A Drummer Who Just Doesn’t Fail – Dave Grohl

Yes, this would accurately describe Dave Grohl (former drummer of Nirvana, lead guitarist/lead vocalist of The Foo Fighters). Did you know this man turned down the opportunity to be Tom Petty’s drummer before there was even public knowledge of The Foo Fighters’ existence? What??? Imagine the uncertainties you would face after your legendary front man kills himself, not knowing what (if anything) may follow, being offered a gig with Tom Petty, and telling him you have other plans. At the time, Dave’s only plan was to hope for the best with some songs he had written over the past few years and get them famous as the LEAD SINGER AND GUITARIST…..??? “Sorry Mr. Petty, I have a garage band Im thinking might take off.” Now, we can look back and say that he made a great decision, but those of us actively pursuing opportunities in the music business can attest to what a ballsy move that was. There are no guarantees even if you’re Nirvana’s drummer. I think that helped though…

The Foo Fighters just made their sixth appearance on Saturday Night Live (Grohl’s 10th) last Friday, 17 years and 1 day after Kurt Cobain died. I remember watching MTV when Dave started The Foo Fighters and hearing people’s negative reaction, as if he was expected to just give up music because a band mate died. Since then, three of their albums have won Grammys for Best Rock Album and all six have been nominated. Tomorrow will see the release of the latest Foo Fighters album, “Wasting Light”. It’s interesting to note that if it doesn’t get nominated in the Best Rock Album category, thats actually a let down. The idea of even the most remote possibility of being a part of something nominated in that category is mind boggling for the rest of us, but I guess when the bar is set high, you have to keep jumping over it or raise it. Congrats Dave.

A Spectacular Jazz Venue in Philly

Philadelphia has a very interesting music scene. Opinions on whether it’s a “good” or “bad” one will vary, but it is certainly home to many eclectic bands with a desire to be heard. In order for that to be possible, there is the need for attractive venues bands will want to play at and people will want to go to. Triumph Brewing Company in Old City is one of those places. Triumph was initially known as a brew house with an eclectic beer list, tasty food, and a fun atmosphere. Although this remains the case today, their inclusion of live music 7 NIGHTS A WEEK has boosted its presence in Philadelphia from a fun bar to hang at to the place to be. As a Philly native and musician, I am qualified to assess that we lack quality jazz clubs. How is this the case in the home of jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Stanley Clarke, and Philly Joe Jones? Have we lost our way? I don’t know and I’m not going there, but as long as the few jazz clubs that exist hold to quality standards, we are keeping a stake in the ground. This is not at all meant to limit Triumph to the confines of welcoming ONLY jazz music. Select nights of the week cater towards music listeners of all kinds. To me, that’s part of the brilliance. One night you will hear Miles Davis tunes, the next you may hear a Grateful Dead Cover band, the next you may hear an acoustic singer/songwriter duo. The one thing that’s consistent is their drive to provide a spectacular hang out in a city in need of more. If you live in Philadelphia or find yourself here at some point, be sure to stop by 117 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA, 19106.

SUNDAYS – Open Mic with Dani Mari 8pm
MONDAYS – Open Jam Session with Tony Catastrophe 9pm
TUESDAYS – Local Jazz Series Featuring L.P. Stiles 8pm
WEDNESDAYS – Live & Local Series at 8pm followed by our Late Night Jazz Jam after 10pm
THURSDAYS – Deathwaltz presents All Star Trance at 10pm
FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS – Live Regional and National Bands

HAPPY HOUR: MON-FRI
5-7pm: $3 Drafts | $4 House Wines | $5 Well Drinks

Tony Royster jr. – Child Prodigy, Freak of Nature

Before:

After:

and what did we learn?

Developing Speed on the Drums

This one is for the drummers… Speed is almost an illusion on the drums. Its not so much the about the number of times your stick hits the drum as it is about the way your wrist is used to allow multiple hits for one downstroke. I can’t say thats a general rule, but a safe assumption is that plenty of drummers build their technique over years of wrist development. The biggest mistake I made while learning the drums was wanting to know too much to quickly. As I took my time to focus on the value of various components involved in getting better, I got more out of my education. SLOW DOWN. Speed comes over time. You are not going to sit down and play Wipe Out tomorrow. Its important to understand patience and working toward goals, one of which should probably be improving speed. Working with a metronome is a great start. Pick up a Joe Morello or George Lawrence Stone book at your local music store. Learn the exercises starting from page 1. If you can’t play something, slow it down. Find a comfortable quarter note tempo and play each of the exercises in time with the metronome clicks. As you become comfortable with a certain speed, set the metronome to a higher BPM. Continue this process as long as you are comfortably getting through each exercise.

The Moeller Technique involves using the wrist in a whipping motion to build enough momentum for multiple hits for one downstroke. It has become a very central part of developing speed around the kit. I could explain it, but Dave Weckl is a pure genius in just about every aspect of drumming, so Ill let him take it…

Try to devote 15-30 minutes a day to sticking and technique exercises. Take the simple tips in this article and you will notice a great improvement in your speed over the next few months. Don’t make the mistake of expecting drastic progress over the next two weeks. Be patient. You will get there.

Grammys, Hits, and The Sound of Philadelphia

Peanut Butter and Jelly….. Steak and Potatoes…… Bill Cosby and Jello……

One with out the other changes the equation, doesn’t it? Well, I have another winning combination that shouldn’t go unnoticed – Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. These men collectively wrote and produced 170 gold and platinum records under the Philadelphia International Record Label, defining the sound we know today as Philadelphia Soul Music. They were recipients of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Inaugural Ahmet Ertegun Award in 2008, writers and producers for over 3,500 songs, and own a catalog that includes numerous #1 hits  and a Grammy Award. Songs like Love Train by The O’Jays, If You Dont Know Me By Now by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Me and Mrs. Jones by Billie Paul, and Expressway to Your Heart by The Soul Survivors are just a few of the songs from the Gamble and Huff catalogue contributing to their success. The song TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia), best known as the theme song for popular music television show, Soul Train, was one of the first disco songs to reach number one of the Billboard Hot 100. The Gamble and Huff catalogue has been sampled by pop stars such as Usher, Jay Z, Kanye West, and Nas. In other words, music today would be VERY different without the contributions of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Camden based R&B vocal group, Ju-Taun, is currently working directly with Leon Huff on his solo album. These are good friends of mine, and the most impressive group of contemporary soul singers I have heard since Boyz II Men. If Ju-Taun were 30 years older, they would have been the heart and soul of Gamble and Huff’s legacy, no doubt about it. I have had the pleasure of backing them on the drums over the last 6 months, including performances honoring Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Below is a video of us playing for Leon Huff and an audience of soul fanatics at Philadelphia International Records’ souvenir shop (he was right next to the camera… yes, the pressure was on).

In an era where “making it” in the music business is a very difficult task, we can look at music legends like Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff with nothing short of sheer amazement that two men could accomplish what they have accomplished. What started as a coincidental meeting in an elevator turned into one of the biggest parternships in history. Philadelphia International Records currently focuses on the catalogue that is in such high demand all over the world, but are no longer a functional record label. Their songs will live on all around us and will hopefully continue to inspire songwriters and producers everywhere.

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