Drummers on Drumming

By Ben HilzingerMusic Music Commentary Music Interviews

Drummers on Drumming episodes

February 04 Patch Mahoney (Hilary Duff, Bebe Rexha) shares the records that shaped his playing.
Welcome back to Big Fat Five, a segment of Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This episode is a first for the show. For the first time ever, Big Fat Five has two hosts. I explain it more at the top of the episode, but today Eric Urrea is joining me as a co-host. Eric’s someone I trust musically and personally, and having him in the room added a different kind of energy and flow that I really loved. It felt natural, and honestly, it raised the bar.
Our guest today is Patch Mahoney. Patch and I share the same lockout facility, and I walk past his room all the time. I’ve wanted to have him on the show for a while, not just because he’s a great drummer, but because he’s genuinely one of the nicest dudes around. Patch plays with Hilary Duff, Bebe Rexha, and many more and has built a career rooted in taste, feel, and adaptability. We sat down and talked through the records that helped shape him into the drummer he is today, and along the way we got into things like practice habits, recording yourself, restraint, gospel influence, drum tones, and how a drummer’s voice actually develops over time. And with that, here’s Patch Mahoney’s Big Fat Five.

PATCH'S BIG FAT FIVE:
-
Artist – Tower Of Power
Album – Tower Of Power
Release Year – 1973
Key Track – “What Is Hip?”
Drummer – David Garibaldi
-
Artist – Steely Dan
Album – Aja
Release Year – 1977
Key Track – “Aja”
Drummer – Steve Gadd
-
Artist – Phoenix
Album – Bankrupt!
Release Year – 2013
Key Track – “Entertainment”
Drummer – Thomas Hedlund
-
Artist – Young The Giant
Album – Home Of The Strange
Release Year – 2016
Key Track – “Titus Was Born”
Drummer – Francois Comtois
-
Artist – Transformation Worship
Album – Overflow: The Album (Live)
Release Year – 2024
Key Track – “Impossible? (Nothing At All) – Live”
Drummer – Tony Taylor
-
Honorable Mentions:
Glory Sound Prep – Jon Bellion
Random Access Memories – Daft Punk
The Captain and Me – The Doobie Brothers
---
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

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51 min
January 28The Drum Panel: Gunnar would request a bald cap first
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ... a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This week's Drum Panel features myself (Ben Hilzinger) alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer) aka **The Dream Team**
We talk about:
The specific tools we each use to stay on top of gigs, holds, and payments

The not-so-obvious challenges of over-scheduling and saying “yes” to everything

Gunnar’s hot take on whether live percussionists should be allowed cymbals

How double-drummer bands actually work, including famous examples and personal wish lists

The real anxieties and logistics behind committing to tours vs. staying available for “dream” gigs or family

Practical advice for 22-year-old drummers moving to new cities—and why being physically local still matters for working players

Social media as a calling card: when it helps, when it’s oversaturated, and how to post for the gigs you want
---
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

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47 min
January 21The Drum Panel: The Bubble Solution
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ... a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum
This week’s Drum Panel has me joined by Mark Stepro and Kris Mazzarisi for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when gigs fall through, routines get shaken, and you’re forced to rethink how you want to work and live as a drummer.
In this episode, we talk about:
How to respond when a major gig disappears

Why direct, personal outreach still beats mass posts

Aging, touring, and shifting priorities

Social media’s role vs real relationships

Practicing vs working, and why confusing them stalls growth

Tracking progress without over-measuring

Onstage anxiety, depersonalization, and mental spirals

Balancing family, business, touring, and sanity

Letting go of shame around how your brain works

Building a career that isn’t dependent on constant touring
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
58 min
January 14The Drum Panel: A narcissist and a self-deprecator walked into a bar [gig]...
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City.
We talk honestly about rejection, identity, and what actually gets built in the moments when things don’t go your way.
In this episode, we talk about:
Rejection as a mirror, not a verdict, and how quickly one “no” can distort your self-image

The danger of ruminating on tiny moments, and how over-analyzing the past steals energy from the present

Why authenticity matters more than perfection, and how trying to manage how others see you leads to bad fits

The hidden value of “failed” prep, and how deep study always compounds even when the gig disappears

The emotional difference between ego pain and income fear, and how each one shapes your reactions

Balancing confidence and self-doubt, and why artists need both to stay sharp and grounded

How unclear communication creates unnecessary emotional weight, and what that reveals about professional culture

Why creative freedom often shows up disguised as disappointment

New Year’s intentions around health, connection, communication, and long-term sustainability

Letting go of shame around how you work, and learning to build systems that actually fit you
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
39 min
January 07The Drum Panel: We all chose Grandma as our least favorite
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
Happy New Year. This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City.

In this episode, we talk about:
Burnout as a signal, not a failure, and how to tell when you actually need to step back

The success trap of linking worth to being busy, and how scarcity thinking keeps you stuck

Dependability, kindness, and the invisible parts of your reputation that shape your career

Grace under pressure, and what tech failures and bad shows reveal about who you are on stage

Confidence without arrogance, and how to take your craft seriously without taking yourself too seriously
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
53 min
December 17, 2025 My favorite moments from 2025 - Part Two
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This week features another batch of my favorite clips over the past year. Let me know if you agreeeee.
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
48 min
December 10, 2025 My favorite moments from 2025 - Part One
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This week features a few of my favorite clips over the past year. Let me know if you agreeeee.
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
41 min
December 10, 2025The Drum Panel: 15 sec > 15 min
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
Featuring myself, Ben Hilzinger, with Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, TrackTribe) & Eric Urrea (Marina City)
Inside this episode
The real life of high-output music production

How drummers survive the modern content grind without losing their mind

Touring vs session vs teaching: finding the mix that keeps you sane

When your “Instagram drum sound” fights your natural playing

How to meet heroes backstage without being that guy

Building drum sounds, dealing with phase, and chasing ideas that actually feel good

Progress, burnout, and what it means to “feel like a drummer” again
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 5 min
November 26, 2025The Drum Panel: Choose your hard, but don't get bajiggity
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This week features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) & Zack Albetta (Working Drummer podcast, & Juliet Broadway tour)
Inside this episode:
When to chase a stable gig and when to walk away

How Broadway touring shapes your mind, body, and playing

Staying confident when you’re surrounded by people who could change your career

The honest math behind consistency vs freedom
---
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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
57 min
November 19, 2025 Madden Klass (Chappell Roan, Boygenius) shares the records that shaped her playing
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
This is another installment of Big Fat Five, where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the instrument. Today’s guest is Madden Klass.
Madden grew up in New York and built a reputation as a player who can seamlessly transition between power, finesse, and tight technical playing without losing the heart of the song. She’s toured with Boygenius, Chappell Roan, Watsky, Mike Doughty, Wheatus, Big Wild, Matt Maltese, Nat & Alex Wolff, Allison Ponthier, and Dixie D’Amelio, while also carving out her own sound through original projects. With roots in progressive rock and pop, Madden has always treated the drum chair as part of the composition, not just the support.

MADDEN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Performance - Ilan Rubin's solo at the 2011 Guitar Center Drum-Off
Drummer – Ilan Rubin
-
Artist – Battles
Album – Glass Drop
Release Year – 2011
Key Track – "Futura"
Drummer – John Stanier
-
Artist – Hiatus Kaiyote
Album – Live in Revolt EP

Key Track – "Sphynx Gate"
Drummer – Perrin Moss

Artist – The Aristocrats
Album – The Aristocrats
Release Year – 2011
Key Track – "Bad Asteroid"
Drummer – Marco Minnemann
-
Artist – Ash Soan
Release Year – 2020
Key Track – "Ghostship Time-out" (video)
Drummer – Ash Soan
---
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

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

About Drummers on Drumming

From the publisher's feed

A podcast for drummers who think too much. Ben Hilzinger talks to the greats about creativity, identity, staying sane, and finding purpose behind the kit.