Drumming with the subtlety of a golden blazer.
June 3, 2010 12:34 PM Subscribe
HEY GUYS LOOK AT ME! HEY! OVER HERE BEHIND THE DRUMS LOOK AT ME!
posted by xedrik at 12:40 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by xedrik at 12:40 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Gold blazers are for closers. ABC. Always. Be. Closing.
posted by Babblesort at 12:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Babblesort at 12:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
He is really good, and doesn't miss a beat despite his theatrics. My guess is that he was in Drum Corp or something similar.
posted by frecklefaerie at 12:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by frecklefaerie at 12:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Send an email to David Matthews, the author of this post, at david@deadspin.com."
Well, pretty much anything other than a slow mellow jam song is intense for DMB, bro.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 12:43 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Well, pretty much anything other than a slow mellow jam song is intense for DMB, bro.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 12:43 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
For the record: that drummer is drumming the shit out of those drums and knows what he is doing. These guys seem to be a very self-aware, schtick-friendly bunch—see this slapstick take on Wipeout from the same gig.
If you watch his sticking close, he's being pretty fastidious about doing constant unnecessary stick work just because he can, playing off either end of the stick on alternating strikes, pulling off slowmo robot stuff with his arms that screams "I know exactly how long I have before this stick needs to hit a drum", pulling off all that silly pinwheeling stuff while still nailing down what he's got to do.
Guy's a drummer.
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [77 favorites]
If you watch his sticking close, he's being pretty fastidious about doing constant unnecessary stick work just because he can, playing off either end of the stick on alternating strikes, pulling off slowmo robot stuff with his arms that screams "I know exactly how long I have before this stick needs to hit a drum", pulling off all that silly pinwheeling stuff while still nailing down what he's got to do.
Guy's a drummer.
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [77 favorites]
Also want to add: I wish the rest of the band had half his energy. Imagine watching all those guys in gold blazers throwing themselves into the music.
Also, he's the only one who tried to make the music his own, instead of playing a straight cover like the guitarists. I don't recall disco rhythms in the original.
posted by frecklefaerie at 12:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
Also, he's the only one who tried to make the music his own, instead of playing a straight cover like the guitarists. I don't recall disco rhythms in the original.
posted by frecklefaerie at 12:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T GIVE ROD RODDY ANY MORE CRYSTAL METH
posted by Sys Rq at 12:46 PM on June 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 12:46 PM on June 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
His moves are sort of Farley-esque. I enjoyed them thoroughly. And yeah, you're right frecklefaerie, he keeps the beat pretty damn well, despite his theatrics. I actually got the link via a friend on Facebook who's a part of the whole Drum Corps world.
Think_Long: You've got me! His enthusiasm offends me deeply.
posted by defenestration at 12:47 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Think_Long: You've got me! His enthusiasm offends me deeply.
posted by defenestration at 12:47 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
C'mon, that guy is the embodiment of the term '"fuckin A". And I bet you dollars to donuts he was in a hair band in high school during the 80s.
posted by gnutron at 12:49 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by gnutron at 12:49 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Cortex beat me to it... their version of Wipeout is full of win
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:49 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:49 PM on June 3, 2010
Yep, he's bored. Slot him up some Dragonforce or Meshuggah.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:50 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:50 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
AN-I-MAL! AN-I-MAL! AN-I-MAL!
posted by sbrollins at 12:51 PM on June 3, 2010 [11 favorites]
posted by sbrollins at 12:51 PM on June 3, 2010 [11 favorites]
He is really good, and doesn't miss a beat despite his theatrics.
Umm.. most of the beat is done with a footpedal on the bass drum, where nobody can see it.
posted by charlie don't surf at 12:51 PM on June 3, 2010
Umm.. most of the beat is done with a footpedal on the bass drum, where nobody can see it.
posted by charlie don't surf at 12:51 PM on June 3, 2010
In decades previous, he would have been a drummer/bandleader. I have no idea how this could be anything but a good thing.
disclaimer: descended from a bandleader
posted by davejay at 12:53 PM on June 3, 2010
disclaimer: descended from a bandleader
posted by davejay at 12:53 PM on June 3, 2010
Umm.. most of the beat is done with a footpedal on the bass drum, where nobody can see it.
I wasn't aware that bass drums sound just like toms, snares, and cymbals.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 12:53 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I wasn't aware that bass drums sound just like toms, snares, and cymbals.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 12:53 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
This is gonna be one of those This Sucks vs. This Is Awesome threads, isn't it?
posted by bondcliff at 12:54 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 12:54 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Love it. The pinwheel arms look a bit goofy, but he's the funnest thing about that band and probably the life of the party at that gig.
posted by chococat at 12:55 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by chococat at 12:55 PM on June 3, 2010
This is gonna be one of those This Sucks vs. This Is Awesome threads, isn't it?
