was this video that really introduced me to them. Two of the three songs that Stephen demonstrates were songs that were just right up my alley.

Speaking of which…

All of the BTP DVDs are focused on teaching the viewer how to play 2 or 3 tracks the artist played on. In this case it was: “Pets” by Porno for Pyros,”Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction and the infinitely awesome “Mountain Song” also by Jane’s Addiction. Each song lesson has three sections: the actual lesson, an album track play-along, and a jam on the song with a bass player.

Presentation

Stephen Perkins is a great host and that’s what really makes the DVD. He articulate, easy to understand, enthusiastic, and he knew how he wanted to teach what he had to teach. Not all of the hosts of the BTP videos I’ve seen so far have been as effective with their allotted DVD time.

I like the three pronged approach they took with each because it shows that the different dynamics at work when you play to an album and when you play with another human. They definitely give you all you need to learn the song inside and out, so I say it’s a successful effort on their part.

Extras

BTP videos seem to be pretty weak in the area of extras. This one has a promo video for Banyan and a live version of “Mountain Song” that I must admit I could jam to all day. All of the BTP videos feature the same little promo video for Little Kids Rock so that’s in there too.

Overall, I think the Stephen Perkins BTP DVD was successful and sets the bar for what a BTP type of video should be. It’s not an in-depth guide to all things Stephen Perkins. It’s an introduction to: him, his music, and the music he’s been a part of. So if that’s what you’re looking for that’s what offered. I think it was definitely worth a rent just for the sake of expanding my musical horizons, but, because of its narrow focus and its brevity, I don’t think it’s worth a buy.

Drummer Talk 02/11/2010 – Hand Drumming Made EZ

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:26:36 +0000

Today, Dave demonstrates hand drum technique that can be applied to virtually any hand drum you come across, and Carter brings us news of Ringo Starr’s new honor, Zildjian’s 2010 scholarship contest, and the 2010 Modern Drummer Festival lineup. Plus, Zak Starkey is the drummer of the week! Show Notes

Drummer Talk 02/03/2010 – Winter NAMM Gear Review (Part II)

Dave — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:35:21 +0000

Part II of our look at all the crazy gear coming out at this year’s Winter NAMM in Los Angeles (Anaheim!!). Travis Barker is the drummer of the week, we talk about Tommy Igoe’s new DVD, and no one laughs at Carter’s jokes. Show Notes

Drummer Talk 01/28/2010 – Winter NAMM Gear Review (Part I)

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:04:34 +0000

We look at all the crazy gear coming out at this year’s Winter NAMM in Anaheim and Adrian Young is the drummer of the week! Show Notes

Drummer Talk 01/21/2010 – PASIC 2009 Recap (Part II)

Dave — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:41:37 +0000

Today Dave flies solo as we finally finish part 2 of our PASIC 2009 recap and we pay tribute to the late, and very great, Ed Thigpen. Show Notes

Ed Thigpen Dies at 79

Dave — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:53:52 +0000

Sad news that Ed Thigpen, father of modern brush technique, has passed away.

From The Chicago Tribune:

Jazz lovers called him “Mr. Taste,” and the nickname couldn’t have been more fitting.

Always fashionably dressed — and sounding as impeccable as he looked — Ed Thigpen conveyed elegance in every aspect of his life and art.

At the same time, his ability to generate propulsive, hard-hitting swing rhythm made him a driving force in pianist Oscar Peterson’s great trio of the late 1950s and ’60s, which also included bassist Ray Brown.

This high-profile spot established Mr. Thigpen, born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, as an international figure. It also made him a featured player at Chicago’s long-gone London House, where Peterson’s trio enjoyed extended residencies.

Mr. Thigpen, 79, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Copenhagen, said his daughter, Denise. The drummer, who had moved to Denmark in 1972, performed regularly through October. He was hospitalized in the last two weeks with “weak lungs and weak heart,” said his daughter, speaking from Copenhagen.

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Drummer Talk 01/14/2010 – All About Stands

Dave — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:08:02 +0000

We are back from our Christmas break with a show all about stands! Mike tells us all about the drummer of the week, Ed Shaughnessy, we talk about Ramon Samson, the Guitar Center Drum Off Winner, and Carter is late! Show Notes

Drummer Talk 12/17/2009 – Gear You Should Wish For for Christmas!

Dave — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:31:18 +0000

It’s full blown end of the year madness here, so in Dave’s stead, Carter and Mike run things in this final episode of Drummer Talk for 2009. This week’s topic: Gear you shold wish for for Christmas! See everyone in 2010! Show Notes

Drummer Talk

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