DRUMMER CAFE

Chris, thanks for the updates--it's really interesting reading! If you are liking the NW you will like Colorado too. The Fox Theatre is a dive-y little place on the west side of Boulder, which is right up against the mountains to the west, so you'll really have 'em in yer face! You'll be right next to Colorado University, blocks from where the venerated Lawless Percussion recorded their CD. Boulder is a really hip town, and very pretty--enjoy a sunset if you can!
 My SO and I would love to "roadie" for you, if there's anything we can help with post-show--altho neither of us really know beans about it..   Grunt-work, we can do, tho...
 Enjoy it all! Sounds like a great time!

robyn

Yes to both.
If I didn't have the kit dialled in on day one I'd be angry with myself.
I've had to dampen down the bass drum more and more each show though. Any ringing at all has been causing some low end feedback in the PA.
We aren't gating any thing on the kit.


To be fair, I think the quality of the Horizon toms justify double heads. I feel a bit sheepish about that, but I already own an original era Horizon set with normal toms.
We're just crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco after a 12 hour drive from Portland.
Soundcheck is scheduled to start in 10 minutes.
I haven't a moment to stop and think yet. 

Just got off stage after our biggest gig so far, a packed Great American Music Hall, San Francisco.
Day off tomorrow! Unfortunately, largely spent driving from SF to LA. 
Anyway, I felt good tonight. Finally getting a feel for this drumming thing. 
I think I have to change all the tom heads though before the Roxy, LA show.
The last tour I did, I just asked my drum tech to do it. This time it looks like it's down to me.
The crowd were great tonight. there was a long queue outside the venue when we emerged from our soundcheck. They were mostly long time World Party fans. I've always liked San Fran. 
It's 1am and our proper crew are still loading the gear onto our trailer.
I can't see us getting any shut eye before 3am.

Great looking poster!
That's very kind of you. 
I'm good to go........and not getting through sticks or heads as quickly as I feared.
OK, you can drop the pillow thing now. 
Congrats.
See you at Solana Beach. 

ECHO: Excellent thread!

I'm so bummed! Just read the post Friday a.m. that you played in Seattle Thurs, and were playing in Portland Fri., (I reside in between those 2 cities) couldn't swing a trip to Portland that evening. Let that be a lesson (especially to me): check into the DrummerCafe more often!

Congrats on the tour.

Thanks again to all of you for your kind feedback.
Well I admit I was a tad nervous last night - LA Roxy Theater, West Hollywood.
Probably the most important show of the tour for Karl (aka World Party), plus my old friend Gregg Bissonette was coming down.
I felt OK until I got onstage - we were behind a curtain, so I sat behind my kit just before the show started, as opposed to running on as the lights go down. Unfortunately it gave me some time to contemplate Gregg, his mystery friend and the many record industry people Karl's manager had invited to the show.
Karl is a bit erratic with his count-ins, not to mention introverted.
He often starts...." 1....2...." and just as you are keyed up for 1,2,3,4, he stops to check something on his guitar and the whole process has to start again. He doesn't shout a count in positively either, as I would. The last thing I said to him before we hit the stage last night was; please give me a two bar count into the opening song, as I have a half bar intro fill to lead into the song. So what does he do? No "1....2....", just the single bar 1,2,3,4 and everyone else comes in, leaving me stranded. 
This is life with The World Party. 
I should be counting the songs in, but that's another story.
So all that set me off feeling nervous about what was to come.
To cut a long story short, the first four songs are probably the one's the band plays best. It gave me a chance to regroup and I soon put nervous thoughts to the back of my mind.
The show turned out to be one of our best. 
Gregg was so supportive afterwards.
He loved the concert toms.
I was a bit anxious, as our soundman has been insisting on micing four toms with two small condensers only. He combines that with a single overhead (for cymbals etc) and creates what must be an ambient drum sound (ala jazz or acoustic music). I thought it wouldn't work, but as regular Cafe members will know, I usually trust the man listening to the drum sound from the audiences' perspective, rather than dictating my own pre-conceived approach to live sound on him.
Anyway, Gregg said the drums sounded like a CD, and the concert toms were full and punchy.
His friend turned out to be a 'hot' guitarist called Doug. A very nice guy too.
I'm off shopping now. It's our first true day off. 

Chris, good to hear the LA show went well.  I enjoy reading your updates.  By the way, while you're out shopping, can you pick up a newspaper and coffee for me?  Thanks buddy! 

Chrisso sent me a couple of photos he shot of his touring kit:



Click HERE to see full-sized version of the photo above.




Click HERE to see full-sized version of the photo above.

Sweet looking kit!   

Ooo.. 

What's that snare in the bottom right of the bottom picture?

An SS perhaps?

Cool you're out and about, and sharing it.

Rock on. 

1999 posts yay, sorry lol.