Nope, because the people who think that sucked will have to admit they didn't watch past the 1 minute mark.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:57 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Nope, because the people who think that sucked will have to admit they didn't watch past the 1 minute mark.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:57 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Put me down for This Is Awesome - he had me at the flaming double bass kit with one big tom in the middle, and it got better from there. That's a hell of a show.
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:59 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:59 PM on June 3, 2010
There's only one "Allnighter" on the stage, and he's overdressed.
posted by Chuffy at 1:00 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by Chuffy at 1:00 PM on June 3, 2010
Cover-Band Drummer Is Far Too Intense For A Cover-Band Drummer Makes Forgettable Cover Band Far Less Forgettable
posted by davejay at 1:01 PM on June 3, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by davejay at 1:01 PM on June 3, 2010 [13 favorites]
I wish you could see me typing this.
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:02 PM on June 3, 2010 [57 favorites]
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:02 PM on June 3, 2010 [57 favorites]
I like it when someone gets into it. Yeah, I'll take "go crazy" over chill job performance any day. The drummer for the last tour of Lez Zeppelin was fantastic. The beat completely took her over after the first couple of songs. The audience picked up on her attitude and fed it right back to her. She was so fired up, I wanted to high five her after the show. If she was just faking being that happy to be thumping out Zeppelin in front of a small crowd, then she has a career in the theater ahead of her.
They could be wearing gold blazers or loincloths and Pink Panther heads, I don't care, Joyful Drummer Zombies with the wild arms, that's the kind of infectious I need.
posted by adipocere at 1:04 PM on June 3, 2010
They could be wearing gold blazers or loincloths and Pink Panther heads, I don't care, Joyful Drummer Zombies with the wild arms, that's the kind of infectious I need.
posted by adipocere at 1:04 PM on June 3, 2010
http://www.myspace.com/stevemooreofficial
posted by cell divide at 1:06 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by cell divide at 1:06 PM on June 3, 2010
I was expecting some ridiculous, inappropriate, Keith Moon beat for the song, rather than something visual, so I just had the audio on. I didn't hear anything unusual, except maybe that the drummer was hitting the cymbals harder than necessary (and even that might've just been the mic on the camera affecting the sound)...
So I started it over and actually watched. I LOL'd. He's bored and messing around, but clearly the guy knows what he's doing. The actual hits on the drums are controlled and on time. He's just show-boating on the easy/boring tune for crowd amusement.
posted by sparkletone at 1:09 PM on June 3, 2010
So I started it over and actually watched. I LOL'd. He's bored and messing around, but clearly the guy knows what he's doing. The actual hits on the drums are controlled and on time. He's just show-boating on the easy/boring tune for crowd amusement.
posted by sparkletone at 1:09 PM on June 3, 2010
The Onion Generation.
As someone in the deadspin comments notes, they're *not* a cover band. They are a tribute band. I assume to ZZ Top (i.e the "sharp-dressed band").
Also the guy was pretty good. Entertaining at least. He has an unusual style.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:16 PM on June 3, 2010
As someone in the deadspin comments notes, they're *not* a cover band. They are a tribute band. I assume to ZZ Top (i.e the "sharp-dressed band").
Also the guy was pretty good. Entertaining at least. He has an unusual style.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:16 PM on June 3, 2010
This is how you're supposed to play in front of a gigantic American flag.
posted by ColdChef at 1:17 PM on June 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 1:17 PM on June 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
Umm.. most of the beat is done with a footpedal on the bass drum, where nobody can see it.
You may be confusing beat with downbeat.
posted by andruwjones26 at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
You may be confusing beat with downbeat.
posted by andruwjones26 at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Awesome Drummer Insufficiently Challenged by Song.
posted by callmejay at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [15 favorites]
posted by callmejay at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [15 favorites]
I think there's a sense that saying he's too intense for this band is a dig at him, which I don't interpret it to be at all. I think he's WAY too intense for this band. I think it looks hilariously incongruous. I also think he's awesome and clearly VERY talented. That's what makes it cool, is that it's a surprise. Gold blazers, corny singer ... INCREDIBLY INTENSELY COMMITTED DRUMMER.
And I'm not sure they're a tribute band. At least not a specific tribute band. Their repertoire seems to be "whatever." I saw quite a fine video of their singer gamely leading an uncooperative crowd of picnickers through "YMCA."
posted by Linda_Holmes at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
And I'm not sure they're a tribute band. At least not a specific tribute band. Their repertoire seems to be "whatever." I saw quite a fine video of their singer gamely leading an uncooperative crowd of picnickers through "YMCA."
posted by Linda_Holmes at 1:23 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
> This is gonna be one of those This Sucks vs. This Is Awesome threads, isn't it?
Those threads are Awesome!
posted by ardgedee at 1:28 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Those threads are Awesome!
posted by ardgedee at 1:28 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
He's good. Needs a bigger venue. The guitarist can barely play, though.
posted by Trochanter at 1:30 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by Trochanter at 1:30 PM on June 3, 2010
Those threads are Awesome!
