Drummer audition- very challenging decision to make

[djero44]

I know I was really analyzing this stuff into the ground last week, but it was kind of stressing me out and I needed to figure out an approach. Thanks everyone for throwing in their .02.

I spent a fair bit of time talking to this drummer last week about my thoughts and concerns. I wanted to have a positive attitude for our next rehearsal, which I figured would really determine what we were going to do, and so I tried to focus on our potential strengths and let go of my attachments to some of the stuff, especially my drumming. As much time and energy as I spent on my drum parts, i'm still not wanting to control the drum chair if i'm not in it, and with a couple of exceptions he is doing a good job staying true to the grooves I laid down for our new tracks.

So Monday we got together again and gave it another go. I played my smaller amp in an effort to cap our overall volume, which was kind of helpful. The drummer did his best to hold it down too. All in all the rehearsal went very well, we made a ton of progress, worked on some new ideas and got through about eight songs having them sound pretty darn good, and recording the whole session. We are only doing a short set at our debut, probably 45 mins or so, so we are well on our way towards that with only two rehearsals.

I've (we've) decided to give this a shot, at least through this gig and see how it goes. Our sound is definitely going to get more rocking and significantly more busy on the drums, but i'm taking a positive approach and think it will be fun. If it doesn't work out, at least i'm practicing my bass lines for further recording sessions, plus it is good for me to interact with our front man melodically, on the strings and singing too.

I actually haven't got a chance to talk to our singer about Monday's rehearsal. I know he is a bit frustrated with the volume thing, but he also comes from kind of a punk/alt-rock background so he is at home with driving intensity and seemed to be having fun with it.

So continues the story. I will actually post some recordings soon enough, some of the originals I played on, and some stuff with our new drummer to get some more input. Whether or not this works out with drummer-boy, i'm still very excited about this project. It has more potential for success than any other original band i've been a part of, which is just fantastic.

 

[djero44]

What you describe is a guy who isn't quite feeling the style. IMHO good drummers can absolutely control their volume and intensity- and do so in response to the music. Sensibility to dynamics is the pass/fail between drummers and guys who hit things

You say hes your best option, and he's a fast learner : see how fast he can learn some control, and learn to feel the style you are playing. Tell him you like his playing, but are unsure about his feel for the genre, that hes on a "probationary membership," and that he has a few months to turn it down, and really get behind the feel of the music and then we'll see. Make these expectations clear and see if he steps up.

Dude, I have to say, this guy is the fastest learning musician i've ever worked with in my life, and by a pretty serious margin. (That being said, i've not spent a lot of time playing with really heavy cats or anything...) Ok, maybe not with every aspect of music, but when it comes to arrangements, composing, challenging syncopated sections, breakdowns, and general memorization he is truly gifted. Astonishingly so. That's why I don't give him too much crap for being inflated or calling himself a prodigy, and to be honest about that it only happened once. He does have some humility and also knows he has a long ways to go as a drummer, while also recognizing himself as a professional musician, which he is. Working with him would be a little intimidating if I hadn't spent so much time playing with him and didn't have enough skillz to keep up (barely! it pushes me), and he does have enough composure to work with the limits of the project.

I also should mention that this kid is the pivotal reason I made the switch to a full time bassist years ago. He got me in on a project for a fund raiser, and we had so much fun I decided to keep with it. I then bought a fretless bass and absolutely fell in love, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have never been happier as a musician as I am on the bass (though at times it kicks my a**), and I have to give a lot of credit to this drummer.

So, although I still have some reservations, I too have decided the pro's outweigh the cons for now. We'll see how it goes!

p.s. You are right on with the 'probationary position'. That's pretty much how we're looking at it.

 

[pedro]

Having gotten used to a pro drummer that has complete control of his volume under any situation it would very difficult for me to go back to a pounder. Had a music teacher once in school that was a drummer and always said that when he wanted to see how good a drummer was he asked him to play as quietly as possible.

All that said, I'd talk to the kid and let him know your concerns about his volume etc. and then give him a chance if he thinks he can control it.

 

[tangentmusic]

Sounds to me you've found your guy.
Good luck.

 

[Raymeous]

I think you are on the right track.

Tell him what you told us; We like your energy, your ability to play, and even you as a person, however there are things that we need to address. Volume is an issue as is tempo.


Ok here's a question for you... Have you played YOUR drum beats to the songs you have? Basically let him know not necessarily the note for note of "here's what we want you to play" but to let him know "This is the feel we're after". If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what is the act of being there worth?

 

[djero44]

I think you are on the right track.

Tell him what you told us; We like your energy, your ability to play, and even you as a person, however there are things that we need to address. Volume is an issue as is tempo.


Ok here's a question for you... Have you played YOUR drum beats to the songs you have? Basically let him know not necessarily the note for note of "here's what we want you to play" but to let him know "This is the feel we're after". If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what is the act of being there worth?

That's pretty much what is going on. The volume thing we're working on, and last rehearsal he wore some in-ears with a metronome which went very well. He has a good meter, but his excitability tends to push things, but with the click he played marvelously. It was quite cool.

As for the other drum tracks; I gave him a recording of most of our material and he is sticking to it pretty well. I don't have any complaints at this point, i'm resigned to the fact our sound and feel are going to change somewhat. In some ways i'm kind of excited about it, I love to rock out and playing with this guy reminds me of going off when I was seventeen. I just hope it isn't too much for our audiences. That remains to be seen. Thankfully he appreciates the 'pop sensibility' we're applying to a fair bit of our music, and supports that too. I think things are going to go well.