140 – Pat Torpey: Drummer for Mr. Big, Nashville Drummer Jam Honoree, Fighting Parkinson’s Disease

Ben Hilzinger is a Los Angeles-based drummer and songwriter with 20+ years of performing, recording and teaching experience.  Currently the drummer for Eve 6 and Cannons, Ben has also written, recorded, and/or toured throughout the USA/internationally with MXPX, Fitness, Mike Herrera, Party Nails, We Shot The Moon, Glorybots, Ever So Android, Jake Cummings, Josh Eacrett, Dave Cavalier, and many more. In addition to performing and teaching, Ben is the Director of Artist / Client Relations for Big Fat Snare Drum and hosts the ‘Big Fat Five’ podcast. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2016, Ben also taught drums/percussion/music theory both privately and at Off The Wall school of music in Seattle, WA.  In this episode, Ben talk about: His new book, “Drummers On Drumming,” a compilation of content from his podcast of same name Giving yourself grace about your path, approach, etc.  Taking self-inventory about how your skillset, learning style, and goals overlap Being diagnosed with ADHD and imposing structure on himself to stay engaged and productive  The pros and cons of drumming for the ADHD brain The idea of “channeling” a drummer without transcribing or copying them exactly Staying in touch with the spark that made you want to play drums in the first place Finding identity, perspective, and security as Ben the person, not Ben the drummer  Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

30 Jan 1h 33min

Dylan Wissing is a session drummer based in Hoboken, New Jersey, who has recorded for such artists as John Legend, Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Eminem. He is best known as the drummer on Alicia Keys’ Grammy award-winning hit, “Girl on Fire,” and is heard in national ads for AT&T, American Airlines, Valvoline, Behr Paints and Banana Republic. Dylan teaches the art of recording and session drumming at his website, Creating the Sound, and is a proud endorser of WTS Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Innovative Percussion sticks, Prologix practice pads, TnR Products, and the Cymbal Resonance System. In this episode, Dylan talks about:    Pros and cons of tech when tracking remotely    Changes with Dylan since we last spoke in 2018    His three kit set up in his studio    His website and educational content    Providing live drums in a sea of loops and samples    Useful plug-ins    Andrew Marsh introduces WTS Drums Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

22 Jan 1h 31min

Master Gunnery Sgt. Chris Rose has spent the majority of his professional career in his role as percussionist, drumset specialist, and soloist with the United States Marine Band. "The President’s Own" comprises 160 members and takes various forms depending on the event or occasion they’re playing for and the instrumentation needed for it. As you’ll hear, this affords Chris the opportunity to play a huge variety of musical roles, from classical percussion to marching drums to jazz and rock drumset. In this episode, Chris talks about: Studying classical percussion at Rice University, and his first post-school gig in Branson with Andy Williams What makes The President’s Own unique among military bands Getting outside yourself in service to the music and the event it’s part of The incredible variety of musical roles he plays in a given week The potential for musical development and upward mobility within the band The various drummers he channels in various drumset roles Life in DC, and looking ahead to life and work after The President’s Own  Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

16 Jan 1h 10min

In years past for milestone episodes, we would do something kinda special or make a big deal out of it in some way. This is definitely our biggest milestone yet but it comes at a time when neither of us (Zack & Matt), really have a lot of time to organize anything much more involved than a regular episode. We tried to line up a special guest but the scheduling didn’t quite work out. We’re confident that person will join us for an episode in the near future, just not this one. This podcast has always been a side project for both of us, and has often taken a backseat to the main aspects of our personal and professional lives, and it’s kinda ironic and fitting that our 500th episode is no exception. So for this episode, we take the opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, talk about what's been learned along the way, where we’re at in life at the moment, and what’s coming up, and of course to thank you all for your support in helping us get this far. In this episode Zack and Matt talk about:     ◦    Zack’s interview with Dave DiCenso     ◦    Matt’s exploration in traditional grip     ◦    Trying to be the change you want to see on the drumming internet     ◦    Zack’s touring gig     ◦    New YouTube content on the podcast channel     ◦    Reoccurring guests     ◦    How modern tech influences drumming styles     ◦    Steering clear of envy or jealousy Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

