Drummers on Drumming

This week’s guest is Eric Somers-Urrea…a Chicago-based drummer, educator and producer who I very-much admire both on and off the kit. His main project is a band called Marina City and his sincerity / kindness as a person matches his incredible prowess on the drums. I just can’t say enough good things about him.

This is a edited and re-airing of my conversation with Eric from a few years ago so some references are a little dated, but I'm pushing this to the top of the feed because I might be switching things up a bit and, to keep things cryptic, let's just say I want you to get to know Eric a little bit more. Stay tuned. Please enjoy our chat about the 5 main influences that shaped Eric into the drummer he is today, but first…we play a little game. Cheers!

---

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.

ERIC'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Performance - Drum Corps International 2004 Finals

Release Year - 2004

Artist - The Cavaliers

Song Choice - https://youtu.be/KpUuMM1y2_o?t=140 (anywhere between 2:20-4:20ish)

Drummer - The Cavaliers Drumline

-

Album - Quadrophenia

Release Year - 1973

Artist - The Who

Song Choice - The Real Me (1:30ish)

Drummer - Keith Moon

-

Album - Deadwing

Release Year - 2005

Artist - Porcupine Tree

Song Choice - Glass Arm Shattering (3:30ish)

Drummer - Gavin Harrison

-

Album - Mer De Noms

Release Year - 2000

Artist - A Perfect Circle

Song Choice - Judith (2:40)

Drummer - Josh Freese

-

Album - With Teeth

Release Year - 2005

Artist - Nine Inch Nails

Song Choice - All the Love in the World

Drummer - Dave Grohl/ Trent Reznor

-

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

"Glass Prison" by Dream Theater

"Heart Don't Stand a Chance" by Anderson .Paak (Tiny Desk Concert version 3:45)

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Megan Spencer, a talented young drummer and educator from just outside Los Angeles. Megan recently caught my attention with her amazing cover of Marques Murrey's Million Dollar Baby remix, and I was instantly drawn to her unique tones and vibe. So, I’m excited to have her on the show!  I'm always grateful for the opportunity to connect with new drummers who inspire ME and learn about the drummers who inspired THEM, in hopes of inspiring YOU. Thanks for hanging around. Today, Megan will share the five records that have significantly shaped her journey as a drummer. Enjoy the episode! Cheers!

---

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.

MEGAN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Innervisions

Artist - Stevie Wonder

Release Year - 1973

Key Track - Higher Ground

Drummer - Stevie Wonder

-

Album - Bad

Artist - Michael Jackson

Release Year - 1987

Key Track - Smooth Criminal, Bad, Dirty Diana, Man in the Mirror

Drummer - John (JR) Robinson

-

Album - Ten Summoner’s Tales

Artist - Sting

Release Year - 1993

Key Track - Seven Days

Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

-

Album - Alive in South Africa

Artist - Israel Houghton & New Breed

Release Year - 2005

Key Track - Turn it Around, Still Standing

Drummer - Mike Clemmons

-

Album - Loopified

Artist - Dirty Loops

Release Year - 2014

Key Track - Hit Me, Rolling in the Deep

Drummer - Aron Mellergard

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Chris Fryar, primarily known for his work with the Zac Brown Band. He has also worked with Oteil and the Peacemakers, led by bassist Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band, as well as with Victor Wooten, John Popper, Steve Bailey, and many more.

Chris is powerful, creative, and consistent, yet very reactive and conversational with his playing. I was so happy to chat with him. I'll be honest—I haven't really said this in an intro before, but this conversation is what I envisioned when I started this podcast. Chris is incredible at sharing his story through his choices and offers invaluable advice along the way.

This is hands down one of my favorite episodes. Please enjoy my chat with Chris Fryar about the five records that shaped him into the musician he is today. And make sure you check out his honorable mentions. He's got plenty, and they'll all make you a better player. I promise.

---

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.

