Drummers on Drumming

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming. This is another installment of Big Fat Five—the series where I sit down with my favorite drummers and ask them to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the kit. This week, I’m joined by the legendary Calvin Rodgers. His playing has helped define modern gospel drumming through his work with Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and John P. Kee. And speaking of John P. Kee—Calvin’s performance on "Rain On Us" has come up again and again in other drummers’ Big Fat Fives. I had to ask him about it, and his story doesn’t disappoint. - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. CALVIN'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist – Walter HawkinsAlbum – Love Alive IIRelease Year – 1978Key Track(s) – “Until I Found The Lord”Drummer – Joel Smith - Artist – Hezekiah WalkerAlbum – Oh Lord We Praise YouRelease Year – 1991Key Track(s) – “Oh Lord We Praise You,” “He’s Sweet I Know,” “Walk In The Light”Drummer – Gerald Heyward - Artist – BabyfaceAlbum – UnpluggedRelease Year – 1997Key Track(s) – “Whip Appeal,” “I’ll Make Love To You”Drummer – Ricky Lawson - Artist – Dave WecklAlbum – SynergyRelease Year – 1999Key Track(s) – “High Life,” “Cultural Concurrence,” “Tower 99”Drummer – Dave Weckl - Artist – Kirk FranklinAlbum – The Rebirth of Kirk FranklinRelease Year – 2002Key Track(s) – “Hossana,” “Don’t Cry,” “Brighter Day”Drummer – Terry Baker - Honorable MentionArtist – Mint ConditionAlbum – Definition Of A BandRelease Year – 1996Key Track(s) – “Intro,” “Let Me Be The One,” “Raise Up,” “Sometimes”Drummers – Stokely Williams, Chris Dave For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with another installment of Big Fat Five - a segment of the show where I chat with my favorite drummers about the 5 records that shaped their approach to the instrument. This week’s guest is Zach Danziger...a drummer/composer who refuses to let tradition box him in. From early days with Wayne Krantz to collaborations across jazz, fusion, film, and experimental projects, Zach has built a career that’s as deep as it is unpredictable. Sometimes you click with everything a guest says…and this conversation was just that. Talking with Zach not only made me more confident in who I am as a player, but also excited to explore elements I've been neglecting. That being said, I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Zach Danziger into the player he is today. Cheers.  - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. ZACH'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist – Bill ConnorsAlbum – Step ItRelease Year – 1985Key Track – “Step It”Drummer – Dave Weckl - Artist – Chaka KhanAlbum – NaughtyRelease Year – 1980Key Track – “Clouds”Drummer – Steve Ferrone - Artist – McCoy TynerAlbum – Inner VoicesRelease Year – 1977Key Track – UptownDrummer(s) – Eric Gravatt & Jack DeJohnette - Artist – Luther VandrossAlbum – Busy BodyRelease Year – 1983Key Track – For the Sweetness of Your LoveDrummer – Yogi Horton - Artist – SquarepusherAlbum – Feed Me Weird ThingsRelease Year – 1996Key Track - Squarepusher ThemeDrummer – Programmed by Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher) For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Drum Panel, we’ve got Dave Elitch and Sarab Singh. Dave has worked with The Mars Volta, Weezer, The 1975, Justin Timberlake, and plenty more. Alongside his playing career, he’s become a sought-after instructor on body mechanics and the psychology of performing. He’s put out two online courses—Getting Out of Your Own Way and Staying Out of Your Own Way—that dive deep into how the body moves behind the kit. His brand-new online course, Your Mind’s Ear, shifts the focus to sound and gear. Check out all of his courses ⁠HERE⁠! Joining us is our good friend Sarab Singh. He’s an incredibly talented drummer based in Los Angeles and currently plays with MUNA. Beyond that, he’s one of the best hangs I know, and the perfect bridge between me and Dave. This isn’t just a promo. We cover a lot of ground as always—but Dave’s new course is the glue that holds today’s conversation together. Check out all of his courses HERE! - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Big Fat Five, I’m joined by drummer Xavier Ware. He’s currently out on the road with Bilmuri, and his playing is UNREAL—able to blaze with the kind of intensity that feels like he’s getting paid by the note, then pivot into a dynamic, nuanced jazz approach with left-foot finesse that I honestly can’t wrap my head around. Both of those styles live so far outside my own playing, which made this conversation especially exciting. We discuss where he learned the jazz language, how he breaks down