This week’s guest is…me! I’ve been getting a lot of questions from new listeners regarding my time in LA and asking for any advice on how to make strides in their drumming career. While I certainly don’t think I’m an authority on that matter, I still welcome these conversations. That being said, I wanted to upload this episode for a good reference as to what I tend to say time and time again. I also acknowledge that my favorite podcasts ARE my favorite podcasts because I feel like I know the host and, while I try to keep these conversations as causal as possible, I don’t really talk about myself and my history too much. Sooo a few months back, I interviewed Ryan Seaman for Big Fat Five, but Ryan has his own show as well on Idobi Radio called ‘Ryan Seaman and Friends’. After our chat for this podcast, I hopped on his show to talk about MY story as a drummer and offer some advice of varying credibility. I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little bit better and we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming soon! Also, please email me at [email protected] at any time to offer suggestions for the show e.g. comments, concerns, guest recommendations, congratulations on being such a great host - whatever you want! I’ve had some really kind people reach out as of late and it truly means the world. I don’t take any of it for granted. Anyways, enough about me. Here’s an episode all about me! Cheers. 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is my good buddy, E-MAN - drummer and recording extraordinaire. His main project these days is Andy Grammer, but he’s always busy recording out of his home studio near. Over the years, he’s worked with many amazing artists and producers including Gwen Stefani, Cody Simpson, Steve Lukather, Tommy Page, Tyler Johnson, Rabbit and it goes on and on and ON. He’s performed on SNL, David Letterman, The Tonight Show – basically all the shows 😊 But, at the end of the day, I consider him a dear friend and he’s just got a genuinely good and playful soul. I hope you enjoy the five records that shaped E-MAN into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

Check out his loops pack HERE

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Brendan Buckley…a drummer with an incredible resume that includes Shakira, Perry Farrell, Morrissey, Tegan and Sara, Damian Rice, JJ Lin and many more. I gush all about his playing to his face in the chat so I’ll leave that there, but I will say that he is one of the most articulate guests we’ve had on the show in regards to setting up each of his choices; and because of that, this is one of my favorites. He had a little bit of a different take on his choices, so buckle and enjoy this chat with Brendan Buckley. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

Brendan's Honorable Mentions (as promised)...

- Kenny Werner: "Meditation 1-4 "Effortless Mastery" 1996

- Carlos Vega: "Country Road" on James Taylor's "Live" 1993

- Omar Hakim: “Fortress Around Your Heart” on Sting’s “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” 1985 

- Steve Jordan: "Ramblin" on David Sanborn's "Upfront" 1992

- John Bonham: “Good Times Bad Times” on Led Zeppelin 1 1969

- Stephen Perkins: “Mountain Song” on Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing’s Shocking” 1988

- Matt Cameron: “Ugly Truth” on Soundgarden’s “Louder Than Love” 1989

- Dennis Chambers: "Blue Matter" on John Scofield's "Blue Matter" 1986 

- Matt Chamberlain: "A Sort Of Fairytale" on Tori Amos's "Scarlet's Walk" 2002

- Tony Williams: "So What" on Miles Davis's "Four And More" 1966

- Bill Stewart: “She’s So Lucky” on John Scofield’s “Hand Jive” 1994

- Boris Williams: “Icing Sugar” on The Cure’s “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me” 1987

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Josh Grigsby - a drummer I’ve looked up to and apparently ripped off for a quite some time. He was/is the drummer for Houston Calls (a now-defunct pop punk band from New Jersey who actually just announced a batch of reunion shows in June),  but he’s also the current drummer for Mae and Just Surrender. I hope you enjoy this chat with Josh Grigsby about the 5 records that shaped him into the player he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest Sheridan Riley - a drummer and overall fabulous musician based out of Washington State. Sheridan is the drummer for the band Alvvays (which I love) in addition to their own projects Peg and releases under their own name, Sheridan Riley. They’ve also worked with Avi Buffalo, Hand Habits, Cassandra Jenkins, John Mitchell Quartet, Time of Wolves, Fort Wife among many others. Sheridan is a such a kind, caring person and it shows in their conversational drumming. Please enjoy my chat with Sheridan Riley about the 5 records that shaped them into the player they are today. Cheers! 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Jeremy Taggart. Jeremy has been mentioned on the pod of few times in other drummer’s top 5 in regards to his previous work with the band Our Lady Peace…which Jeremy joined when he was 17 and remained their drummer until 2014. He’s also a fellow podcaster with his show “Tarrant & Torrens”…which we talk about at the end of the show (it's also a musical duo)…plus he's the co-auther of the book "Canadianity ".

Jeremy and my mutual friend (and yet another friend of the pod) Mike Robinson of Blame My Youth, K Flay, Oliver Tree sums up Jeremy’s playing in a great way. Quote “Jeremy’s drumming just seems so conversational and almost stream of conscious. But at the same time so deliberate”. I mean...that’s the gaol right? We also get into his friendship…it’ll make you love Elvin even more. All in all, Jeremy has an Infectious laugh and youthful playfulness thoughout this whole conversation. I loved it. Please enjoy this chat with Jeremey Taggart about the 5 records that shaped him into the player he is today. 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Dave Scalia. Dave is a Brooklyn-based professional drummer, producer, and songwriter. For the last 7 years, he’s been playing with Elle King, but throughout his career he’s also worked with White Rabbits, Dawn Richard, Theo Katzman, Miranda Lambert, A Great Big World, Darren Criss, Dierks Bentley and many more. He’s incredible, nuanced and purposeful, yet very elastic with his playing. I just love his style and I was extremely excited to chat with him. Please enjoy the 5ish records that shaped Dave Scalia into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest Adam Christgau. Adam is one of THE go-to drummers in the live music scene. He’s worked with Tegan & Sara, Troye Sivan, Sia, Weezer, John Scofield, Kacey Musgraves, Brandon Flowers, Ingrid Michaelson, Chaka Kahn, LP, Dan Romer and, of course, many more. He’s also worked on music scores including Pixar’s Luca and HBO’s Station 11. In addition to musical endeavors, Adam owns and operates Christgau Design: a high-end custom furniture company. I’ve wanted to get Adam on the show for awhile and it seemed like a great time to do it after Stacy Jones spoke so highly of him during last week’s episode. So here we go, I hope you enjoy the top 5 records that shaped Adam Christgau into the drummer he is today. Cheers! 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Stacy Jones … a hell of a drummer, front man, guitarist, singer, producer and musical director. He is currently the musical director AND drummer for Miley Cyrus, the primary songwriter / singer / rhythm guitarist for American Hi-Fi and the drummer for Matchbox Twenty and Letters to Cleo. As a Musical Director, he’s also worked with Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, The Chainsmokers, Logic and Ryan Tedder, Noah Cyrus, Troye Sivan, 5 Seconds of Summer, Broods and many more. And to list off a few more names he’s worked with - Veruca Salt, Madonna, Everclear, Avril Lavigne, Ariana Grande, Joan Jett, The Flaming Lips, Sheryl Crow, Butch Walker…I mean…yeah. Get out your notepads for this one ya'll. This dude not only HOLDS the drum seat, but he HIRES drummers so he knows what works and what WILL GET YOU PAID. SORRY FOR THE CAPS! I can’t say enough good things about him. Please enjoy the 5 records that shaped Stacy Jones into the drummer he is today. 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.