Influences...

So, I've recently been spending a lot of time studying music...specifically percussion. When I was a kid, I couldn't imagine there would ever been a time where I didn't play drums every day. Sure, I played guitar, piano, bass, and some other random things, but my first love has always been playing drums. I've only played drums in a few bands...most notably The Purple Waxheads, Mars Retrieval Unit, and The Leftovers. For the majority of the last 8 years though, I've rarely played drums more than 2 or 3 nites a month. After recently playing a gig behind the kit with Patrick Morales (Right Click Here, Save As...), I've gotten the itch to be playing regularly again. So, I did some looking and picked up a new drumming gig...playing with a few great musicians in a project called Matt James. It's turned out to be a lot of fun...and I'm really enjoying getting back to it. All that being said, I've been really analyzing my drumming influences and figuring out what it actually is that they do that makes me gravitate to them. So, I'm gonna try and write some of that down over the next few weeks. I will say this, I typically do not like drum solos. I prefer drumming in the context of supporting a song. I'm usually bored and unimpressed by "soloists"...I tend to gravitate towards drummers that play musically, not showy.

So, to start things off...

Steve Gadd (Click Here)

Steve was one of the first drummers I could recognize just by hearing on a record when I was young. The first thing I probably heard him play on was Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" off the album "Still Crazy After All These Years". Besides being a master of the alternating high-hat/snare paradiddle, he's got an amazing laid-back feel, and a very dark/dry drum and cymbal sound. Gadd was probably my first drumming influence, and still continues to be at the top of my list.

Here's an example of him at his finest...simple, laid back, with an amazing feel.

Steve demonstrating one of his signature grooves

Steve Gadd Grooving with the band Stuff



Up next we have Levon Helm (Click Here)

Levon is the kind of cool I always wanted to be. He has played some of the simplest, most effective drum tracks I've ever heard. There is nothing extraneous about what he does...it fits the song perfectly. He also is usually singing while playing...bonus points. I spent many, many hours as a kid trying to get my old Pearl Export drumkit to sound just like his old Ludwigs. The one thing he does that is very subtle but effective...he often switches from Hi-Hat to Ride every other line of a verse...just adds another layer of texture...never seen anyone else be able to pull that off.

Levon with The Band...Cripple Creek

Levon and The Band...The Weight



The last one for tonite is Jim Keltner (Click Here)

Jim is not really know for playing with a specific band...he's really made his way as a session drummer. He's been the first call guy for people like John Lennon, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Warren Zevon, etc...OK...I just realized all those guys are dead except Tom Petty...but I assure you that Jim is still working. His loose, slightly behind the groove feel, deep snare, and dark cymbal sounds kept me practicing for years. I would put on headphones and play along with everything of his I could get my hands on. Notice how his snare hits are just at hair behind what most people would play...that's what really gives him his sound. Here's a few examples:

Jim with the Traveling Wilburys

Jim with John Hiatt



Pick Withers (Click Here)

Pick absolutely blows me away every time I hear him. His drum and cymbals sounds are amazing...he has an amazingly light touch and a jazz feel, but mostly played in rock and roll bands (early Dire Straits albums, Bob Dylan). He apparently retired from the music biz many years ago, so there's not much info on him. He's got this under-lying swing to everything he plays...and is very tasteful in his fills. I often copy his groove at the end of Telegraph Road (see below).

Here's two tracks off the Dire Straits "Love Over Gold" album.

Probably my favorite example of his playing

Great example of tasteful fills



Jim Gordon (Click Here)

Jim was another icon for me growing up. One of the first albums that I really knew note-for-note was Derek and The Dominos "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs". The backwards beat on "Bell Bottom Blues", the amazing fills on "Little Wing" and "Anyday", etc...classic 70's drumming. He also played on The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", Mason Williams "Classical Gas", and about half the pop records from the 70's. Unfortunately, he suffered a breakdown in the 80's and has been in prison since 1984. Let's hope he gets better and is able to be released one day.

Jim with Derek and the Dominos and Delaney and Bonnie:

This backwards beat is genius...and gives the song a whole different feel

Some great shots of him at work (also a cool guitar riff and Bonnie has a killer fro)

These Delaney and Bonnie vids are great...had to include one more. Notice in this video, Delaney seems to be playing George Harrison's Rosewood Tele from the Let it Be sessions, George Harrison is playing an odd Stratocaster, and Clapton is playing a Les Paul Black Beauty...all different guitar choices than what you usually see them with.



