"Too fast!"  "Too slow!"  "Too loud!"  "Too Soft!" "What are you doing?!" "I need you to...." In the inaugural edition of the show Phil and Jon talk about their experience with 'stage bullies'. You know, the people that micro manage and torment you during a gig? We're not talking about the normal musician who gives musical direction. Rather we're talking about the nasty person in a power drunken frenzy who barks out orders and generally enjoys making their fellow musicians cringe and cower. Phil and Jon talk about different scenarios and how you can work with and overcome this common problem. Lastly, the guys each give their pick on a great, overlooked drummer.

Episode 1 Stage Bullies

This week Phil does a special educational edition of the Groovecast. In response to emails and posts on social media regarding practicing and performing to a click track or sequence (both live and in the studio)Phil talks about the concepts he's developed over the years. They include setting up your click in a variety of musical settings, developing feel instead of playing metronomically, stating time while becoming a slave to the click, over correcting when straying from the click, click manipulation, and band concepts with clicks and sequences.

Episode 3 Special Edition Concepts On Click Tracks

This week Phil and Jon discuss the many different ways we can learn to embrace others' strengths and weaknesses.  The guys talk about differences between groove players vs. technical players, jazzers vs. rockers, younger players vs. older players, original/artsy gigs vs. corporate gigs, and pressures of the drumming community and how it can breed jealousy and envy. At the end of the show the guys each pick another underrated, great drum track. Please subscribe and join us every Monday for a brand new edition of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast.

Episode 10 Embracing Strengths And Weaknesses

Concepts on technique can be very polarizing. Everyone is an expert and everyone is correct. "Strict German grip with the level system is the only way to go!" "Forget that mess. Traditional grip using the Moeller technique is far superior." " Well, only if you're a gimp. Real men, like Billy Cobham, use French grip exclusively." See what I mean? In today's show I discuss grip and hand technique from a very different standpoint. I believe that adhering to one, very strict grip and hand position is actually detrimental. Rather, every musical situation that you encounter can and should modify your technique to enhance the music and your performance. Volume, velocity, tempo, instrument height, instrument angle, surface hardness, fatigue, and more will affect your grip and technique. Please subscribe and join us every Monday for a brand show available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and your favorite podcast app!

Episode 12 Special Edition Malleable Grip And Hand Technique

The Groovecast has delivered on its promise of an interview and it is a gem! Our guest, Scott Meeder, is the proverbial "Jeff Porcaro" of Atlanta. Even if you're not familiar with his name it's a virtual guarantee that you've heard him on record. He has been the first call session drummer on the Atlanta recording scene for the past 30 years. His credits include: .38 Special, Toni Braxton, Sugarland, Ricky Gunn, Aaron Shust, John Waller, and countless tv, motion picture, and radio dates. We discuss his musical upbringing and education, first gigs, musical influences, early use of electronics, his studio experiences, recording gear, large scale touring, his current work, and advice for young musicians. Please subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Podbean, Stitcher or your favorite podcast app. A new episode is published every Monday!

Episode 15 Interview - Scott Meeder

"You don't choose a career in music, instead music chooses you." There are numerous quotes along those lines and today the guys discuss just that topic.  Can you or should you choose drumming as a career? Each of the guys tell their own story of how they came into the music business and then talk about the benefits and drawbacks. Topics covered are:  being an entrepreneur, starting your own business, personal and family sacrifices, lack of traditional job benefits, travel, willingness to do what it takes, craft and business research, and much more. Finally the end segment of the show finds the guys each unearthing a favorite, yet underappreciated drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode! Subscribe to us today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 21 - Drumming As A Career

Adam Deitch has played with The Average White Band, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Scofield, Pretty Lights and currently leads the duo Break Science and funk jam icons, Lettuce. During Lettuce's current tour we were fortunate enough to meet up with Adam for a few hours before show time and talk about life, music, and drums. Knowing that Adam has done several other podcasts along with a host of print interviews we decided to take a slightly different direction. We delve into topics such as: drumming with parents who are drummers and the pressure associated with that, growing up with and managing ADD and how it shaped his drumming, early teachers and what he learned, getting into Berklee, the classwork, the ensembles, and the early origin of Lettuce, first big gigs, handling adversity on the gigs, his teaching and giving back to other musicians. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. Subscribe today on your favorite podcast app, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, or Itunes. And while you're in Itunes if you would please leave us a brief review we'd greatly appreciate it!

