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

The last year has affected our lives, careers, relationships, and lives behind the kit in ways we never could have imagined. We’ve all lost work, but this time has also provided opportunities to learn, improve, and grow, musically and otherwise. So for our 300th episode, we want to highlight some of our most memorable interviews of the last 100 episodes. We’re going to hear from a handful of former guests who we feel best articulated ideas that kept coming up – obviously the various ways covid was affecting the lives and careers of our guests, but also the intersectionality of the music industry and the racial justice movement, concepts around technique and technology that drummers have been exploring at home during this time, and the psychological reckoning many of us have been going through, taking stock of what really matters to us and what our priorities should be moving forward. In this Episode: * Recording techniques with Kip Allen (260), Jordan Rose (267), Grady Saxman (272), and Eric Darken (279)* Physicality and performance with Dave Weckl (269), Todd Sucherman (232), Jimmy Paxson (262), and Steve Goold (250)* Racial justice and music with Otis Brown III (276), Derrek Phillips (274), Peter Retzlaff (275), and Matt Brennan (259)* Real life priorities with Beth Goodfellow (280), Steve Sinatra (212), and Christopher Allis (284) Watch this episode here on YouTube: This episode is sponsored by Shure Microphones. Check out the featured mic bundle DMK57-52 This episode is also sponsored by Airgigs. Become a patron of the show on our Patreon page to get early access to our 7-part conversation with CEO David Blacker about how to build a profile and clientele on Airgigs.

7 Jan 20212h 21min

Dave Elitch first gained notoriety touring with the American progressive rock band The Mars Volta in 2009-2010. Since then he has lent his talents to Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, M83, The 1975, Juliette Lewis, Big Black Delta, and many others. An established LA session player, Dave has performed on various records, syncs, and film scores for major motion pictures, including “Trolls” and “Logan.” He also conducts masterclass lectures worldwide and keeps a busy private teaching practice in Los Angeles. Dave has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist and has helped many of the industry’s top players and educators expand their vocabulary, overcome physical/mental barriers and get out of their own way. In this episode, Dave talks about: * Treatments and techniques that treat and prevent “drumming injuries”* Finding a balance between productivity and self care * Teaching players like Gregg Bissonette and Chris McHugh* The origin story of his teaching method* Helping people to overcome their physical/mental barriers* Important reads* His online teaching program “Getting Out of Your Own Way – Redux” This episode is sponsored by Shure Microphones. Check out the featured mic bundle DMK57-52 Dave endorses: DW drums, Remo drumheads, Sabian Cymbals and Vic Firth sticks

17 Dec 20201h 33min

Influenced by his drummer father, Cooke picked up the drums as a child, learning and playing as part of a local drum corps in Toronto before starting his own bands as a teenager.[1] After high school, he took his talents to the recording studio and the national stage, recording and/or touring with the likes of FM, Lee Aaron, Strange Advance, Marc Jordan, Rik Emmett, Amy Sky, Sass Jordan, Kim Mitchell, Alannah Myles, and Alanis Morissette, and quickly emerged as one of Canada’s top session musicians.[2] In 2004, Cooke relocated to Los Angeles and has since worked with some of music’s biggest names. Shortly after his move, he was selected to record and tour with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Impressed, Stewart recommended Cooke to Ringo Starr, who was looking for a band to back him up as he began the promotional circuit for his solo album, Liverpool 8. Cooke got the spot and would accompany Starr on drums on The Rachel Ray Show and at the European Capital Of Culture Celebration, among other major appearances.[1] Since moving to the US, he has also toured and/or recorded with Five for Fighting, Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff, Natasha Bedingfield,  Colin Hay (of Men at Work), Pointer Sisters, Mick Jagger, David Archuleta, Mandy Moore, and Taylor Hicks.[3] He has also appeared on Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, A&E Private Sessions, Larry King, CBS Early Show, The View, and Martha Stewart. In this episode, Randy talks about: * Getting video of EVERYTHING he does in the studio* His criteria for returning to travel work* The lasting influences of Stewart Copland and Steve Gadd* Getting multiple mini-lessons out of learning one short groove or fill* Habits from live playing that don’t serve you in the studio* Why LA was the place for him * The separate worlds of networking for live work vs. session work

