Late Night With Seth Meyers
I have had the opportunity on three occasions to fill in for drummer Fred Armisen on the tv show Late Night With Seth Meyers. The other members of the “8G Band” are: Eli Janney, Seth Jabour, Marnie Stern, and Syd Butler. It’s a total blast.
“I love all of it. The soreness, the carrot fingers, mat burn, the ego-destroying ass kickings, just when you think you’re getting somewhere. I’m hooked. I know I will never be young again. I am well aware that I’m only getting slower, more fragile over time. That I will probably never live to see black belt or win any competitions. But I’m pretty sure I will suck a little bit less every month. That while I will never master this skill, will at least, hopefully, get better and better at it. And every once in a great while, I will sweep some young upper belt, or maybe even catch one in a triangle. And that makes me happy.”
– Anthony Bourdain –
(speaking on his love of Brazilian Jiu Jistu)
“Four Answers for José Medeles”
by Brendan Buckley
-WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG DRUMMER?
Practice often. Create, create, create. Combine persistence with passion. Learn empathy.
-WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS YOU ADMIRE IN A DRUMMER?
I admire a drummer who can put his or her ego aside to become a team-oriented player.
I admire a drummer who embodies consistency (in time, feel, professionalism).
I admire a drummer who blends creativity with stability.
-WHAT SHOULD A DRUMMER ASK THEMSELVES BEFORE THE MUSIC STARTS?
Am I comfortable? Am I prepared? Am I ready to create art?
-NAME ONE VIRTUE A DRUMMER SHOULD POSSESS IN YOUR OPINION.
Control. An elite drummer should possess control of time, dynamics, arrangement, breathing, body-mechanics, emotion, syncopation, subdivision, expression, communication.
Favorite Albums of 2020
— Deftones: Ohms
— Charli XCX: How I’m Feeling Now
— Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
— Atwater Punx: EP
— Run The Jewels: RTJ4
— Tame Impala: The Slow Rush
— The Soft Pink: Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
— John Scofield: Swallow Tales
— Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans
— Soccer Mommy: Color Theory
— Joe Wong: Nite Creatures
— Nubya Garcia: Source
Favorite Films of 2020 (… I didn’t see much)
— Greyhound
— The Social Dilemma
— Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
— Class Action Park
— Hamilton
— Onward
— * The Mandalorian