The perception that men can just pick someone up from the audience is like, really far off from reality. The perception that men actually do this all the time is even further from reality.
I’m someone who checks a lot of boxes as far as gender traits go - masculine and feminine both, but more feminine. I have had some strange experiences as a performer, touring and such. I have always handled this kind of thing with the same mentality; people sometimes throw themselves at me. Men, women, whoever. Sometimes a switch turns in their heads and for some reason their inhibitions disappear and they just are like, “I WILL HAVE YOU.” I’ve been in this situation and I remember that despite some fleeting feelings of validation that come from someone thinking I am attractive, I have to prioritize that this is a person who is a fan, a supporter, an audience member - this is someone whose support is sacred to my art - this is someone who it is my responsibility to give them a safe, positive experience when they’re at my shows - and therefore I must stay neutral, be kind to them and not turn them away, but not indulge in whatever intimate activity they might be trying to whisk me away to do. (That is, unless they’re being really creepy and inappropriate in which case I just ignore them and do my job. People like that do that to everyone so whatever, it doesn’t make me feel special).
Besides, I have a ton of equipment to load, a three hour drive ahead of me, my clothes are cruddy and this venue doesn’t have a shower. I don’t want to, or have time to, “party.” Like, if someone has time to party on the road, they’re not doing their freaking job.
You will definitely get used to it, and be totally over it eventually. Just keep getting out there and playing - before long you’ll start to use the feeling of anxiety you used to get as fuel for adrenaline and excitement to get onstage and do an awesome show.
My own story: I haven’t had pre-show nerves for like 20 years. The nervousness of the first few years performing (like just in school talent shows basically) helped me relax a bit and soon it wasn’t nervousness I was feeling, it was excitement. Like, wanting to hurry up and get the dang show happening! I HATE waiting to go on stage, get me UP there! haha nowadays, I don’t miss the days I was nervous - it is nice to walk up to the mic feeling relaxed and in my element. You will get there too, just don’t stop playing! 👍🏻
Ye Rustic Inn - I’m from northwestern PA so my Buffalo-style wing training was pretty vigorous, and these ones at Ye Rustic are my favorite around. I order them hot, extra crispy. I take a bite, close my eyes, and I’m transported to somewhere else, where it happens to be 0 degree blizzard conditions outside, the Steelers-Bills game is on the TV, and for some reason I’m drinking an ice cold Yuengling despite the brutal winter, sitting uncomfortably somewhere between too cold and sweating like crazy in multiple layers of cumbersome team apparel and rugged outdoor attire. And my boots are just ALWAYS wet. That’s the kind of Buffalo wing flavor you want.
Not just on drums for me but on anything I think it really just depends on the song, the show, the band, etc. Sometimes we do the noodly extended jammy groove version. Sometimes we do the album version with backing tracks, click, and lights. Sometimes it’s the rocking version, sometimes it’s the waltz version. 🤷🏻
I think it’s important that everyone knows it “like the record” very well, because that enables everyone to take detours that suit their playing style while still staying on the right course as a unit.
Private car/driver, one of those black Escalades or whatever), or maybe their own cars if they want to deal with it. They are probably arriving before the traffic gets gnarly at the stadium anyway, so rolling in in their own cars might be easy. I mean, I’m sure they have their own driveway/entrance somewhere too, but still.
This video just killed me hahhaha
I have a note in my phone’s notepad that simply says “Clambake Monster Party” and even I am not sure of why I put it in there. But I won’t delete it. I feel like it’s going to be important for the plot someday.
The studio versions of Spoon and Lying in the Hands of God I really enjoy. Something about that crystal clear isolated acoustic guitar, all the use of overdubbed layers of harmonics separated in the stereo field etc, just sounds amazing.
The mix on Lying in the Hands of God is exemplary.
Jason, while repulsive, violent, and ill-mannered, is actually quite smart when it comes to marketing. He knows when to let the press get the right shot - this image in the paper, made public right at the time that he defied the grave to continue his rampage, was no accident. This calculated move at the height of his career secured his standing as not just A local legend, but THE local legend ‘round here. It is an atypical promo campaign that gives just enough to the press to keep people interested. Why the hockey mask?! New hairdo?! What’s he gonna do next?! We all have to know.
