#1 · Jan 05, 2009 06:52 UTC
So, a week ago our drummer in Chain Reaction quit. No notice, no signs of discontent, just an email saying he was unable to continue. Since we were in danger of loosing a few paying gigs in the transition to the next guy, I wanted to rip his head off. But, i didn't.
New Years Day, we lined up 8 drummers for auditions, gave them each the same 3 song list, very basic no frills stuff, Rebel Yell, American Band and Breath (Breaking Benjamin). Of the 8, 5 show up. One guy called for directions, found out he was one of 8 auditioning, and said he did not want to be part of a mass audition and bailed. Another guy said he was having a new baby and the wife was not keen on him getting in a semi full time band.
Guy #1. Arrives on time. As soon as he walked in the door, I knew he was not it. But we let him play to confirm it. He just looked like someone's dad and had no "mojo". On top of that, he was nervous playing and a bit meek. Not going to work with us.
Guy # 2. Another "looks like a dad" type, but maybe a dad that parties and binge drinks occasionally, a hint of rock and roll there. But, unhappy that we did not let him set up his V-Drums and he does not like to play on a real kit. The guys were like "fuck that". All were told we were providing a TAMA Rock Star kit and since auditions were scheduled every 30 minutes, there were no allowances for irregularities. So he played, his V-Drumming had apparently weakened his dynamic control on a real kit, and he had no real power. But, proficient in other areas. Since we are considering going all direct and ampless, I was interested in the guy, plus he owns his own buisness. But he got cut by the vote. I got his card, he and I will work together on something else in the future.
Guy # 3. Very rock and roll like. Young, 19. that was my biggest objection. He had the ink, the piercings, the look to fit in with us, but he was too green. Plus, when I was 19, the last thing I wanted to do is play covers with some old dudes who are all pushing 40. So I felt that he would not be a stable choice. But, he sat down, and played with authority. Owned the material, even thought he had never heard the two older songs before. (Kids....) Everyone but me liked him.
Guy #4. Kinda cool looking dude. Looked more like a UNF Jazz player than a rocker though. He had a Fender jacket and Mesa hat on, probably to help himself appear "professional". He has played all the places we play, knows everyone in town that plays. I liked him. But, he guys were like "he blew part of Breath". Which, he did, but still, I could tell that was not a big deal. he played well otherwise. I was really in favor of him because he is a cover band drummer, someone in his element doing what we do. But, nope, he got voted out. Got his card and we have been in contact, he is going to be my drummer in the new Token Blond project.
Guy #5. What can i say. When he walked in it was like "West siiiiiide!!" (If you live in Jax, you get it). He had the look of a guy who still thought is was 1987. He comes in all hyped. he was definitely the most relaxed dude of he day. He sits down, whips out some drum music. Oh yeah, he wentthere. gotta have drum music for American Band? he sarts telling us about the live band Kareoke thing he does with his other band. I am alreayd thinking, nope, not gonna make it. He had no meter. He looked uncomfortable and unnatural behind the kit. I got the impression he hadn't played long at all. Soon as we gave him his 3 songs (2 and a half too many) Tony (my other guitarist) hit the killswitch on the PA rack and said "thanks for coming". I didn't bother getting his card.
So the band decides on #3, young guy. On the idea that he will be moldable. I gilled him about his level of commitment, this is a business, etc... He actually changed my mind in the 2nd interview. I thought, in spite of his age, he may work. that was Thursday. He was supposed to have at least half of the set perfected by today, and the other s show us enough to instill sonfidence that he would be able o pull off this Friday's show.
I got to practice this morniong, still drunk from the 2 liters of Scotch I drank yesterday (rough, rough nite and morning) and as I walk in dude is warming up. His meter was all over the place. On top of that, he just sounded like a complete noob. We struggled through the first set, fell apart during the second, and could not even attempt anything further. I was ready to tell the band "fuck it, I am done if this is what we are resorting to".
Then a weird thing happened. My guitarist's wife called an old friend, without telling us, and invited him over. He is a drummer that both Tony and I have played with in the past (in different projects) and I have known as a good friend for 22 years. I had already talked to him the day our drummer quit but he didn't have a kit ready and had not played drums in 5 years so I wrote him off. Aside from that, he has a history of drug and alcohol related instability. But, we needed someone at least to get through a few shows. He walked in, sat behind the kit, and played half of our material with complete authority. I mean he sounded better than the drummer who had just quit on us. When we were teens, I used to party in his garage and he would play along with entire Rush CD's from beginning to end. Awesome drummer.