CHRIS' BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Zenyatta Mondatta

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1980

Key Track(s) - Shadows In The Rain, Driven To Tears, When The World Is Running Down

Drummer - Stewart Copeland

-

Album - Ten Summoner's Tales

Artist - Sting

Release Year - 1993

Key Track(s) - Seven Days, St. Augustine in Hell, She's Too Good For Me, Shape of My Heart

Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

-

Album - Kind of Blue

Artist - Miles Davis

Release Year - 1959

Key Track(s) - So What, All Blues, Freddie Freeloader

Drummer - Jimmy Cobb

-

Album - Live and In Living Color

Artist - Tower Of Power

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Knock Yourself Out (live), What Is Hip (live)

Drummer - David Garibaldi

-

Album - Robben Ford & The Blue Line

Artist - Robben Ford

Release Year - 1992

Key Track(s) - You Cut Me To The Bone, Real Man, Prison Of Love

Drummer - Tom Brechtlein

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Aja - Steely Dan

Big Swing Face - Buddy Rich Big Band

TOTO IV - TOTO

Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin

Moving Pictures - Rush

Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack - various artists

Life On Planet Groove - Maceo Parker

At Fillmore East - Allman Brothers Band

HELP! - The Beatles

Rubber Soul - the Beatles

Revolver - the Beatles

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman

Apple Juice - Tom Scott

Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit

Heavy Weather - Weather Report

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Mark Guiliana, a visionary drummer and solo artist known for his eclectic style that blends jazz, electronic, and experimental music. He’s worked with artists like David Bowie, Brad Mehldau, St. Vincent, and has his own projects such as the Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet and Beat Music.

Mark continuously pushes the boundaries of rhythm and sound, earning him a reputation as a trailblazer in contemporary music. This is a condensed version of my conversation with Mark from early 2021. With his new album, Mark, coming out in July 2024, I wanted to highlight his insights and present an episode that fits better with our current format.

Instead of a top 5 list of records, I gave Mark a set of prompts to choose from, and we went from there. There’s so much wisdom in this chat, so even if you heard it before, give it another listen. I definitely learned new things the second time around.

Concierto de Osain del Monte VIDEO

---

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Porter Bliquez, a young American drum prodigy from San Francisco. Despite his age, Porter has already recorded and performed with award-winning producers and musicians associated with Kevin Gates, Olivia Rodrigo, Haan, Andy Prado Jr., and more.

While still attending USC, Porter manages to carve out time to make a significant impact in both the LA and online drum communities. At my ripe old age of 37, it's refreshing to connect with the younger generation of drummers and see what’s happening in their world. Porter is destined for the biggest stages globally, so I'm thrilled if this is the episode that introduces you to him. Please enjoy the records that helped shape Porter into the exceptional drummer he is today. Cheers!

Eric Harland - Zildjian Performance Video HERE

---

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.

PORTER'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Homey

Artist - Chon

Release Year - 2017

Key Track(s) - Sleepy Tea / Water slide

Drummer - Brian Evans

-

Album - Black Focus

Artist - Yussef Kammal

Release Year - 2016

Key Track(s) - Strings of Light / Wingtai Drums / Joint 17

Drummer - Yussef Dayes

-

Album - Chon

Artist - Chon

Release Year - 2019

Key Track(s) - Peace / Pitch Dark

Drummer - Brian Evans

-

Album - Two Star & The Dream Police

Artist - Mk.gee

Release Year - 2024

Key Track(s) - Rylee & I / Dream Police / DNM / How Many Miles

Drummer - Micheal Gordon

-

Album - Misadventures

Artist - Peirce the Veil

Release Year - 2016

Key Track(s) - Song For Isabel / Texas is Forever / Phantom Power / Ludicrous Speed

Drummer - Mike Fuentes

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Wiktoria Bialic. Wiktoria has been nominated for four Grammy awards for her recordings on Allison Russell's album, "The Returner." She has also recorded drums for Grammy-winning musicians like Ondre J. Pavic, Alex Marley, Maati Baani, Ralph Kaminski, SARSA, and various other artists and producers from Britain, India, Scotland, Poland, America, and Puerto Rico.

