It's back...Finally!...Video of the week: Sheila E...

I've been lax in my updates as of late...the past 5 or 6 months have been ridiculously busy...rewarding and positive, but frickin' busy...and I just ran out of time. I'm sure all have been missing the Video of the Week...and so it's back with a bang...

Givin' some love to the lady folk this week...none other than the impeccable Sheila E. She was fantastic with Prince...and she's still fantastic. She does a great singing breakdown in the middle...Enjoy!

Polyrhythms and Subdivision Taken to the Extreme...

Chris "Daddy" Dave...He was in Modern Drummer this month if you haven't caught it yet, great article. The lessons I've been posting will build to something, I promise...and if you don't believe me, check out this video....let it play until at least the 2 minute mark...you'll see what I'm talking about...Chris learned this stuff and now it's just part of who he is...

Video of the Week: Steve Smith...

I say this with all of the videos that I post...here's one of my favs...Steve Smith. This guy is a walking talking history book on the drums. Such a student and such an inspiration.

Video of the Week: Keith Carlock @ Modern Drummer Festival

Here he is...Mr. finesse himself. It's an older video of Keith Carlock at Modern Drummer Fest, but well worth the watch!

Video of the Week...Ari Hoenig...

I give you Ari Hoenig...One of my favs. This guy is an absolute monster in all aspects...musicality, technicality, writing, improv...ok, so he looks a bit weird when he plays. I can live with it. Sometimes we get so caught up in chopsfests that we forget that the drums are a real and valid musical instrument. The way he plays the melody, plays off the melody...it's just tasty. Check out his album "The Painter" ...his treatment of "Summertime" is mindblowing.

Video of the Year...Hands Down...

I can't tell you how much this video made my day...Words just can't express...

Video of the Week (or Month...it's been a while...)

This is just funny...that's all...

Wilco Drummer Glenn Kotche-Video of the Week

So I'm interrupting my three part series on joint pain and musicians to bring you this weeks "Video of the Week". I know, I know...I skipped last weeks video...sorry. I was on the road and just didn't have time to post one...but this weeks will make up for it....I PROMISE!!!

Glenn Kotche is the drummer for the band Wilco. He's doing a TON to expand the idea of the drumkit as a solo and compositional instrument. This isn't your run-of-the-mill drum solo with fast doubles and stick twirls. This is strictly focusing on creating a piece of real music using the drumkit augmented by other percussive instruments. He's trying to creat a mood...I didn't see a thing in this solo that was aimed at impressing you with what a fast or technical player he is. Glenn is always seeking to serve the music and stretch the instrument...and his reward is a status as one of todays top drummers.

So open up your mind, clear out any pre-conceptions you may have, close your eyes and soak up this inspirational piece.

Drum Video of the Week: Weckl, Gadd, and Vinnie

Three masters...this is really a great video. I picked my jaw up after it was over. Simply amazing. Notice these three things:

1) Everyone of them uses a different setup and utilizes it in their own way.

2) Everyone of them uses different types of heads and different ranges of tuning.

3) If you ever wanted to get an up close and personal lesson from the masters on traditional grip, here ya go.

Video of the Week

Ok. I've held onto this video for long enough. It's time to unleash this to the world. Just a quick disclaimer...If you're looking to learn something, you're in the wrong place today. If you're looking to spew coke through your nose because of your uncontrollable laughter, you may be in the right place. Let the video play all the way through and keep your eyes on the drummer...I swear I'm doing this at the next wedding gig I have to play...THIS IS WHY I PLAY THE DRUMS!!!

And this week, as an added bonus, you'll get the Korean Drummer vs. Nirvana...two videos for the price of one. Let it play until the :20 second mark...You can't make this stuff up, sheer GENIUS!!!

Video of the Week...

Jojo Mayer...Need I say more?

If you haven't checked out his instructional DVD "Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer" , then you're missin' out. His technique is flawless, his grooves relentless, and his knowledge on the history of drum n bass is quite extensive. Probably the best out there for this type of music (although Johnny Rabb is great too).

In this short clip you'll get a brief lesson on the history of the grooves and then a breakdown on the basics of how to do it. It's quite useful and alot of popular bands incorporate these types of beats (i.e. Mute Math, Bloc Party, and even John Scofield).

Enjoy!

Video of the week...

I stumbled across this video on you tube...it's the purdie shuffle mixed with some Afro-Peruvian stuff, and sprinkled with a touch of drum-n-bass to level it out...really great example of how you can take a simple idea like the Purdie shuffle, turn it into a concept, and make it into something completely your own. Enjoy!