Drummers on Drumming

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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.

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This week’s guest is Zach Jones. Zach is a is a drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer from Brooklyn, NY. Zach has performed and recorded with artists such as Sting, Ingrid Michaelson, A Great Big World, Elle King, and many more. He also writes and records music with his own group, Zach Jones & the Tricky Bits. He’s the kindest dude ever; I was smiling the whole time. We could all benefit from being a little more like Zach on and off the kit so I know you’ll enjoy my chat with Zach Jones about the 5 records that helped shape 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.

ZACH’S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - With The Beatles

Artist - The Beatles

Release Year - 1963

Key Track(s) - It Won’t Be Long, All I’ve Got to Do, All My Loving, I Wanna Be Your Man

Drummer - Ringo Starr

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Album - ‘60s Soul: When A Man Loves A Woman

Artist - Various

Release Year - 1997

Key Track(s) - Soul Man, Knock On Wood, Chain Of Fools

Drummer - Al Jackson, Jr., Roger Hawkins

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Album - Live

Artist - James Taylor

Release Year - 1993

Key Track(s) - Your Smiling Face, Mexico, Country Road

Drummer - Carlos Vega

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Album - Every Breath You Take: The Classics

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1995

Key Track(s) - Can’t Stand Losing You, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

Drummer - Stewart Copeland

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Album - The Royal Scam

Artist - Steely Dan

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Kid Charlemagne, The Caves of Altamira, Green Earrings

Drummer - Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta (Everything You Did)

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Any Honorable Mentions?

“When The Pawn…”, Fiona Apple, Matt Chamberlain on drums

“Transatlanticism” & “Plans”, Death Cab For Cutie, Jason McGerr on drums

“Riot!” & “After Laughter”, Paramore, Zac Farro on drums

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

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This week’s guest is Griffin Goldsmith, drummer for the band Dawes. I’ve been lucky enough to see Griffin perform a few times in person the last month and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite drummers. Also…Dawes just released a 10TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION of their album “Stories Dont End” on limited edition storm cloud vinyl with Remixed & Remastered songs + 6 Bonus Tracks. You can check out that and all their other offerings at dawestheband.com

In addition to Dawes, Griff has also worked with countless artists such as Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, Robbie Robertson, Jim Keltner, Elvis Costello, Sharon Von Etten, Angel Olson, Jenny Lewis, Bahamas and the list goes on and on. He’s recently added film scoring to his list of accomplishments. His delicate and deliberate touch is timeless and honors the gold standard of what it means to be a studio musician. Conversations like this are why I get so excited every week to talk to the best drummers of the day. Griffin’s choices are sourced from the apex of human artistry behind the kit and I know you will all be better drummers after hearing what he has to say. Please enjoy my conversation with Griffin Goldsmith…also please go down a rabbit hole of his playing, not only throughout the entire Dawes catalogue, but all the artists I just mentioned. I can't stress enough how underrated he is. 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.

GRIFF'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Think!

Release Year - 1960

Artist - James Brown & The Famous Flames

Album - Stax Profiles: Little Milton

Release Year - 2006

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Artist - Little Milton

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - Let Me Down Easy (the fill at 2:36)

Drummer - Calep Emphrey Jr.

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Album - Good News

Release Year - 1977

Artist - Attitudes

Song Choice - Drink My Water

Drummer - Jim Keltner

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Album - Desire

Release Year - 1976

Artist - Bob Dylan

Key Track(s) - Oh, Sister

Drummer - Howard Wyeth

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Album - The Royal Scam

Release Year - 1976

Artist - Steely Dan

Key Track(s) - Kid Charlemagne

Drummer - Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

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Album - No Secrets

Release Year - 1972

Artist - Carly Simon

Key Track(s) - You're So Vain

Drummer - Jim Gordon

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

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This week’s guest is Evan Woodle. I was turned onto Evan’s playing through a previous guest of the podcast, Sheridan Riley of the band Alvvays. Evan got his start in the internationally acclaimed Roosevelt High School jazz program in Seattle before going on to earn a Jazz Studies degree from the University of Washington. Go huskies. Evan has toured the world with countless acts, but remains an ambassador for the Seattle Jazz Scene. He maintains a private drum studio, works with local jazz institution Origin Arts, and is one of the co-founders and current organizers of the Racer Sessions, a bimonthly free-improvisation series and a forum for cutting-edge composers and performers. I am a huge fan of his playing, knowledge, and perspective on music so I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Evan Woodle 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.

