Dial A Drummer Podcast

In this exclusive interview, Paul Barnes Jr., the powerhouse drummer for rising melodic hard rock band Liliac, shares how he landed his first international gig and what it’s really like touring the world as a teen musician.

At just 16, Paul went from playing local gigs around Atlanta, GA, to performing for thousands of rock and metal fans across the globe. Since joining Liliac in December 2023, Paul has appeared in major music videos like “Breathe”, “Dream On”, and made his vocal debut on the band’s recent single “Bad Boyz.”

In this deep-dive conversation, Paul reveals:

• How he auditioned for and won the drummer role in a nationally touring band.

Whether you’re an aspiring drummer, a rock fan, or just curious about life on the road, this 90-minute episode delivers a raw, honest, and inspiring look at the journey from local player to full-time pro.

Follow Paul: @thepaulbarnesjr
Learn more about Liliac: www.LiliacBand.com

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.25 – Paul Barnes Jr. – Get The Gig, Tour The World appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

In this episode of our podcast, we are finish our conversation with drummer and music educator, Pat Petrillo. Join us for a deep dive into his latest album, “The Power Station Sessions”, where we explore the making of this sensational album and the fascinating journey behind its creation.

We begin this episode with Brian giving you the “inside baseball” and backstory behind acquiring the DialADrummer.com domain and why it’s taken 8 months to get this episode out.

(*If you are not receiving the newest episodes of the podcast inside your favorite podcast app of choice, please refresh your feed or resubscribe to the podcast entirely.)

Next, we finish our conversation with Pat Petrillo about the process of creating his award winning album. “The Power Station Sessions.”

Pat Petrillo, a luminary in the world of drumming, unveils the story of “The Power Station Sessions.” album.  We get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and artistic vision that fueled this sensational project. Listen as Pat shares intimate stories about his experiences in the studio and the unique creative process that brought this album to life.

During the episode, we’ll be treating our listeners to a direct-from-vinyl listening experience, featuring select tracks from “The Power Station Sessions.” Prepare to be awestruck by Pat’s masterful drumming techniques, signature rhythms, and innovative musicality that have captivated audiences worldwide.

As we delve into the musical odyssey of “The Power Station Sessions,” we’ll explore the diverse influences and genre-blending elements that make this album a true gem in the drumming world. Pat’s exceptional talent and passion for the drums shine through in every beat, making this a must-listen for drummers, drum enthusiasts and music lovers alike.

Get ready to be inspired and motivated by Pat Petrillo’s relentless dedication to his craft, as he imparts invaluable insights and tips for aspiring drummers. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting your rhythmic journey, you’ll find nuggets of wisdom in this episode that will elevate your drumming game.

PAT‘S BIO INFORMATION:

World renowned drummer, educator, and product inventor Pat Petrillo has been a leader in the drum industry for years. He has backed a wide variety of artists from many genres, including Patti LaBelle, Gloria Gaynor, Oz Noy, as well as numerous Broadway shows like “A Chorus Line”, “Grease”, “Footloose”, and “Dream Girls”.

In addition to being the instructor on one of the very first drum instructional videos ever (DCI’s “Snare Drum Rudiments”), Pat is the author of the book /DVD package “Hands, Grooves, & Fills” from Hudson Music. Pat was also recently featured as the cover artist in the Feb 2023 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine.

His group, the Big Rhythm Band, has released their new record, “The Power Station Sessions”, on Autumn Hill Records. It features an all-star lineup featuring guest artists Nile Rodgers, John Popper, Oz Noy, Felicia Collins (Late Night with David Letterman Band). Their previous release, “The Abbey Road Sessions”, was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studio 2. (available on Amazon).

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.24 – Pat Petrillo: Power Station Sessions – Part 2 appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

In this episode of our podcast, we are honored to welcome the incomparable drummer, Pat Petrillo. Join us for a deep dive into his latest album, “The Power Station Sessions”, where we explore the making of this sensational album and the fascinating journey behind its creation.

