DRUMMER CAFE

Ever have a few consecutive:
- Bad days at work
- Blah days at practice
and then have a good, productive, dare I say, artistic, practice that
cheers you up.

I just had one.  Ahhhhh.

Sometimes a weekend full of "bad" gigs (no/low pay, low attendance, bad sounds, etc) can really get me and the guys down. But getting together on a Wednesday night, jamming until new and inovative sounds come out, running through the set and having it sound AMAZING in our tiny practice space, having a meeting about merch, tour, press kits, etc; all that can really pick things up.  I love a good practice, but only half as much as I love a good show.

I often feel good after I've done some technical exercises, like Stick Control or coordination like The New Breed. It's a bit like meditation for me, I guess - just concentrating deeply on the tempo, stick heights, the feel of each stroke - and nothing else. Afterwards, I feel very focused, relaxed and positive 

Ocassionally.

Thanks Felix, I'm hoping to meet Louis this summer. Going to be doing the checkered flag down his way at the NMA national motocross championship in July. I hope to meet him or any fellow drummers that week in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Been talking with the promoter trying to get Hannah Ford to perform at that event. I still haven't heard back yet. Promoters sure can be slow organizing things like that. Meanwhile, just last night my wife handed me an old notebook that I had put musician names in dating around 1995. Going to call some of those old numbers and see if I can find guys who still play. It's worth a shot in the dark. Never know unless you try....I'm pumped and excited to find another band again. Be doing the checker man position starting soon too. Ahh, spring is in the air! 

You should have my band do it if Hannah's band can't.  We rock the classics hard YO!   

I've come to the realization that he odd disappointing rehearsal is good, not bad, and don't get depressed by them any more. The bad ones really serve to blow away the cobwebs and complacency. In fact, I get nervous if I'm coming up to a show and we haven't had a shocker of a rehearsal.

As far as solo practice (woodshed) goes, I think the organization of a practice session is vital and something that gets overlooked. I'd really like to expand on "how to practice" (rather than what to practice) at some point. For example, I think one should work on the hard stuff at the top of the session (after warm-up) -- the new licks or grooves you're struggling with -- and always aim to finish the session with reinforcement practice for the stuff you have under control and which you enjoy -- perhaps a track or groove you love playing and which makes you smile. Ending a practice session with a smile on your face should be a key goal. If you finish with the hard stuff, and leave depressed, you undo hard work.