the incredibly technical songs he’s known for, and his journey toward appreciating the small things. And ultimately, how you shouldn’t strive for perfect timing or playing, but that perfect feeling, for both you and the audience. XAVIER'S BIG FAT FIVE: - Artist – NerveAlbum – Prohibited BeatsRelease Year – 2009Key Track(s) – “Syncopath,” “Jabon,” “Far,” “7even”Drummer – Jojo Mayer Artist – Button MasherAlbum – The 16bit.WavRelease Year – 2020Key Track(s) – “Siblings,” “Meta Knight's Revenge” (from Kirby Superstar)Drummer – Midi Artist – Louis ColeAlbum – Quality Over OpinionRelease Year – 2022Key Track(s) – “Laughing in Her Sleep,” “I’m Tight,” “Failing in a Cool Way”Drummer – Louis Cole Artist – Sonny RollinsAlbum – East Broadway RundownRelease Year – 1966Key Track(s) – “Front to Back”Drummer – Elvin Jones Artist – YellowjacketsAlbum – Blue HatsRelease Year – 1997Key Track(s) – “CapeTown,” “Statue of Liberty,” “New Rochelle”Drummer – Will Kennedy - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve been deep into working on the second book, which has me going back through a bunch of the older conversations. One that really stood out again was with Steve Goold. If you don’t know, Steve is actually the Steve of Steve’s Donut. He’s also played with Sara Bareilles, Owl City, Mat Kearney, and Scary Pockets, to name a few. But more than the resume, I was reminded how insightful he is. There’s this part where he talks about there being no neutral notes—like, every note carries weight, it’s never just filler. That idea has been rattling around in my head ever since I revisited the chat. Steve just put out his first release under his own name, a live recording called Solo Improvisations On Drumset, and you can watch the whole thing on YouTube HERE. STEVE'S BIG FAT FIVE: - Artist – Pearl Jam Album – Vs. Release Year – 1993 Key Track – “Go” Drummer – Dave Abbruzzese - Artist – Owsley Album – Owsley Release Year – 1999 Key Track – “Oh No the Radio” Drummer – Chris McHugh - Artist – Jeff Buckley Album – Grace Release Year – 1994 Key Track – “Mojo Pin” Drummer – Matt Johnson - Artist – Happy Apple Album – Body Popping – Moon Walking – Top Rocking Release Year – 2000 Key Track – “Where Does a Stranger Go on Christmas Eve?” Drummer – Dave King - Artist – Dogs of Peace Album – Speak Release Year – 1996 Key Track – “The Truth” Drummer – John Hammond - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Drum Panel episode picks up where we left off with Brendan Buckley (Shakira, Morrissey, Perry Farrell) and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Mother Feather). If you missed Part 1, you’ll still follow along just fine—but it’s worth a listen. We dive right in with drummer nightmares before moving into bigger conversations about finding your own sound, overcoming roadblocks, and balancing identity as both artist and “brand.” Inside this episode: Drummer nightmares on stage – including Brendan’s Shakira story that started as a trio Bad advice worth ignoring – why “you need to play everything” isn’t always the path Finding your own voice – doubling down on what makes you unique instead of being a jack of all trades Hi-hat obsession – tone, touch, and why small changes shift the whole vibe Roadblocks and breakthroughs – Gunnar’s kick pedal “yips” and Brendan’s double bass practice insights Kit setups and identity – how your drum layout shapes your playing more than you think Brand vs. authenticity – do drummers really need to market themselves, or is being great enough? ——— Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Drum Panel brings together Brendan Buckley—drummer for Shakira, Perry Farrell, Morrissey, and more—and one of my closest friends, Gunnar Olsen of Puscifer, Mother Feather, Big Data, and ME to chat about... ...the difference between what works in the practice room and what works in an arena, charting versus memorizing, and how to respect the composition before making it your own. Brendan breaks down the “Shakira machine” and why clarity and projection beat busy parts when you’re playing to the back row. We also cover deep-dive listening versus casting a wide net, Bowie’s Berlin era, and the time Brendan’s electrician turned out to be one of my favorite drummers—and his too. It’s equal parts practical advice, music history, and great road stories from working drummers. Inside this episode Arena truth: kick, snare, crashes beat ghost-note soup The DW stainless kit that keeps coming back on tour Shakira’s camp, subs, and how Brendan plans for “what if” Learning 30 songs fast: charts, anchors, and staying calm Deep-dive listening vs playlists, plus Bowie and Prince talk The Alan Myers story and why “mic-friendly” drums matter ——— Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Drum