YONI'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Kind of Blue

Artist - Miles Davis

Release Year - 1959

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

Drummer - Jimmy Cobb

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Album - Yaya3

Artist - Yaya3

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - Slow Orbit

Drummer - Brian Blade

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Album - Speak

Artist - Speak

Release Year - 2010

Key Track(s) - Amalgam in the Middle, Mustard Knuckles

Drummer - Chris Icasiano

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Album - Offend Maggie

Artist - Deerhoof

Release Year - 2008

Key Track(s) - Jagged Fruit

Drummer - Greg Saunier

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Album - Heigh Ho

Artist - Blake Mills

Release Year - 2014

Key Track(s) - Just Out of View

Drummer - Jim Keltner

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HONORABLE MENTION

Album - I Have the Room Above Her

Artist - Paul Motian / Bill Frisell / Joe Lovano

Release - 2005

Drummer - Paul Motian

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

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This week’s guest is Yoni Madar. Yoni is an Israeli multi-instrumentalist with an incredible facility on the kit; it’s a mad scientist level of technical ability. He has released multiple books on his unique approach to technique that I urge everyone go check them out on his website www.madardrum.com. Once there, you can also contact him about private lessons 😊 Yoni truly is a drummer to the core. I hope you enjoy the 5 records that shaped Yoni Madar into the multi-instrumentalist 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.

YONI'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Selling England by the Pound

Artist - Genesis

Release Year - 1973

Key Track(s) - Dancing With the Moonlit Knight

Drummer - Phil Collins

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Album - Wind & Wuthering

Artist - Genesis

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Wot Gorilla?

Drummer - Phil Collins

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Album - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Artist - Genesis

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - Anyway

Drummer - Phil Collins

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Album - The Gist of the Gemini

Artist - Gino Vannelli

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - The Battle Cry

Drummer - Graham Lear

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Album - The Court of the Crimson King

Artist - King Crimson

Release Year - 1969

Key Track(s) - Moonchild

Drummer - Michael Giles

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

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This week’s guest is Branden Steineckert. Brandon will always be a massive part of my childhood as a founding member of The Used (specifically the first two records for which he played drums and had a major role in the songwriting). But for the last decade, Branden has also been the drummer for Rancid; he’s a legend playing with legends. I was uniquely excited about this one so I hope you enjoy my chat with Branden Steineckert 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.

BRANDEN'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Nevermind

Artist - Nirvana

Release Year - 1991

Key Track(s) - Territorial Pissings

Drummer - Dave Grohl

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Album - Rage Against The Machine

Artist - Rage Against The Machine

Release Year - 1992

Key Track(s) - Killing In The Name

Drummer - Brad Wilk

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Album - Dookie

Artist - Green Day

Release Year - 1994

Key Track(s) - Longview

Drummer - Tre Cool

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Album - Get Some

Artist - Snot

Release Year - 1997

Key Track(s) - I Jus’ Lie

Drummer - Jamie Miller

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Album - The Shape of Punk To Come

Artist - Refused

Release Year - 1998

Key Track(s) - New Noise

Drummer - David Sandström

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Honorable Mentions:

Nine Inch Nails - Trent Reznor

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Chad Smith

Korn - Self Titled - David Silveri

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

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This week’s guest is Travis Orbin…Travis is a progressive / metal-leaning drummer who has recorded and/or performed with Darkest Hour, Of Legends, Sky Eats Airplane, Periphery and many more heavy hitters. He’s probably the most technically proficient drummer we’ve had on the show, but he’s also one of the most creative and prolific. His setup is also very unique…often being described as a “minimalist, quasi-open-stance kit”. He’s very well-studied in his craft as both a drummer and composer, and I hope you enjoy the 5-ish records that helped shape Travis Orbin into the musician he is today. Cheers!

Dennis Chambers – Serious Moves (ft. J. Scofield, G. Grainger, J. Beard) - WATCH 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.

TRAVIS' BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - ...And Justice for All

Artist - Metallica

Release Year - 1988

Key Track(s) - One, The Frayed Ends of Sanity

Drummer - Lars Ulrich

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Album - Serious Moves (VHS)

Artist - Dennis Chambers (John Scofield)

Release Year - 1992

Key Track(s) - Trim

Drummer - Dennis Chambers

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Album - Soul Vaccination: Tower of Power Live

Artist - Tower Of Power

Release Year - 1999

Key Track(s) - Soul Vaccination, So Very Hard to Go

Drummer - David Garibaldi

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Album - Serious Young Insects

Artist - On The Virg

Release Year - 1999

Key Track(s) - Native Metal, Alien Hip-Hop

Drummer - Virgil Donati

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Album - Universe

Artist - Planet X

Release Year - 2000

Key Track(s) - Clonus

Drummer - Virgil Donati

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Album - Joe's Garage

Artist - Frank Zappa

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) - Catholic Girls

Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

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

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This week’s guest is Chris Icasiano - Chris is a Filipino-American percussionist and composer from Redmond, WA. His specialization in free-improvisation and experimental music combined with his vast experience with pop and rock have made him a highly sought after collaborator in all genres of music. His debut solo work Provinces explores the complexity of cultural identity and community as a second generation immigrant in Seattle.

You can find Chris on the road with Fleet Foxes and Pure Bathing Culture or at home in Seattle playing weirdo experimental shows as a soloist or with longtime drum and sax duo Bad Luck. I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Chris Icasiano 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.

