Drummers on Drumming

By Ben HilzingerMusic Music Commentary Music Interviews

Drummers on Drumming episodes

August 13, 2025The Drum Panel: Your electrician is my favorite drummer
This Drum Panel brings together Brendan Buckley—drummer for Shakira, Perry Farrell, Morrissey, and more—and one of my closest friends, Gunnar Olsen of Puscifer, Mother Feather, Big Data, and ME to chat about...
...the difference between what works in the practice room and what works in an arena, charting versus memorizing, and how to respect the composition before making it your own. Brendan breaks down the “Shakira machine” and why clarity and projection beat busy parts when you’re playing to the back row.
We also cover deep-dive listening versus casting a wide net, Bowie’s Berlin era, and the time Brendan’s electrician turned out to be one of my favorite drummers—and his too. It’s equal parts practical advice, music history, and great road stories from working drummers.
Inside this episode
Arena truth: kick, snare, crashes beat ghost-note soup
The DW stainless kit that keeps coming back on tour
Shakira’s camp, subs, and how Brendan plans for “what if”
Learning 30 songs fast: charts, anchors, and staying calm
Deep-dive listening vs playlists, plus Bowie and Prince talk
The Alan Myers story and why “mic-friendly” drums matter
———
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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54 min
August 06, 2025The Drum Panel: What do you mean you like what I do?
Welcome back to The Drum Panel!
Featuring: Ben Hilzinger (me!), Joe Lana Jr. (@thecowboydrummer), and Eric Urrea (Marina City)
Inside this episode:
Why Creators Struggle to Accept Compliments

The Trap of Overthinking Content Creation

Balancing Comedy, Drumming, and Self-Worth Online

When Do You Feel Like a Drummer vs. an Impostor?

The Subtle Art of Playing Soft and Why Grip Debates Are Overrated
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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
46 min
July 30, 2025 Cain Daniel (Jesus Molina) breaks down the five records that influenced his playing
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another installment of Big Fat Five—where I ask my favorite drummers (and, honestly, just favorite people) to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the instrument.
Today’s guest is Cain Daniel. You might’ve caught him on a recent episode of The Drum Panel, but this time he’s here for the Big Fat Five treatment.
I first saw Cain play with Jesus Molina, and his creativity, clarity, and confidence behind the kit instantly stood out in the sea of drum videos I scroll through every day. He’s an LA-based drummer, a Berklee College of Music grad, and in recent years he’s played with Chappell Roan, Derek Hough, Engelbert Humperdinck, and plenty more.
So let’s get into the five records that helped shape Cain Daniel into the drummer he is today. And while this isn’t a Drum Panel episode, we still take a few fun side quests along the way.

CAIN'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Artist - Dave Weckl
Album - Master Plan
Release Year - 1990
Drummer - Dave Weckl
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Artist - Dave Matthews Band
Album - Busted Stuff
Release Year - 2002
Key Track - "Grey Street"
Drummer - Carter Beauford
-
Artist - Tigran Hamasyan
Album - Mockroot
Release Year - 2015
Drummer - Arthur Hnatek
-
Artist Rufus & Chaka Khan
Album - Stompin’ at the Savoy
Release Year - 1983
Drummer John "JR" Robinson
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Artist - Tower of Power
Album - Back to Oakland
Release Year - 1974
Key Track(s) - "Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)"
Drummer - David Garibaldi
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HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Artist - Avishai Cohen
Album - Gently Disturbed
Release Year - 2008
Drummer - Mark Guiliana
-
Artist - Dirty Loops
Album - Loopified
Release Year - 2014
Drummer - Aron Mellergard
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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
30 min
July 23, 2025The Drum Panel: You’re totally not a mound of dirt
Ben (me..hi!), Mark Stepro (The Wallflowers) and Eric Urrea (Marina City) talk about the gear that go away...

Our favorite BAD recordings

How to stay in love with drumming when it’s also your job

When to say yes to a gig—and when to walk away

Should you charge for prep time? And how much is your time actually worth?

Why some “Instagram drummers” aren’t your competition—and that’s fine
---
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 3 min
July 16, 2025 Big Fat Five: Marcus Finnie (Drummer/Composer/Educator) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s installment of Big Fat Five features Marcus Finnie…a proud Memphis native now based in Nashville and he’s one of the most respected session drummers and educators around. His credits span genres and include icons such as Donna Summer, Billy Preston, Larry Carlton, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Lady A, and many more. He’s also played on multiple grammy winning and grammy nominated records.
I recently went down a rabbit hole watching his clinics and he was too insightful and talented NOT have on the show. So here we go. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shape Marcus Finnie into the impactful musician he 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.
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
49 min
July 09, 2025The Drum Panel: Gunnar Sounds Great!
In this PART 2 episode of The Drum Panel, I’m yet again joined by drummers Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Big Data) and Eric Urrea (Marina City) for a deep dive into the internal lives of drummers — the anxiety, the self-doubt, the flow states, and the fears we rarely talk about.
Today we discuss:
The adrenaline of live shows

How we learn songs

Reoccurring drummer nightmares

The power of simple praise

Content creation as practice

Drummer swap fantasies

The burden drummers carry

Looking ahead for The Drum Panel
---
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
July 02, 2025The Drum Panel: Debby Boone Pat Pat
In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Bruce Springsteen, Mother Feather) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.
Today we discuss:
How Gunnar personalizes drum parts for legacy bands like Eve 6 while still respecting the original recordings

The balance between improvisation and replication—what “respecting the instrument” really means

Dream gear: Lars Ulrich’s ...And Justice for All Tama kit and Herb Alexander’s wild setup from “My Name Is Mud”

Behind the scenes of the Primus / Puscifer / A Perfect Circle tour and being at the center of major drum world headlines

Josh Freese’s quiet exit from Foo Fighters mid-tour and what Gunnar learned from watching him handle it with grace and intensity

The surreal story of getting the call to play on a Bruce Springsteen record

How much creative freedom Gunnar gets with Puscifer and how each tour takes on its own sonic identity

Navigating feedback in the studio vs. live gigs—and why the context always matters

Gunnar’s candid reflection after a rough wedding gig and how it reignited his desire to practice

Blending live drums with electronic stems: what Gunnar calls the “hip-hop show” approach

The mysterious phenomenon of “next day clarity” when learning new songs and why the brain needs rest

Overcoming overthinking, performance anxiety, and “the yips”—and the importance of showing yourself grace

Why not playing for a while might be the best practice you didn’t know you needed
'My Name Is Mud' Video - DRUM PICS
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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
54 min
June 25, 2025The Drum Panel: The Schelp is Real...I'm Happy?
In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Cain Daniel (Jesus Molina, Derek Hough) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.
Today we discuss:
How we get out of a creative rut

Redefining success — how your goals change as you grow

Self-work — therapy, breathwork, and staying sane on the road

Live performance as meditation — the balance between awareness and letting go

Gear stories that hurt

Pushing back on bad adviceIf your younger self saw you now… — the reality vs. the fantasy

Insurance tips every musician should know (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
56 min
June 18, 2025The Drum Panel: Taste Is Fake, but My Feelings Are Real
In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Max Flanders (Lukas Nelson), and Dean Sinclair (Capital Soirée, Worry Club, Ostin) for a roundtable on the ever-fragile topic of taste.
Today we discuss:
How to handle unsolicited feedback without spiraling into existential dread

The delicate balance between self-expression and being hireable

Whether “good taste” is something you're born with—or can develop

That awkward moment when a producer tells you to “play something you’re already playing”

Learning to interpret non-drummer feedback without losing your mind

The anxiety of showing people your work… and how to move past it

Whether your teenage influences are a crutch… or your secret weapon

Developing your own voice in a world full of technically perfect drummers—and incoming AI

Overcoming “red light syndrome” in the studio and learning to groove under pressure
This one is for anyone who's ever questioned their taste, their technique, or their place in the industry. It’s funny, raw, and packed with perspective.
---
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
45 min
June 11, 2025 Big Fat Five: Ari Hoenig (Drummer / Educator) Shares His Most Influential Records
My guest today is Ari Hoenig — drummer, composer, educator, and all-around wizard behind the kit. Ari is known for his melodic, almost vocal approach to the drums, especially his ability to bend pitch and bring out distinct note choices on the instrument in a way that sounds nearly impossible. He’s collaborated with artists like Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, and many others, but it’s his own solo work that really puts a spotlight on his creative spirit.
In this episode, Ari walks through five records that helped shape his unique voice — from the expressive swing of Papa Jo Jones to the unconventional phrasing of Thelonious Monk. We also dive into Ari’s early classical roots, why Keith Jarrett changed his musical DNA, and how he began developing his signature melodic drumming approach.
Hope you enjoy the five records that shaped Ari Hoenig into the deeply expressive and fiercely original musician he is today.
Join Ari's Patreon HERE

ARI'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Artist – Keith Jarrett
Album – Belonging
Release Year – 1974
Key Track – "Spiral Dance"
Drummer – Jon Christensen
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Artist – Jo Jones
Album – The Jo Jones Trio: The Everest Years
Release Year – 1959
Key Track – "Philadelphia Bound"
Drummer – Jo Jones
-
Artist – Kenny Garrett
Album – Trilogy
Release Year – 1995
Key Track – "Wayne's Thing"
Drummer – Brian Blade
-
Artist – Miles Davis
Album – Nefertiti
Release Year – 1968
Key Track – "Nefertiti"
Drummer – Tony Williams
-
Artist – Thelonious Monk
Album – Monk's Dream
Release Year – 1963
Key Track – "Monk's Dream"
Drummer – Frankie Dunlop
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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
31 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.