Episode 27 - Interview - Adam Deitch

This week the Groovecast is delighted to publish an exclusive interview with Joel Rosenblatt. Most of you know Joel from his work with Michel Camilo and later with Spyro Gyra. In this episode we discuss his early flirtations with trumpet and a chance encounter with drums. From there we get to his college studies with Ed Soph and Randy Jones which helped prepare him for his first major gigs. We then cover the gigs with: Matt Murphy, Pure Prairie League, Michel Camilo, and Spyro Gyra. We spend a good amount of time talking about Joel's early adoption of the home studio. We also discuss Joel's grip/technique change and his personal teaching practice including his own set of play along tracks. Finally he falls victim to the DWG personality test...We'd also like to send our condolences to the Allman Brothers family on the sudden loss of founding member, Butch Trucks. In the outro (under a bed of the ABB's "Hotlanta") we discuss Butch's influence and importance. Join us every Monday for a brand new podcast. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 29 - Interview - Joel Rosenblatt

We know you like drum talk. The emails and forums tell no lies. So, here's one for the gear heads! In today's episode we dedicate the entire show to snare drums.  For most drummers the snare represents many different things. Not only is it our most played drum but it is many times a reflection of our personality.  We discuss our favorite snare drums according to style (rock, jazz, etc) as well as specific sound applications.  The discussion also covers topics such as:  drum heads, snare wires, die cast vs. spun hoops, strainers, tuning tips, shell composition, and more.  Then keeping with the 'gear theme' Phil and Jon both pick a piece of must have equipment. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 31 - The Snare Drum Show

When I first started playing drums there were basically two ways to learn the instrument:  seek a teacher or teach yourself. However today there are more options for drumming education than ever before. With modern technology we can find a plethora of videos, mp3s, articles, and even teachers with the stroke of a computer keyboard. In fact it's arguable that we have too much information instantly available which many times leads to obfuscation of the truth! It's very important to research the information that you're receiving and making sure that it's coming from a reliable source. In this special edition of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast we give you many tips and ideas when it comes to researching and finding the right teacher (in-person teachers and online teachers).  We discuss past experiences, what we got from the great teachers, and what we learned from the not so great ones. If you're a serious student or teacher there'll be something in this episode that will pique your interest! Join us every week for a brand new episode! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 32- Special Edition - How to Find Great Teachers

We were fortunate to receive an invitation to tour the Gretsch Drum factory in Ridgeland, SC. Who are we to decline? After a lengthy tour of the step by step process of drum making we set up shop in operation manager, Paul Cooper's office, and asked him everything we always wanted to know about Gretsch drums. Rumors are debunked! Make sure you go by our Facebook page to get a look at the pictures that were taken during the tour. Also don't forget to enter the first ever Drummer's Weekly Groovecast contest! Simply go by the show's page inside of Itunes and leave us a short, written review. That's it! You'll automatically be entered to win. Prizes and details are outlined in the show. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 36 - Inside Gretsch:  The Factory Tour With Paul Cooper

The podcast format is tailor made for Sonny Emory. Aside from being a world class musician he's a wonderful story teller. In this episode Sonny holds court with epic tales from the road regarding his past associations with: Cameo, The Crusaders, David Sanborn, Earth, Wind, and Fire along with his current gigs, Bruce Hornsby and Bette Midler. Being a proponent for education he also details his learning experiences along with his own passion for teaching. We also spend a good amount of time talking about recording and his experiences with Nile Rodgers, Chic, B52s, Steely Dan, his new band, Cachet, and more.  Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 42 - Interview - Sonny Emory

Many musicians suffer from some type of chronic pain. Unfortunately this pain normally threatens the comfort (if not the viability) of your performance. And we haven't even begun to include your basic quality of life! If you or someone you know is affected by chronic pain then this episode is an absolute must-listen. Dr. Howard Schubiner is one of the foremost authorities on chronic pain and his techniques are not only groundbreaking but also drug free. In this special episode he spoke to us from his home to outline how he diagnoses and treats chronic pain and how musicians make up a large part of his client base.  I sincerely hope that everyone finds value in the episode. If you are currently dealing with pain I implore you to listen and do your research into Dr. Schubiner's techniques. His treatment plans and success rates are turning heads throughout the world of medicine. I used to suffer from chronic neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Dr. Schubiner was instrumental in educating me and ultimately freeing me from nearly three years of debilitating pain.

