Drummers on Drumming

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. 

SUBMIT YOUR LISTENER PICKS HERE

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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This week’s guest is Rob Humphreys. Originally from New Mexico, Rob currently lives in Los Angeles and has quite the impressive list of professional credits having played and/or recorded with Billy Ray Cyrus, Celine Dion, Karon O, Kacey Musgraves, Leonard Cohen, Theo Katzman, Elle King, Scary Pockets and MANY MORE. I absolutely love his playing. He’s just a cool damn dude. Maybe someday I can be rad like him. Anyway…I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Rob Humphreys into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

Check out Rob’s videos HERE

Check The Meters 1974 HERE

Check out Theo Katsman’s YouTube Channel 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.

ROB'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album That Thing You Do - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Artist - The Oneders

Release Year - 1996

Key Track(s) - That Thing You Do

Drummer - Guy Patterson (Kenny Arnoff, Adam Schlesinger)

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Album - Elastic

Artist - Joshua Redman

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - Molten Soul, Still Pushin’ That Rock

Drummer - Brian Blade

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Album - Rejuvenation

Artist - The Meters

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - People Say, Just Kissed My Baby, Jungle Man

Drummer - Zigaboo Modeliste

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Album - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Artist - Fiona Apple

Release Year - 2012

Key Track(s) - Left Alone

Drummer - Charlie Drayton

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Album - Be The Wheel

Artist - Theo Katzman

Release Year - 2023

Key Track(s) - She’s In My Shoe

Drummer - Jordan Rose

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HONORABLE MENTION:

-

Album - Fire Eater

Artist - Rusty Bryant

Release Year - 1971

Key Track(s) - Fire Eater

Drummer - Idris Muhammad

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 past week, we lost a very important member of the drumming community, Dom Famularo. Known as "Drumming's Global Ambassador" spent the last 30 years traveling the globe preaching the gospel of drumming. An intense performer, Dom remains one of the most respected solo drum artists in the world, with a career built solely upon his unique skills as a drummer, educator, author and motivational speaker.

Dom was a guest on this show in 2021 and it was, of course, a great chat chalk-full of life lessons. It was back before I asked the guests to pick 5 records that shaped them into the players they are today…instead I provided prompts (which I read aloud) and they answered them accordingly. Dom answers went far beyond drumming…of course 😊

I learned that Dom’s cancer had retuned back in June when I reached out regarding a little secret project I’m working on. After hearing about his health, the Big Fat Snare Drum team offered to organize a fundraiser to offset some of the costs of his cancer treatment, but in typical selfless fashion, Dom kindly insisted we raise awareness for his non-profit Can-Do Musos … an organization for disabled musicians. You can find out more about this non-profit at candomusos.com; you can donate directly on the website. 

I’ve learned a lot from Dom, far beyond the parameters of this conversation you’re about to hear, and so if you enjoy this podcast, Dom has indirectly impacted your life too. I have donated myself, and, if you have the ability, I encourage you to check it out. 

I have updated this chat a bit and, of course wanted to shoot it to the top of my feed not only to celebrate Dom’s life, but to promote his non-profit work and re-air an episode that will certainly leave you smiling and a better person. Rest in Peace Dom. I can’t wait to chat with you again on the other side. 

Also please visit WhyHunger.org

https://youtu.be/4zio72R2Nmw?si=CAiCNoBbQSt8ZMiR

Thank you for everything Dom and I hope you rest in peace. 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.

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

This week’s guest is THE Jimmy Chamberlin. He is a singular player that blends jazz/rock/prog and I was SO curious as to what his top 5 would be; and he did not disappoint. He is, of course, most known for his time with Smashing Pumpkins, but he's also formed his own group, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, in addition to a supergroup with Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan called Zwan. He's performed and recorded with Skysaw, Frank Catalano, and many more…and so…without further ado, I hope you enjoy the five records that helped shape Jimmy Chamberlin 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.

JIMMY'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Tony Williams Lifetime - Believe it

Artist - Tony Williams

Release Year - 1975

Key Track(s) - Fred / Proto-Cosmos

Drummer - Tony Williams

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Album - Blow by Blow

Artist - Jeff Beck

Release Year - 1975

Key Track(s) - Air Blower / Scatterbrain

Drummer - Richard Bailey

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Album - Captain Beyond

Artist - Captain Beyond

Release Year - 1972

Key Track(s) - Dancing Madly Backwards

Drummer - Bobby Caldwell

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Album - Unorthodox Behaviour

Artist - Brand X

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Euthanasia Waltz / Smacks / Euphoric Hysteria

Drummer - Phil Collins

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Album - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

Artist - Traffic

Release Year - 1971

Key Track(s) - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

Drummer - Jim Gordon

Honorable Mentions:

Real McCoy/McCoy Tyner

Empyrean Isles/Herbie Hancock

Wired/Jeff Beck

Gist of the Gemini/Gino Vanelli

Now he sings, Now he sobs/Chick Corea

Bill Evans/Any

Roxy and Elsewhere/Zappa

Pat Metheny Trio/99-00

Story of Neptune/Tony Williams

Dave Holland/Big Band

Blue Train/ John Coltrane

Any Lee Morgan

Any Art Blakey

Monk

Any Roy Haynes

Hank Jones

Any Elvin

Mose Allison

Weather Report

Jazz Crusaders

UK

Terry Bozzio

Bill Bruford

Ian Paice

Nate Smith

Nate Wood

...so many drummers - I'm inspired by anyone doing their own thing!

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 Tommy Igoe. Tommy is a world-class musician / producer / author / creator based in San Francisco, CA. He is the top-selling author in his field with four #1 titles on Amazon.com. He began drumming before the age of 2, started classical piano at 10, won every music competition available to him in High School, simultaneously winning two High Percussion awards with the legendary Bridgemen Drumlines.

In 1997, Tommy wrote the drum set book for Disney’s epic Broadway production of the “The Lion King” where he served as principal drummer and conductor. He has played drums on three Grammy award winning recordings and was voted the World’s #1 Jazz Drummer in the 2014 Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll. He has created two ongoing weekly musical residency at iconic Jazz clubs in New York and San Francisco. His New York band, The Birdland Big Band, is the most popular weekly music event in the city for the last 9 years. His most recent and exciting project is the Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy, a 15-piece supergroup from the San Francisco that has quickly become an integral part of the San Francisco cultural landscape.

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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.

TOMMY'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Apple Juice

Artist - Tom Scott

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - Instant Relief

Drummer - Steve Gadd

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Album - Buddy Rich Swinging New Band Band

Artist - Buddy Rich

Release Year - 1996

Key Track(s) - West Side Story Medley

Drummer - Buddy Rich

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Album - Blue Matter

Artist - John Scofield

Release Year - 1987

Key Track(s) - Blue Matter

Drummer - Dennis Chambers

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Album - Manhattan Burn

Artist - Paquito D'Rivera

Release Year - 1987

Key Track(s) - All The Things You Are

Drummer - Ignacio Berra

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Album - Live in Concert (in London)

Artist - Stan Kenton

Release Year - Recorded in 1972

Drummer - John Von Ohlen

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 Brandon Scott –– a fabulous drummer, YouTuber and cinematographer. I’ve been following his channel for YEARS and was really excited to finally get him on the show. Brandon’s YouTube channel is an exceptional blend of great playing, education, humor and VFX. In this episode we, of course, discuss the 5 records that helped shape Brandon into the drummer he is today, but we also touch on taking self-inventory of happiness and allowing all your passions to become one big “good life stew”…and where Brandon is at with all of that. Go check out his channel link in the show notes…and enjoy that chat! Alright cheers.

Check out Brandon’s YouTube Channel 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.

BRANDON'S BIG FAT FIVE 👇🏻

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Album - Self Titled

Artist - Blink-182

Release Year - 2003

Key Track(s) - I Miss You

Drummer - Travis Barker

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Album - Moving Pictures

Artist - Rush

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - Tom Sawyer / YYZ

Drummer - Neil Peart

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Album - Systematic Chaos

Artist - Dream Theater

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - In The Presence of Enemies / Constant Motion

Drummer - Mike Portnoy

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Album - Colors

Artist - Between the Buried and Me

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Prequel to the Sequel / White Walls

Drummer - Blake Richardson

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Album - We Like It Here

Artist - Snarky Puppy

Release Year - 2014

Key Track(s) - What About Me?

Drummer - Larnell Lewis

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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