Drummers: A Lamentation.

avvie · #1 02-27-2011, 04:53 AM

I am now age 45 and I am coming to the realization that I am never, ever in my life going to ever get to play with a rock drummer again

I have only played with a rock drummer once, and it was a short-lived band. Good band, but short-lived. Why? The drummer left.

I would have never thought it would be so dang hard to find a rock drummer. It's a simple style; it's primary requirements are tightness and attitude. Instead I keep getting stuck with the laid-back 60's burnout or the punk kid who hits everything hard and unmusically.

Just got back from a gig with a series of mishaps- mostly technical difficulties- but one in particular got my goat: a song was added to the set that called for a slap bass solo (NOT my idea, but okay), and to have that I needed a driving rhythm from the drums. Did it in practice, and it was okay.... but NOOOOO! When we play it live suddenly he's a smooth jazz guy trying stupid crap on the toms. I was left hanging in the wind.

We're a ROCK BAND! Play ROCK DRUMS!

WTFITMWY???

We play Tommy James and the Shondelles' "Draggin A Line", but have been very clear that we play it like Tommy LEE and not Tommy James because, you know, it's like 2011 and rock has evolved since Tommy James was on the charts. Yet every time we play live, the BANG CRASH BANG CRASH sloshy hi-hat rhythm turns to tip tap tip tap tippity tap tip tap. WHY, GOD, WHY??!!

Nothing sucks worse than rock songs being played by wusses.

waleross · #2 02-27-2011, 05:53 AM

I havn't been in a live music situation for many years. After coming back to music I am currently attempting to play drums myself ( lessons and at home materials) . I am a bass player first and will always be one but you rimend me of all the crap that I used to go through when I was in rock bands. Without a good competant drummer there is no rock band. No matter how fast or great the Lead Guitar is or how cool the lead singer is. If the drummer stinks then so does everybody else (including the bass player).I am reminded that when I finally got to see the Rolling Stones live (1996) I was so blown away by how great Charlie Watts was (best rock drummer I ever heard live) .................Maybe you cans steal a drummer from another band or find a smart kid in junior HS that will listen to you and mold him into the drummer you need...........Just a thought take care and have a great Sunday.......

EdHunter · #3 02-27-2011, 05:56 AM

Luckily I play with a couple of great drummers. Jamming on something like Sympathy for the Devil or With or Without You always goes well.

Downunderwonder · #4 02-27-2011, 08:34 AM

How ironic, Charlie Watts is a jazz drummer, playing jazz with a heavy rock accent.

avvie · #5 02-27-2011, 12:03 PM

Honestly, I don't know why Charlie Watts has the gig. Bill Wyman never looked too excited about it either.

Okay, let me clarify: I'm talking about a ROCK AND ROLL band... Sabbath, Sass Jordan, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc. The Stones are a blues-based pop/rock band that follows whatever trend is happening at the time.... and with a drummer who can't play a hi-hat and snare at the same time.

alexgeddy · #6 02-27-2011, 12:10 PM

Sounds as bad as when the drummer can't keep time and they blame the bassplayer!!!! Or when the guitar player is a half step out of tune and played a whole set like that (blaming the bass player ) then he found out it was his tuner in the fx box he was using... I think my point is that other musicians take what bass players do for granted...like leaving you to hang out to dry in a bass solo, like the OP....

Maybe I'll just get a drum machine!! lol

James Mobius · #7 02-28-2011, 02:32 PM

there have been days when I wanted to hire a guy named "Roland" to play drums for me...

Bloodhammer · #8 03-01-2011, 02:59 PM

My roommate is getting despondent and thinking of giving up on music because no one in town will play doom/postmetal drums. It's all deathmetal deathmetal deathmetal around here. That or blues bands....

deepBassie · #9 03-01-2011, 04:46 PM

Welcome to the Seattle "can't-find-a-drummer" scene. Be it corn, dandruff, snow, whatever...drummers are flakes. Can't play with them, can't play without them. That inherent flaw that drives them to drum also, seemingly, governs their downward spiraling personalities. Keep your eyes peeled for a drummer that better fits your style, but be prepared for a very, very long search.

MatticusMania · #10 03-01-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodhammer

My roommate is getting despondent and thinking of giving up on music because no one in town will play doom/postmetal drums. It's all deathmetal deathmetal deathmetal around here. That or blues bands....

Well, your roommate probably should be.

entertoexit · #11 03-01-2011, 08:44 PM

Drumkit from hell is your guy!

prd004 · #12 03-01-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepBassie

Welcome to the Seattle "can't-find-a-drummer" scene. Be it corn, dandruff, snow, whatever...drummers are flakes. Can't play with them, can't play without them. That inherent flaw that drives them to drum also, seemingly, governs their downward spiraling personalities. Keep your eyes peeled for a drummer that better fits your style, but be prepared for a very, very long search.

+1, no +1000. There are no drummers in Seattle. OK, I have played with a few elite drummers, but they can basically write their own ticket, play only for pay, no rehearsals, sessions, etc.

I have a fantastic band, been together four and a half years, all original members except the drummer, been through several, can never find the right one, been looking a long, long time.

James Judson · #13 03-01-2011, 09:01 PM

I feel your pain. My last drummer played jazz. Even on straight ahead rock. Many comments like "he's hard to dance to". Still that airy, funky what is gonna happen next kinda guy.

The drummer before him was a real good "blues" player. That lazy snare drum gives blues that laid back easy going feel. Rock needs a slightly early snare giving you that rushed, in a hurry feeling. Many musicians complained "your dragging the song". He produced a metronome "nope exactly the tempo on the CD.

I to would like to find a ROCK drummer. Very frustrating.

fishtx · #14 03-01-2011, 09:27 PM

Preach on brother!...I had a conversation just this past weekend with my drummer about this topic...I told him I thought he needed to play "rock drums" and limit all that other crap he throws in (ie ghosted notes, snare dragging, syncopated nonsense)...he looked at me like I had just ran over his puppy...

prd004 · #15 03-01-2011, 09:33 PM

I prefer a drummer who's well versed in rock, blues, jazz, and funk, and knows when to use which element for the occasion. But finding a drummer with solid meter, feel, and sense of dynamics, is harder than finding a unicorn.

BluesBear · #16 03-02-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

But finding a drummer with solid meter, feel, and sense of dynamics, is harder than finding a unicorn.

AMEN! to the Seattle drummer situation.

I know a few good drummers in the area but they work a lot.

Hell's Belles^TM, it seems even bad drummer work out here. I know one drummer, who basically sucks, who currently plays in FIVE working bands.
While he can halfway keep time, he ONLY knows how to hit the kick on one and three. And if he hits a rack tom his foot stops completely.

Big Brother · #17 03-02-2011, 11:26 AM

Kevin Hammond at KZOK is also a working rock drummer and likely knows some compadres available to work in Seattle.

Send him an email at the station, who knows, he might be bored enough at 3AM to recommend someone for you. To get his attention, tell him you used to be a fan of 'The Rage.'

intheory · #18 03-02-2011, 11:32 AM

Having a sub-par drummer sucks hard-I played in a classic rock band last year for 6 months with a veritable parade of almost-good to really-bad drummers...when we finally got the drummer that I wanted, we both quit after two weeks (guess it wasn't the right band after all)...
I've had the pleasure over the past 3 months of playing with 3 drummers in 3 different bands that are excellent-great meter, great dynamics, all a little bit different style-wise.
We're definitely left hanging in the wind when we have a bad drummer behind us...

prd004 · #19 03-02-2011, 09:46 PM

Thanks for the tip Big Brother, I will look into it!

Unfortunately I play original music, so there's virtually no money in it and that seems to turn so many drummers off, and apparently all of the good ones!

Like Blues Bear said, even bad drummers can find work here, but we aren't interested in playing with a sub-par musician.

Ben Clarke · #20 03-02-2011, 10:11 PM

I LOVE my drummer. Sorry. I'm a lucky bastard. Click on the links in my sig. It's true.