To get more information about Dr. Schubiner please visit his web site at www.unlearnyourpain.com  At this site you can read more about his practice, buy his books, and communicate directly with him.

Episode 75 - Interview - Dr. Howard Schubiner MD- Curing Chronic Pain

In the music business we generally point to three industry hot spots in the US:  New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. There are a host of the next tier cities that include Boston, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, etc. However many forget that at one time Las Vegas was a major destination for many working musicians. What happened? Was it the introduction of electronics? Was it the replacing of musicians with tracks? What about the general decline in live and recorded music? Many have said that since Las Vegas reinvented itself as a family vacation destination that it ruined the music scene. Or is all of that wrong?

In this episode Phil sits down with his long time friend Joseph Patrick Moore for an up to date look at the Las Vegas music scene. Phil and Joseph have traveled together and played thousands of gigs in their thirty year relationship. However last year Moore relocated to Las Vegas and has established himself inside the Vegas music community. Before we tackle the gig scene we catch up and discuss a few stories from back in the day (trust me, no one suffered long term effects from that first tale). We then talk about the quality of life, the affordability of Vegas, other choices of relocation areas, and how Las Vegas compares to other large cities. 
 
When it comes to work we discuss the current state of big Las Vegas resident shows (Celine Dion, Bette Midler, etc) and how it affects the local musicians. Moore also gives details about his interactions, auditions, and ultimate hiring by Cirque Du Soleil as a resident artist for the show, KA. He also gives us his insights on everything from corporate gigs, hotel, lounge, and casino work. 

Visit Joseph at his website: http://www.josephpatrickmoore.com/
Visit Joseph's record label:  https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/

The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today! 

Lastly, please share our show with all your friends, students, and co-workers! We greatly appreciate your support and truly enjoy bringing you new content every week.

Episode 93 - The Vegas Show Featuring Joseph Patrick Moore

The North Georgia country side doesn't normally evoke the thought of rock stars. However Interpol drummer, Sam Fogarino, doesn't particularly care to live up to stereotypes. He's experienced the city life and finds himself quite comfortable living miles away from the rat race. 

Recently Sam invited me to his home and we set up shop in his guest house turned studio.  We discussed the local music scene and his recent move just before the mics were turned on. Once we began our conversation flowed freely and easily. 

Sam discussed growing up in west Philadelphia and how he started playing drums. He navigates through his learning process and how his curiosity and spirit of investigation led him during his formative years. 

After several relocations Sam took a chance and moved to New York City with the hopes of finding like minded musicians to form a new band. While working in a clothing store (which sold vinyl as well) and contemplating the woes of the music business he was invited to watch a friend's band play. Ultimately it was the start of his relationship with Daniel Kessler and Paul Banks from Interpol.

During a first for the DWG Phil and Sam listen to the Interpol song, "Obstacle 1" while Sam analyzes the song in real time! Listen closely to really get inside the creation and recording of this Interpol favorite.

From there Sam tells us about a day in the life of an Interpol tour, his gear, the upcoming album release and tour, and the band's appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Friday, June 8th). Finally we finish the show with a run through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach Test. 

You can visit Sam and Interpol at their website:  www.interpolnyc.com

Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. You can subscribe to the show in Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll find every episode, all our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and contact us through our email form.  Please share our show with your friend and co-performers! Also, if you subscribe in Itunes please take a moment and review our show with five stars. We'd greatly appreciate it!

Episode 99 - Interview - Sam Fogarino Of Interpol

For this episode we welcome back to the show author/educator/performer, Ted Mackenzie. In a previous show Ted spoke about his relationship with master teacher, Henry Adler, and how his knowledge of Adler's method led to him to be chosen to revise the popular book, "Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments". In that show we discussed how he revised the book, his lessons with Adler, the publication process, and his companion methods that followed. 

Listener response to that particular show was tremendous. However there were several listeners who wished that we had discussed the actual Adler method and how it is applied to the book. We do just that in this show. Ted takes the time to discuss Adler's thoughts on grip (both matched and traditional), stroke motion, stroke heights, accepting the rebound, accents, non-bounce vs bounce strokes, wagging the brush, and more. Here you'll get the 'flyover' concept of Henry Adler's famous method.

