Welcome Home!
/Give a big welcome to the family to my new set of Yamaha Tour Custom drums. Aren’t they pretty? I can’t wait to get these tubs on a gig!
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Back at it: Hundred Days
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The latest version of Hundred Days is up and running at the Straz in Tampa. We had two days of tech and open Tuesday. My friend from college, Scott Crawford, provided the rental — a beautiful, brand new Pearl Session Studio Classic kit. It sounds great! Scott is a fantastic percussionist and all-around great guy. It was a dream come true to have him tech for me on Sunday. I can’t wait to hang with him some more on this 2.5 month stint in Tampa.
Rig Rundown: The Grinch
/The Grinch is off to a good start here in Green Bay. Let’s take a look at my setup for this season:
This year I’m playing a Champagne Sparkle DW kit It sounds great for this particular show. Beefy toms! I’m using a variety of Zildjian cymbals.
Using the always trusty Roland SPD-SX with 9 different kits programmed (woodblocks, gong, tambourine, bass drum, chimes, glock, sleigh bells, triangle, finger cymbal, ratchet, and one timpani patch are all programmed). Two Adams timpani (29” and 26”). I also have an acoustic cowbell and Jam Block, but they didn’t make the pictures.
Mmmm… I love a good metal station. Mark tree, two triangles, one finger cymbal, and three Miller Machines.
Delvcam mounted on my music stand so I can see the conductor when I’m reading the music.
Stick tray with a variety of multi-sticks, timpani mallets, brushes, triangle beater, sus mallets, and two caxixi.
And finally, Aviom land. Each band member has their own channel in addition to a conductor mic and onstage mic.
Rig Rundown: Hundred Days
/The cellist is naked! The throne is falling off the riser! What kind of show is this??? Let’s take a look at my setup for Hundred Days here at the La Jolla Playhouse!
La Jolla Playhouse provided me with this black Gretsch Catalina maple kit. It was amazing not having to worry about schlepping drums across the country or setting up a rental in San Diego. The kit sounds great. We are expecting some new heads to arrive any day now.
AVIOM land is a good scene! I have two running here: One for each instrument and voice and a dedicated one for just the drum mix. We are all using in-ear monitors which has been a godsend. I may never be able to go back to a wedge again!
Drum key and Moon Gels in an accessible position in case of emergency.
I’m using my trusty SPD-SX for this one. I’ve built 12 kits (some of which are just running click tracks). The electronics add a nice element to this show. All sounds were provided by the composer, Shaun Bengson, except for a few 808 bass drums and claps. I’ve enjoyed working with our sound designer, Nicholas Pope, on dialing in levels and effects for each sound. I have a few glow dots on the machine so I know where to hit during two black out sections.
I’m running a pedal trigger out of the SPD-SX for bass drum and other sounds and using a foot switch to turn the click track on and off. More glow dots!
I finally get to put those contemporary percussion ensemble skills to use during a song that features bowed crotales. It’s a nice effect for the piece and serves as a few meditative minutes for me to re-center and think about what’s coming up next.
Oh yeah, I’m a singer now! I sing harmony on a few songs. It has been a challenge for sure, but I’m surrounded by many amazing and supportive singers who are always uplifting.
The show runs in San Diego through October 21. If you are in the area, come on out to a show! Otherwise, perhaps I’ll see you this winter in Tampa or Miami!
Recording at the Bunker
/Back at the Bunker for the first time in a minute. My outfit was very much in coordination with their Ludwig house kit and my Rogers snare, which was having a particularly great day. More on this recording soon!
Pippin in Pelham
/Thanks for having me, SOOP Theatre Company!
Opening Night: Drowsy Chaperone
/We opened The Drowsy Chaperone at Pace last night. This show has been a fun one to work on: it's funny, it's short, and it swings!
Double pedal at a synagogue? Oh sure!
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Finally, a practical reason to use my double bass pedal! I reversed the action of the slave pedal so I could sit comfortably on the cajon (well, as comfortable as a cajon can be when you're sitting on it for approx. 6 hours) and not have my leg in the way if I wanted to play the cajon with my hands. It worked out nicely! This page helped me modify the pedal.
This was for a women's seder on Long Island. The ensemble consisted entirely of women, about 15 of us. It was a beautiful experience!
Drum Haiku
/I have so many
But I need so many more
Metal, wood, and skin
I started working on my setup for In The Heights last night. My bedroom is looking like a drum shop. Yikes.