No, those threads su... waitaminute!
posted by bondcliff at 1:34 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
No, those threads su... waitaminute!
posted by bondcliff at 1:34 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Pretty conflicted about this. On one hand, showboating and stickflips on every beat? Tacky as hell. On the other hand, tacky as hell is completely appropriate for a ZZ Top tribute band.
(By the way, I know this is just me, but I don't think this kind of flailing around over simple rock beats should be compared to the insane chops of the Drum Corps.)
posted by naju at 1:36 PM on June 3, 2010
(By the way, I know this is just me, but I don't think this kind of flailing around over simple rock beats should be compared to the insane chops of the Drum Corps.)
posted by naju at 1:36 PM on June 3, 2010
That video was shot at Knoebels Grove Amusement Park, one of the last old school amusement parks in America. One of the other bands that plays there is "Stanky and the Coal Miners" (I kid you not). Awesome!
posted by SPUTNIK at 1:37 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by SPUTNIK at 1:37 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
The band hired him because of his style. Just read the guy's bio on his MySpace page, sheesh.
posted by stinkycheese at 1:38 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by stinkycheese at 1:38 PM on June 3, 2010
Also, not a tribute band. Not playing songs by any one band exclusively.
posted by stinkycheese at 1:39 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by stinkycheese at 1:39 PM on June 3, 2010
Headline Sounds Like It Came From The Onion, Didn't
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:39 PM on June 3, 2010 [11 favorites]
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:39 PM on June 3, 2010 [11 favorites]
he's the funnest thing about that band and probably the life of the party at that gig.
Eddie Vedder regularly says that Matt Cameron is the most interesting thing to watch when Pearl Jam plays.
posted by hippybear at 1:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Eddie Vedder regularly says that Matt Cameron is the most interesting thing to watch when Pearl Jam plays.
posted by hippybear at 1:42 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Internet lesson #58:It's all about the context.
When you look at the video linked in the FPP, sure, he may come off a little goofy (a lot due to the jackets and venue as well), but dayum, when you watch the Wipe Out video that Cotex posted and visit his MySpace, he's got mad skills and talent.
That's why I love Mefi....the link is about mocking him, but ya'll dig deeper and find the true story behind the story.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:43 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
When you look at the video linked in the FPP, sure, he may come off a little goofy (a lot due to the jackets and venue as well), but dayum, when you watch the Wipe Out video that Cotex posted and visit his MySpace, he's got mad skills and talent.
That's why I love Mefi....the link is about mocking him, but ya'll dig deeper and find the true story behind the story.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:43 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
ah crap.....CORTEX ::sigh:::
posted by NoraCharles at 1:44 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by NoraCharles at 1:44 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's good, but......it could use a little more cowbell.
posted by schmod at 1:52 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 1:52 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
This guy is ten shades of awesome. From the retarded hot-rod-flame drum kit to the looks-like-epilepsy showboating, I loved everything he was doing. I can't even imagine being able to flail around like that and still play such a rock-solid beat. Mad, mad skill, AND he cracks me up. Even made hearing poorly played ZZ Top marginally tolerable, which is saying something.
posted by Pecinpah at 2:27 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Pecinpah at 2:27 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Reminds me of the episode of MODERN FAMILY when Cam reveals his amazing drumming ability.
posted by bjork24 at 2:35 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by bjork24 at 2:35 PM on June 3, 2010
"Cotex"
huh huh huh. Huh huh huh huh huh huh huh.
It's been fun watching Steve Moore blow up the internet today. Viral drummer is viral. He'll have a much better gig come Monday morning, I bet.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:51 PM on June 3, 2010
huh huh huh. Huh huh huh huh huh huh huh.
It's been fun watching Steve Moore blow up the internet today. Viral drummer is viral. He'll have a much better gig come Monday morning, I bet.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:51 PM on June 3, 2010
If I am ever in a tribute band, this will be the first drummer I call.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:52 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:52 PM on June 3, 2010
If I am ever in a tribute band, this will be the first drummer I call.
If I'm ever anywhere this will be the first guy I call.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:10 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
If I'm ever anywhere this will be the first guy I call.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:10 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I enjoyed the forty-five seconds or so before I realised that being a "mad drummer" was his thing more than anything else. I liked it when it was funny. And then it was ruined. Laughing at the crazy drummer before you recognise that his craziness is merely a facade is like life before taxes. Everything's shit after that.
posted by tigrefacile at 3:10 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by tigrefacile at 3:10 PM on June 3, 2010
Shitty Sports-Blog Is Way Too Snarky For A Shitty Sports-Blog
posted by fleacircus at 3:24 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 3:24 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Holy shit. I am in love.
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 3:25 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 3:25 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Carter Beauford's not exactly subtle or restrained.