I’ve noticed lots of people referring to downtown, silver lake, all of that stuff as “east LA,” but I really disagree with that. I consider east of the LA River downtown to be “actual” east LA. Boyle Heights, East LA proper, etc.
Silver lake, to me, I would still consider basically central Los Angeles. Not “the east side.” It is west of downtown, how could it be the east side?! I get that it’s east of “West LA” but I don’t feel that makes it “eastside.” That seems to kind of reduce everything east of Hollywood to “Eastside” which I don’t think really encapsulates how many different areas are contained between Hollywood and the LA River.
The ride cymbal. The secret sauce of expert drummers. Save it for when it counts, and then when you really want to do something crazy, hit the bell. Ride cymbal restraint in drummers is something that can absolutely shape the course of a production. Also, the RIGHT ride cymbal is important. They all sound so different, so the abilities to be expressive with this one, long-sustaining piece of percussion gear, are huuuuge. Also cymbal smithing is cool as heck.
the B3 organ in rock production. (Or something like it). You might not even know it’s there, but it often is - making the guitars sound 3D, making the chorus pop. Somewhere in there, a B3 organ might be the thing making one section sound special, even if it’s not mixed like an “up front” instrument.
tambourine. You already know what I’m gonna say. Bust out that tambourine for that final chorus and send people to the moon. Simple instrument, huge impacts on the energy.
Love your perspective! I am hoping in S2 we get some flashback story explaining Sauron/Halbrand/how he got to the ocean in the first place etc, and maybe showing him in disguise, during events of S1 where we didn’t realize he was there pulling the strings.
Also excited about the possibility of barrow wights and Tom Bombadil.
I am a musician which means I often have to travel a few hours with a varying amount of musical and/or audio equipment. I drive an SUV and it is absolutely perfect for what I do. I can even put up a third row of seats, tow a trailer, and bring the whole band along if need be.
If the bun isn’t just right, the whole thing is shot no matter what is inside it.
Rock fusion/jammy type stuff, possibly with occasional use of odd timings, but with a deliberate, authoritative attack/velocity. Am I even close? Beautiful kit by the way, lovely setup. The way it is organized is really good ergonomically. Oh and the ride and hi hats are sooo nice. Love those.
You’re welcome - and yeah I’m with you, I recently upgraded everything and found a deal on one of the HHX complex cymbal packs - then I upgraded the ride to a 22 medium. All of these are remarkably good sounding, and they feel really nice on the stick too. For the first time it’s like I have the perfect balance of dark, bright, wash, definition, crashability, a nice defined bell etc. I always trust Sabian and expected to like them, but they have far exceeded my expectations this time. Glad you’re enjoying it too!!
I enjoy it and then when it’s released I obsess over how I can improve my product on my next release. My main thought is “gosh I wanna do this with a full band…” which hopefully the next couple months I’ll be able to financially pull that together 🤞🏻
Sometimes I hate my own songs but I’ve realized that I can just scrap them or work on them a year, or ten years, later. And then I can just write another song now.
I have had a really hot/cold love/hate thing with my own music for many years, it was like “omg this is so good” and then the same song, same mix, 24 hours later was “an absolute atrocity, a crude assault on the art, pure blasphemy of music.” But you know… once I started taking Zoloft, the wide range perspective has come in and I don’t get hung up on when my music sucks - which yes is all the time haha. I write a lot of pure garbage just to find one line I want to keep. 😂
I’d say being cymbals, snare, sticks, kick pedal. And if you have any backup drum heads it never hurts to have those in the van for worst case scenario
Alright alright really late here but I just came in here checking out HHX complex stuff because that’s what’s on my kit and I’m OBSESSED, but now I’m just high Af listening to this killer jam
Nice work 👍🏻
Thank you I’m going to try this!
Thank you :) will do!!
I do, I like physical media and the people who also appreciate it like I do are willing to pay for it so I don’t have to cheap out on prices etc.
How many of you press CDs
musicians