Wiktoria collaborated with Zildjian Artist Ash Soan on the single "Dark Dark Days" by Black Dog All Starsand often fills in for other well-known drummers in Poland. She won the Hit Like A Girl contest in 2021 and has performed at prestigious drum festivals such as PASIC, Bag Show, The UK Drum Show, and Silesia Drum Festival.

You can find her Instagram HERE and listen to a Spotify playlist featuring many of her recordings HERE. Wiktoria offers a great perspective on excelling as a studio musician, so get ready to improve your drumming skills. I hope you enjoy the recordings that shaped Wiktoria Bialic into the musician she is today.

---

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.

WIKTORIA'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Exodus

Artist - Bob Marley

Release Year - 1977

Key Track(s) 0 Three Little Birds / One Love / Whole Record :)

Drummer - Carlton Barrett

-

Album - The Returner

Artist - Allison Russell

Release Year - 2023

Key Track(s) - Stay Right Here / Springtime

Drummer - Wiktoria Bialic

-

Album VoodoO

Artist - D'Angelo

Release Year - 2000

Key Track(s)

The Root

Drummer - Questlove

-

Album - Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Artist - Little Feat

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - Skin It Back

Drummer - Richie Hayward

-

Album - 7

Artist - Seal

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - Redzone Killer

Drummer - Ash Soan

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Brandon Combs. Brandon is a drummer, programmer, and producer hailing from Lansing, Michigan. Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Popular Music Studies from the University of Southern California in 2015 and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s worked with so many amazing artists, including Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, Joy Oladakun, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Moses Sumney, Tori Kelly, Greyson Chance, Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, and many more. He’s got a lot of energy and his choices center around very hirable theme. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shaped Brandon Combs into the artist he is today. Cheers!

---

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.

BRANDON'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Perpetual motion

Artist - Dave Weckl Band

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - Child's play

Drummer - Dave Weckl

-

Album - Heavier Things

Artist - John Mayer

Release Year - 2003

Key Track(s) - New Deep / Something's Missing,

Drummer - Steve Jordan

-

Album - Somethin' Bout Love

Artist - Brian Culbertson

Release Year - 1999

Key Track(s) - Do you Really Love Me?

Drummer - Chris Miskel

-

Album - Mixtape - Volume One

Key Track(s) - Movin / Nine

Drummer - Ben Jones

-

Album - Opal / Brunei

Artist - Vinyl Williams

Release Year - 2018 / 2016

Key Track(s) - Lansing / Feedback Delicates

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Myles Sargent. Myles is a drummer, musical director and playback engineer based in Brighton, UK. Throughout his career, he's collaborated with an array of artists and bands, including The Japanese House, Justin Jesso, Calum Scott, Thomas Headon, Gabriels, Cavetown, Mae Stephens, Gang of Youths and MANY more. He’s quickly become one of my favorite online-converted-to-real-life buddies and I was excited to force him to answer my questions for an hour. I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shaped Myles Sargent into the player he is today. Cheers!

---

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.

MYLE'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - American Idiot

Artist - Green Day

Release Year - 2004

Key Track(s) - Holiday / American Idiot

Drummer - Tre Cool

-

Album - Rumours

Artist - Fleetwood Mac

Release Year - 1977

Key Track(s) - You Make Loving Fun / The Chain

Drummer - Mick Fleetwood

-

Album - Nm Brass 2015 - 1. Division

Artist - Oslofiord Brass

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - St. Magnus (5:45 it gets cooking)

Composer - Peter Maxwell Davies

-

Album - Little Voice

Artist - Sara Bareilles

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Vegas

Drummer - Matt Chamberlain

-

Album - Rickie Lee Jones

Artist - Rickie Lee Jones

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) - Chuck E's in Love (and that fill at 1:55)

Drummer - Steve Gadd

-

Any Honorable Mentions?