Will Sayles (Click Here)

I know John Cable will disagree with me on this point, but I think Will is one of the best, most tasteful drummers working today. I first heard him with Over The Rhine (Ohio album and tour), and then Derek Webb, Andrew Osenga, Griffin House, Matt Kearney, etc... I have probably copied more of his riffs than anyone else. He also has had a major influence on my preferred drum/cymbal sounds recently.

Here's Will with Derek Webb:

Love the deep snare

Nice, simple groove...that's what it's all about



Glenn Kotche (Click Here)

Glenn took over the drum chair for Wilco starting with the "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" album. I personally think they could not have made that album without him. The musical approach he brought to the kit made that album for me. Also, his playing on "Sky Blue Sky" is probably my favorite drum performance on any record in the last 5 years. Be sure and check out his solo records also...some really interesting stuff.

Wilco's I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. Couldn't find the studio version of this tune online...so here's a live version...sorry for the quality (welcome to the internet)

Some of Glenn's solo work...check out that groove at 4:10...wow



Darren King (Click Here)

Darren is the drummer for one of my favorite bands, Mutemath. he is a modern day John Bonham...an absolute nut behind the kit...and a lot of fun to watch. Not much more to say other than...every once in a while I bust into a Darren King techno explosion just for fun.

Mutemath's "Typical" Music Video

Mutemath's "Chaos"...sorry for the picture...why is it that people these days do NOT understand aspect ratio?

A pretty good example of what he does best

This is probably my favorite solo drum performance ever



And the last one: Karen Carpenter (Click Here)

Karen is probably best know as being the singer for The Carpenters...but what a lot of people do not know is that she also was the drummer...until the record label decided they preferred her to be out front singing lead (which led to her fear of being in the spotlite, which led to her anorexia, which led to her tragic death). She was often quoted as saying she was a drummer first and a singer second...and she was amazing at both. Buddy Rich called her one of his favorite drummers. Enough said.

Very strange song...and poor quality recording, but check out that groove starting at 2:30

Very cheesy TV show...but great drumming starting at 1:30

Some earlier, jazzier Carpenters stuff

Long compliation video...great solo stuff starting at 8:50



So there's my main list...there are a few others...but I could go on for weeks. I do recommend looking up the works of the following drummers:

Don Henley (The Eagles), Phil Collins (Genesis, Brand X, Solo), Richie Hayward (Little Feat), Phil Jones (Tom Petty, Roy Orbison), and of course Ringo Starr (The Beatles).

History Lesson

It was 40 years ago today...Sgt. Pepper told the band to play (on the roof):

Click Here

Our Town

Things have been slowing down for the year round these parts...and we're all gearing up for the upcoming holiday shows. If you're anywhere near Thomasville, GA on Dec. 12, 19, or 23...Come on by The Submarine. Guaranteed good music to be heard.

I'm still trying to figure out what where 2009's gonna take us all...lot's of possibilities. More on that later.

For now, we just have this song:

Wait...did you know it's already November?

I grew my hair out.


Not a lot to say this week...so I make a list...

Things that have made the last 7 days nice:

1. A great film called Amelie.

2. Bonfires made of stolen firewood, a gas-filled pumpkin, and piles of grass mulch.

3. My new hair.

4. A new drummer.

5. Having 10,000 volts on stage inches from my guitar headstock...really makes the new hair stand on end.

6. http://home.att.net/~tom.brodhead/wonka.htm


That's all I got.

At the corner of awake and dreaming

Can I just say that I'm finally getting excited about the holidays?

I've got an exciting possibility for a headliner for our Victorian Christmas show...not gonna say much more till it's confirmed...but...man...I'm excited.

We're playing a cool show this weekend...and as usual it's a birthday show. Now, I have to get the world's best cheesecake.

A few other things that are making me happy this week:

1. Remembering that there's a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Tallahassee that I've never seen. Know what I'm doing Sunday.

2. Getting to see VOL on November 20.

3. Playing Simulacra on Saturday nite.

4. The possibility of Moss going to FSU.

5. The fact that I have 5 different kinds of cereal on top of my fridge to choose from.


Speaking of VOL...here's your VOL lyric of the day:

I can make you promises, but don't expect too much. I can run the distance...if you'll please excuse my crutch.

