DRUMMER CAFE

I caught the end of a recent show last night. (They show days old, or week old 'Late Night' on TV in Australia).
it was just another mid-week episode with fairly average guests.
But as they played out the credits, the band was killin'.
Anton Fig's groove was super solid and he was slamming out the backbeat.
Will Lee was playing some interesting figure on the last couple of frets on his highest string, while guitarist Sid McGinnis was wailing with a determined look on his face.
It struck me if ever there was an advert on how to stay enthusiastic and committed in the music biz, these guys (and gal) are it.
They've been on the show for years, every show playing the same end-credits piece, and yet they still look like it's their first time and they have it all to prove.
These are the things that separate a great musician who works sporadically from a great musician who gets a talk show gig and holds it down confidently, year after year.

Don't tell me he first got that gig as a teenager! 

Oh great (the conversion)!

Small world.
I would watch the show more, but it's on....err late night. 

Who was it around here who said "always bring your 'A' game." Probably that Cronin fellow.

WOW--now that's impressive! many congrats, dave.


and good vibes to the other folk, too!

Yeah, I've been a HUGE fan of this band since Paul actually had hair! Anyone remember Paul's cameo in Spinal Tap? "It's my fault. Just do me a favor...just kick me in the ass...come on...I'm begging you...." 

Here's something that probably a lot of people don't know:

Will Lee also plays the drums.

His parents live in Huntsville, TX (where I went to college). One time, he came to visit them and stopped by the Music School to sit in with the Jazz Band. Bass, not drums. He is a super nice guy and VERY down to earth. He seemed genuinely surprised that we even knew who he was.

We bought him a hat that said "Huntsville Bass Club" (bass guitar, bass fish, get it?) and he wore it on the show the whole next week. 

what kind of scratch do you suppose those dudes earn on that gig?
100K year?
200k?
500?

more?

you gotta figure max weinberg is still doing conan obrien because its a very nice paying fill in betw springsteen tours, no?

not to be cynical, but im guessing that helps them stay professional?

I still tune in occasionally and go "Oh yeah, the new guy...."

I've come to really appreciate Anton, but for me seeing and hearing Jordan in that setting night after night was just unparalleled.

Max Weinberg / Max Weinberg 7 are going to enjoy themselves as Conan takes over the Leno show in 2009. Can't say the same for Leno's current band as they will have to move on next year. This has been in the works for a LONG time (5 years), so it's no surprise to any of the musicians.

What a blessing to have steady work like this ... for this long. You make enough so that you really don't have to take any other gigs (sessions, clinics, etc.), but yet you have the time to do so if you want. I'd like to have a gig like that!

It seems most of the Letterman band have found ways to do other things and still be available for the nightly show.
I saw Jordan play with the 24th St Band once. It was either late at night, or on the weekend, I can't remember.
Will Lee is famous for writing and performing advertising jingles.
I would think he's earned far more from that than his 'Late Night' stint.
The show is taped late afternoon I think.
I'm not sure how long the band have to report for, but there are obviously rehearsals with guest artists and pre-recorded gags etc......

[shameless plug alert on]
When I was on the show in 1996 with the Bottle Band (www.bottleband.org  ). . .
[shameless plug alert off]

. . . we arrived at the studio around 10:00am.  The Late Show band was already there rehearsing.  They played until about 11:00 or 11:30 while we got settled, and then they took a break.  While they were off we did our staging rehearsals, camera rehearsals, and stood in place on stage while the lighting and audio guys set their stuff.  We finished our rehearsal about 1:00pm, after which we took a break.  We were back by 4:30pm for a 5:30pm taping.

For our return visit for New Years Eve in 1998, they taped two shows that day.

im not so sure how musically repetitive it is. maybe the themes intro and outro. but they all seem to wail on all kinds of different stuff every night. most of which you don't hear on tv because they play during the commercials.

when they back guests, it's all different stuff.

no doubt about it, any tv talk show music gig has got to be sweet, anything from emeril's cooking show on up to the tonight show thing.

they can leave the equipment set up. no loading in and out. perfect sound every time. done by 6 or 7pm at the latest, should anyone have a night gig. insurance.

in other words, just like a regular job! branford marsalis must have been nuts to be so unhappy with it.

Yes, that was the point I made in post one.
They were wailing enthusiastically over the end credits, a piece they must have played hundreds of times.