CHRIS' BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Koln Concert

Artist - Keith Jarrett

Release Year - 1975

Key Track(s) - Part I

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Album - Perceptual

Artist - Brian Blade Fellowship

Release Year - 2000

Key Track(s) - Reconciliation

Drummer - Brian Blade

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Album - The Trials of Van Occupanther

Artist - Midlake

Release Year - 2006

Key Track(s) - Roscoe; Van Occupanther

Drummer - McKenzie Smith

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Album - Catch Thirty-Three

Artist - Meshuggah

Release Year - 2005

Key Track(s) - In Death - Is Death; Autonomy Lost; The Paradoxical Spiral

Drummer - Tomas Haake

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Album - Time (the revelator)

Artist - Gillian Welch

Release Year - 2001

Key Track(s) - I Dream a Highway; Dear Someone; Revelator

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

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I wanted to introduce a new segment for the show moving forward called 'Big Fat Favorites.' There are over 160+ episodes of this podcast and you know that I usually play more than 5 songs during the episodes so that means we've talked about almost 1000 songs so far! My whole goal with this show is to help people find their voice by interviewing the most creative and prolific drummers in the world and learning about THEIR influences. In order to keep up with that goal, I'm going to choose a favorite influence from a previous guest and share it at the end of every show. These songs stand out and are worthy of an additional spotlight. 

Also…I can't really give TOO much information yet, but I'm working on a book based on the podcast, so each drummer involved sent me a re-worded version of their explanations to be a little more concise…and that's what I'll be reading from. So, to kick it off, I am going to read 10 of my favorite choices, and then I'll play the songs … so there's no guest today. It's just Ben…but here are 10 of the greatest hits. In no particular order. 

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THIS WEEK'S BIG FAT FAVORITES:

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From Rajeev Madella

Album - Traveling Without Moving

Release Year - 1996

Artist - Jamiroquai

Key Track(s) - Do You Know Where You're Coming From

Drummer - Derrick McKenzie

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From Quinton Robinson

Album - Four Corners

Release Year - 1987

Artist - The Yellowjackets

Key Track(s) - Sightseeing

Drummer - Will Kennedy

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From Madden Klass

Album - Glass Drop

Artist - Battles

Release Year - 2011

Key Track(s) - Futura

Drummer - John Stanier

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From Guy Licatta

Album - Vintage Dread 2000

Release Year - 2009

Artist - Renegade aka Ray Keith

Song Choice - Terrorist

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From Griffin Goldsmith

Album - No Secrets

Release Year - 1972

Artist - Carly Simon

Song Choice - You’re So Vain

Drummer - Jim Gordon

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From Chris Marshak

Album - James Taylor Live

Release Year - 1993

Artist - James Taylor

Song Choice - Country Road

Drummer - Carlos Vega

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From Joe Plummer

Album - The Flowers of Romance

Artist - Public Image Ltd.

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - Four Enclosed Walls

Drummer - Martin Atkins

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From Neal Daniels

Album - Over-Nite Sensation

Release Year - 1973

Artist - Frank Zappa

Key Track(s) - I'm The Slime

Drummer - Ralph Humphrey

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From Jesse Kongos

Album - The Cure

Artist - Keith Jarrett Trio

Release Year - 1990

Key Track(s) - The Cure

Drummer - Jack DeJohnette

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From Carson Gant

Album - Mr. Hands

Release Year - 1980

Artist - Herbie Hancock

Key Track - 4 A.M.

Drummer - Harvey Mason

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 Brody Simpson. I’ve been wanting to re-work this episode and shoot it to the top of the feed because this conversation, which originally aired in August of 2020, is an episode that I quote all the time when chatting to current guests–whether it makes it into the shows or not. My motto has been “just repeat Brody’s opinions and people will think you’re insightful and creative”. But anyways, if you don’t know Brody, he’s a New Zealand-based drummer and studio owner who has been blowing people’s minds on social media for years. His unique, broken-while-being-perfectly-unbroken grooves are at the forefront of the dilla / Neo soul movement and, to be honest, his breakdown of that style of drumming is worth its weight in gold. His choices are great, but a lot different than one might expect. Before listening to this episode, I encourage you to go down the rabbit hole of his playing, because I ask him a lot of specific questions about his videos. Regardless, I hope you enjoy this new and improved chat about the 5 records that shaped Brody Simpson into the player her 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.

BRODY'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Grace

Release Year - 1994

Artist - Jeff Buckley

Key Track(s) - Lover, You Should Have Come Over

Drummer - Matt Johnson

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Album - Nevermind

Release Year - 1991

Artist - Nirvana

Key Track(s) - Drain You

Drummer - David Grohl

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Album - 21

Release Year - 2011

Artist - Adele

Key Track(s) - He Won't Go

Drummer - Chris "Daddy" Dave

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Album - Thirteenth Step

Release Year - 2003

Artist - A Perfect Circle

Key Tracks - The Package

Drummer - Josh Freese

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Album - To Pimp A Butterfly

Release Year - 2015

Artist - Kendrick Lamar

Key Track(s) - Hood Politics

Drummer (if known) - Robert ‘Sput’ Searight?

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

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