Panel! Featuring: Ben Hilzinger (me!), Joe Lana Jr. (@thecowboydrummer), and Eric Urrea (Marina City) Inside this episode: Why Creators Struggle to Accept Compliments The Trap of Overthinking Content Creation Balancing Comedy, Drumming, and Self-Worth Online When Do You Feel Like a Drummer vs. an Impostor? The Subtle Art of Playing Soft and Why Grip Debates Are Overrated --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another installment of Big Fat Five—where I ask my favorite drummers (and, honestly, just favorite people) to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the instrument. Today’s guest is Cain Daniel. You might’ve caught him on a recent episode of The Drum Panel, but this time he’s here for the Big Fat Five treatment. I first saw Cain play with Jesus Molina, and his creativity, clarity, and confidence behind the kit instantly stood out in the sea of drum videos I scroll through every day. He’s an LA-based drummer, a Berklee College of Music grad, and in recent years he’s played with Chappell Roan, Derek Hough, Engelbert Humperdinck, and plenty more. So let’s get into the five records that helped shape Cain Daniel into the drummer he is today. And while this isn’t a Drum Panel episode, we still take a few fun side quests along the way. CAIN'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist - Dave Weckl Album - Master Plan Release Year  - 1990 Drummer - Dave Weckl - Artist - Dave Matthews Band Album - Busted Stuff Release Year - 2002 Key Track - "Grey Street" Drummer - Carter Beauford - Artist - Tigran Hamasyan Album - Mockroot Release Year - 2015 Drummer - Arthur Hnatek - Artist Rufus & Chaka Khan Album - Stompin’ at the Savoy Release Year - 1983 Drummer John "JR" Robinson - Artist - Tower of Power Album - Back to Oakland Release Year - 1974 Key Track(s) - "Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)" Drummer - David Garibaldi - HONORABLE MENTIONS: Artist - Avishai Cohen Album - Gently Disturbed Release Year - 2008 Drummer - Mark Guiliana - Artist - Dirty Loops Album - Loopified Release Year - 2014 Drummer - Aron Mellergard --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben (me..hi!), Mark Stepro (The Wallflowers) and Eric Urrea (Marina City) talk about the gear that go away... Our favorite BAD recordings How to stay in love with drumming when it’s also your job When to say yes to a gig—and when to walk away Should you charge for prep time? And how much is your time actually worth? Why some “Instagram drummers” aren’t your competition—and that’s fine --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s installment of Big Fat Five features Marcus Finnie…a proud Memphis native now based in Nashville and he’s one of the most respected session drummers and educators around. His credits span genres and include icons such as Donna Summer, Billy Preston, Larry Carlton, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Lady A, and many more. He’s also played on multiple grammy winning and grammy nominated records. I recently went down a rabbit hole watching his clinics and he was too insightful and talented NOT have on the show. So here we go. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shape Marcus Finnie into the impactful musician he is today.  --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this PART 2 episode of The Drum Panel, I’m yet again joined by drummers Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Big Data) and Eric Urrea (Marina City) for a deep dive into the internal lives of drummers — the anxiety, the self-doubt, the flow states, and the fears we rarely talk about.  Today we discuss: The adrenaline of live shows How we learn songs Reoccurring drummer nightmares The power of simple praise Content creation as practice Drummer swap fantasies The burden drummers carry Looking ahead for The Drum Panel --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Bruce Springsteen, Mother Feather) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.  Today we discuss: How Gunnar personalizes drum parts for legacy bands like Eve 6 while still respecting the original recordings The balance between improvisation and replication—what “respecting the instrument” really means Dream gear: Lars Ulrich’s ...And Justice for All Tama kit and Herb Alexander’s wild setup from “My Name Is Mud” Behind the scenes of the Primus / Puscifer / A Perfect Circle tour and being at the center of major drum world headlines Josh Freese’s quiet exit from Foo Fighters mid-tour and what Gunnar learned from watching him handle it with grace and intensity The surreal story of getting the call to play on a Bruce Springsteen record How much creative freedom Gunnar gets with Puscifer and how each tour takes on its own sonic identity Navigating feedback in the studio vs. live gigs—and why the context always matters Gunnar’s candid reflection after a rough wedding gig and how it reignited his desire to practice Blending live drums with electronic stems: what Gunnar calls the “hip-hop show” approach The mysterious phenomenon of “next day clarity” when learning new songs and why the brain needs rest Overcoming overthinking, performance anxiety, and “the yips”—and the importance of showing yourself grace Why not playing for a while might be the best practice you didn’t know you needed 'My Name Is Mud' Video - DRUM PICS --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Cain Daniel (Jesus Molina, Derek Hough) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.  Today we discuss: How we get out of a creative rut Redefining success — how your goals change as you grow Self-work — therapy, breathwork, and staying sane on the road Live performance as meditation — the balance between awareness and letting go Gear stories that hurt Pushing back on bad adviceIf your younger self saw you now… — the reality vs. the fantasy Insurance tips every musician should know (seriously) --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Max Flanders (Lukas Nelson), and Dean Sinclair (Capital Soirée, Worry Club, Ostin) for a roundtable on the ever-fragile topic of taste. Today we discuss: How to handle unsolicited feedback without spiraling into existential dread The delicate balance between self-expression and being hireable Whether “good taste” is something you're born with—or can develop That awkward moment when a producer tells you to “play something you’re already playing” Learning to interpret non-drummer feedback without losing your mind The anxiety of showing people your work… and how to move past it Whether your teenage influences are a crutch… or your secret weapon Developing your own voice in a world full of technically perfect drummers—and incoming AI Overcoming “red light syndrome” in the studio and learning to groove under pressure This one is for anyone who's ever questioned their taste, their technique, or their place in the industry. It’s funny, raw, and packed with perspective. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Ari Hoenig — drummer, composer, educator, and all-around wizard behind the kit. Ari is known for his melodic, almost vocal approach to the drums, especially his ability to bend pitch and bring out distinct note choices on the instrument in a way that sounds nearly impossible. He’s collaborated with artists like Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, and many others, but it’s his own solo work that really puts a spotlight on his creative spirit. In this episode, Ari walks through five records that helped shape his unique voice — from the expressive swing of Papa Jo Jones to the unconventional phrasing of Thelonious Monk. We also dive into Ari’s early classical roots, why Keith Jarrett changed his musical DNA, and how he began developing his signature melodic drumming approach. Hope you enjoy the five records that shaped Ari Hoenig into the deeply expressive and fiercely original musician he is today. Join Ari's Patreon HERE ARI'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist – Keith JarrettAlbum – BelongingRelease Year – 1974Key Track – "Spiral Dance"Drummer – Jon Christensen - Artist – Jo JonesAlbum – The Jo Jones Trio: The Everest YearsRelease Year – 1959Key Track – "Philadelphia Bound"Drummer – Jo Jones - Artist – Kenny GarrettAlbum – TrilogyRelease Year – 1995Key Track – "Wayne's Thing"Drummer – Brian Blade - Artist – Miles DavisAlbum – NefertitiRelease Year – 1968Key Track – "Nefertiti"Drummer – Tony Williams - Artist – Thelonious MonkAlbum – Monk's DreamRelease Year – 1963Key Track – "Monk's Dream"Drummer – Frankie Dunlop --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Billy Martin ... a world-renowned drummer, educator, visual artist, producer, and author. He has collaborated with some of the best, including (but certainly not limited to) John Scofield, John Zorn, Iggy Pop, Natalie Merchant, Flea and many more. Still, many people know him best for his work with Medeski, Martin & Wood, alongside John Medeski and Chris Wood. If you enjoy this episode, please go check out Billy’s interview with Mike Dawson on the Drum Candy podcast titled “Improvising and Cultivating a Creative Mindset”. I recently re-watched his anti-instructional film, Life on Drums, and I can’t recommend it enough. It's essentially a series of conversations between Martin and his first drum teacher, Allen Herman. These discussions delve into topics such as soloing, time, tone, phrasing, free playing, and so much more. Interspersed throughout are some pretty rad solo and duet performances…all filmed with a cinematic aesthetic. So check that out if that interests you.  Right off the bat, we dive into the topic of soloing — something Billy encourages all drummers to do first thing when they sit behind the kit (even if just for five minutes), before jumping into the records that shaped him into the remarkable musician he is today. BILLY'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist - Peter ToshAlbum - Legalize ItRelease Year - 1976Key Track - "Legalize it"Drummer - Carlton "Santa" Davis, Carlton Barrett - Artist - Stevie WonderAlbum - Talking BookRelease Year - 1972Key Track - "Superstition"Drummer - Stevie Wonder - Artist - Dr. JohnAlbum - Gris GrisRelease Year - 1968Key Track - "Mama Roux"Drummer - John Boudreaux - Artist - John ColtraneAlbum - Interstellar SpaceRelease Year - 1974Key Track - "Jupiter Variation"Drummer - Rashied Ali - Artist - Charles MingusAlbum - Mingus Ah UmRelease Year - 1959Key Track - "Better Git It In Your Soul"Drummer - Dannie Richmond - Artist - Lil' KimAlbum - Hard CoreRelease Year - 1996Key Track - "Queen Bitch" Artist - Wu-Tang ClanAlbum - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)Release Year - 1993Key Track - "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II - Conclusion"Drummer - RZA (producer / beat maker) --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠Click here to order now!⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this part two episode, I continue my deep-dive chat with co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City) — picking up right where last week’s marathon conversation left off. Today we discuss: The most useful failures musicians face (and how to reframe them) Why “pocket” means something different on every gig Learning to own your voice — whether as a hired gun or band member How to stay mentally and physically sane while on the road Why doing non-music things on tour actually fuels your art We open up about imposter syndrome, ADHD, burnout, and what it really takes to balance creativity with professionalism. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City) for a laid-back but honest conversation about drumming, the music industry, self-worth, and everything in between. We had originally planned to bring on a guest, but when that fell through, we decided to just catch up and hit record—which, honestly, ended up being exactly what we needed. Today we discuss: A belief we both held about drumming early on that we’ve since let go of. Why learning kick drum patterns is my first step when tackling new material. The very real anxiety of walking into a new gig and playing in front of a band for the first time. Our approach to charting vs. memorizing—and why it changes depending on the situation. Whether drummers deserve songwriting credit and how we navigate that conversation. The difference between publishing and master rights, and what every drummer should understand about the business. Our evolving definitions of “making it” as working musicians. How our instruments can feel like both a source of pride and frustration—and how that ties into self-worth. The constant push-pull between confidence and impostor syndrome, and how we deal with it. If you’re navigating your own creative path, juggling multiple projects, or just trying to stay inspired through the ups and downs, I think this episode will hit home. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠Click here to order now!⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this episode of The Drum Panel, host Ben Hilzinger is joined by Sterling Laws and Fred Eltringham for an insightful roundtable on all things DRUM. Meet the Panelists: Sterling Laws: Grammy-nominated drummer from the Pacific Northwest, now based in Los Angeles, known for collaborations with Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, and more. Fred Eltringham: Nashville-based drummer, a mainstay with Sheryl Crow since 2012, with credits including The Wallflowers, The Chicks, and kd lang. In today's episode, we discuss: Dream pieces of gear from music history. Albums they wish they could have witnessed being recorded. Balancing technique and groove, and the idea that overemphasis on technique might mask a lack of feel. Essential, budget-friendly gear they rely on. Personal experiences of re-evaluating their approach to the drum set. Common drumming advice they find questionable, such as rigid techniques or creative limitations imposed by producers. Trends in drumming they're eager to see fade. Identifying traits that distinguish amateur drummers in live settings, like cymbal choices and hi-hat control. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠Click here to order now!⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices