Nashville Drummers Podcast

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Welcome Long Island, NY native Lou Vecchio to the podcast! Lou is currently the drummer for country artist Alexandra Kay and Danish-American rock band New Politics. In this episode, we learn of Lou's transition from New York's vibrant rock scene to Nashville's country music arena. Lou discusses his mindset during auditions that helped him land the gig with Alexandra, the impact of COVID on his career, and his lifelong passion for drumming inspired by his father. Lou also sheds light on his admiration for performance-driven drummers like Tommy Lee, his versatile approach to music and genres, and the evolving importance of social media for modern musicians. We dive into his touring experience, what it's like recording and touring with the same band, drum gear and endorsements, and his love for tattoos and horror movies. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
1:51 Welcome, Lou!
6:10 The Audition Process
7:56 Brooklyn to Nashville
11:35 Adapting to Country Music
19:39 Recording & Live Performance
21:00 The Importance of Versatility
22:54 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
36:36 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
37:40 Early Musical Influences
39:48 Lou's Natural Talent
41:47 Navigating High School and Musical Identity
45:09 Hip Hop and Breakdancing
47:05 Discipline and Entertaining
51:54 Drum Box (Sponsor)
1:01:48 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:02:45 Social Media for the Modern Musician
1:15:13 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:17:57 First Arena Show at MSG
1:23:22 Drum Gear and Endorsements
1:32:10 Tattoos, Noodles, and Moment of Zen
1:44:15 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Lou:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lou_vecchio
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lou_vecchio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/illrock24

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Harlem" - New Politics
"Just Like Me" - New Politics
"More Than You" - Alexandra Kay

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded May 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Welcome to the podcast St. Petersburg, Florida-native Chris Rayner! Currently drumming for 23-year-old country artist Clayton Mullen, Chris shares with us his 17-year journey to achieving his dream of touring. We highlight his unique path involving starting a mobile RV business and how it unexpectedly opened doors in the music industry. Key topics include the significance of horizontal integration, networking, Chris’ 1st Nashville session with a legendary songwriter, drum covers, and the relentless pursuit of one’s goals. This conversation offers valuable insights for musicians balancing passion with diverse career paths. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:01 Welcome, Chris!
9:18 On Tour w/ Clayton Mullen
21:11 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
21:53 Broadway Music Scene
30:51 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
31:54 Balancing Music and RV Work
35:50 Meeting a Legendary Songwriter
38:58 First Session Experience
41:38 Learning the Nashville Number System
48:11 Networking & Horizontal Integration
53:04 Navigating the Nashville Music Scene
53:50 Drum Box (Sponsor)
1:07:09 Creative Drum Setups
1:08:45 Influential Drummers
1:10:03 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:12:25 The Underdog Approach to Drum Covers
1:23:45 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:24:28 Closing Questions
1:32:14 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisraynerdrums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christhatdrumguy

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Heart Don't Break Itself - Clayton Mullen

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded April 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Born in Forest City, North Carolina, Matthew "MJ" Milam quickly discovered his love for music, dancing, and entertaining at a very young age. From first performing Michael Jackson tribute shows during his high school years, MJ would naturally transition into the drums at the age of 15, and hasn't put the sticks down since. At the age of 20 he began playing professionally gigging around the Southeast, and eventually landing a gig with country artist Ashland Craft put him on his path to Nashville. Since relocating to Nashville in June of 2021, MJ has played extensively on Broadway, and worked with artists such as Ashland Craft, Noah Hicks, and Meghan Patrick, and is currently on tour with Lauren Watkins opening for Morgan Wallen.
 
In this interview, MJ describes how his passion for dancing and performing has greatly served his professional drumming career, why the people you work with matters so much, and ways to be even more efficient on and off the stage. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:05 Welcome, MJ!
3:40 Background from North Carolina
5:35 MJ's Dancing Roots
16:53 Making Country Music Dance
20:10 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
20:52 Transition from Dancing to Drums
26:47 Lauren Watkins & Tour
29:13 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
30:12 Early Years w/ Lauren and Finalizing the Band
38:40 Enhancing the Live Show, Ableton
45:03 Drum Box (Sponsor)
45:44 Playing Arenas & Stadiums
55:16 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
56:14 Current Gear
58:11 Ableton and Tracks
1:00:27 Moments of Efficiency
1:08:54 Theo Von / Comedy
1:12:27 Closing Questions
1:17:49 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com


Connect with MJ:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjdrums

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Stuck in My Ways" - Lauren Watkins
"Bad Luck" - Kyle Austin
"Fine County Line" - Lauren Watkins

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded April 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Today we welcome to the podcast Georgia native Eric Pritchard! Eric is currently the drummer and bandleader for rising country star Megan Moroney. Eric shares with us his journey back to his high school years where he was classmates with Megan, to moving to Nashville and playing their 1st Whiskey Jam together — the band has never looked back. Since the arrival of “Tennessee Orange,” Moroney has achieved such milestones as making her debut at the Grand Ole Opry and selling out her first-ever headline run (the spring 2023 Pistol Made of Roses tour). Megan is currently on a summer tour opening for country legend Kenny Chesney, ahead of a fall headlining tour in support of her anticipated sophomore album Am I Okay?.

In this candid interview, we laugh over Eric's obsession with Cracker Barrel, learn of Eric's professional approach to the gig, why saying thank you is so important, and why mentorship continues to play a major role in Eric's life. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
1:25 Vertical Drum Co (Sponsor)
2:11 Teaching 7th Grade Math
11:41 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
12:23 Meeting Meg in High School
14:37 1st Whiskey Jam in Nashville
19:11 Cinematic Performance
25:24 CMT Awards
31:12 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
32:11 Playing for Television
40:40 Drum Box (Sponsor)
41:21 Drumming Influences
52:03 The Megan Moroney Show
57:30 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
59:23 Cracker Barrel
1:08:57 Mentorship & Mental Health
1:20:19 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Vertical Drum Co
https://verticaldrumco.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com


Connect with Eric:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epritch_drums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@epritch_drums

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Young Squire" - TrackTribe
"Up Above" - Letter Box

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded April 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

At only 24 years-old, Detroit, Michigan native Devin Attard was born to play the drums, but he lives to inspire. Having only moved to Nashville just a few years ago, Devin has quickly become known around town as a personality and driven professional; often playing shifts on Broadway when he's not on tour with rising country star Austin Snell.

In this wide-ranging interview, Devin stresses the importance of the 3 Ps: Practice, Patience, and Persistence, his strategic views on social media, branding, and landing endorsements, overcoming an autoimmune disease, and how he's developed his unique musical style bringing metal energy to the country music arena. We hope you enjoy!

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

SJC Drums
https://www.sjcdrums.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com


Connect with Devin:
Website: https://devinattarddrums.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinattard
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@devinattard
YouTube: Devin's YouTube

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Wildfire" - Austin Snell

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded March 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Alec Parrish is a drummer, music director, and Ableton designer based in Nashville, TN. While he is characterized by an impeccable feel and serving the song, Alec's playing style is powerful and charismatic. With his background in Ableton programming, Alec often uses hybrid drum kits both live and in the studio. Growing up in musically rich Athens, GA, Alec's influences of pop, indie, and rock music have carried heavily into his professional career.

Alec is currently touring as drummer and music director with Nashville Country artist Alana Springsteen, but his other credits include Walker Hayes, Danielle Bradbery, Carter Faith, Tenille Arts, Tyler Rich, & Caylee Hammack. Alec has created or contributed to the Ableton shows for Alana Springsteen, Danielle Bradbery, Devin Dawson, Morgan Evans, Tenille Arts, Ryan Hurd, ZZ Ward, Ingrid Andress, Alexandra Kay, and Eli Young Band. He is also available for remote sessions with live or programmed drums.

In this wide-ranging interview, Alec shares his thoughts on tracks in popular music, the tactics and mindsets needed to be a professional drummer prepared for any gig, and why good working relationships are paramount for success in this industry. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:37 Welcome, Alec!
3:48 C2C Fest w/ Alana Springsteen
20:04 Growing up in Athens, Church & Being Prepared
29:07 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
29:48 UGA, Move to Nashville
34:16 Developing Relationships, Working at Pinewood
39:18 Getting Bigger Gigs, Meeting Danielle Bradbery
47:47 Fill Credit on "Runaways"
51:10 Patreon (Bonus Content!)
53:15 Meeting Alana
57:19 Garden Groove (Partner)
1:05:45 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:06:27 Tracks in Today's Music
1:16:37 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:17:34 Buying Property in Nashville
1:20:30 Nashville Coffee & Restaurants
1:25:57 Drum Box (Sponsor)
1:26:35 Early Childhood & Influences
1:41:44 Dealing w/ Imposter Syndrome
1:56:17 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:57:14 Alec's Tattoos
2:04:29 Wrap-Up
2:05:38 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com


Connect with Alec:
Website: https://www.alecparrish.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alecparrish

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Runaways" - Danielle Bradbery
"Maybe They Were Right" - Kayla Hall

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-gro

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Hailing from Bend, Oregon, Beau Kuther is best known as the drummer for indie rock trio Smallpools. Beau grew up in the Warped Tour era idolizing bands like Incubus and 311, and where MySpace was how people discovered you. He spent much of his adolescent years touring and moving to new cities to chase his passions, including Portland and eventually Los Angeles, where he would first meet Sean Scanlon and Michael Kamerman of Smallpools. The band spent the first 2 years touring opening for Twenty One Pilots, Grouplove, Walk The Moon, and Two Door Cinema Club. Now 10 years into their career, Smallpools has amassed an impressive following of superfans and is about to release their 3rd studio album on the heels of a U.S. headlining tour kicking off April 2024. Beau discusses what it's like being an indie band, the songwriting process, and the challenges of releasing music in today's TikTok era. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters
00:00 Intro 
2:05 Welcome, Beau
3:33 Growing up in Oregon
11:49 Balancing Multiple Interests
17:34 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
18:16 Early Influences (Copeland, Sexton)
23:43 Move to Portland, Kaddisfly, Warped Tour
25:17 MySpace Era
28:17 Touring as an Indie Band
33:29 Move to LA, Odd Jobs
38:46 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
39:44 Smallpools
45:18 Releasing Music in 2024
52:56 Writing Process as a Band
59:30 Drum Box (Sponsor)
1:00:10 Headlining Tour, Live Shows & Superfans
1:07:20 Chainsmokers Collab
1:09:21 SNL & TV Performances
1:13:07 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:14:06 Current Setup
1:15:59 Endorsements
1:19:16 Wrap-Up
1:29:33 Outro

We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Masters of Maple
https://mdrums.com


Connect with Beau:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beauknowsdrums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beauknowsdrums

Connect with Smallpools:
Website: https://www.smallpoolsmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallpools
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Smallpools

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Dreaming" - Smallpools
"Fake A Happy Face" - Smallpools

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded March 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

We are excited to partner with Garden Groove! The new home of Nashville Drummers Podcast.

Garden Groove was born out of a desire to create a space where musicians, entertainers, teachers, and learners could come together. Tucked away as a private soundproofed studio, Garden Groove offers a quiet and relaxed environment for creativity to thrive and grow. They understand the allure of the Nashville music community and aim to be a magnet for like-minded individuals who want to hone their skills and connect with others in the industry.

We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Garden Groove:
Website: http://garden-groove.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_groove_nashville
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GardenGrooveRecordingSpace
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garden_groove_nashville

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Told Ya" - Tjf

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded February 2024 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Luke was surrounded by the music industry from a young age. Throughout his childhood, he continued to develop his musical skills with his involvement in school and church. After high school, he attended Union University for Percussion Performance before transferring to Lipscomb University and becoming one of the first graduates of the Commercial Music program. Luke has since had the privilege of working with artists such as Sam Hunt, Conner Smith, Switchfoot, Tiera Kennedy, The Warren Brothers and many more. In this wide-ranging conversation, Luke shares invaluable advice on what it means to be a professional and how to stay motivated and humble in this ever-changing profession. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro 
1:57 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
2:55 Welcome, Luke / Sketch Comedy
4:44 Growing up in Nashville
12:32 Worship Drumming
14:37 Playing with the Click
24:07 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
25:04 Percussion & Music Education
27:30 Union University, Lipscomb's Commercial Music Program
33:55 Drum Cartage & Mentors
39:55 Relationships & Comunity
44:43 Being a Pro & Doing Things the Right Way
46:28 Drum Charts
51:39 Musical References & Being Prepared
1:01:45 Choosing the Right Gear 
1:04:25Identity
1:10:59 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:11:42 Going One Step Further
1:18:47 Relationships & Being Present
1:26:47 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:27:47 Memorable Venues (Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks)
1:38:50 Staying Hungry & Goal-Setting
1:47:01 1st Ryman Show (Michael McDonald)
1:49:35 Home Studio Recording
1:55:25 Wrap-Up Questions
2:04:00 Outro

We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Connect with Luke:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukesumner7
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lukesumnermusic

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Outskirts" - Sam Hunt
"I Hate Alabama" - Conner Smith

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded December 2023 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Send us a Text!

Raised in Athens, GA, Lemuel "Lemmy" Hayes has called Nashville home for over 10 years, and has the breadth of music industry experience of a true seasoned pro. He's worked with a wide variety of artists, including Berlin, Cindy Wilson of The B-52s, Nicki Bluhm, Dead Horses, Kylie Morgan, and Spencer Crandall, among many others. In this very raw, 2-hour conversation, Lemmy recalls the many ups and downs of his journey to Nashville, including persevering through a serious arm injury, being a tour manager in Europe, and his stories of working various odd jobs inside and outside the industry. Lemmy offers his perspective on social media for both artists and players, and how he discovered his second passion for photography. We hope you enjoy!

We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Nelson Drum Shop
https://www.nelsondrumshop.com

Connect with Lemmy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemuel.wav
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemuel.jpg
Website: https://www.lemuelhayes.com

Music Featured in this Episode:
Dune Boi Bumper - Lemuel Hayes
Be Alright - Kudzu Duo

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded December 2023 in Nashville, TN

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC