Podcast
Working Drummer
Hosted by Working Drummer · EN
With 500 episodes and counting, Working Drummer Podcast is the source for those interested in what it’s like to be a professional drummer. Hosted by Matthew Crouse and Zack Albetta, Working Drummer covers it all with a dynamic range of pro drummers who represent many different genres and scenes. Each weekly interview features a different performer, sometimes with a less recognizable name, but always with an impressive and distinct body of work. This unique approach has garnered a loyal audience hungry for unfiltered stories about making a living as a musician today.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
578 - Sterling Laws: Recording for LA Hit Makers, The Shape of Recording Drums for Today's Mainstream Pop
1w ago01:28:55Tap to summarizeSterling Laws is a well-established drummer in LA, having toured and/or recorded with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, producer Dan Nigro, Natasha Bedingfield, and many others. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in LA where he studied with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens. In this episode, Sterling talks about: Playing with Natasha Bedingfield and serving as her MD Growing up in rural Washington north of Seattle, and picking up drumming from his mom Discovering a viable musical path other than being in a band and trying to “make it” Studying at Musicians Institute with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens Matriculating from school onto into he LA scene and getting his first opportunities from Barry Squire Financial literacy lessons learned early The support and positivity of today’s LA drumming community Recording for Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, and how the drum tracking for a huge hit is often relatively DIY Getting comfortable with your drumming being manipulated or even discarded altogether in the record-making process How “getting the safe take” will earn you the right to do a more adventurous one Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
577 - Jeff Brown: Jeff Returns, Taking Control of Your Career, Work Flow Hacks in the Home Studio
2w ago01:51:00Tap to summarizeJeff Brown started his musical journey in Southern California, eventually moving to Nashville, TN when he was 19 years old. He cut his teeth touring and recording with rock bands throughout his 20s, working as a hired gun for both studio sessions and touring artists across many different genres. His resumé includes Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie/The Cure), Paramore, Steve Cropper, Phil Vassar, Thomas Rhett, Casey James (American Idol), Steel Magnolia (Can You Duet), Bucky Covington (American Idol) and many more. His home studio, Shrug Sound Studio is where he records drum tracks remotely and mixes songs for clients all over the world. He also engineers tracks for fellow drummers that don’t have a space to record. Repeat clients Ed Toth (The Doobie Brothers) and Kevin Murphy (Tonic/Jon Pardi), among others, rely on his accessibility, professionalism, and quick turnaround times. His studio is a comfortable and enjoyable place to record music. In this episode, Jeff talks about: What has changed for him since our first interview in 2015 Taking control of your career Jeff’s time as a drum tech Tuning for a variety of scenarios Finding the magic and energy when tracking by yourself at home Work flow hacks in the home studio AI vs a real person tracking Keeping up with the tech Taking a break from performing live Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
576 - Gustavo Cortiñas: From Mexico City to New Orleans to Chicago, In Search of Creativity and Community
3w ago01:15:31Tap to summarizeGustavo Cortiñas was born and raised in Mexico City. His interest in drumming and jazz took him to Loyola University in New Orleans where he studied with Johnny Vidacovich, and on to Northwestern University in Chicago, where he has lived and worked since. His sixth album as a leader is entitled "The Drum Also Sings." In this episode, Gustavo talks about: Growing up in Mexico City, the son of two educators, and being surrounded by all kinds of music Being inspired by the individuality of jazz heroes who came through Mexico City, from Dave Weckl to Dave King to Brian Blade How circumstances intervened to steer hims path toward both New Orleans and Chicago The immediacy and accessibility of seeing and hearing jazz drummers in an intimate setting “The immigrant blessing” His new record being “conceived during a period of personal and collective difficulty” The ancestral connection between drums and voice Gustavo’s new record Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
575 - Chase Adams: Drumming with The Frontmen, What & How to Practice, Playing with Confidence & Authority
4w ago01:42:54Tap to summarizeChase Adam's musical journey started when he was just three years old, collaborating with his father Thurman in the field of music. He spent many years performing in church and later pursued music education at school, specializing in various genres like concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching percussion. Throughout his early years, he played a significant role in establishing the Indianapolis Colts Drumline and the Indiana Pacers "High Octane" Drumline, while also sharing his expertise with local high school drumlines and offering private lessons. As a skilled freelance drummer living in Nashville with his wife and son, he divides his time between touring with The Frontmen, entertaining audiences at local clubs, and making valuable contributions to recording sessions. In this episode, Chase talks about: What and how to practice as a professional Recording on his first “master session” Using drum corp experience in a musical way on the kit Staying sane on the road Drumming with The Frontmen Grooving and making music without the click Confidence and authority behind the kit Playing Lower Broadway in Nashville Dealing with a family tragedy Home studio work Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
574 - Chris Draper: His New Book "The Inner Athlete", Recovering from Two TBIs, Playing "Hamilton" on the West End, Coming Up on the London Jazz/Fusion Scene
Jul 201:16:19Tap to summarizeChris Draper is a drummer, author, and performance coach based in London. After coming up on the city's Jazz and Fusion scene as the drummer in the house band at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Chris began getting opportunities in musical theatre, culminating in landing the drum chair on the West End production of Hamilton. His new book, "The Inner Athlete: A Musician's Guide to Performance Conditioning," is the result of what Chris learned through rehabilitation after sustaining two traumatic brain injuries and subsequently getting certified as a personal trainer. In this episode, Chris talks about: No longer having a home studio, and not missing it How a chance meeting at a pub led to his musical theatre career Playing in the house band at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London How some college programs are becoming more open to commercial music, especially when it comes to drums The traumatic brain injuries and subsequent recovery that inspired him to write “The Inner Athlete” What regulation is, physiologically, and different ways to do it The power of breath work Why conventional weight training and athletic conditioning doesn’t work best for musicians Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
573 - Reuben Spyker: Curiosity as Inspiration, New Signature Snare, Critiquing Yourself
Jun 2601:35:52Tap to summarizeReuben Spyker is a master technician who has built his career as an educator, artist, and innovative drummer. Reuben has developed teaching programs that emphasize efficient playing, critical observation, and creativity. Most recently, Reuben has combined his obsession with detail and interest in art to create an original signature snare drum with the help of master snare builder Ronn Dunnett. In this episode, Reuben talks about: The many facets of Reubens career Using curiosity as inspiration Finding joy in things like drawing, building things and Davinci Working closely with Ronn Dunnett to build a custom snare drum The importance of critiquing yourself The power of focus Reuben’s different teaching courses Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
572 - Ross McReynolds: Moving from Nashville to LA, The Two-Way Street of Trust, Making Synths Feel Tangible
Jun 1801:17:29Tap to summarizeRoss McReynolds has toured and recorded with artists such as Katie Pruitt, Maia Sharp, Juan Solorzano, The Muddy Magnolias, Dynamo, Cory Wong, Kelsey Waldon, Caleb Groh, Jess Nolan and many more. He attended Belmont University in Nashville and lived and worked there for many years after, but recently made the move to LA. In this episode, Ross talks about: Moving from Nashville to LA because of a general need for change Going crazy if he spends too long in the studio without connecting with an audience His experience at Belmont University in Nashville Realizing the typical Nashville music career and some of Nashville’s musical values didn’t agree with him How patience can turn seemingly difficult decisions into no-brainers “The passivity of a streaming service” How synthesizers and other electronic instruments he like using still feel physical and tangible and analogue Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
571 - Craig Krolicki: Drum Teching, Being the Glue Between Drummer and Engineer, Drumming in Nashville
Jun 1101:12:01Tap to summarizeCraig Krolicki is a versatile and musical drummer playing a wide variety of styles. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University (The Dana School of Music), with a BA in Music Education. In 1997 Craig moved to Nashville TN, and has toured as a drummer with artist such as Curb Recording Artist Jeff Carson, Hank III, Sony Recording Artist Tammy Cochran, Singer/Songwriter/Producer Gail Davies, Singer/Songwriter Billy Yates, BNA Recording Artist Kellie Coffey. From 2006-2020, Craig drum teched for the country band Rascal Flatts. In recent years, Craig has been teching for Kent Slucher of Luke Bryan. Craig continues to freelance as a drummer in and around Nashville and has even started a new fitness coaching program. In this episode, Craig talks about: Unique tech challenges during CMA week in Nashville Essential gear for playing on Lower Broadway in nashville What a drum tech actually does Being the glue between the drummer and the engineer From Pennsylvania to Nashville Staying in shape on the drums in between performances His new fitness program Coach Craig Fitness (coachcraigfit@gmail.com) Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
570 - Steve Pruitt: Playing with Mike Stern and Eddie Gomez, Straight Ahead Jazz vs. Fusion, Embracing Adversity
Jun 401:27:13Tap to summarizeSteve Pruitt has toured and/or recorded with Eddie Gomez, Mike Stern, Snarky Puppy, Oz Noy, and many others. He was a finalist in the 2000 Guitar Center Drum-Off and went on to study with Ed Soph at North Texas. In this episode, Steve talks about: Facing a lot of adversity quickly at North Texas The differences and similarities in his approach to straight ahead jazz vs. fusion How he things about the word "integrity" "Finding the dance" that makes the music work with certain musicians or groups Taking responsibility, "even when it isn't fair to" The chapter of his life and career spent in South Korea Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →
569 - Steve Misamore: Drumming for Dierks Bentley, The Evolution of the Dierk's gig, A Passion for Flying
May 2801:18:38Tap to summarizeSteve Misamore has been drumming since he was 11 years old. He has been the drummer in Dierks Bentley’s band since 2002. Steve moved to Nashville in 1993 from Houston TX. Before he met Dierks, he did all sorts of gigs in town from bars to studio work, to private gigs and everything in between. Steve met Dierks playing the bars in Nashville in 1999 and helped him open some doors at Sony/ATV. Steve has been working with Dierks ever since. Steve played on some of the early stuff like "Free and Easy" "Feel That Fire" as well as a few others. In this episode, Steve talks about: Creative ways to stay engaged with drumming when not touring The evolution of the Dierks Bentley gig Working with Dierks from the very beginning Recreating the drum parts from Dierks' records Translating the studio performance into a live performance Getting his pilots license The parody group Hot Country Knights The early influence of Herman Matthews Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →