Thank you for looking into my drumming abilities.
This is me.
I was born in December 1969 and call myself a "child of the 60s" because I lived in the 60s 27 days.
I married the love of my life 30+ years
I have been blessed with two kids
- Megan graduated in May 2019
- Alex graduated in May 2021.
These are funny drummer memes so, yes, I have a sense of humor.
I agree with the above meme. Know that I am a good guy. If you need a drummer that has chops and that will be a positive addition to your group, I'm the Man. In general, I try my best to be the best version of myself each and every day, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding.
As for drumming and playing drums in a band, I have simple requirements.
- Find musicians that want to practice just enough to get used to playing with one another
- Go out and play gigs.
I enjoy playing drums with other musicians. I often say to other musicians that after two years (COVID-19) of not playing drums with other musicians, I realized that the interaction with other musicians is what drives me. I want to go play and, to that end, I went to the Whiskey Jo's Wednesday jam session in Cedar Rapids each week in the month of September 2022. I plan to continue to do that whenever possible.
Who am I - A Brief History Lesson
This is a picture from 1987 in the basement of the house I grew up in. A couple of notes about it:
- The "D of S" on the bass drum represents "Disciples of Soul", which is the name of the first group I ever played with at St. Pius X in Cedar Rapids, IA. Was this my first "band"? I guess so as our group had a regular pianist (Ann) and several singers. Occasionally, I know there were other musicians that played with us. I have 4 cassette tapes of playing with Disciples of Soul:
- Disciples of Soul_1987-10-18-Disciples of Soul
- Disciples of Soul_1988-04-10-Disciples of Soul
- Disciples of Soul_1988-04-17-Disciples of Soul
- Disciples of Soul_1988-05-29-Disciples of Soul
- I converted to MP3 when I converted all of my cassette tapes to MP3 - for more information about that, see Cassettes I converted to MP3 in 2020-2021.
- Yes, that is a trash can lid over my right shoulder.
- Yes, the black drums were spray painted by me.
- Yes, the clear drums are the Ludwig Vistalite drums I own today. It is the only set of drums I've ever owned.
- Yes, I have a flat-top haircut.
 |
| The Yamaha electronic set is in the corner of the den after Alex set up the table to finish his Spring 2020 semester from home, due to COVID-19. |
 |
| My Ludwig Vistalite set under the blankets in storage under the steps in the furnace storage room |
This is how I groove
This is my go-to rock drum groove with the the open hh, the hh trick in the middle of the pattern-I play this pattern at EVERY gig! If you like it, then awesome; else, sorry!
Black Angel Jam Sessions - 2024 - 20??
On Wednesday, 5-2-2024, I went to the Black Angel jam session in Iowa City. I played 3 tunes on stage and it was a lot of fun now that it's over! I think I was pushed musically outside of my comfort zone as most of the tunes that were being played on stage were unfamiliar to me. This was a contrast to the tunes played at the Whiskey Jo's jam sessions where the tunes are more likely to be played on the radio. I don't know if anything played prior to me playing the following 3 tunes have ever been on the radio. The tunes I played are as follows:
- The first tune is by RL Burnside and is called "Going Down South" - thanks to Shaneman for letting me know! No, not intimidating to be on a stage in front of legendary Iowa City musicians and have the first tune be unknown to me!
- Gimme a Reason to Stay - this was the only tune that I had played previously. Bad Rumor played it at JM O'Malley's in CR with Tom Giblin and that was the first time I had ever heard it. I was a little bit more comfortable with it.
- Hey Bartender - I thought I had never heard this tune until we started playing it, only to discover that it is on The Blues Brothers soundtrack. I have owned a copy of that soundtrack on a cassette tape for probably 40ish years, but it has been 40ish years since I actually listened to that album.
https://youtu.be/ 75uFzsMBUKA - 2024-05-02-BlackAngel
Bad Rumor - 2022-12 - 2024-??
After our farewell gig in September 2023, there were several months of silence. We played together in December 2023 (video below) and thought it was fun. Then, in February 2024, we played together with a new guitarist - Eric Ly - and that went awesome (video below). Then we rehearsed at Kris' house (video below), played at Checkers on a Sunday afternoon, and rehearsed at 830 Studios. Gigs have been scheduled!
For Bad Rumor 2.0 Gigs, I am restarting my numbering scheme, meaning that our gig on 5-5-2024 is #1.