We begin this episode with Brian laying out a 5-step blueprint that you can use to reach any goal or bring any dream that you have through to fruition.

Those steps include:

1. Getting Clarity About Your Goal

Next, we talk with someone who has gone through these exact steps to create an award winning album.

Pat Petrillo, a luminary in the world of drumming, unveils the story of “The Power Station Sessions.” album.  We get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and artistic vision that fueled this sensational project. Listen as Pat shares intimate stories about his experiences in the studio and the unique creative process that brought this album to life.

During the episode, we’ll be treating our listeners to a direct-from-vinyl listening experience, featuring select tracks from “The Power Station Sessions.” Prepare to be awestruck by Pat’s masterful drumming techniques, signature rhythms, and innovative musicality that have captivated audiences worldwide.

As we delve into the musical odyssey of “The Power Station Sessions,” we’ll explore the diverse influences and genre-blending elements that make this album a true gem in the drumming world. Pat’s exceptional talent and passion for the drums shine through in every beat, making this a must-listen for drummers, drum enthusiasts and music lovers alike.

Get ready to be inspired and motivated by Pat Petrillo’s relentless dedication to his craft, as he imparts invaluable insights and tips for aspiring drummers. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting your rhythmic journey, you’ll find nuggets of wisdom in this episode that will elevate your drumming game.

PAT‘S BIO INFORMATION:

World renowned drummer, educator, and product inventor Pat Petrillo has been a leader in the drum industry for years. He has backed a wide variety of artists from many genres, including Patti LaBelle, Gloria Gaynor, Oz Noy, as well as numerous Broadway shows like “A Chorus Line”, “Grease”, “Footloose”, and “Dream Girls”.

In addition to being the instructor on one of the very first drum instructional videos ever (DCI’s “Snare Drum Rudiments”), Pat is the author of the book /DVD package “Hands, Grooves, & Fills” from Hudson Music. Pat was also recently featured as the cover artist in the Feb 2023 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine.

His group, the Big Rhythm Band, has released their new record, “The Power Station Sessions”, on Autumn Hill Records. It features an all-star lineup featuring guest artists Nile Rodgers, John Popper, Oz Noy, Felicia Collins (Late Night with David Letterman Band). Their previous release, “The Abbey Road Sessions”, was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studio 2. (available on Amazon).

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.23 – Pat Petrillo: Power Station Sessions – Part 1 appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

I’ve known David Zettler since the 6th Grade at Magnolia Middle school in Meridian, MS. We were friends and played in the school band until we graduated together in 1990. After High School, our friendship and love for drums has grown deeper and stronger as the years have gone on. It’s my honor to introduce you to my very good buddy David Zettler, drummer from the Nashville-based band Stone Senate.

STONE SENATE’S BIO:

Stone Senate has been called “a heavier version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, crossed with The Allman Brothers Band”. While being mentioned in such heady company is flattering, one thing Stone Senate is most definitely not, is a retro act. They are taking what came naturally from their collective influences a step further.

Fronted by lead vocalist/guitarist Clint Woolsey’s smoldering, soulful vocals and unmistakable stage presence, stage left and stage right are burning with dual lead guitars of James Edwards and Ted Hennington. Add to these the blood bonded rhythm section of “The Mud Brothers”- Paul Zettler on bass/vocals and David Zettler on drums/vocals and you have caught lightning in a bottle.

Having been together since 2012, the band has built a loyal following through a relentless year round touring schedule, that has enabled them to widen their collective set list of band and audience favorites, “Right Side Up” (2014), “Martha” (2016) and “Lazy River” (2016), of Country and Rock legendary songs, like the George Strait cover of “The Fireman” (2020), new original music from their EP “Dusk” (2021), with the singles “Whiskey Helps”, “Slow Crusade” and “Down”, and coming in 2022, the Toby Wright produced record, “Between the Light and Dark”.