The freaky thing is, he really does manage to be subtle while pulling off the most amazing shit. My days as a DMB fan have mostly passed, but I still have mad respect for that man. I remember the first time I watched Listener Supported and he's playing his drum solo during Two Step, and they zoom in on his face to show him blowing a giant bubble with his gum. That was the day I realized I'd never be a truly great drummer.
Incidentally, that reminds me of a drum clinic I once attended with Walredo Reyes Jr. (he played with Santana, amongst others). He told a story about being hard up for cash once, and having to take a Vegas gig. He was used to playing a combo of drumset and hand drums, and I guess the Vegas showtunes seemed pretty easy in comparison, so he took to putting a magazine over the sheet music and reading while on-stage.
posted by mannequito at 3:33 PM on June 3, 2010
The freaky thing is, he really does manage to be subtle while pulling off the most amazing shit. My days as a DMB fan have mostly passed, but I still have mad respect for that man. I remember the first time I watched Listener Supported and he's playing his drum solo during Two Step, and they zoom in on his face to show him blowing a giant bubble with his gum. That was the day I realized I'd never be a truly great drummer.
Incidentally, that reminds me of a drum clinic I once attended with Walredo Reyes Jr. (he played with Santana, amongst others). He told a story about being hard up for cash once, and having to take a Vegas gig. He was used to playing a combo of drumset and hand drums, and I guess the Vegas showtunes seemed pretty easy in comparison, so he took to putting a magazine over the sheet music and reading while on-stage.
posted by mannequito at 3:33 PM on June 3, 2010
His moves are sort of Farley-esque.
Farley's not dead, he just went home.
posted by Evilspork at 3:43 PM on June 3, 2010
Farley's not dead, he just went home.
posted by Evilspork at 3:43 PM on June 3, 2010
Sorry, I don't make douchey YouTube-style comments about competent musicians who are fun to watch.
posted by usonian at 3:49 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by usonian at 3:49 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Who on earth are you talking to?
posted by defenestration at 3:50 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by defenestration at 3:50 PM on June 3, 2010
The voices.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:08 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:08 PM on June 3, 2010
This is exactly how I rock out on the drums on Rockband. Which is why no one wants to play Rockband with me anymore.
posted by piratebowling at 4:10 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by piratebowling at 4:10 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Sorry, such was my kneejerk reaction to the original post on deadspin.
posted by usonian at 4:11 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by usonian at 4:11 PM on June 3, 2010
Finally, it's the drummer, not the lead guitarist, who's going to get laid.
posted by spacely_sprocket at 4:26 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by spacely_sprocket at 4:26 PM on June 3, 2010
Finally, it's the drummer, not the lead guitarist, who's going to get laid.
Will that be anything like the drumming? She'd better bring a helmet just in case.
posted by naju at 4:58 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Will that be anything like the drumming? She'd better bring a helmet just in case.
posted by naju at 4:58 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
He's like Neil Peart with more soul.
/Rush is an awful, awful band.
posted by emelenjr at 5:11 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
/Rush is an awful, awful band.
posted by emelenjr at 5:11 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
If nothing else, you need to watch the crazy Wipeout video if only to answer the question from watching the original video, "Why in the world is there a toilet seat hanging on the stage?"
I'm in the This Is Awesome camp. I like seeing a drummer rock out and have fun while keeping the beat. In fact, I got sucked into the youtube links and ended up watching a variety of random performances and enjoyed most of them (not overly impressed with the vocals, though, but that doesn't seem to be the point of the band). They seem like a fun bunch, full stop.
(I did notice that in the more ballad-y songs, he kept it pretty chill -- so while his shtick may be the mad drummer, he's knows when to appropriately dial it down, and that I also appreciate.)
When I get married, I want these guys to play at the reception. I may or may not be joking.
posted by paisley sheep at 5:21 PM on June 3, 2010
I'm in the This Is Awesome camp. I like seeing a drummer rock out and have fun while keeping the beat. In fact, I got sucked into the youtube links and ended up watching a variety of random performances and enjoyed most of them (not overly impressed with the vocals, though, but that doesn't seem to be the point of the band). They seem like a fun bunch, full stop.
(I did notice that in the more ballad-y songs, he kept it pretty chill -- so while his shtick may be the mad drummer, he's knows when to appropriately dial it down, and that I also appreciate.)
When I get married, I want these guys to play at the reception. I may or may not be joking.
posted by paisley sheep at 5:21 PM on June 3, 2010
I am certain he has a twelve-year-old daughter, or thereabouts, who is embarrassed to death, and I am certain because I was that daughter and he was my dad, only playing the guitar. The particular crowd favorite was "Werewolves of London" played with his teeth.
Even in my most teenaged years, though, I knew inside that my daddy was awesome, just as I know that this guy, too, is awesome.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
Even in my most teenaged years, though, I knew inside that my daddy was awesome, just as I know that this guy, too, is awesome.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:45 PM on June 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
Man, I like that sort of enthusiasm.
Guy needs to start a "Fuck Yeah! Drumming!" Tumblr page.
posted by bwg at 5:45 PM on June 3, 2010
Guy needs to start a "Fuck Yeah! Drumming!" Tumblr page.
posted by bwg at 5:45 PM on June 3, 2010
/Rush is an awful, awful band.
*lobotomizes emelenjr with icepick*
It's kinder this way.
posted by jonmc at 6:06 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
*lobotomizes emelenjr with icepick*
It's kinder this way.
posted by jonmc at 6:06 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Is his drumming any more ridiculous than those gold jackets? No. If you're going to rock some ZZ Top, then you gotta rock out.
posted by Ardiril at 7:20 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by Ardiril at 7:20 PM on June 3, 2010
Being a technically proficient musician is not mutually exclusive with being a ridiculous ham. This guy is as easy to find as your local music store. This cracked me up, though.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:48 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by ludwig_van at 7:48 PM on June 3, 2010
This. Guy. Is. Awsome.
posted by nola at 8:33 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by nola at 8:33 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seriously, this guy has awesome Drum Face. If you cannot appreciate Drum Face, we can never be friends. That is all.
posted by kkokkodalk at 9:22 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by kkokkodalk at 9:22 PM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
I'm for the Awesome.
And I will start right now praying to every deity in the multiverse that someone, somewhere edits that video and replaces the drumsticks with FLAMING SWORDS.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:32 PM on June 3, 2010
And I will start right now praying to every deity in the multiverse that someone, somewhere edits that video and replaces the drumsticks with FLAMING SWORDS.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:32 PM on June 3, 2010
Thier wipefun drumming fun just made my day. Awesome drummer is awesome.
posted by dabitch at 1:42 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by dabitch at 1:42 AM on June 4, 2010
Dude, these guys are from my town. I know some of them. One of them is the father of a girl from my graduating class. They are ferociously popular and sell out all their shows---most of which are only benefit shows at this point. They've got a tourbus and everything.
I should say that most of those shows are 50's/60's/70's night shows, but they still rock them out.
posted by TomMelee at 6:24 AM on June 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
I should say that most of those shows are 50's/60's/70's night shows, but they still rock them out.
posted by TomMelee at 6:24 AM on June 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you watch his sticking close,
You have to be kidding me.
posted by L'OM at 6:47 AM on June 4, 2010
You have to be kidding me.
posted by L'OM at 6:47 AM on June 4, 2010
You have to be kidding me.
I'd love to know why I have to be kidding you.
posted by cortex at 8:00 AM on June 4, 2010
I'd love to know why I have to be kidding you.
posted by cortex at 8:00 AM on June 4, 2010
laugh if you want --the guy is an artist
posted by February28 at 8:38 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by February28 at 8:38 AM on June 4, 2010
I'm not a musician, but I can tell that this song (in the technical sense) is beneath him. I'd rather someone go over the top with something they're sleepwalking through than going through the motions.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 8:50 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 8:50 AM on June 4, 2010
If you're covering ZZ Top, you do have to whatever you can to stay awake until the end of the song. If the drummer had just played it straight, the guitar solo alone would have required a week's worth of crystal meth.
posted by nicepersonality at 9:29 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by nicepersonality at 9:29 AM on June 4, 2010
"...you have to do whatever you can..."
If you like authentic blues, you really ought to check out Blues Hammer.
posted by nicepersonality at 9:31 AM on June 4, 2010
If you like authentic blues, you really ought to check out Blues Hammer.
posted by nicepersonality at 9:31 AM on June 4, 2010
I'd love to know why I have to be kidding you.
I don't want to speak for L'OM, but I'll elaborate a little more on why I think the tenor of some of this thread is a bit goofy.
We've got a whole bunch of people in here who are basically saying, "You know, if you look closely, you'll find that he is actually a very talented drummer!"
And then, not to pick on her, but NoraCharles says: That's why I love Mefi....the link is about mocking him, but ya'll dig deeper and find the true story behind the story.
I don't think this is a case of "finding the true story behind the story" as much as just missing the point. The link is not making fun of him for being an incompetent drummer. It's making fun of him for his over-the-top, attention-grabbing showmanship. It really doesn't need to be pointed out that he's a technically competent drummer because every single moment this guy's onstage he's going "HEY LOOK AT ME LOOK AT WHAT A GOOD DRUMMER I AM THIS SONG IS SO EASY FOR ME THAT I CAN DO A BUNCH OF GOOFY SHIT WHILE I PLAY IT LOOK AT ME."
But he's not doing anything particularly interesting or fresh musically. He's just really hamming it up. It's like, if a ZZ Top cover is so beneath your skills, don't play it. It's not hard to find a drummer who can pull off a ZZ Top cover with plenty of chops to spare, or a drummer who likes to hit hard and rock out in an over the top way. Like I said, go down to your local Guitar Center and hang out in the drum section for awhile. What's really hard to find is a drummer who is subtle, creative, and can play with sensitivity.
And as much as there's a tradition of showboating in music, going at least as far back as Paganini, there have also been those musicians who explicitly reject that sort of thing. They recently aired a 1985 interview with jazz great Artie Shaw on Fresh Air where he talked about how he didn't want his horn players from waving their instruments in sync with the tune because that was "show business" as opposed to "music." Plus I've been on a big Roy Orbison kick lately, and he was famous for being totally still while he played, but audiences went crazy for him because of his amazing voice and beautiful songs.
So yeah, I thought this guy was really funny to watch up to a point, in the way that somebody's drunk uncle dancing at a wedding (but hey he actually has some good moves!) is funny, but if I had to seriously consider it I'd say his schtick is annoying bullshit and as a bandleader (albeit not a cover band, so it's somewhat apples to oranges) I'd much much rather play with a Ringo Starr type of dude who puts everything in the right place in the service of the song than with this guy who is desperately trying to be the class clown and get you to look at him and notice how much better he is than the material.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:51 AM on June 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
I don't want to speak for L'OM, but I'll elaborate a little more on why I think the tenor of some of this thread is a bit goofy.
We've got a whole bunch of people in here who are basically saying, "You know, if you look closely, you'll find that he is actually a very talented drummer!"
And then, not to pick on her, but NoraCharles says: That's why I love Mefi....the link is about mocking him, but ya'll dig deeper and find the true story behind the story.
I don't think this is a case of "finding the true story behind the story" as much as just missing the point. The link is not making fun of him for being an incompetent drummer. It's making fun of him for his over-the-top, attention-grabbing showmanship. It really doesn't need to be pointed out that he's a technically competent drummer because every single moment this guy's onstage he's going "HEY LOOK AT ME LOOK AT WHAT A GOOD DRUMMER I AM THIS SONG IS SO EASY FOR ME THAT I CAN DO A BUNCH OF GOOFY SHIT WHILE I PLAY IT LOOK AT ME."
But he's not doing anything particularly interesting or fresh musically. He's just really hamming it up. It's like, if a ZZ Top cover is so beneath your skills, don't play it. It's not hard to find a drummer who can pull off a ZZ Top cover with plenty of chops to spare, or a drummer who likes to hit hard and rock out in an over the top way. Like I said, go down to your local Guitar Center and hang out in the drum section for awhile. What's really hard to find is a drummer who is subtle, creative, and can play with sensitivity.
And as much as there's a tradition of showboating in music, going at least as far back as Paganini, there have also been those musicians who explicitly reject that sort of thing. They recently aired a 1985 interview with jazz great Artie Shaw on Fresh Air where he talked about how he didn't want his horn players from waving their instruments in sync with the tune because that was "show business" as opposed to "music." Plus I've been on a big Roy Orbison kick lately, and he was famous for being totally still while he played, but audiences went crazy for him because of his amazing voice and beautiful songs.
So yeah, I thought this guy was really funny to watch up to a point, in the way that somebody's drunk uncle dancing at a wedding (but hey he actually has some good moves!) is funny, but if I had to seriously consider it I'd say his schtick is annoying bullshit and as a bandleader (albeit not a cover band, so it's somewhat apples to oranges) I'd much much rather play with a Ringo Starr type of dude who puts everything in the right place in the service of the song than with this guy who is desperately trying to be the class clown and get you to look at him and notice how much better he is than the material.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:51 AM on June 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
The thing is, the guy is playing for people that are watching him from half way across a gymnasium. When you film him from up close, naturally the performance looks hammy.
Same as Olivier on film. When he was filming a performance he'd given on stage, a big part of the adjustment he would have to make was to, as he called it, "Trim off the ham fat."
posted by Trochanter at 10:23 AM on June 4, 2010
Same as Olivier on film. When he was filming a performance he'd given on stage, a big part of the adjustment he would have to make was to, as he called it, "Trim off the ham fat."
posted by Trochanter at 10:23 AM on June 4, 2010
I don't think this is a case of "finding the true story behind the story" as much as just missing the point. The link is not making fun of him for being an incompetent drummer.
I don't think the link is unambiguously doing so, no. I do think it's presenting it out of context as a "can you believe what's happening here?" thing, either out of ignorance or out of disingenuousness depending on whether the dude at Deadspin bothered to do five minutes of googling to figure out that the whole thing is blatantly self-aware on the part of both the drummer and the band. Beyond that, the tenor of a whole lot of the meme-centric discussion of this on the web the last day or so has been similarly either dismissive ("man this guy is totally flailing") or failing to get the context ("man this guy is in the wrong band").
So, yeah, it's nice that a lot of folks in this thread are actually enjoying it in the spirit it was apparently intended rather than riding the Fark train to LOLville. It's getting the actual joke instead of manufacturing a less-considered and in a lot of cases more meanspirited one. Its worth being a little happy about.
but if I had to seriously consider it I'd say his schtick is annoying bullshit and as a bandleader (albeit not a cover band, so it's somewhat apples to oranges) I'd much much rather play with a Ringo Starr type of dude
Yeah, but I'm pretty sure he's not auditioning for your band, so? They're doing schtick, collectively, on purpose. It's apples and oranges.
posted by cortex at 11:09 AM on June 4, 2010
I don't think the link is unambiguously doing so, no. I do think it's presenting it out of context as a "can you believe what's happening here?" thing, either out of ignorance or out of disingenuousness depending on whether the dude at Deadspin bothered to do five minutes of googling to figure out that the whole thing is blatantly self-aware on the part of both the drummer and the band. Beyond that, the tenor of a whole lot of the meme-centric discussion of this on the web the last day or so has been similarly either dismissive ("man this guy is totally flailing") or failing to get the context ("man this guy is in the wrong band").
So, yeah, it's nice that a lot of folks in this thread are actually enjoying it in the spirit it was apparently intended rather than riding the Fark train to LOLville. It's getting the actual joke instead of manufacturing a less-considered and in a lot of cases more meanspirited one. Its worth being a little happy about.
but if I had to seriously consider it I'd say his schtick is annoying bullshit and as a bandleader (albeit not a cover band, so it's somewhat apples to oranges) I'd much much rather play with a Ringo Starr type of dude
Yeah, but I'm pretty sure he's not auditioning for your band, so? They're doing schtick, collectively, on purpose. It's apples and oranges.
posted by cortex at 11:09 AM on June 4, 2010
He rocks in multiple senses of the word. And if he was some inked-up, traditionally emaciated drummer all thoughts of Farley would flee.* Ugo, wacky waving invincible sticks flailing arm drum man!
*Although I've always wondered after watching drummers work so hard for all these years how it's not the best weight-loss program on earth.
posted by umberto at 11:39 AM on June 4, 2010
*Although I've always wondered after watching drummers work so hard for all these years how it's not the best weight-loss program on earth.
posted by umberto at 11:39 AM on June 4, 2010
Metafilter comments about Cover-Band Drummer Is Far Too Intense For A Cover-Band Drummer are far too intense for Metafilter
Some of you folks really need to lighten the fuck up.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:45 PM on June 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Some of you folks really need to lighten the fuck up.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:45 PM on June 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't think the link is unambiguously doing so, no. I do think it's presenting it out of context as a "can you believe what's happening here?" thing, either out of ignorance or out of disingenuousness depending on whether the dude at Deadspin bothered to do five minutes of googling to figure out that the whole thing is blatantly self-aware on the part of both the drummer and the band.
Well, there's no accounting for taste and all. Like I said, folks have long disagreed about the value of spectacle in a musical performance. Plenty of people enjoy going to see e.g. Justin Timberlake for the dancing and the light show and the theatrics of it as much as for the music, or want to see musicians as larger-than-life figures who pull off crazy moves onstage or whatever. Personally both as an audience member and a musician I find too much emphasis on spectacle generally kind of annoying, although I think this dude's funny for the extreme lengths he goes to, and also for the incongruity of watching a grown-ass man put on this very teenaged kind of display of goofiness and rawk.
But I don't think there's anything ignorant or disingenuous about the way this video was presented. I think the fact that this guy is doing a self-aware schtick both goes without saying and is mostly irrelevant. No context is required. He's obviously showboating -- there's no ambiguity about whether it's intentional. It's not like he has a physical disability that makes it look like he's flailing around in a funny way, when really that's just how he plays. This is an act and the whole point of the act is to draw attention to this dude and the fact that he's such a good drummer that he could play this song with one hand tied.
He's a proficient drummer, but this video isn't interesting because he's a proficient drummer, it's interesting because of his goofy dance moves.
posted by ludwig_van at 2:10 PM on June 4, 2010
Well, there's no accounting for taste and all. Like I said, folks have long disagreed about the value of spectacle in a musical performance. Plenty of people enjoy going to see e.g. Justin Timberlake for the dancing and the light show and the theatrics of it as much as for the music, or want to see musicians as larger-than-life figures who pull off crazy moves onstage or whatever. Personally both as an audience member and a musician I find too much emphasis on spectacle generally kind of annoying, although I think this dude's funny for the extreme lengths he goes to, and also for the incongruity of watching a grown-ass man put on this very teenaged kind of display of goofiness and rawk.
But I don't think there's anything ignorant or disingenuous about the way this video was presented. I think the fact that this guy is doing a self-aware schtick both goes without saying and is mostly irrelevant. No context is required. He's obviously showboating -- there's no ambiguity about whether it's intentional. It's not like he has a physical disability that makes it look like he's flailing around in a funny way, when really that's just how he plays. This is an act and the whole point of the act is to draw attention to this dude and the fact that he's such a good drummer that he could play this song with one hand tied.
He's a proficient drummer, but this video isn't interesting because he's a proficient drummer, it's interesting because of his goofy dance moves.
posted by ludwig_van at 2:10 PM on June 4, 2010
He's obviously showboating -- there's no ambiguity about whether it's intentional.
Agreed, entirely. But there's a difference in perception between the notion that the guy is showboating in what he doesn't realize is the incorrect context for said showboating (the less generous and, frankly from what I've seen around the web the last couple days, more popular analysis) and the notion that the guy is being incongruously goofy and showy because the whole point of his part of that performance, in which the whole band is complicit, is to be incongruously goofy.
So it annoys me a bit that by and large I've seen people on the net looking at this and failing to get that aspect. And I think, yeah, Deadspin's writeup is playing into that, either because they didn't know better or because they thought it was a better story to pretend they didn't know better.
This is an act and the whole point of the act is to draw attention to this dude and the fact that he's such a good drummer that he could play this song with one hand tied.
It's easy for us, as musical nerds, to recognize that. I think it may be too easy to dismiss the idea that other people aren't all parsing it so carefully, which is really the only thing about this thing in which I think you and I are in disagreement. My original comment in this thread is as much an expression of frustration at having previously seen this received elsewhere with precisely the selling-it-short dynamic NoraCharles was referring to.
In any case, what L'OM has to say about any of that I suspect we'll never know.
posted by cortex at 2:21 PM on June 4, 2010
Agreed, entirely. But there's a difference in perception between the notion that the guy is showboating in what he doesn't realize is the incorrect context for said showboating (the less generous and, frankly from what I've seen around the web the last couple days, more popular analysis) and the notion that the guy is being incongruously goofy and showy because the whole point of his part of that performance, in which the whole band is complicit, is to be incongruously goofy.
So it annoys me a bit that by and large I've seen people on the net looking at this and failing to get that aspect. And I think, yeah, Deadspin's writeup is playing into that, either because they didn't know better or because they thought it was a better story to pretend they didn't know better.
This is an act and the whole point of the act is to draw attention to this dude and the fact that he's such a good drummer that he could play this song with one hand tied.
It's easy for us, as musical nerds, to recognize that. I think it may be too easy to dismiss the idea that other people aren't all parsing it so carefully, which is really the only thing about this thing in which I think you and I are in disagreement. My original comment in this thread is as much an expression of frustration at having previously seen this received elsewhere with precisely the selling-it-short dynamic NoraCharles was referring to.
In any case, what L'OM has to say about any of that I suspect we'll never know.
posted by cortex at 2:21 PM on June 4, 2010
He's good. Needs a bigger venue.
But they've played Texas! Motor! Speedway!
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:32 PM on June 4, 2010
But they've played Texas! Motor! Speedway!
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:32 PM on June 4, 2010
All I know is that his band's tour schedule says he's going to be in my town this month, so I think I'm going to see him do all that stuff in person.
posted by MegoSteve at 9:07 PM on June 4, 2010
posted by MegoSteve at 9:07 PM on June 4, 2010
He's good. Needs a bigger venue.
But they've played Texas! Motor! Speedway!
BIGGER!!!!
posted by Trochanter at 5:26 AM on June 5, 2010
But they've played Texas! Motor! Speedway!
BIGGER!!!!
posted by Trochanter at 5:26 AM on June 5, 2010
Well, I just saw that he's on the front page of the Huffington Post currently. I hope the band can turn this to their advantage, (AS SEEN ON .....!!!!) because it's starting to piss me off, really.
I mean, are haters gonna hate or what?
posted by Trochanter at 6:31 AM on June 5, 2010
I mean, are haters gonna hate or what?
posted by Trochanter at 6:31 AM on June 5, 2010
I mean, are haters gonna hate or what?
Yes, haters are going to hate. It's what they do.
I mean, it's right there in their name
posted by deliquescent at 7:16 AM on June 6, 2010
Yes, haters are going to hate. It's what they do.
I mean, it's right there in their name
posted by deliquescent at 7:16 AM on June 6, 2010
You know what would be really cool? Glow-in-the-dark sticks!
posted by iamkimiam at 8:24 PM on June 6, 2010
posted by iamkimiam at 8:24 PM on June 6, 2010
Excellent. Reminds me of one of the great percussion videos of all time, Reg Kehoe & His Marimba Queens playing A Study in Brown 70 years ago, where half-way through my friend Jim's uncle Frank comes forward with his upright bass and steals the show with a similar crazy-appearing, but much under control, solo.
posted by LeLiLo at 9:21 PM on June 7, 2010
posted by LeLiLo at 9:21 PM on June 7, 2010
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