9 Jan 1h 30min

Dave DiCenso began his career in the late 80s on the metal scene in his hometown of Boston. He later studied at the Drummers Collective in New York and went on to enjoy a successful and varied career touring and recording with Steve Morse, Hiromi, John Petrucci, Duran Duran, Josh Groban, and many others. He is the author of several books including Universal Rhythms for Drumset and his most recent, Fluid Fills and Musical Phrasing, and just celebrated the milestone 30 years of teaching at Berklee. In this episode, Dave talks about: Self identifying as a “backbeat” drummer and that being the common thread in all the music he's played Possible reasons for modern drum recordings sounding “safe”  How your limitations can actually benefit you and help you define yourself How his teaching approach has evolved over 30 years at Berklee  “Mastering the instrument that plays the instrument” i.e. self-mastery Taking a break from performing in an effort to finally address a physical issue that has dogged him his whole career  Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

19 Dec 20241h 21min

Dango is a professional drummer based in Nashville, TN who is currently drumming for Grammy award winning artist Scott Stapp – the voice of Creed. He is also a member of the platinum selling worship band, Sonicflood. He has performed with bands and artists all over the world, from the US, to South Africa, to Europe, and South America. He graduated from Belmont University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance, studying under the legendary Chester Thompson. Dango is a longtime member of the punk band Amber Pacific, having songs on TV shows, movie soundtracks, video games, Monday Night Football, an album on Billboard Top 100, and four music videos on MTV. With Amber Pacific he has performed four full summers on the Vans Warped Tour and toured almost a decade together. Dango has also performed or toured with the multi platinum selling rock band RED, Fireflight, Superchick, All Time Low, Mxpx, Nofx, Manafest, Scarlet White, Tricia, Warren Barfield, Phil Joel, Tommy Walker, Craig Campbell, The Swon Brothers, Tucker beathard, and Deana Carter. Dango is an active teacher and clinician. In 2009 he released his first instructional DVD. In this episode Dango talks about:    ◦   Why drummers make great tour managers    ◦   Building a home studio and a clientele base    ◦   Taking even the smallest gig seriously    ◦   Drumming with Seattle band Amber Pacific    ◦   Playing with confidence    ◦   Drumming for Scott Stapp - singer for Creed    ◦   Overcoming knee issues    ◦  Sharing knowledge with the next generation Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

12 Dec 20241h 31min

Jano Rix is a drummer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer who has been the third member of The Wood Brothers for over a decade. He started as a hard core jazz pianist, earning a degree from the University of Miami and playing experimental jazz on the New York scene, but he gravitated back to the drums, his dad's instrument, and steered his path back to other styles of music. The Wood Brothers are currently on tour and in the process of recording their next album. In this episode, Jano talks about: How recording to tape changes not just the result, but the entire experiencing of playing and listening during the tracking process  How playing keys and drums at the same time brings cool ideas out of both The idea of following flexible time instead of dictating steady time  How his jazz education focused too much on the music’s theoretical result and not enough on its emotional process.  What he took (and left behind) from his jazz days What he learned from his dad Luther Rix about playing with conviction

5 Dec 20241h 8min

Brandon Green is a biomechanics specialist, fitness educator, gym owner and drummer. Brandon’s online presence, often recognized as “Drum mechanics”, explores educational biomechanics perspective on fitness, drums and life. Brandon provides a series for all called the "Drum Ergonomics Blueprint" as well as his "Drum Forever Fitness Community". In this episode, Brandon talks about: The Drum Ergonomics Blueprint Physical demands of drummers in the modern age Understanding your range of motion and working within that Brandon’s podcast: The Drum Mechanics Podcast Hacks for setting up backline kits consistantly The importance of recovery & being able to interpret sensation(s) https://www.youtube.com/@brandondrummechanics https://www.instagram.com/drummechanics Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

21 Nov 20241h 9min