Still looking for a costume idea...would like to go as David Byrne...but...where am I gonna get a big suit?

AND YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF...

Simulacrarockstarssomethingsomethingsomethingrightaway

Seth and I will be playing an experimental noise-rock/techno show this weekend...and I'm actually excited...cause we're playing Simulacra...and I forgot how much fun that song is to play. I consider it somewhat of an accomplishment that I learned Moss's solo (mostly)...cause he's a way better guitarist than myself.

I have to come up with a costume idea before Saturday...old standby of course is a member of the band Europe (Example), but...I'm afraid the leather pants don't fit so well these days. Any other ideas?

In other news...I've got this new obsession with trying to see the inside of every building in downtown Thomasville. If you think about it...you've probably maybe been in like a third of them. If you didn't know about it, you would never know that The Sub exsisted...to 99.9% of the people in town, it's just another empty storefront with blacked out windows. There's plenty of those downtown...so...what's in them? How many other "Subs" are there downtown? I'm gonna find out. I've started walking a few laps around downtown every evening after dinner. You'd be surprised at how many doors are left unlocked...and how many buildings have something going on inside them...even though they appear closed. I'll start reporting on my findings soon.

Since I have a tendency to put pics in my blog...here's your moment of zen...





Anyone wanna goto Norway?

Weekend Travels

So, after a great Friday nite containing the following:

Laura Fletcher
The Corduroy Road
Bill Mallonee
Pita Pit
The Star Spangled Banner

I started my Saturday with IHOP...and took the long way home.

This particular long way involved an accidental trip to Juliette, GA.

If you've never heard of Juliette...they made a film called "Fried Green Tomatoes" there. I just happened upon the little town in the middle of their annual Green Tomato Festival. Got a few pics:



















After a nice, long drive home, I made it just in time to carve up some pumpkins. As you can see, we had a political pumpkin this year.


















There will be Halloween music at The Sub this coming Saturday nite starring Patrick Morales, Seth Golden, myself, and a possible special guest.

An addition to the post below about giving up:

So, if sweat pants are the signs of giving up...what about scrubs? Is that the same thing? At least scrubs have pockets...Grady Ann and I were discussing this and decided that at least with scrubs, you can look official while giving up.

That's all I got.

Come on feel the noises...

I've been in a noise-making mood lately...



Icarus is gonna play a noise show on Nov. 1


I've been messing around with making some pre-recorded loops on my computer...







The main problem right now is that this chair is empty...




Anyone?




We're making music that sounds like this:






Who wouldn't wanna give that a shot?



I'm headed to Athens Friday for what is sure to be the hilite of my month...John Cable and Tim Helms band's CD release party...THEN...Saturday nite is Pumpkinfest. Here's some pics of last year:









Ain't that gonna be some fun?


Well, I'm gonna try and get to sleep earlier than 4am tonite...we'll see how that works out.

That's my message.

-chall

Life on the Road...

I have been traveling more in the last two months than I have all year. Of course there are many stories...but likely if you're reading this you already know me and have probably heard them at least 6 times.

Instead I'm gonna talk about a few things I've been thinking about recently.

1st off...St. Paul, MN. This place just feels like home for me. Of course, I've never been there in January...and if you know me...you know how I feel about cold weather...not sure how that would work out...but I guess you adapt. St. Paul is a really small town...for being a big city. There's a feeling of community there that you don't even see so much in small cities these days. This city has many of the things that are important to me in choosing a place to live...good record stores, a great 24 hour Diner, nice parks to walk in, lakes and rivers, good Public Radio, history, Jazz, and a fairly low cost of living on top of everything. Of course, the downside being that it's 60 below for 4 months out of the year. Don't be surprised if I just up and move there one day...cause I just might.

