114 – Angela Lese: Drumming for The Dead Deads, Cultivating a Strong Fan Base, From “Regular Job” to Touring Musician

Kris Myers began playing drums for progressive-rock band Umphrey’s McGee in 2003. Since then, the band has released eleven albums and maintains a rigorous touring schedule of over 100 live shows per year. Umphrey’s has performed at legendary festivals and venues such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Fuji Rock Festival, South by Southwest, Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Ryman Theatre, The Beacon Theatre and more. Myers attended Elmhurst College from 1995 – 1999 where he was a music major and the drummer in the Elmhurst College Jazz Band. Under director Doug Beach, the Elmhurst College Jazz Band played gigs in the U.S. and Internationally at events such as the Umbria Jazz Festival, Jakarta Jazz Festival and the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Myers has played with a variety of jazz artists such as Nicholas Payton, Diane Schuur, Randy Brecker, Dennis DiBlasio as well as local Chicago musician Mark Colby. In 2001 Myers enrolled in DePaul University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Jazz Drumming. Myers works as a studio musician in the Nashville for various projects. He continues to play with musicians such as Mike Keneally, Bill Evans, Jeff Coffin, and Billy Strings on a variety of projects in both the Nashville and Los Angeles area. In this episode, Kris talks about: Getting started around Chicago's network of educators, drum shops, and universities Umphrey's McGee's early jam/funk influences (Galactic, MMW, Lettuce, Bela Fleck etc.) His drumming influences - bringing an adventurous and active drumming presence to Umphrey's Finding a "give and take" band dynamic - giving a band what they need but being allowed to explore and be you Projects outside of Umprhey's he's been involved with along the way Moving from Chicago to LA in 2014, and ultimately settling in Nashville How where you live and whether it suits your personality/priorities is as important as any musical aspect of your life What he sees in the present and future of Nashville

7 Heinä 20221h 14min

Aaron Apter is a corrective exercise specialist and professional drummer based out of Nashville, TN. Having a uniquely specific education and professional credentials in both music performance and pain management, Aaron combines both practices in a way that directly addresses the needs of musicians who want to correct nagging injuries without impacting their career. He has worked with a wide variety of acts ranging from Cirque Du Soleil to the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to War. In 2022, Aaron founded PR3 Performance, a company designed to help musicians resolve chronic pain without having to see a surgeon or miss a performance. In this episode, Aaron talks about:    Both adapting to a scene and learning from an environment    Prioritizing his health    Surviving a serious bike accident that changed his life    Aaron’s unique coaching practice - PR3 Performance    Aaron’s work to build back Matt’s health with a focus on drumming    Load vs Capacity    Building a tolerance through recovery    Being the best version of yourself

30 Kesä 20221h 32min

Joy Lapps is a bandleader, composer, and educator based in Toronto. She was introduced to the steel pan through her church music program as a teenager, and soon started playing community and church events. This soon led to composing her own music and leading her own bands. Her latest release is Girl in the Yard, featuring her own compositions and arrangements, and her husband, Larnell Lewis on drums. The album reflects her exploration of the steel pan as a traditional folk instrument of resistance, but also as the vehicle for her original compositional ideas. In this episode, Joy talks about: The musical and geographic origins of the steel pan How Larnell encouraged her to compose, improvise, and take the steel pan beyond its traditional stylistic role How having a son with special needs has affected her relationship with music Leaning into her instrument's traditional identity vs. carving a new musical path for it How her relationship with Larnell has affected her relationship with the drums Working with her band to translate traditional Afro-Caribbean styles to a modern jazz format

23 Kesä 20221h 9min

Hubert Payne is one of the most sought after musicians in the Nashville music scene with a Performance Coaching skill set that’s a cross between ministry, life coaching, therapy and motivation. With over 20 years of performance experience in athletics and music, Hubert is widely recognized for his ability to ‘Unblock’ his clients so they are fully equipped to live from the best of themselves in every area of their lives. Hubert is a certified life coach, practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic-Programming and a Level 2 ISEP Experiential Coach. He is skilled in emotional wellness and performance after trauma and has worked with The NFLPA, The Green Bay Packers, Chick-Fil-A. Hubert maintains a roster of clients from NFL Coaches and players to real estate agents and musicians.    Hubert is also the touring and recording drummer for National Country Music Artists, Little Big Town. When not on location at The Space (The mental gym he founded in Nashville, TN), you can find Hubert and his wife, Nicole, with their 5 children in Spring Hill, TN. In this episode, Hubert talks about:    Using the concept of performance when navigating life    Touring with Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert    Double drumming with Miranda’s drummer Max Zemanovic    Life and performance coaching in “The Space”    Normalizing mental health and the help that’s available    Becoming a compassionate witness to our own history    Being able to manage your failings    Choosing curiosity over judgement

16 Kesä 20221h 21min

Erik Aylesworth is an Atlanta-based drummer who joined Jet Black Roses through remote recording during the pandemic. He attended Atlanta Institute of Music but cut his gigging teeth on the funk/R&B scene in Dayton Ohio. He returned to Atlanta in 2016 and got himself busy playing the usual combo of corporate, bar/restaurant, and church gigs. Jet Black Roses signed with N-Ovation Music Group in Nashville and just finished recording their debut album, with songs set to be release starting in late summer of 2022. In this episode, Erik talks about The recording process for Jet Black Roses at Ronnie's Place The band's unique strategy for releasing and publicizing their music, skipping a few of the usual steps Becoming a father during the pandemic How recording with guitarist Rob McNelly influenced his own approach as a drummer How the usual influences of Bonham, Colaiuta, and Peart combined with pocket influences like Prince and Lil' John Roberts

9 Kesä 20221h 10min

Drummer and Nashville native, Jerry Pentecost has played with John Prine, Brent Cobb, Amanda Shires, Caitlin Rose, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and many others. In 2018 he became only the second drummer ever nominated for the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year award. Since around 2019, Jerry has been the drummer for the Grammy award winning group, Old crow Medicine Show. In this episode, Jerry talks about:    Loyalty over pay when juggling multiple gigs    Playing the Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame honoring Eddy Bayers    Drumming for Old Crow Medicine Show    Covering many roles with OCMS including playing mandolin, bones and singing    Recording the latest OCMS record, Paint This Town    Two op-eds he wrote for the Tennessean focusing on Black History    Dealing with systemic racism    Traditional country drumming and serving the song

2 Kesä 20221h 37min

Eric Slick is a product of the Philly area where he began touring with Dr. Dog. After relocating to Nashville in 2018, he continued that gig until the band’s recent hiatus, and has gone on to perform with Waxahatchee and The Crooked Rhythm Band among others. He is also a singer, songwriter, and producer in his own right, his latest release as a solo artist is an album of ten original songs called Wiseacre. In this episode, Eric talks about His ongoing studio learning process The power of "no" - filling your schedule vs. being fulfilled Playing with the Crooked Rhythm band and digging into the Fela Kuti/Tony Allen stuff His interest in late 70s/early 80s drum machines and productions Wrestling with drums and mics vs. wrestling with the computer How Nashville is becoming a place for everyone, musically and otherwise His "jazz damage"

26 Touko 20221h 18min

Al Murray is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of the British Drum Company He is also one of the UK’s most recognizable comedians! In his guise as the Pub Landlord he has played drums with the likes of Phil Collins and Queen as well as touring the world appearing on TV and radio. Al has published books and is planning a movie, but his first love is drums. A keen and enthusiastic drummer, Al has played since he was a kid, and is currently active in the band 'Fat Cops'. Lastly, Al and historian James Holland discuss all matters Second World War with their immensely popular podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk. The podcast is a bi-weekly show exploring the war in close up and James and Al have a stunning knowledge of the subject. In this episode, Al talks about:    His podcast, “We Have Ways of Making You Talk”    His interest in the 2nd World War    The British Drum Company    The variety of snare drums that The British Drum Company offers    His full time gig as a touring comic act, the Pub Landlord    How the history of drum manufacturing is also the history of manufacturing

19 Touko 20221h 5min