So, we found our new drummer, and as luck would have it it happens to be a life long friend and has gigged extensively with Tony in AWOL (original band from a few years ago). So after a long and depressing few days, things turned out pretty good.
New Years Day, we lined up 8 drummers for auditions, gave them each the same 3 song list, very basic no frills stuff, Rebel Yell, American Band and Breath (Breaking Benjamin). Of the 8, 5 show up. One guy called for directions, found out he was one of 8 auditioning, and said he did not want to be part of a mass audition and bailed. Another guy said he was having a new baby and the wife was not keen on him getting in a semi full time band.
Guy #1. Arrives on time. As soon as he walked in the door, I knew he was not it. But we let him play to confirm it. He just looked like someone's dad and had no "mojo". On top of that, he was nervous playing and a bit meek. Not going to work with us.
Guy # 2. Another "looks like a dad" type, but maybe a dad that parties and binge drinks occasionally, a hint of rock and roll there. But, unhappy that we did not let him set up his V-Drums and he does not like to play on a real kit. The guys were like "fuck that". All were told we were providing a TAMA Rock Star kit and since auditions were scheduled every 30 minutes, there were no allowances for irregularities. So he played, his V-Drumming had apparently weakened his dynamic control on a real kit, and he had no real power. But, proficient in other areas. Since we are considering going all direct and ampless, I was interested in the guy, plus he owns his own buisness. But he got cut by the vote. I got his card, he and I will work together on something else in the future.
Guy # 3. Very rock and roll like. Young, 19. that was my biggest objection. He had the ink, the piercings, the look to fit in with us, but he was too green. Plus, when I was 19, the last thing I wanted to do is play covers with some old dudes who are all pushing 40. So I felt that he would not be a stable choice. But, he sat down, and played with authority. Owned the material, even thought he had never heard the two older songs before. (Kids....) Everyone but me liked him.
Guy #4. Kinda cool looking dude. Looked more like a UNF Jazz player than a rocker though. He had a Fender jacket and Mesa hat on, probably to help himself appear "professional". He has played all the places we play, knows everyone in town that plays. I liked him. But, he guys were like "he blew part of Breath". Which, he did, but still, I could tell that was not a big deal. he played well otherwise. I was really in favor of him because he is a cover band drummer, someone in his element doing what we do. But, nope, he got voted out. Got his card and we have been in contact, he is going to be my drummer in the new Token Blond project.
Guy #5. What can i say. When he walked in it was like "West siiiiiide!!" (If you live in Jax, you get it). He had the look of a guy who still thought is was 1987. He comes in all hyped. he was definitely the most relaxed dude of he day. He sits down, whips out some drum music. Oh yeah, he wentthere. gotta have drum music for American Band? he sarts telling us about the live band Kareoke thing he does with his other band. I am alreayd thinking, nope, not gonna make it. He had no meter. He looked uncomfortable and unnatural behind the kit. I got the impression he hadn't played long at all. Soon as we gave him his 3 songs (2 and a half too many) Tony (my other guitarist) hit the killswitch on the PA rack and said "thanks for coming". I didn't bother getting his card.
So the band decides on #3, young guy. On the idea that he will be moldable. I gilled him about his level of commitment, this is a business, etc... He actually changed my mind in the 2nd interview. I thought, in spite of his age, he may work. that was Thursday. He was supposed to have at least half of the set perfected by today, and the other s show us enough to instill sonfidence that he would be able o pull off this Friday's show.
I got to practice this morniong, still drunk from the 2 liters of Scotch I drank yesterday (rough, rough nite and morning) and as I walk in dude is warming up. His meter was all over the place. On top of that, he just sounded like a complete noob. We struggled through the first set, fell apart during the second, and could not even attempt anything further. I was ready to tell the band "fuck it, I am done if this is what we are resorting to".
Then a weird thing happened. My guitarist's wife called an old friend, without telling us, and invited him over. He is a drummer that both Tony and I have played with in the past (in different projects) and I have known as a good friend for 22 years. I had already talked to him the day our drummer quit but he didn't have a kit ready and had not played drums in 5 years so I wrote him off. Aside from that, he has a history of drug and alcohol related instability. But, we needed someone at least to get through a few shows. He walked in, sat behind the kit, and played half of our material with complete authority. I mean he sounded better than the drummer who had just quit on us. When we were teens, I used to party in his garage and he would play along with entire Rush CD's from beginning to end. Awesome drummer.
So, we found our new drummer, and as luck would have it it happens to be a life long friend and has gigged extensively with Tony in AWOL (original band from a few years ago). So after a long and depressing few days, things turned out pretty good.