2nd...People worrying about what they're gonna do. This intrigues me...probably because I skipped over that stage in life. Ya know...the whole...OK, I'm out of college (or high school)...I don't really have enough experience to get a job doing what I went to school for...or maybe it turns out I don't really like doing what I went to school for...or maybe I didn't goto school...and I've got to figure out what I'm doing with the rest of my life...right now...or I'm not complete. I think that's rubbish...what you do doesn't define who you are. I heard someone say earlier that they weren't interested in a relationship right now...because they hadn't figured out what they're gonna do with their life. That's a scary place to be I think...letting what you do define who you are. While I'm sure that's not exactly what the person meant...it got my wheels turning. Relationships are hard to come by...at least in my experience. To paraphrase The Normals...it's a lonely world...and you gotta grab what you can get...but at the same time...don't settle for less than love. I guess I come from a different perspective...since I was 16 I've always had a job...doing something I enjoy...whether it's photography, engineering, music, whatever...so I have a hard time relating. It's just that I think people shouldn't get quite so uptite about thinking their life hasn't started because they don't have a "career" or a job in the field they're supposed to be in. Relax...if you're supposed to be in that particular field...your time will come. If not, then maybe you were meant to do something else. In the mean time, don't put your entire life on hold because you don't think it has even started yet...your life is RIGHT NOW. Enjoy.

Lastly, I have a correction to make. For a year and a half now, I've been saying that I gave up on April 10, 2007. Let me elaborate. I read the following story in the news one morning:

Not many people can top David Brown's tale of how he met his wife.

Five years ago, the British man dreamed of a cell-phone number, the U.K. Daily Mail reports. He decided to text it, thinking it might have belonged to someone he met the night before.

It didn't. Instead Brown's message reached Michelle Kitson, a 17-year-old whom he had never met.

"It was really weird but I was absolutely hooked," Kitson told the paper. "My mum and dad kept saying, 'But he could be an axe murderer', but I knew there was something special about it. I hadn't had a boyfriend before. Those first text messages were a real adrenaline rush."

The pair exchanged phone calls and letters and Brown eventually moved 60 miles to be closer to his dream lover.

"She really is the girl of my dreams," said Brown, now 24, from Harefield, North-West London.

Kitson felt the same way about Brown. The happy couple just returned from their honeymoon.

So...I couldn't get a date if the lives of all of Canada depended on it...and this guy...he dreams a daggum cell number...texts it...and GETS MARRIED!!! BTW...I did try that...texting a random number...it came back..."message undeliverable...reason: number does not exsist". How's that for irony?

Anyways...I've been saying for years that I gave up...but it was pointed out to me tonite that I in fact have not given up...since I was not wearing sweat pants. Apparently, that's the true sign.

So, I guess for now...I'm back in the game. If anyone sees me in sweat pants...they'll know I'm truely finished.

Enough Jibber Jabber...here's some photos.

Downtown St. Paul at nite from across the river. Ever seen anything finer?




Mickey's Diner...probably my favorite restaurant ever.





Garrison Keillor assuring me that I've come to the right place.

That's about all I've got at the moment. I have a feeling that it's gonna be a good week. Maybe it's just because I had such a good day today...slept late (haven't done that in a long time), played some music with my friends, had some good Waffle House with some more friends, watched the Wilco film, hung out with Lakin types, etc. Not too bad for a Saturday.

One last thing...I'm thinking of shaving...would like to take a poll. For or Against?

-chall

I've been saying this for a while...

Lately, I have felt like I'm living in a real, live David Lynch film.

I feel like I've been floating through my days...with nothing really sticking. Everything has been kind of a bizzaro version of itself, and I've having trouble figuring out what I've done with all my time. I keep having these memories that I'm sure I've made up...and some of the conversations I've had...I have no explanation for. I dunno...I probably just need to sleep...or take a year off from sleeping...I really can't tell. These crazy dreams I've been having have made their way into my entire days...and sometimes I think I'm still in them.

The best advice I've gotten all year is from Justine Spinoza: "don't let your dreams drive you crazy, just try to enjoy them and incorporate them into your life"...she's an old soul.

Here's the things that I have found happiness in lately:

1. Owning all of the original-cast Star Trek films on Laserdisc
2. "The Three Ep's" by The Beta Band
3. "Rumors" by Fleetwood Mac
4. Getting to know Amanda Lakin
5. Rediscovering the Piano
6. Watching Presidential Debates on the Big Screen
7. Lunch with the gang
8. Blueberry Juice
9. Playing Old Rock and Roll covers with Kealon, Seth, and Patrick


Headed to Minnesota for the weekend...I really think that's gonna help.

I'll let you know.

-chall