10 Dec 20201h 17min

Mike Zimmerman is a drummer and producer in Nashville Tennessee. Mike started playing drums at age 14 after playing the guitar for a year. Drums appealed more to Mike probably due to his mother being a rhythm player in the traditional Serbo-Croatian folk scene in the Cleveland area. This atmosphere rubbed off on Mike to seek out the uncommon, yet traditional sounds in the music around him. After years of playing in the Cleveland music scene, Mike decided to uproot his small family and move to Nashville to give it a real go. After getting to know the landscape, Mike landed his first artist gig with Doug Stone. He then had the great opportunity to play with other artists such as Earl Thomas Conley, Tracy Byrd and Jamie O’Neal. Years of touring, sessions and odd-jobs finally led to a gig with legendary singer Kenny Rogers. This also led to opportunities to play with other artists such as Linda Davis, Billy Dean and even Lionel Richie! Mike has had the honor and pleasure of playing all over the world. In this episode, Mike talks about: * Growing up in a musical family in Cleveland, OH* Making the move to Nashville, TN* Getting the Kenny Rogers gig* Gigs that prepared him for high profile artist gigs* Traveling the world with Kenny* Producing tracks from home This episode is sponsored by Shure Microphones. Check out the featured mic bundle DMK57-52 Mike endorses Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Yamaha drums and Beier Snare Drums

3 Dec 202055min

Peter Erskine is a drumming legend and a friend of WDP. He has appeared on WDP more than any other drummer, and for good reason. As we near the end of 2020, Peter shares how the year has affected him as a performer and educator. On November 21 and 22, he’ll be performing a livestream concert as part of Drumhead Live https://live.champion.biz/. In this episode, Peter talks about * How he adapted his home studio into a multi-cam, multi mic teaching suite* Using the virtual platform to help his students up their audio game* Things he misses and doesn’t miss about pre-COVID times* The psychological shift he made partway through the pandemic * His upcoming livestream performance for Drumhead Live https://live.champion.biz/* Improving through subtraction rather than addition* An engineer’s mixing trick * His new Tama signature snare Peter endorses Tama drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo heads, Roland V-Drums, Meinl percussion, and Zoom recorders This episode is sponsored by Shure Microphones. Check out the featured mic bundle DMK57-52

19 Nov 20201h 29min

Miles McPherson moved to Nashville in 1986, when his father, Jerry, relocated the family there so he could work in the studios as a session guitarist. When he was still touring, Miles played with Kelly Clarkson, Paramore, Tonic, and Better Than Ezra. In 2013, he came off the road to pursue being a session drummer full time. In the studio Miles has worked notable artists such as Reba McEntire, Rascall Flatts, Chris Young, Kelly Clarkson, Tyler Farr, Lee Brice, Chase Rice, Jeremy Camp, James Otto and many others. In 2017 he was awarded drummer of the year by the Academy of Country Music. In this episode, Miles talks about: * Building a usable sound library from unconventional things* Staying busy during the Covid crisis* Growing up with a father who was a professional session guitarist * Touring with Paramore and Kelly Clarkson* Surviving a horrific golf cart crash This episode is sponsored by Shure Microphones. Check out the featured mic bundle DMK57-52 Miles endorses: Yamaha drums, Meinl Cymbals, and Vater drumsticks.

12 Nov 20201h 19min

Tony Coleman has played with Blues and Soul legends such as B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, and many, MANY others. Over his long career, Tony has lived in Chicago, Memphis, and Texas, and the succession of artists and regions he’s gone through have made him a unique authority on many sub-styles of blues and soul drumming. In recent years, he has also toured with country artist Jamey Johnson. In this episode, Tony talks about: * The importance Black culture places on arranging a show, not just songs* How exhibitionism detracts from music* Looking down on the Blues in his younger years, and how B.B. King changed his mind* Some of the differences in Blues and shuffle styles between Chicago, Memphis, and Texas * Understanding a culture in order to master its musical styles Tony endorses Mapex drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vater drumsticks, Audix mics, Gon Bops percussion, Jerry Harvey in-ears, and DW pedals.

5 Nov 20201h 28min

As an entertainment journalist for more than 40 years, Robyn Flans has worked for such diverse publications as People Magazine, In Touch, Mix, Modern Drummer, Country Weekly and a daily newspaper. She has authored four music books, written numerous bios, electronic press kits, including cut by cuts for artists, and album liner notes. She has a new book about Jeff Porcaro that only someone as close to Jeff as she was could write. Links to Robyn and the book: Robyn Flans Drummer Interviews Robyn Flans Media Jeff Porcaro Book In this episode, Robyn talks about:  * Her early days at Modern Drummer* Her book about Jeff Porcaro* Getting Jeff on the cover of Modern Drummer* Jeff’s influence on music today* The sadness of finishing the book

29 Okt 20201h 3min