As of Monday, 7-1-2024, we have played the following gigs in 2024:
Sunday 5-3-2024 Checkers 1-4 - Playing with the Pumps (no $)
As of Monday, 7-1-2024, we have the following gigs scheduled for the rest of 2024:
- Saturday, 7-6-2024 Buchanan House Winery (Buchanan)
- Sunday, 7-7-2024 House Divided (Ely)
Saturday, 8-3-2024 Danny on Donald (Waterloo)Cancelled due to band illness- Sunday 8-25-2024 FredStock (Cedar Rapids) (no $)
- Saturday, 9-7-2024 Buchanan House Winery (Buchanan)
- Friday 10-18-2024 The Jobsite - 6-10 - Returning to this venue in Iowa City
- Friday, 11-8-2024 Checkers (Cedar Rapids)
- Friday, 12-27-2024 Checkers (Cedar Rapids)
Gig #009 - Friday, 12-27-2024 Checkers (Cedar Rapids)
Video here
Gig #008 - Friday, 11-8-2024 Checkers (Cedar Rapids)
Video here
Gig #007 - Friday 10-18-2024 The Jobsite - (Iowa City)
Video here
Gig #006 - Saturday, 9-7-2024 Buchanan House Winery (Buchanan)
9-7-2024 Buchanan House Winery Set 1
9-7-2024 Buchanan House Winery Set 2
9-7-2024 Buchanan House Winery Set 3
Gig #005 - Sunday 8-25-2024 FredStock (Cedar Rapids) (no $)
Cancelled due to illness in the BandGig #004- Saturday 8-3-2024 Danny on Donald (Waterloo)
Gig #003 - Sunday, 7-7-2024 House Divided (Ely)
Set 2 - Playlist with Individual Songs into Separate Videos
Gig #002 - Saturday, 7-6-2024 Buchanan House Winery (Buchanan)
Gig #001 - Sunday, 5-5-2024 Checkers (no $)
https://youtu.be/Rq8q87h9yXE- 2024-05-05 at Checkers
I used software to split each tune into a separate video, created a playlist of those videos on YouTube, and embedded that playlist below.
2023-12-27-Whiskey Jo's
Bad Rumor regrouped on 12-27-2023. Kris, Russ, and I played together at a Whiskey Jo's jam session. After playing together, Kris, Russ, and I agreed that playing together was fun.
https://youtu.be/ Yvk_mQ0_ClI?si=wKyRioKjNa6YlGxe - 2023-12-27 at Whiskey Jo's
2024-02-21-Whiskey Jo's
The next time Kris, Russ, and I played together was on 2-21-2024 at Whiskey Jo's. This time we were joined by our new guitarist, Eric. He is really good and compliments Kris' playing.
https://youtu.be/ 3YLcrxAhILE?si=098nMQobygOG9oqg - 2024-02-21 at Whiskey Jo's
2024-03-22-Rehearsal in Norway
We rehearsed on 3-22-2024 at Kris' garage in Norway.
https://youtu.be/59DFSCSsf10- 2024-03-22 Rehearsal at Kris's garage
2024-06-02-Rehearsal at 830 Studios
We rehearsed on 6-02-2024 at 830 Studios (my basement).
2024-06-02-Rehearsal at 830 Studios - Video-0001
2024-06-02-Rehearsal at 830 Studios - Video-0002
Patrick the Gathering - 2024-02-16
I sat on the drum throne at a Patrick the Gathering gig on 2024-02-16 at Tailgators in Cedar Rapids, IA. It was a fun gig. The setlist is fun and I hope to be able to sit on the drum throne for one of their gigs in the future.
Bad Rumor - 9-2022 - 9-2023
I met Kris, a guitarist through his "Drummer Wanted" ad. We met at Whiskey Jo's on 2002-09-07 and then met up again at Whiskey Jo's on 2022-09-14, which is also when I met Brian, Kris's dad and rhythm guitarist, and Russ, their bassist. I didn't play with them on 2022-09-14 because I was called up to play prior to when they played.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, shortly prior to leaving my house to head up to the Whiskey Jo's jam session, I got the question I had been waiting for: "Do you want to play drums in Bad Rumor?" [paraphrased] and, after consulting with Karen, my answer was YES!
What did this mean? It meant I played drums with Bad Rumor at Checker's, a Cedar Rapids venue, on both Friday, 10-28, and on Friday, 12-30.
