What do you call two drummers who are taking their own show to the Edinburgh Festival?
What do you call a man who hangs around with musicians? What's the difference between a savings bond and a drummer? What's the difference between a large pizza and a drummer? What is the best way of keeping the peace between the members of a rhythm section? What protection does a drum kit afford in the event of a riot? What's the point of two drummers?
These and many other questions will be addressed by Mathew Priest out of Dodgy and Maurice Bacon from the Love Affair in the course of their show Two Drummers Drumming which debuts later this month at the Edinburgh Festival. They may come from different generations but they are united in their determination to stop other musicians making cheap jibes about drummers - and allow drummers to make them themselves for a change.
David Hepworth went to visit them during rehearsals in Maurice's shed and heard, among other things, about what it's like to play Top Of The Pops when you're barely out of school, how difficult it is to get a message through to Charlie Watts and the enduring importance of Flats In Dagenham.
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Thank You Word
Thoroughly enjoyed this weeks podcast on the way in to work. Excellent stuff.
The syn drum wasn't the only crime against taste...
in the world of drumming. A friend of mine bought one of these, a Rhythm Stick. It was supposed to free the sticksman from his exile at the back of the stage, but instead produced much tittering and, indeed, guffawing...
Maurice & the oil drum
Haven’t got time to listen to the ’cast yet, but very excited that you’ve got Maurice from The Love Affair. Next time you’re in his shed could you ask him to explain what in the name of sanity the Rainbow Valley video was all about. He’s playing an oil drum. There’s some very odd graffiti. And dancing girls with machine guns.
Put it up yesterday on a different thread, but its worth seeing - one of the most bizzare pieces of vintage pop film I’ve ever come across. And, of course, it‘s always good to hear Rainbow Valley
Brilliant
Excellent podcast today. Laughed out loud at the bit about the bass player with the pony tail and the fretless!!
The whole subject put me in mind of this video by Jay Leonhart. It comes from a DVD of a show he did a couple of years back called "The Bass Lesson", which is superb. Regardless of how much you like the bass in a band, solo bass, or double bass - this show is inspired!
I think that was me
who remarked on the fact that Charlie follows Keith in The Stones. I got it from my musician brother, who I think got it from Bill Wyman's autobiography. And, even as a non musician myself, I concur about the ideal drummers being slightly, if you will, slack. Levon Helm being the best example, in my book.
It's the swing...
As discussed before, some can swing and others can't. Neil Peart is an extraordinary drummer, but Rush don't swing and the Stones and The Band do.
Charlie & Keith
Victor Bockris also mentions the Charlie following Keith thing in his Keef biography book, which isn't bad at all.
Out of Time
To my inexpert ears the best example of Charlie being behind the beat is on "Get off of my cloud". Maybe Keith was comatose on the studio floor that day.
Splendid 'cast...
...it's nice to see drummers taking centre stage for once.
Rich, savvy drummers
Dave Clark.
Smart enough to name the band after himself, and that was just the start.
Sound
I enjoyed the 'cast tremendously, and dare I say the sound was excellent too...
Top 'cast
One of my tests of a good piece of music is the drumming, so this podcast was a joy. When it finished, I just had to cue up Moby Dick, Time is Tight and my favourite Echo and the Bunnymen track, Zimbo from their live EP. Pete de Freitas (possibly a good candidate for the Dead Rock Stars thread) was a fantastic drummer, and a more than adequate replacement for the allegedly eponymous Echo.
Really enjoyed that...
...PodCast.
Many thanks.
Favourite drummer? Kenny Buttrey.
A cracker
These guys are great. Very entertaining. If I was going anywhere near Edinburgh in August I'd definitely go and see their show, unfortunately I'm not.
Favourite drummer.. has to be Moony
And it's good for you too...!
Saw this on the Beeb website and thought I'd bung it up here as I enjoyed the drumming podcast so much. Haven't played for a while and it made me want to get back on the stool.
Flats in Is-ling-ton
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7518888.stm