We also touch on how the Adler technique relates to other popular methods such as Moeller and Gladstone. We also discuss why the Adler method is not quite as prevalent as other techniques due to its perceived difficulty and depth of study. He also mentions a few teachers that he knows are qualified to teach the Adler method.

Aside from Buddy here are few of Adler's higher profile students:   Ed Shaughnessy, Louide Bellson, Charlie Perry, Sonny Igoe, Sonny Payne, Kenny Clare, Jack Sperling, Bobby Morris, Alvin Stoller, and Doug Allen.

To see Ted explain and demonstrate some of the Adler concepts click on the links below. There you'll be taken to Ted's web site, his Amazon store, and video links for visual demonstration.

Ted's website:  www.tedmackenzie.com

Resistance training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHThqTbp4g&feature=youtu.be

Development of Hands and Wrists:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awZq8jgRRMw&feature=youtu.be

Traditional Grip (Bounce):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWDdjBHRoM&feature=youtu.be

Ted's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00J3333UO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true

Ted is also aware of three instructors that are qualified to teach the Adler Method. These teachers are:  Nat Oliveri in North Carolina, Walt Heitner in Long Island, NY, and Christopher in Shaw in England. Contact Ted via his website for direct contact information to these teachers.

The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast needs some help! We're calling upon our loyal listening audience to help us find an intern. We need someone who is well versed in website creation, search engine optimization, social media promotion, and research. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of our show please reach out to us. Send us a message on social media or an email from our website:  www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You do not have to live in Atlanta to be our intern. If you have skills and a reliable internet connection you will certainly be given full consideration. 

Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com.  There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 103 - The Adler Technique with Ted Mackenzie

Two years ago we ventured into the podcast arena with a topic that resonated with thousands of musicians. This week we revisit the original episode that started it all.

Stage bullies come in all shapes, sizes, and volumes! Some musician bullies like to exercise their control when in leadership positions. Others are micro managers and like to dictate everything you play and do. Some leaders are nervous, snippy yellers who don't know how to deal with high pressure situations. You may also run into the ego maniac who likes to demean others and force his will onto the music and everyone at the gig. Conversely you may run into the brooding, passive aggressive player who sneers and gives condescending looks or comments. Those types of 'stage bullies' are only the most common! There are a myriad of others. Let us help you deal with them. If you haven't heard this original broadcast give it a listen. If you have heard it, check it out again. In this inaugural episode Phil and Jon sit down and discuss this negative aspect of performing by relating their own experiences and how they got past the problems. 

If you listen to our show on your Iphone or directly in Itunes please leave us a review! Simply click a 5 star review on our Itunes homepage. It helps us tremendously and allow people looking for shows of our type find us that much easier.

Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com.  There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 105 - Stage Bullies Rebroadcast

“Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers. And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.” Literally millions of people have heard this famous line from Lynyrd Skynyrd but how many actually know what it means? The Swampers were the famous rhythm section from Muscle Shoals’ FAME recording studio and they are responsible for hundreds of popular hits and thousands of great feeling tracks. This week we’ll christen the midway point of the second season and listen to the Swampers’ incredible drummer, Roger Hawkins, for our artist feature. 

Knowing that this topic would be dead center of Jon’s strike zone he details a short biography of Hawkins and discusses the many influences, sometimes unknowingly, on the drumming populace. Hawkins is sometimes mistaken for RnB studio greats, typically Al Jackson or Bernard Purdie, so we take time to explain the reasons for that. We then listen to several tracks featuring Roger and analyze what’s happening in each track. Below are the song choices from each host.

Phil’s tracks:
1)	Land of a 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett
2)	Get Ready – King Curtis version
3)	Respect Yourself – Staples Singers
4)	Katmandu – Bob Seger

Jon’s tracks:
1)	Never Loved a Man – Aretha Franklin
2)	I’ll Take You There – Staples Singers
3)	I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James
4)	Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett

Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are a subscriber on any Apple platform please go by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. Not only does it help the show rank higher it also allows new listeners to find us more easily when their looking for shows with our content. 

Lastly, please take a moment at visit our website at:  www.drummersweeklygroovecast  There you can listen to the show, watch our videos, manage your social media accounts, and interact with the show through our email form.