I played 4 gigs in 4 months, plus every Wednesday night in September, which basically means that I played more drums in the last 5 months than I have in several years. After the 2023-01-19 O'Malley's gig, we have nothing scheduled. As I said above on this page, As for drumming and playing drums in a band, I have simple requirements.
- Find musicians that want to practice just enough to get used to playing with one another
- Go out and play gigs.
Thankfully, gigs for May through the end of the year - ideally, 8 gigs at a 1 per month clip - are scheduled. I feel like we played really REALLY good on 2023-01-19 and I feel almost desparate to maintain our current momentum through the end of 2023.
Schedule for June 2023 - December 2023
Here's an updated schedule with our gig at JM O'Malley's on Thursday, August 17, 2023:
2023-12-01 Live at Checkers - Cancelled
Due to the band playing a final gig on 9-9-2023, this gig was cancelled.
2023-10-14 Live at Tap on Market in Monticello - Cancelled
Due to the band playing a final gig on 9-9-2023, this gig was cancelled.
2023-10-06 Live at Checkers - Cancelled
Due to the band playing a final gig on 9-9-2023, this gig was cancelled.
Paid Gig #9: 2023-09-09 - The Buchanan House Winery
This playlist includes 3 videos from in front of us and 3 videos of drum-cam. I personally like the drum-cam videos slightly more because I like to watch myself play drums. I obtain ideas as to what is good and not-as-good about my drumming.Paid Gig #8: 2023-08-18 - The Jobsite
Paid Gig #7: 2023-08-17 - JM O'Malley's
Whole Lotta Shakin clip
Paid Gig #6: 2023-08-04 - Checkers
2023-12-27 - Whiskey Jo's
What a great idea for Russ, Kris, and I to be on the Whiskey Jo's stage on a Wed night at their weekly jam session! I had not seen Russ since the 9-9-2023 gig at the Buchanan House Winery, so I was happy to catch up. I had not seen Kris since a Friday night in October when I went to his house with a few drums. I won't be making predictions about the future except for the general idea that I hope that we can continue to play music together in the future.
- Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
- What's Up - 4 Non Blondes - first time ever playing this tune
- Have you ever seen the Rain - CCR
- Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top - first time ever playing this tune
- Come Together - Beatles - first time ever playing this tune
- Texas Flood - SRV
- Torn Down - SRV
2023-07-06 - Whiskey Jo's
I returned to Whiskey Jo's, hoping that my bandmates would be there. No one but me showed up. I went to Whiskey Jo's on 7-6-2023 and played 3 tunes with:
Mark - Bass
Billy - Guitar
Dave - Vocals
Tommy - Guitar
0:00 Start
1:30 Oh Boy
4:30 Squeeze Box
8:00 Gimme Three Steps
What was really fun about playing drums on this night is that all three of these tunes used to be on a setlist in one of my former bands and I had not played these tunes on the drums with a band in 9 years ago with Uncle Rico the Band ["Oh Boy" and "Squeeze Box"] and 10 years ["Gimme Three Steps"] ago with Lou's Classic Ride. I had to rely upon the decade deep memory of playing these tunes.
For "Oh Boy" and "Squeeze Box", I definitely remember multiple rehearsals at Gary's house playing these tunes and getting them as close to perfect as possible.
For "Gimme Three Steps", I definitely remember multiple rehearsals at 830 Studios playing this tune and getting the "turnaround" during the instrumental part nailed down. I would guess that we spent 3 hours - spread over multiple rehearsals, not 3 hours in a row - getting the changes nailed down. I have not verified this but I *think* this video - https://youtu.be/KkVlJbhjdgM - which is also embedded blow on this page in the Lou's Classic Ride section - includes "Gimme Three Steps" at Lou's Classic Ride's final (and 2nd overall gig).
https://youtu.be/ W4CE1eObLdU - Playing at Whiskey Jo's
2023-07-01 Live at Buchanan House Winery
Cancelled Due to potential Rain - update: the rain didn't happen.
2023-06-25 Live at FredStock 2023
My cell phone battery was too low to work and I don't remember what tunes we played. I hate that I didn't have my cell phone charged up as I believe we really sounded awesome.
