129 – Steve Fidyk: Laying a Foundation with Soph & Morello, Wrapping Up a 26-Year Army career, Putting Family First

Marcus Finnie and Zack Albetta both have a deep and abiding passion for food and cooking. So since a lot of us are probably doing more cooking these days, we wanted to talk what we’ve been up to in the kitchen, share some resources, recipes, tips, tricks, and hacks, in hopes that it will inspire some others to push their kitchen game a little higher. In this episode, Marcus and Zack talk about * What got them into cooking* The importance of quality, sharp knives, and the difference between sharpening and honing* Pans: the versatility of non-stick, and moving on to stainless steel, carbon steel, and cast iron* Cooking for kids and how to make delicious veggies* A few basic tips to make simple things like pasta or roast chicken AWESOME* Venturing into baking* Parallels between cooking and music Links to stuff we talked about: Smitten Kitchen The Paprika III recipe organization app “Ruhlman’s Twenty” Cookbook Instant Pot Knives: Shun, Wustoff, Global, Cutco This episode is sponsored by Beier Drums

10 Sep 20202h 1min

Originally from Chicago and spending over 35 years and in the Los Angeles music scene, Mike Hansen had the opportunity to work with many great artists such as the band Hurricane, Steve Vai, George Lynch, Doug Pinnick of kings X fame, The Pointer Sisters, Albert Lea, the band tribe after tribe and many others.He’s been spending this last year living in Chicago taking care of his parents and tending to his fathers needs who’s been suffering from cancer. His father was an important figure in Mike’s musical development as his father was a professional guitar player and exposed Mike to many great musicians and opportunities throughout his life.  In this episode, Mike talks about: * Working “non-music” gigs * The influence of his father* Using the Roland TM-6 drum module to mix with his acoustic kit live and when recording* Recording the new Hurricane record* Covering Ted McKenna’s drum parts on a Rory Gallagher tour* Working with Dug Pinnick* Touring in the mid-80’s This episode is sponsored by Beier drums Mike endorses: Aquarian drum heads, Sawtooth Drums, Soundbrenner, Kickport, Beier Drums, JBL, Cymbal Sox, Techra drumsticks, ChromaCast and Chicago Drum company

3 Sep 20201h 29min

Christopher Allis has been active on the LA scene for over a decade doing session, touring, commercial and jingle work. He has lent his talents for TV spots for Coca-Cola, Discovery Channel, and others. His playing can also be heard a variety of commercial music for shows including “Smash”, “The Voice”, “True Blood”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, and a variety of children and young adult shows on ABC, ABC Family, Nickelodeon, and the Disney Channel. Film music includes “Planes – Fire and Rescue”, “The Hills Have Eyes”, and overdub sessions for the James Bond films “Gold Finger”, “The Man With the Golden Gun”, and “Dr. No”. His latest touring stints have been with Deanna Carter and Michael Nesmith. He has also entered the world of academia as a special guest lecturer at the USC Thornton School of Music where we works with production classes to discuss and demonstrate modern studio drumming techniques. In this episode, Christopher talks about: * Tailoring your home recording rig to your skill level and your target market* The flexibility of minimal mic’ing techniques* Acquiring recording gear that you’ll grow into * His listening habits during COVID* Leaning into a particular aesthetic to find his place on the LA scene* Reassessing what we really want out of music and how to get it* How his life and career have changed as a result of his wife’s ongoing battle with cancer* Not asking “why?” but rather, “what now?” Christopher endorses Ludwig drums, Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Remo Drum Heads, Vater drumsticks, Canopus Snare Wires and Accessories, Big Fat Snare Drum, Snare Weight, SKB Cases, Yamaha DTX Electronic Drums, andToontrack software.

27 Aug 20202h 2min

Danny Gottlieb is one of the most popular drummers in jazz and contemporary music. While best known as the drummer in the original Pat Metheny Group, of which he was a member for six years, Danny, during the past 30 years, has performed and recorded with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Airto and Flora Purim Group, Al DiMeola Project, Blues Brothers Band, Bobby McFerrin Trio, Elements (co-leader with Mark Egan), Gary Burton Quartet, Gil Evans Orchestra, WDR Big Band, Gary Sinise’s band: Lt Dan Band and many more. Danny has been on the covers of Modern Drummer, Down Beat, Drums and Percussion, Rhythm, and Drum Scene magazines. In this episode, Danny talks about:  * Teaching at the University of North Florida* The multicultural experiences of music * Drumming with the Pat Metheny Group* Recording in the late 70’s* The new recording “Electric Blue” with Mark Egan* Reflecting on Lyle Mays* Studying with Joe Morello * Drumming for the Gary Sinise’s band: Lt Dan Band  Find the new recording here: https://markegan.com/wavetone This episode is sponsored by Beier Drums Check out Troy Lucketta rocking the Beier 4 x 15 snare here Danny currently endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drum Heads, Basix Drums, Hot Sticks, Eames Drum Shells, Calato Brushes, Vic Firth Mallets, Alternate Mode-Kat products, Shure Microphones, Hammerax Products.

20 Aug 20201h 49min

Jack Jones has been performing and teaching music for 25 years. Jack has has toured the U.S. and Japan extensively with jam band luminary Col. Bruce Hampton, Texas Blues artist Chris Duarte, and Blair Crimmins and the Hookers. In 2019, Jack was featured in YouTube music channel host, Rick Beato’s videos, Top 20 Drum Intros of All Time and Top 20 Drum Fills of All Time, which have collectively received more than 3 million views. He has a B.M. in Music Education from the University of LA at Monroe, and a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University, and he has worked with many local and national artists such as Scott Henderson, Keven Bales, and the Joe Gransden Big Band. He is currently the full time drummer with The Mike Veal Band, a well known Atlanta cover band. He also composes music and leads his own project, The Jack Jones Trio, a jazz trio with which he will be recording in the coming year. In this episode, Jack talks about: * Using the last few months to explore his creative process and improvisatory instincts* Planting seeds for a collection of original compositions* Trying to find a “free” state of mind in musical situations with defined parameters * Rick Beato’s in-the-moment approach to producing his Youtube videos* His main live gig with the Mike Veal Band, a long-time Atlanta favorite This episode is sponsored by Beier Drums Check out Troy Lucketta rocking the Beier 4 x 15 snare here

13 Aug 20201h 3min

Stephen Taylor is the founder and owner of StephensDrumShed.com as well as the creator of the Drum Better Daily system. The website is membership based and offers a way to learn the drums online in an organized and goal oriented fashion. Stephen has written three drum method books and also offers downloadable video drum lesson packs and individual lessons on his site. Stephen began playing professionally at the age of 16. During his formative years, he studied under drumming phenom Henrique De Almeida (Current Associate Professor of Percussion at Berklee College of Music). In his late teens and early twenties, he cut his teeth playing nightly in clubs on Bourbon Street, in New Orleans, LA. After three years of gigging up to ten hour days, he relocated to pursue his education. While obtaining his degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi, he studied under Dr. John Wooton. Stephen currently maintains a busy teaching and playing schedule in Nashville, TN. He has played and toured with independent and major label artists including Danielle Peck (Big Machine Records), Jason Jones(Warner Music), Meshach Jackson, and many others. In late 2008, Stephen began playing with an original project, Lovers and Liars. They signed with Universal Republic Records between 2010 and 2011, had several songs featured on MTV, and had the opportunity to share the stage with Hoobastank, Finger Eleven, Civil Twilight, Candlebox, Hurt, Cavo, Hinder, Fuel, Eve 6, Hawthorne Heights, Red, Thriving Ivory, Theory of a Deadman, Saving Abel, Framing Hanley, 10 Years, Seether, Shinedown, and many others. Stephen also has a passion for teaching with current and past students having achieved or been featured on MTV, NBC, The Grammies, VH1, The Real World, the Dove Awards, and various college scholarships. In addition, Stephen was part of a feature article in the October 2013 issue of DRUM! Magazine entitled “The Drum Stars of You Tube”. In this episode, Stephen talks about: * His online drum school: Stephens Drum Shed* Finding new and creative ways to teach drums* Lear...

6 Aug 20201h 37min

Beth Goodfellow is an LA-based drummer, percussionist, and vocalist. She studied classical percussion at San Jose State while playing gigs around the San Francisco Bay Area, simultaneously serving as a drummer in the California Air National Guard Band of the West Coast. While residing in San Francisco Elizabeth appeared on two episodes of America’s Got Talent as a drummer in The Emily Anne Band and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles. Since moving to L.A. Elizabeth has released two albums of her original music, recorded with artists including Boygenius, Per Gessle, and Crossrecord, and has toured with Iron & Wine and Madison Cunningham. In this episode, Beth talks about: * Her varied background of drumset, percussion, classical music, musical theatre, military band, and songwriting* What leading creative projects taught her about working as a side player on others’, and vice versa* The National Independent Venue Association* The Restart Act* The questions musicians need to be asking ourselves, each other, and our employers during and after COVID* How Ableton aligned perfectly with the layered and looped way she likes to make music Check out Beier Snare’s here – https://www.beierdrums.com David Northrup is the 2nd drummer in the Beier ad. You can find his solo CD here.

30 Jul 20201h 22min

For over 30 years Eric Darken has worked as a studio and touring percussionist for some of the biggest bands and artists in the world. Just a few of his recording credits includes Taylor Swift, BonJovi, Jewel, James Bay, Maren Morris, Bob Seger, Carrie Underwood, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and new artists Carly Pearce and Moon Taxi. Eric has traveled around the world and throughout the United States performing with artists such as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Take 6 and Bob Seger. He currently tours with Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band and frequently performs live with Mac McAnally. An accomplished composer and producer, Eric has written original underscores for TV and film. These shows include Dateline NBC, 20/20, Fox Sports, the Discovery Channel, The NFL Network, National Geographic and the film, The Fantastic Four – Rise of the Silver Surfer. Other projects include A Drummer Boy’s Christmas and Sunday Drive. In this episode, Eric talks about: * Taking advantage of the downtime to grow, learn, write and record from home* “Owning the instrument” learning all the tones and possibilities an instrument can deliver* Working with Jimmy Buffett* Creating percussion parts that are felt but not always heard* From household items to gardening tools to create percussion sounds * Building a sample library CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSOR – BEIER SNARE DRUMS Spotify link to Damon Johnson Live record with Jarrod Pope playing the 6.5×14 Beier Snare Eric endorses Meinl Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, Mike Balter Mallets, The Trashkat and Shure Microphones

23 Jul 20201h 46min