Episode 111 - Artist Feature - Roger Hawkins

We are back with season three’s artist feature. This time around we highlight Sonny Payne (Count Basie, Harry James, Frank Sinatra, Erskine Hawkins). Payne is simultaneously one of the most influential yet underrated big band drummers in jazz history. When asked to list the most influential big band drummers a typical response might be:  Buddy Rich, Papa Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Mel Lewis, Ed Shaughnessy, Chick Webb, etc.  However, when many musicians, including some of the aforementioned drumming greats, are asked to name influential drummers Payne is at the top of the list. 

Combining innate musicality with bombastic setups and unparalleled showmanship Payne became the blueprint for which all future Basie drummers were compared. Harold Jones, who replaced Payne after his departure in 1965, unapologetically said that he took everything he could from Sonny during his time with the Basie band. Butch Miles, a fifteen-year Basie veteran, echoed that all drummers were told to emulate Payne’s playing as the definitive versions of the Basie catalogue.

Phil and Jon discuss Payne’s playing style, his sound, his gear, and then listen to excerpts from their favorite recordings.

Phil’s Picks:
Shiny Stockings from Ella and Basie!
Cute – from Basie Plays Hefti
Whirlybird – from The Dynamic Basie Orchestra
One O’Clock Jump – from Breakfast Dance and BBQ

Jon’s Picks:
Jumpin at the Woodside – Live at the Sands (Before Frank)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Sinatra at the Sands
All of Me - Sinatra at the Sands
One O’Clock Jump - Sinatra at the Sands

Join us every Monday for the best interviews and topical discussion in the drumming podcast idiom! We’re available on ITunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts. Subscribe today!

If you listen via Itunes please stop by the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast home page inside of ITunes and leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it and it helps other people looking for our content find us a bit more easily.

Lastly please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can listen to all of our shows, interact with our social media accounts, view our videos, and contact us through our email form. Share us with your friends!

Episode 119 - Artist Feature - Sonny Payne

I always enjoy the interviews we do at Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. Part of the reason is that I only ask guests that I have a genuine interest in. It certainly doesn’t hurt if they have something to say. If they have a good time saying it, it’s just a bonus.  This week I dumbed into a grand slam. I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself that you’ve heard this guy on other podcasts and social media. Not like this you haven’t. 

If you’re in the drumming business and unaware of Carter McLean, get out from under your rock and listen up. If you removed his current, long-term gigs (Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ and Charlie Hunter) and his resume was reduced to his social media and educational posts, that’d be enough. If that doesn’t convince you, what if I told you that Vinnie Colaiuta was a fan? Well, he is.

In this episode we cover some areas of Carter’s playing and teaching that have not been touched on. We discuss, in minutia, what it’s like getting into the Broadway orchestra pits. We talk about everything pertinent to drummers:  following various conductors, subbing out shows, learning the book, covering mistakes, taking direction, monitoring, drum cages, and much more. Carter then gives us his daily routine from his commute into the city until he walks out of the theatre.

We also spent a good amount of time discussing his teaching practice, his web site, and the upcoming release of his new method book, “Concepts and Creativity”. Carter discusses his educational background and how his experiences led him to create his own methods. He has documented many of his main ideas on his web site:  www.fourhandsdrumming.com There you can discover his thoughts on topics such as:  groove, feel, time, tuning, soloing, and more. Carter then gives us a preview of his upcoming book and walks us through a few of the concepts and exercises found within.

We finish up by discussing his current, personal practice routine and then, of course, a comfortable jog through the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Rorschach Test!  

You can find out more about Carter by visiting his educational site:  https://fourhandsdrumming.com
I encourage you to also check out his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/cartermac

Please visit our website at:  www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 120 - Interview - Carter McLean

As we come to the end of the third season, we take some time to discuss the news of the day and the many events that have happened over the course of recent episodes. We discuss https://possiblechops.com/ref/8/  created by friends of the show, Dave Hooper, Gary Novak, and Dave Johnstone. We also humbly discuss the honor of being included by a popular online blogger in their list of top drumming podcasts. Also, the show will observe its three-year anniversary in July. Even though we’ll celebrate during our off-season please stay subscribed. From time to time we’ll give updates on the upcoming season as well as possibly publish a special ‘off-season’ episode. With that in mind, please stay in touch with the show. We appreciate the support and welcome all ideas for future episodes and interviews. As our long-time listeners will attest, we respond to all email and many times use your suggestions for future episodes. 

For this episode we take on the topic of being imperfect in a digitally perfect music scene. Recently a video went viral illustrating what John Bonham might sound like if he were recording today. The author of the video takes extant Bonham tracks and ‘corrects’ them through digital quantization. We discuss this video and then talk about our favorite, imperfect drummers. We talk about different drummers, their tracks, and how some are unintentionally imperfect while others are intentional. We discuss what make these imperfections perfect along with the various methods they may intentionally employ that make their playing imperfect. 

Please visit our website at:  www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 126 - Perfect Imperfection

As we languish through the summer we temporarily break our hiatus by posting a pop show. Late last winter I appeared on a new podcast that deals with musicians who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD and other psychological issues, the Crash and Ride Podcast. The host and Groovecast power listener, Patrick Ferguson, has done a tremendous job highlighting an incredibly underrepresented topic that affects quite a large number of musicians. In this episode he and I discuss the different aspects of chronic, long-term anxiety and how it touches every part of your life. As musicians we elaborate on how anxiety can sometimes drive us toward music as well as how the disorder affects the music perform. We each talk about our personal battles and give ideas for real, lasting solutions to help mitigate the suffering. 

Please visit Patrick and the Crash and Ride Podcast by visiting his site:  http://crashandride.libsyn.com/

Patrick was recently awarded a $5,000 grant for his great work creating this show. Please support him!

The Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast is still in hibernation but we are presently working on new shows for the upcoming season. Please stay subscribed and keep and eye on our social media. We’ll slowly start powering up over the next few weeks with a formal announcement of season four’s start date. In the meantime…

Please visit our website at:  www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 127 - Hiatus Breaker Featuring The Crash And Ride Podcast

The boys are back from the summer hiatus with a new season of shows. We start this premiere episode by discussing summer gigs, travel, teaching, and vacations. We then break open the mail bag and address our correspondence with new and longtime listeners. We also discuss two new companies started by drummers who listen to our show. Please check out Ryan’s new product for wrist support and compression, Wrist Grips:  https://wristgrips.myshopify.com/  There is also a drum-less play-along app created by Damani (from the Drum Coaches) entitled, Drum Trax. This free app is available on Android and Apple platforms so visit the online store of your choice to download it.

The main topic of discussion for this show is the growing amount of envy, anger, and depression we see emanating from direct comparison to others on social media. We talk about what happens when we see someone who posts about an abundance of gigs, gets a new piece of gear, or flaunts their new car or home. We then offer our own suggestions about how you get past this issue and subsequently avoid it in the future.

We finish up by revisiting our segment on great, underrated drummers. This time around Phil picks English session drummer, Henry Spinetti. Henry can be found on a host of major releases but is most known for his work with Eric Clapton and Gerry Rafferty. Jon picks New York session great, Alan Schwartzberg. During the 70s and 80s Alan was as busy as anyone on the scene including dates with:  Kiss, Donna Summer, Tony Orlando and Dawn as well as hundreds of commercials and jingles.

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 128 - Season Four Premiere - Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy

This week we welcome legendary drummer, Steve Smith, to the Groovecast for the first interview of the fourth season. Steve was gracious enough to speak with us just before a series of dates with Journey that culminates in a three-week residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve will also be showing his artwork (at Carnavale Gallery at Caesar’s Palace) during this residency. If you are in Las Vegas and would like to see Steve’s art work and meet him in person please RSVP using the form found on Steve’s web site (link below).

During this show we discuss many things including:  the differences between playing with Journey today vs. 40 years ago, the difference in touring with Journey vs. Vital Information, his legendary practice routine, his orthopedic hand issues leading to his development of matched grip and the creation of ‘Pathways of Motion’, his yoga practice and how it helps with touring and performing, his Berklee experience with Gary Chaffee and Alan Dawson, meeting Vinnie Colaiuta at Berklee and their long relationship, the abundance of talent at Berklee and enjoying the classroom experience, and finally the requisite sashay through the maze that is the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast, Rorschach Test! 

As mentioned during the show if you’d like to visit Steve online his personal website is:  http://www.vitalinformation.com/

You can also visit Journey’s web site and view their tour itinerary to see Steve when he’s in your town:  http://www.journeymusic.com/

Lastly, in the spirit of transparency, I would like to mention that this episode was fraught with technical audio issues. I discuss, in detail, what happened the day of the interview but if you’re reading this prior to listening, do yourself a favor and use headphones for this show. We pride ourselves on great audio quality but due to circumstances beyond our control our normal standards of fidelity are not up to par on this episode. That being said, I believe you’ll find the quality of the content to be very good. 

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 129 - Interview - Steve Smith

We begin the show with a quick callback to our season four premiere and then talk about social media issues. Ultimately there has been a bit of confusion regarding listeners following the wrong account on Instagram. Phil and the podcast only have one Instagram account. You can follow the show by using the Instagram account name, Drummers Weekly Groovecast.

Dealing with money responsibly is difficult for many people but it seems endemic for the creatives found in the music business. It’s a story that’s been told over and over again. It’s either the tale of the starving artist or the musician that’s done well only to lose it all through bad decisions.  In this episode we talk about being smart with your money. We cover topics such as:  student loans, filing income taxes, learning deductions, keeping records, investing, planning for retirement, frivolous spending, and substance abuse.

We finish up the show with a segment on must-have gear. Jon starts by recommending the Tama version of lug locks called, Tama Tension Locks. This product completely eliminates issues with varying distances between different brands’ tension rod holes and the hoop itself. Phil’s pick is the DrumNBass Hoop Protect 180. This product protects the top and bottom sides of your bass drum hoop while allowing your pedal to comfortably grip the drum and eliminate slide.

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 130 - Musician Finances, Taxes, and Money

Since we started doing the artist feature segment approximately two years ago it has become one of the most popular formats for this podcast. Ultimately it has provided some of the best listener feedback. Last season we featured the great Sonny Payne and the response was tremendous. We discuss the reaction from the listeners and then talk about our Jim Gordon feature from two years ago. Back when we posted the show on YouTube the Gordon episode received a tremendous amount of attention (and continues to do so presently). Since then we’ve decided to pick players that are either under the radar or tracks that are not obvious representations of the featured player. 

For this season we decided to feature southern California studio and live ace, Josh Freese. Since his initial gig at Disneyland Josh has performed with acts as diverse as:  Devo, A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, Kelly Clarkson, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, Evanescence, the Offspring, Guns and Roses, the Replacements, and his current gig with, Sting. We discuss his background and then listen to several of our favorite tracks.

Phil’s picks:
1.	Down – Live performance with 311
2.	Paranoid Android – In-studio performance with Weezer covering Radiohead
3.	Pretty Young Soldier – Sting
4.	It’s F*’ed Up – from Freese’s solo CD, “Since 1972”
Jon’s picks:
1.	Judith – A Perfect Circle
2.	Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble
3.	Can’t Change Me – Chris Cornell
4.	You Get What You Give – Brand New Immortals

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 131 - Artist Feature - Josh Freese

Just like that, we are halfway through the fourth season of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. The midway point means it is due time for another edition of listener mail. Phil and Jon begin the show discussing the audience response to the new episodes. We also get caught up on the news of the early fall season and discuss how the gigging and teaching jobs are going.

This season’s mail bag was overflowing with a variety of questions, comments, and suggestions. We address a host of comments that relate all the way back to the Jim Gordon artist feature and as recent as the re-post from the Crash and Ride podcast featuring Phil.  We then answer questions regarding snare drum repair, teaching, and Mel Lewis. We then discuss threads found on drumming forums that reference past shows and answer questions found there. We finish out this season’s mail with the feel-good email of the year!

 Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 132 - Season Four Listener Mail

Tribute bands have been around for quite a long time. However, over the last several years they’ve become significantly more prevalent and a viable alternative to the original artist. In fact, some will even say that many tribute acts perform the music even better than the original artist. When you also consider that many classic bands are charging several hundred dollars per ticket while their corresponding tribute band may charge less than a typical parking fee, the choice becomes even clearer.

This week welcome to the show Wayne Viar. Wayne has been a friend of the podcast since its inception and has known the hosts for 20 years. In recent years Wayne has become the tribute band drummer of choice for several high-profile acts. Wayne regularly performs with Abba Mania, A1A (Jimmy Buffet tribute), Almost Elton John, and Piano Men (Billy Joel tribute). 

In this show we discuss how he became involved with tribute acts and how that led him to work with others. Wayne tells us about preparing for the shows, the venues, travel, and the backline provided for each gig. He goes over the perks of the job as well as the challenges. Finally, Wayne talks about a typical day on the Abba Mania tour.

On our way out of the show please check out Wayne’s playing on the track:  Hard Eight

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 133 - Tribute Drumming Featuring Wayne Viar

After a rather lengthy absence, we present to you the reemergence of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. The board is back after skipping season three and we’re welcoming several new members to this season’s show. Our in-studio co-host is Justin Chesarek. Justin is an Atlanta based performer and educator who holds positions at three major metro Atlanta colleges:  Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and Morehouse College. For the remote participants we welcome back long-time board members Joel Rosenblatt and Rod Morgenstein. New for season four we have added esteemed drummer/educators, Carter McLean, George Marsh, and Steve Smith. 

The question that we will address is: “What mistake (or questionable choice) do you most commonly see and hear your students or other drummers commit?” We listen and comment on the various answers given by our board members.

When listening to the answers it’s worth noting that almost everything mentioned relates to basic techniques and thoughtful musicianship. In the current and popular social media world of practicing ear candy and chops it’s completely refreshing to hear some of the world’s best drummers teaching the basics of our craft. We discuss listening, dynamics, musical choices, phrasing, basic drumming technique, listening to recordings, and getting stuck in the routine of the ‘medium phenomenon’. Tune in for a great discussion!

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 134 - Season Four DWG Advisory Board

In the field of drumming we all have heroes. Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, John Bonham, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd and the list goes on and on. However, we often overlook the unsung heroes of drumming, the teachers. In the past few years, I’ve realized just how important and influential great teachers can be. The ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas, techniques, and concepts is not an easy task. When you factor in that this must be done in a classroom setting as well as in private lessons, where teaching styles must be customized from student to student, then you understand that great teachers should hold a high position on our hero list.

This week we welcome one of the great teachers in our discipline’s history, Dr. Michael Udow. Mike was head of percussion at the University of Michigan for thirty years as well as a respected clinician and author of the new book, Percussion Pedagogy (Oxford University Press). He was gracious enough to join us from his home in Colorado for a candid interview about his career, the art of education, and a description of, Percussion Pedagogy. We discuss his early interest in music, his personal path in higher education (culminating in the first DMA in percussion at the University of Illinois), his literature preferences, teaching techniques, state of the university, and much more. There’s something here for every teacher, student, and performer. 

You can visit Michael at his website:  www.michaeludow.com

You can explore Michael’s new book, Percussion Pedagogy, by clicking this link:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/percussion-pedagogy-9780190902940?lang=en&cc=us

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 135 - Interview - Michael Udow

Phil and Jon are back in a newly revamped studio B with a topic suggested by a member of our listening audience. This week we discuss the pros and cons of playing with recordings versus playing with live musicians. The request was sent to us in regard to the tribute band show that we did several weeks ago. Our listener, Tony, recently became involved with a Steely Dan tribute act. He’s spent copious amounts of time working with the original recordings however he’s discovering that he has to make numerous adjustments when playing the exact same songs with live musicians.

We discuss Tony’s situation and then debate some of the positives and negatives of playing with recordings. Some of the benefits we outline are:  ear training, learning typical song forms, learning grooves, ‘playing’ with the professionals, de facto transcription, learning good time/feel, and the pleasure of playing with good music. We then discuss possible detriments such as:  being led thus not stating assertive time, possibly learning bad feel/tempos, not listening to yourself, setting up your band mates to fail, and trying to measure up to studio fidelity perfection. We also give some tips to combat these issues along with some ideas for practicing with drummer-less tracks.

We finish out the show with a brand-new segment of the DWG Garage. Jon has not one, but two, great tips for dealing with problematic, vintage Ludwig drums. 

Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 136 - Playing With Recordings Vs. Playing With People

A podcast from two professional drummers talking drums, music, musicians, and the entertainment industry. We resource topics that are important to all musicians along with interviews from drummers and industry professionals.  Each show includes special segments on gear, underrated drummers, and great drum tracks. We're here to inspire, illuminate, and motivate...we like to have a lot of fun too.

Popular tracks by Drummer's Weekly Groovecast