Paid Gig #5: - 2023-06-15 - JM O'Malley's
Bad Rumor returned to JM O'Malley's for the second time ever. It was our second gig as a trio. Brian didn't play on Thursday, 6-15-2023, at JM O'Malley's with Tom Giblin due to space restrictions. It had been 13 days (1 week, 6 days) since we had played and received $ for our playing. I want to be clear that I play drums in Bad Rumor because I enjoy playing drums in a band, not because I want to make a bunch of cash.
The gig went really well. I would assign a solid B as a grade. From my perspective, prior to listening to the video evidence that we played, here are some quick thoughts:
- Whole Lotta Shakin - unlike the 2023-06-02 gig at Checker's, this tune was remarkably non-troublesome. We played it in the first set and I pat myself on the back because Kris didn't shout like the director in "Whiplash" to play faster.
- La Grange - we never tried to play this tune ever - not even in rehearsal. It was the final tune of the night and I know I missed many of the cues that Frank Beard plays on the recording.
- Mustang Sally - we never tried to play this tune ever - not even in rehearsal. We played it during the first set. I liked how it sounded - I'm not sure if it will be added to the "regular" setlist but I wouldn't be opposed to adding it.
- Rock & Roll by Led Zeppelin was performed for the first time in public. Once, at rehearsal, we had played through it but it was more as a jam and we had not brought it up to the level of being polished. I have not listened to that tune for several months so I fully admit that I wasn't as prepared as I normally would have been if I had known we were going to play it.
- Ain't No Sunshine - I really REALLY like this tune as I believe it is a showcase for Kris to stretch out with his vocals as well as to soulfully play his guitar. We have discussed my drum part and I have stated that I consciously try to not overplay - I want there to be pauses and silent drums to allow Kris the bandwidth to stretch.
I will probably add to the above list in the future.
I set up my cell phone to record our gig and ended up with 3 long videos and this short video with a 4:00 length at the end of the first set.
https://youtu.be/ 0WlmwNVmDAw - I Don't Know Much About Love
Paid Gig #4: 2023-06-02 - Checker's
Bad Rumor returned to Checker's for the third time ever. It was our first gig as a foursome since 12-30-2022 as Brian didn't play on Thursday, 1-19-2023, at JM O'Malley's with Tom Giblin due to space restrictions. It had been 134 days (4 months, 2 weeks) since we had played and received $ for our playing. I want to be clear that I play drums in Bad Rumor because I enjoy playing drums in a band, not because I want to make a bunch of cash.
The gig went well. From my perspective, one troublesome tune was "Whole Lotta Shakin'" as Kris shouted like the director in "Whiplash" to play faster. Another "weak" tune was "Going to Kansas City" as, to me, we play other tunes better than that one - it always feels like we aren't playing "together" any time we play that tune and, again, that's me trying to be honest.
Here's a playlist:
2023-05-24 - Whiskey Jo's
Bad Rumor returned to Whiskey Jo's on this night to play a 5 song set. I was going to be out of town on 5-31 (attending the Beartooth - Trivium - Malevolence - Archetypes Collide concert in Clive, IA with my son Alex) so this was a final time for playing together prior to the gig. Unfortunately, Brian, our rhythm guitarist, was unable to attend, due to work commitments. We were joined by Matt Panek and Tommy Bruner.
Pride & Joy - with Matt Panek
Johnny B Goode - with Matt Panek
Texas Flood - with Matt Panek
Torn Down - with Tommy Bruner
Ain't No Sunshine - with Tommy Bruner
2023-04-26 - Whiskey Jo's
FINALLY!!!
Bad Rumor has been on a hiatus with no gigs since 1-19-2023 and no rehearsals since prior to 1-19-2023. We had tried to get together multiple times since 1-19-2023 but, for one reason or another, it just didn't work out.
All of this played into the four of us meeting up at Whiskey Jo's on 4-26-2023.
Paid Gig #3: 2023-01-19 - O'Malley's Gig
Paid Gig #3: 2022-12-30 - Checkers Gig
Paid Gig #2: 2022-11-25 - J&A Tap
After two rehearsals - the first at Kris and Brian's house in Norway and the second at Russ's house in Cedar Rapids - and one appearance at Whiskey Jo's Wednesday night jam session on 2022-10-12, we played our second gig at J&A Tap in North Liberty!
This playlist provides the necessary video evidence that Bad Rumor played on Friday 11-25-2022 at J&A Tap in North Liberty, IA.
Because I liked seeing the "drummer cam" videos from the 10-28-2022 Checkers gig, I once again set up my cell phone to record myself playing. Additionally, I have two videos of the gig from the audience perspective. By the we play at Checkers on 12-30-2022, I will have a firm strategy for recording both "drummer cam" videos as well as "audience perspective" videos.
This is a playlist with the following individual videos:
- J&A Tap Set 1 - Front of Stage: https://youtu.be/nAP92V09b4M
- J&A Tap Set 1 - Drum Cam: https://youtu.be/jNO_pdA9uoA
- J&A Tap Set 2 - Drum Cam: https://youtu.be/DjW6BNESOV8
- J&A Tap Set 3 - Drum Cam: https://youtu.be/HJsDeZr3nNY
- J&A Tap Set 4 - Front of Stage: https://youtu.be/9d8Ye1Y-wNA
Wipeout
Paid Gig #1: 2022-10-28 - Checkers
Here's some clips: After one rehearsal at Kris and Brian's house in Norway and one appearance at Whiskey Jo's Wednesday night jam session on 2022-10-12, it's the day of our first gig.
This is video evidence that this gig happened:
This is visual evidence that this gig happened:
Whiskey Jo's Jam Session
2023-04-26
The members of Bad Rumor played a 4 song set on 4-26-2023 so I put the video in the "Bad Rumor" section above. I plan to keep this section active with a heading for each and every time I play drums at Whiskey Jo's, even if it is only to refer to the "Bad Rumor" section of this page.
2023-02-01 - Whiskey Jo's
2023-02-01 Playing at the 2023-02-01 jam session at Whiskey Jo's.
2022-11-09 - Whiskey Jo's
2022-11-09 Playing at the 2022-11-09 jam session at Whiskey Jo's.
2022-10-19 - Whiskey Jo's
2022-10-19 Playing at the 2022-10-19 jam session at Whiskey Jo's. Kris could not be there so we asked for help from guitarist Tommy Bruner and vocalist Billy, with extra help on the last tune.
My cell phone tipped after the first tune so there's a great view of the ceiling for much of this video.
3:58 Proud Mary
Start Audio Only
8:00 Wonderful Tonight
13:50 Blue on Black
19:30 Stormy Monday
End Audio Only
24:00 Righting the Camera
24:30 Torn Down
27:57 Feel Like Making Love
https://youtu.be/ c2YLdhmR9BE
2022-10-12
Bad Rumor at Whiskey Jo's jam session4:44 Pride and Joy
9:40 Blue Monday
14:53 Blue on Black
20:31 Ain't No Sunshine
25:15 Torn Down
30:38 Texas Flood
2nd time playing together - all 4 of us - EVER
1st time playing together on a stage - all 4 of us - EVER
https://youtu.be/ v_IlDHWS98o
2022-09-28
The plan is to go to Whiskey Jo's on Wed, 9-28-2022.
2022-09-21
I went to Whiskey Jo's on Wed, 9-21-2022. The video I have from this night is not being released at this time as I want to split the single video of ~34:00 into smaller digestable clips. I will say that I played with Brian and Russ, meaning that 3/4ths of Bad Rumor played. It was the first time I played with Brian and Russ - I thought the 3 of us found a groove, which is obviously very important.
2022-09-14
I went to Whiskey Jo's on Wed, 9-14-2022. I play drums in the "20220907-Whiskey Jo's 01" and in the "20220907-Whiskey Jo's 02" videos. The other videos in this playlist is not me playing drums.
2022-09-07
I went to Whiskey Jo's on Wed, 9-7-2022. I play drums in the "20220914-001" video in the playlist below. The other videos in this playlist is not me playing drums.RPM in Cedar Rapids, IA - A Rebirth of Sorts!
Post-COVID-19, Mark has quit playing music. Rehearsing with Randy at Randy's basement in southeast Cedar Rapids, IA, has resumed! Totally awesome!2022-05-17 Rehearsal
Randy and I played through 8 original tunes that Randy wrote ... and then we played them again! I had videos recorded with my phone and was running out of storage on my phone so I looked at Google Photos and saw the videos through Google Photos. I thought that the videos had been uploaded so I deleted the videos through my File Manager app on my phone to free up storage. Unfortunately, when I saw the videos through Google Photos, I was seeing the local copy, not a copy that had been uploaded to Google Photos which, yep, when I deleted the videos through my File Manager app on my phone to free up storage, I was actually deleting the local copy that had NOT been uploaded to Google Photos. Thus, this is the only video I have from this rehearsal.
You'll just have to trust me when I report that these are the 8 original tunes that we played at this rehearsal. I think we started going through the tunes around 5:45 and we had played all 8 tunes twice by 8 PM, which puts me at a ballpark of 4 tunes per 30 minutes, which means we probably now have enough tunes to play a 1 hour set of original tunes. This is uncharted territory for me. I have never played in a band with 1 hour worth of original tunes. Not even Old Stew, 30+ years ago, had that much material!
2022-04-18 Rehearsal
https://youtu.be/_7EKd7QfeRU
2022-02-23 Rehearsal
This was a significant rehearsal as Randy and I played 2 of Randy's original tunes that we had never played previously:
- Some Things
- Take My Love
2022-02-23 Rehearsal
We worked on the 5 original tunes from 2021-12-14 and then added a few more!2021-12-14 Rehearsal
We worked on 5 of Randy's original tunes (in alpha order):- A New Beginning
- I Know You're Out There
- Look Around You
- Violet Lane
- First Time Through
- R intro version:
- We Might Be
List of RPM / RP Rehearsals
We played together the following times: This is incomplete but I will complete ASAP!
- 2019-10-18
- 2020-02-24
- 2021-12-14
- 2022-01
- 2022-02-23
- 2022-03
- 2022-04
- 2022-05
2019
2020
2021
Saint Thomas More Mass
I play drums at Masses at Saint Thomas More. While you won't see me, you will be able to hear me praise God with my drumming. I think the joke "You have a face for radio" is applicable. To listen to me playing drums at Mass, see below: Below are videos of Mass at Saint Thomas More when I played drums. The camera is focused only on the altar, as it should be, but when there are drums being played, it is me playing them.
2023
2023-10-28
https://youtu.be/ 3uYRdF6rA98 - Me Playing Drums at STM ... and you can see me!
2023-07-22
2022
March 12, 2022
https://youtu.be/ZQgSl55qqkc - March 12, 2023
December 3rd and 4th, 2022
https://youtu.be/26m1YD-DEYE - December 3rd and 4th, 2022
May 2022
https://youtu.be/TZaJ4ZZMoUM - Me playing Drums, my wife Karen singing
March 2022
March 20, 2022
March 20, 2022 - Third Sunday Of Lent - Me playing Drums, my wife Karen singing
June 2021
June 5, 2021
I returned to playing drums at Saint Thomas More at 5:15 Mass on 6/5/2021 and it was awesome to be able to receive Eucharist and praise God with my God-given drumming talent! Jim S, a guitarist I have mentioned in the past (I think) played guitar at Mass. There was some sort of technical glitch with the equipment that created the video embedded below such that you can't hear my drums at the beginning of Mass. To hear me, click this link:June 5, 2021.Communion Tune
2021-06-13 Beatles Jam in Bever Park
While no video exists of this event exists, I did record the session on this Sunday AM from 9 AM - ~11 AM on my cell phone. Similar to when I recorded the Uncle Rico the Band rehearsals, I put my cell phone near my drums so, yes, the drums dominate the mix. Anyways, it was a fun session and I took these two pictures.
Post-RPM Drumming Videos
I have a dream that RPM will enter a recording studio and record RPM tunes that would be released on a CD, if CDs were a thing that musicians actually released...RPM in Cedar Rapids, IA
I traveled to the southeast part of Cedar Rapids, IA, to jam with Mark, a bassist, and Randy, a guitarist, in Randy's basement. We played together the following times:- Wednesday, October 16, 2019
- Wednesday, October 24, 2019
- Wednesday, November 6, 2019
- Wednesday, November 20, 2019
- Wednesday, December 11, 2019
- Wednesday, December 18, 2019
- Wednesday, January 08, 2020
- Tuesday, February 4, 2020
- Tuesday, February 11, 2020
- Thursday, February 27, 2020
This is the master list of tunes from which we are working:
This is a playlist I created of our rehearsal on February 27, 2020:
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Live from 830 Studios, it's the P of RPM practicing new drum parts for tunes recorded on 2-27-2020 - a whopping 299 days (9 months, 3 weeks, 4 days) ago. This is my setup:
- I hooked up my primary cell phone (a Samsung) to the Yamaha DTX-500 electronic drum "brain", so I could hear the video in my ears - I set the sound in my ear to be only in one ear
- I hooked up a Fender guitar amp to Yamaha DTX-500 electronic drum "brain" so I could hear the drums through the guitar amp I then put on headphones, started the video on my primary cell phone, pressed "Record" on my secondary cell phone (an LG) and played drums.
Sometimes it was not easy to hear the music playing on the drum video, which is okay because what I was playing on drums is meant to replace what I was playing in the video that was recorded 299 days ago!
This is a playlist I created of our rehearsal on February 11, 2020:
This is a playlist I created of our rehearsal on February 4, 2020:
This is a playlist I created of our rehearsal on January 08, 2020:
This is a playlist I created of our rehearsal on November 20, 2019:
This is a playlist I created with the tunes we are playing:
This is the brand and model of drums Randy has in his basement that I play when I go to Randy's basement:
Koop & Company
After auditioning in Central City on Monday, April 1, 2019, I joined Koop and Company on Tuesday, April 2, 2019! This is the announcement video:I was excited to join this group because the tunes on the setlist have a small overlap between what I have played in previous bands and their setlist. Best described as Outlaw Country, I am excited to become familiar with artists I've never listened to before like Sturgill Simpson, Luke Combs, Whiskey Meyers, and Whitey Morgan:
And this is the Koop and Company page on Facebook.
I created this page as well: Koop and Company.
Currently, my status with Koop & Company is that if Robby, their drummer, cannot play, I can play drums with them, but for the foreseeable future, I have been replaced with Robby. I wish them well and hope our paths will cross again in the future as playing at Pitcher's on 4/11/2019 was a really fun night for me!
Playing Drums at STM
That's me playing drums and Karen singing (furthest left side in the picture below) at 515 Mass on Saturday, January 26, 2019:
A Jam Session in my Basement - July 2018
In July 2018, prior to a jam session with Jim & Micah in my basement, I recorded this video. I needed to test running the Yamaha electronic kit through my brother-in-law's Fender amp prior to jamming with Jim & Micah. I randomly selected one of the pre-programmed tunes that is included with the Yamaha "brain" - I didn't write it. Since it was available, I used the click to keep me "honest" with the tempo. I played around with the feel of the tune, going from a 1/2 time feel to regular to a double-time feel, all just to mess around.Uncle Rico the Band
I joined Uncle Rico the Band on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. After 15 rehearsals x 4 hours (3 actually rehearsing, 1 hour travel), I was really ecstatic about the progress we had made when a gig was lined up at the Iowa City Elk's Club on Saturday, August 23, 2014. I recorded the gig with my phone and we rocked! However, as we were loading up our gear, Uncle Rico the Band disbanded. Here are some pictures from that night:
Here is a video of some songs from that night:
These are all the songs that Uncle Rico the Band played at the Iowa City Elk's Club.
Set 1
Ring of Fire
|
I've Been Everywhere
|
Oh Boy
|
Squeeze Box
|
Jet Airliner
|
Margaritaville
|
When the Sun Goes Down
|
Stand By Me
|
500 Miles
|
It's the End of the World
|
Just Like Heaven
|
I Melt With You
|
I Saw Her Standing There
|
Love Her Madly
|
I Will Survive
|
Rock'n Me
|
Royals
|
Set 2
You May Be Right
|
Blister in the Sun
|
What I Like About You
|
Jenny / 867-5309
|
Brown Eyed Girl
|
Escape
|
Dancing Queen
|
I Ran
|
Wonderful Tonight
|
Folsom Prison Blues
|
Hot Stuff
|
Bad Case of Loving You
|
Johnny B Goode
|
Sweet Caroline
|
Set 3
Hey Jealousy
|
Blitzkrieg Bop
|
I Wanna Be Sedated
|
Should I Stay or Should I Go
|
Basket Case
|
Fight For Your Right
|
Sweet Child O Mine
|
Paranoid
|
Rock and Roll All Nite
|
Rockin' in the Free World
|
Brown Sugar
|
Your Mama Can't Dance
|
Pump It Up
|
Lola
|
Lou's Classic Ride
- Lonely Boy
- Sunshine of your Love
- Stuck in the Middle
- Foghat (I Just Want to Make Love to You)
- Dead Flowers
- Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting
- What I Like About You
- Rocking in the Free World
This first video starts out with us until the 5:50-ish time and then switches to highlights of Adrenalize's set. Adrenalize featured Serbi on drums and Kyle O on guitar (RIP).
Lonely Boy - this was the first tune that LCR put together and was always one of my favorites.
Sunshine - way back in 1992, I went to a drummer audition in Urbana. This tune was one that we tried to go through and, I remember very vividly, that I had not heard it before. Thus, during the audition, playing the 1 and 3 on the snare was tough for me to nail. Therefore, when LCR came together, I suggested this tune as it was one that I wanted to play 'correctly' to atone for the disaster that was the 1992 drummer audition. I think it sounds good.
Stuck in the Middle - Brian Guitar suggested this tune. It was new to me but I quickly fell in love with the groove.
Saturday Night - Joe suggested this tune. I remembered the Flotsam & Jetsam metal cover, but had to go back and listen to the original version.
What I Like About You - I have always liked this tune. I am fairly certain it was the first tune that I ever heard a cover band play. I was at Hawkeye Downs for something and recall walking past the beer tent and hearing some band playing this tune. I don't recall how old I was or who was with me; I only recall the fact that I heard it and thought, "Wow, that'd be fun to play in a band that knew this tune."
Dead Flowers - I'm pretty sure Joe suggested this tune. I didn't know it prior to having it show up on a list of possible tunes. I grew to love it.
Brian Rocking Out - I don't remember who suggested playing this tune and, sadly, I have to admit I wasn't familiar with this tune until it became one we tried in rehearsal. Matthew Helmke sings lead. The video is the final 1:54 of the tune and features Brian's guitar solo and a pseudo-drum solo / finish at the end. It was the 8th of the 8 tunes we played that night and I just wanted to drum out a bit and play every thing Serbi had in his setup that I could. FYI, I typically don't 'go off' like that unless the song calls for it.
Lou's Classic Ride Plays our Last Gig Courage Ride 2014 in Kalona
Just over a month after the Fat Jack's gig, we played at the Courage Ride 2014 in Kalona, Iowa. I have a video that I converted from a tape to digital, but that file is too large to upload (apparently). Here are two videos from that day that were taken with my (new at the time) phone. We played these tunes:
26 Minutes at the end of the gig
Break Up Song
Basket Case (sorry for the angle)
What We Were Playing
These are all the songs that Lou's Classic Ride was either playing live or working on when the disbandment occurred.
- Lonely Boy
- Sunshine of your Love
- Stuck in the Middle
- Foghat (I Just Want to Make Love to You)
- Dead Flowers
- Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting
- What I Like About You
- Rocking in the Free World
- Big River
- Key
- American Girl
- FWIW
- Cheap Shades
- This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide
- Sweet Jane
- Gimme Three Steps
- Basket Case
- Clarksville
- Roadhouse Blues
- Breakup Song
- Stepping Stone
- I Shot the Sheriff
- Hey Joe
- Willie and the Hand Jive
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- Get Off My Cloud
- Rocky Mountain Way
- Paranoid
- I Think You Know What I Mean
- Rock & Roll All Night
- Fight For Your Right
- Seven Nation Army
- Hoochie Coochie Man
- Ramble On
- Dance the Night Away
- Godzilla
- Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo
- Mississippi Queen
- Hot Rod Lincoln
- Joe's Original
Lou's Classic Ride in Rehearsal at Smith Studios in Iowa City
In March 2013, we rehearsed at Smith Studios in Iowa City. These videos show the progress we had been making at that moment in time. "Saturday Night's All Right" was a new song for us at the time. Drums provided by Smith Studios. 
Lou's Classic Ride Photo Dump from the Lou's Classic Ride Facebook Page on 7-9-2023
12/24/2012 Rehearsal at St. Thomas More
BB King's on Beale Street in Memphis, TN
In March 2012, my employer sent me to a conference in Memphis, TN. While there, I was able to sit in with the BB King house band. I consider playing this song as the spark for the idea of playing in a band. A few months after playing at BB King's, Lou's Classic Ride was formed.HanSig First Rehearsal
830 Drums
My son Alex took these pictures after I had set up my drums in our basement on June 2, 2009. The clear drums are my original set that I've had since 1984 and the colored drums were the ones that were in our church's storage room that I was told I could have. I'm not very good at playing two kick drums but I liked the way the set looks with the clear on one side and the dark on the other.
In the years between the following pictures and today, I gave the non-clear drums to Dennis, who has a basement full of drums and who used to teach piano to the kids.
I still have the clear drums . . . and even have new-to-me cases for them!
No comments:
Post a Comment