With over 600 shows throughout the US in the last few years, Stone Senate is steadily adding more and more dates each year and looking forward to some great new music in 2023!

Find all of their music on your favorite streaming service and get all of their tour info at StoneSenate.com

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.22 – David Zettler: Give Me An Audience & Push Go! appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

Born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico, Walfredo Reyes Jr comes from an impressive family of percussionists. Wally is currently the touring (and recording) drummer for the legendary band Chicago!

Over the last 40+ years, Walfredo has toured and / or recorded with legendary artists like Carlos Santana, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jackson Browne, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Ricki Lee Jones, Richard Marx, Sergio Mendes, Smokey Robinson, Robbie Robertson, Joe Sample, Boz Scaggs, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, and Lindsey Buckingham (just to name a few).

In this conversation, Brian and Wally talk about:

• What helps any drummer get hired and what helps keep him/her in that chair for YEARS.
• How he and the other band members of Chicago (as well as any musical artist) allow their music to grow, change, and evolve as they do the same as people.
• The influence that past Chicago drummers like Danny Serafine and Tris Imboden have had on him and how he plays the band’s music.
• The process of recording drums for the newest (and 38th) Chicago album “Born For This Moment” and the home studio set-up he used for some of those drum tracks.
• Chicago’s brand new documentary “Chicago: The Last Band on Stage” and the way that the band found a way to make new music during the global shutdown. (Release date for this film is the same date as this episode’s: September 30, 2022)
• The importance of appreciating every single moment on stage and treating every show like it is your last.

*Since we could not play any of the band’s music on the podcast version of this interview, here’s the song “Our New York Time” (the song that we talked about on the show:

CHICAGO FACTS:

• Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups, and one of the world’s best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.
• In 1971, Chicago was the first rock act to sell out Carnegie Hall for a week.
• To date, Chicago has sold over 40 million units in the U.S., with 23 gold, 18 platinum, and eight multi-platinum albums.
• In 1974, the group had seven albums, its entire catalog at the time, on the Billboard 200 simultaneously.
• They have had five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and 20 top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The group has received ten Grammy Award nominations, winning one for the song, “If You Leave Me Now”.
• The group’s first album, Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
• The original line-up of Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
• Chicago received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on October 16, 2020

This is a very special episode of Dial-A-Drummer and a replay of Brian’s new weekly Amazon Music /AMP live radio show called “Drum Corner Radio”.

GET AMAZON’S AMP APP AND TUNE IN TO BRIAN’S WEEKLY SHOW LIVE, GO TO LIVE.ONAMP.COM/BRIANSTEPHENS (or search for @brianstephens on the AMP app)

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.21 – Walfredo Reyes Jr: Don’t Waste Any Notes appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

Welcome to Season 2 of Dial-A-Drummer! To get us kicked off, we’re featuring one of the most active jazz drummers AND jazz educators on the planet!

Born in 1961, Carl Allen grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on gospel, R&B, and funk, but later turned to jazz after hearing an album by the legendary saxophonist Benny Carter. 

Some of Carl’s first hometown gigs were with sax greats Sonny Stitt and James Moody. A definite bellwether for the things that were to come.

Carl studied at The University of Wisconsin at Green Bay from 1979 to 1981, and transferred to William Patterson College in New Jersey, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Performance.

Allen joined trumpeter Freddie Hubbard a year before his graduation,  and served as his Musical Director for eight years. In addition to his tenure in Freddie’s band, Carl has played and/or recorded with:

Jackie McLean, Michael Brecker, Sammy Davis Jr., Branford Marsalis, Lena Horne, Herbie Hancock, Benny Golson, and Christian McBride… just to name a few!

Carl’s teaching career includes a twelve-year tenure at the Juilliard School, where he also served as Artistic Director of Jazz Studies for the six years.

He has taught and given clinics & master classes at other schools including the Berklee College of Music, the University of Southern California, Northwestern University, the University of North Texas, and also music schools & conservatories worldwide including places like Australia, Holland, & New Zealand.

In 2012, because of his long and illustrious career in jazz and music education, Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, awarded Carl an honorary doctorate.

Currently, he holds the position as Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies at UMKC in Kansas City.

He also continues to travel the globe, playing jazz and teaching musicians around the world.

Some the key topics for this episode include:

• Why music students, including drummers, aren’t improving despite increased practice time and the massive amount of information on the Internet.
• Why musicians who are planning to play music professionally should consider going to college and getting a degree in music.
• The primary cause of decreased enrollment in collegiate jazz programs.
• Improvements that colleges should make in their programs to meet the challenges of 2022 and beyond.
• What makes a great drum teacher?
• How seasoned drummers, especially those who have been playing professionally for multiple decades, should practice to see real improvement on the drum set.
• How any student can practice more effectively.

Additional Links:
Website – CarlAllen.com
Carl On Facebook
Carl On YouTube
Jazz Studies At UMKC

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.20 – Carl Allen: The Bandstand Is Sacred appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

This is a very special episode of Dial-A-Drummer and a replay of Brian’s new weekly Amazon Music /AMP live radio show called “Drum Corner Radio” (more on that later).

GET AMAZON’S AMP APP AND TUNE IN TO BRIAN’S WEEKLY SHOW LIVE, GO TO LIVE.ONAMP.COM/BRIANSTEPHENS (or search for @brianstephens on the AMP app)

Few drummers have the sort of extensive and impressive discography of drummer Jeff Porcaro. The list of artists that he has recorded with looks like the Who’s Who of Popular Contemporary Music and includes names like Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Michael McDonald, Pink Floyd, Micheal Jackson, Eric Clapton, and… so many others that it would be easier to list all of the artists that Jeff did NOT record with than list all those on his discography.

Jeff was also a founding member of the band Toto and played on all of their albums up until his untimely death at the age of 38 in 1992.

In this episode, Brian and Rich Mangicaro talk about Jeff’s recording history, the drums and cymbals that he used, and so much more. Rich is one of the best resources on all things JP because he was both Jeff’s close personal friend and his Artist Relations rep at Paiste cymbals.

RICH’S BIO:

Rich Mangicaro has been a professional musician all his adult life. He’s performed and/or recorded with many of music’s most influential artists including 15 years as a band member of Eagles founder, the late Glenn Frey. Rich has also worked with Joe Walsh, Jeff Bridges, Aaron Neville, The Tubes, James Morrison, Venice, Michael McDonald, David Crosby, Jackson Browne and many more.

As a music journalist, Rich has written for Modern Drummer, Drumhead, Drumscene, Percussive Notes, Edge, Rhythm UK and Batteur, enjoying both national and international recognition. Rich’s written word strives to show the person behind the name, what makes them who they are and how they achieved their success, from a vantage point of his own experience as a professional musician.

Recognized as one of the music instrument industry’s foremost authorities in the field of Artist Relations, Rich spent 19 years as Director of Artist Relations for the Paiste cymbal company and currently is Artist Relations Manager for both Gon Bops, Inc. and Innovative Percussion, Inc., signing endorsement contracts with some of the worlds most influential drum/percussion artists.

Along with his artist relations work and continually performing and recording, Mangicaro is the creator, producer and editor of the web series on You Tube, “The Art Of Improv” – a series about spontaneous artistic creation, featuring talents from music, dance, acting and photography. He has also created and edited video content for many artists and product promotions. Like his written word, Rich’s video pieces show an intimate side of the artist and provides insight into the music business from his professional vantage point.

In 2018, Rich released his debut instrumental album entitled “Travels”, featuring all original compositions and performed all the keyboards, drums and percussion. Rich Mangicaro is currently composing underscore music for Bedheads Music and just released his second album “Dialogues” which is now available on all of the streaming platforms.

Find out everything about Rich at RichMangicaro.com

TONIGHT’S AMP PLAYLIST:

• “That’s Why”: Michael McDonald
• “Home Of The Brave”: Toto
• “Human Touch”: Bruce Springsteen
• “Stay The Night”: Chicago
• “Lover Of Love”: Allen Toussaint
• “Calling Elvis”: Dire Straits

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.19 – Rich Mangicaro: The Drumming of Jeff Porcaro appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

Today, Brian talks with freelance drummer, private lesson instructor, and podcast host Zack Albetta.

Throughout his 20-year career in many musical roles, Zack has built a reputation as a versatile and tasteful craftsman behind the drums. He has called Atlanta home since 2016 after productive years in Kansas City and Los Angeles.

Zack currently  maintains a busy and rewarding performance schedule with some of the Southeast’s best talent including Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, Delta Moon, The Emerald Empire Band, and The ATL Collective.

Zack is the co-host of Working Drummer Podcast, and has written for PercussiveNotes, OnlineDrummer.com, and DrummersResource.com. 

He is an artist endorser for Sakae Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, and Vater Drumsticks.

In this episode, originally recorded during the second week of April 2020, Brian & Zack talk about life after a month in the COVID lockdown They discuss:

• The current state of the live music side of their income stack
• How teaching private lessons has changed in the virtual education space
• What Zack has done to outfit himself with a working home studio and how he’s leveraging social media to generate heightened awareness of his drumming.
• Plans for the future should the COVID pandemic last longer than currently anticipated.

Next week, we will catch up with Zack and see how things have developed over the last 8 months. If you have any questions you’d like to ask Zack, please email them to [email protected] and we’ll read them on the next episode.

Follow Zack online at:
Website – www.ZackAlbetta.com
Podcast – www.WorkingDrummer.net
Instagram – instagram.com/zack.albetta

This episode is sponsored by Session Ace: Remarkable Tools For Musical Craftsmen. Check out their complete line of in-ear monitors, studio microphones, high fidelity earplugs, cymbal cleaner, and other assorted gig tools specifically designed for musicians!! Find everything at https://SessionAce.com

The post Ep.18 – Zack Albetta (Part 1): Dealing With Downtime appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

NOTE: THERE IS NO VIDEO FOR THIS EPISODE

Brian returns after a 6 month hiatus to talk about where he’s been, what he’s been doing and what sort of revelations he has had over the course of this pandemic.

There is no intro music, no advertisers, and no frills in this episode. Just a deep discussion about what it means to be and what happens when you do your work, create your art, and do those other things that truly make you “YOU”.

The post Ep. 17: Being and Doing – Who Are You Now? appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.

Coronavirus: Music Industry In Crisis – PART 3 “What You Should AVOID During Lock-Down”

Along with being out of work, most musicians, audio engineers, music producers, and the assorted types of staffers that support these music industry professionals all over the globe are also on physical lockdown from the rest of the world during this Coronavirus epidemic.

Like the old saying goes, ‘An idle mind is the Devil’s playhouse’. In this episode, Brian talks about several things to AVOID during this period of lockdown. Instead of being distracted, checked out, or depressed, he gives you some alternatives that will keep you motivated, cheerful, focused, and in a Growth Mode.

If you need something to take your mind off of things for a while, check out past episodes of his Fader Jocks (FaderJocks.com) and Dial-A-Drummer (DialADrummer.net) podcasts.

If you have questions or need an ear for your concerns, feel free to email Brian at [email protected].

*Recorded and Filmed at: Secret Cove Studios

Music provided courtesy of Epidemic Sound

VISIT OUR SPONSOR –
– Session Ace: https://SessionAce.com/faderjocks
** Use the Promo Code FADERJOCKS when you check out to receive 10% OFF your entire order!!

The post Ep. 16C: Coronavirus – Music Industry In Crisis: PART 3 appeared first on Dial-A-Drummer Podcast.