Album - Face Value

Artist - Phil Collins

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - In the Air Tonight 

Drummer - Phil Collins

-

Album - Regatta De Blanc

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) -  Walking on the Moon

Drummer - Stewart Copeland

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Steve Durham. Steve is a Drummer, Musical Director and Producer from London, UK. He began playing drums at 8 years old and was out on the road by the time he was 14. Since then he's worked with Louis Tomlinson (One Direction), Dermot Kennedy, Wolf Alice, Foals, Holly Humberstone, Aurora, Declan Mckenna, Marina and the Diamonds and more. I hope you enjoy the 5 records plus a few honorable mentions that helped shape Steve Durham into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

---

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.

STEVE'S BIG FAT FIVE

Album - VHS! Invisible Touch Tour

Artist - Genesis

Release Year - 1987

Key Track(s) - Drum Duet / Los Endos

Drummer - Phil Collins & Chester Thompson

WATCH HERE

-

Album - Who’s Next

Artist - The Who

Release Year - 1971

Key Track(s) - Won’t Get Fooled Again

Drummer - Keith Moon

-

Album - Colour Of Spring

Artist - Talk Talk

Release Year - 1986

Key Track(s) - Give It Up

Drummer - Lee Harris

-

Album - The Bends

Artist - Radiohead

Release Year - 1995

Key Track(s) - High and Dry

Drummer - Phil Selway

-

Album - Puzzle

Artist - Biffy Clyro

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Saturday Superhouse

Drummer - Ben Johnston

-

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Artist - Led Zeppelin

Key Tracks(s) - Good Times Bad Times / Whole Lotta Love

Drummer - John Bonham

-

Album - The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild

Artist - Sikth

Key Track - Skies of the Millennium Night

Release Year - 2003

Drummer - Dan ‘The Lord’ Foord 

-

Performance - Live at Woodstock '69

Artist - Santana

Key Track - Soul Sacrifice

Drummer - Michael Shrieve (age 20)

WATCH HERE

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Gunnar Olsen. Gunnar's been on the show a lot recently with "save it for the pod" segments. But I noticed his Big Fat Five episode is almost 4 years old, which is a shame. Recently, I went to the Hollywood Bowl with my friends Mike Robinson and Neal Daniels, both show alumni, to see Gunnar play with Puscifer on the Sessanta tour, celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday. It was mind-blowing. Gunnar is an incredible drummer, one of the best out there. At this show, Josh Freese was playing with A Perfect Circle, but now that Josh is busy with Foo Fighters gigs, Gunnar is playing with both Puscifer and A Perfect Circle for the rest of the tour. It's unbelievable and well-deserved. Puscifer is a perfect fit for Gunnar. Apart from this tour, Gunnar has also recorded or toured with Big Data, Bruce Springsteen, Miley Cyrus, HOKO, Mother Feather, Fischerspooner, Goo Goo Dolls, and many others. He's possibly my favorite drummer, and I admire him a lot. He's a close friend, and I always try to catch his shows when we're in the same town. Although this conversation is from 4 years ago, I wanted to bring it back up because the information is still relevant. It's fascinating to hear Gunnar talk about Tim Alexander of Primus, who has been a big influence on him, and now see them hanging out on tour together, seeming like best buds. Anyway, Gunnar, I'm really proud of you, and I admire your career more than you know, even though I tell you all the time. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shape Gunnar Olsen into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

---

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.

GUNNAR'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - ...And Justice For All

Artist - Metallica

Release Year - 1988

Key Track(s) - Harvester of Sorrow

Drummer - Lars Urich

-

Album - Reggatta De Blanc

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) - The Bed's Too Big Without You

Drummer - Stewart Copeland

-

Album - Songs for the Deaf

Artist - Queens of the Stone Age

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - Song for the Dead

Drummer - Dave Grohl

-

Album - Dust

Artist - Ben Monder

Release Year - 2006

Key Track(s) - Dust

Drummer - Jim Black

-

Album - Largo

Artist - Brad Mehldau

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - When It Rains

Drummer - Matt Chamberlain

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices