Drummers on Drumming

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**Drummers on Drumming**

A podcast for drummers who think too much. Ben Hilzinger talks to the greats about creativity, identity, staying sane, and finding purpose behind the kit.
Powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. For more inforamtion, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

Latest Episodes:

The Drum Panel: E-MAN is not a collector ok May 13, 2026

Show notes

What is up?

Ben here.

Another Drum Panel this week powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

This one’s with Eric Urrea and E-MAN. We got into studio vs live drumming, why some players obsess over the grid, and whether modern editing has actually made people more musical…or just safer.

E-Man had a great point about how at a certain level, everybody can already play close to the click. What actually separates people is sound. The way the drums feel in the room. The way the snare reacts in the verse versus the chorus. The weird little details that actually make a performance feel human.

We also talked about:

Why a little ugliness in drumming can actually make things feel better
Punching in takes vs forcing full performances
The reality that basically everybody is getting “fixed” in modern recordings
The one cymbal E-MAN would steal from jazz history if he could
Goosebumps moments from Nicole Scherzinger, Blink-182, and Dagny
Whether any of us ever really stop trying to sound like our heroes
Kenny Aronoff’s weird tom setup and the chaos of panning it in the studio

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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.

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The Drum Panel: His mouth time can finally relax on a bullet train to Iowa May 06, 2026

Show notes

Ben here.

On this week’s episode of Drummers on Drumming (powered by Big Fat Snare Drum), we’re back with another round of The Drum Panel.

Joining me:

Gunnar Olsen: Currently out with Puscifer

Eric Urrea: One of my favorite drummers to talk shop with because he somehow makes existential drum conversations feel practical.

This episode starts with Gunnar talking about completely losing the plot during a fill in 5… accidentally playing it in 6… then having to find his way back into the song in real time while thousands of people watched.

From there, things spiraled beautifully.

We talked about:

Why messing up live might actually make a show feel more human
The weird pressure of trying not to visibly “count” on stage when you’re hearing a click track
The difference between “giving” a great show and actually having a great show
Whether your real musical voice only shows up when you’re alone
The strange mental game of joining an established artist and figuring out how much of “you” should show up in the parts
Why some of the best gigs happen when nobody notices the drummer at all

---

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For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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The Drum Panel: Jessica screams at Ben to shut up. Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another segment of The Drum Panel.

Joining me:

Jessica Burdeaux (@jburdsbeats) Touring drummer (Covet, City Mouth) and content creator balancing real-world gigs with online presence.

George Martinez (@skinnygeorge) Former full-time studio drummer turned educator, content creator, and all-around thoughtful voice on longevity.

In this episode:

“It’s complicated” — how your relationship with drums changes over time
The weird shift from loving music more than drumming itself
Why chasing constant growth can actually burn you out
Letting students (or bandmates) make their own mistakes
The difference between chaos on tour vs. stability later in life
Content creation vs. real life: what actually matters
The pressure of the algorithm and why it messes with your head
Posting what you should vs. posting what’s actually real
Why documenting your own growth beats chasing views
The moment Instagram stopped making sense for everyone
Touring, playing live, and why that still beats the internet
The balance between being a musician and being a human
Saying no to gigs, content, or work that drains you
Why stepping away actually makes you better when you come back
The quiet insecurity of band feedback (trash can endings, anyone?)
Being your own worst critic… and why that never really goes away
What each of us is secretly proud of in our playing right now
Groove, touch, and making simple parts feel really good
Being easy to work with vs. being flashy
Why feel, energy, and stage presence still get you hired

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

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For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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The Drum Panel: The corkboard at Piggly Wiggly Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another segment of The Drum Panel.

This week I’m joined by Eric Urrea (La Armada, Marina City) and Matt Crouse (Working Drummer podcast).

In this episode:

Why doing less with your podcast might be the only way to keep it alive
The quiet way a podcast can land you real gigs years later
Craigslist vs. Nashville vs. “just being in someone’s brain”
The real thing bandleaders notice that has nothing to do with chops
Caring vs. coasting, and why people can feel it instantly
The weird mental spiral of over-practicing and then freezing on stage
Why taking a break might fix something faster than grinding it
The shift from loving drums to needing them, and what that cost
We re-address whether drummers deserve songwriting credit… and why it’s still messy
Why some songs wouldn’t exist without the drum part, even if no one admits it

---

Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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The Drum Panel: We’re just junkies Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ...a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum...

In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, The Bronx, Seal) and Mike Robinson (Say Anything, Slayyter, Oliver Tree).

In this episode:

Playing festivals - yay nay or meh
The pefectly “sized” tour
The backline details that matter most when you’re trying to play your best
How each of us thinks about success, growth, money, and career momentum
Why big milestones can feel surreal in the moment and strangely empty right after
The pressure of chasing goals in music when the target keeps moving
What really makes a gig feel worth it, beyond the size of the stage

---

Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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James Gadson: The Groove Behind "Use Me," "Kissing My Love," "Dancing Machine," and More Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

This week’s episode is a special one.

In light of James Gadson’s passing, I wanted to bring this conversation back to the top of the feed. James was one of the all-time greats, and getting to talk with him was a real honor. The audio is a little raw, he was on his phone, moving around, doing his thing, but the stories are gold, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it feel like James.

Back when Big Fat Five was still the main format of the show, I asked James to bring in five records that shaped him. Instead, he flipped it and brought in songs he played on that shaped his career. That turned out to be even better.

We get into the grooves behind Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band’s "Express Yourself," Dyke and the Blazers, "Dancing Machine" by the Jackson 5, Bill Withers classics like "Use Me" and "Kissing My Love," Cheryl Lynn’s "Got to Be Real," and even Beck’s "Paper Tiger." Along the way, James talks about jazz, Motown charts, studio instinct, restraint, feel, pocket, practicing with intention, and why the hi-hat has to talk.

This one is a reminder that a simple groove is not simple. It’s deep. And James Gadson was one of the deepest to ever do it.

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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The Drum Panel: Preptides. Prepto-Bismol and how to maintain that prep in your step Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Eric Urrea (Marina City, La Armada) and Kris Mazzarisi (Founder of BFSD / Winnetka Bowling League)

In this episode:

Why prep pay still is not standard, even though most drummers are expected to show up overprepared
The weird state of touring right now, from DIY scenes disappearing to arena tours barely breaking even
The last breakthroughs we’ve each had in our own playing, from posture to vocabulary to control
Easy things that make a drummer more effective on stage
The difference between playing quietly with sticks and changing the whole sound of the kit
Whether traditional grip has any real practical use in modern drumming

---

Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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John Stanier (Helmet, Battles, Tomahawk) shares the records that shaped his playing Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

We're here with another segment of Big Fat Five and today’s guest is John Stanier of Battles, and if you know anything about powerful, creative, unmistakable drumming, you already know why I was excited for this one. John was also a founding member of Helmet, has played with Tomahawk, and has built one of the most unique voices on the instrument over the last few decades.

I saw him play once in Seattle and honestly felt bad for his snare. He hits with so much force, but there’s also so much thought behind it. He’s a powerhouse, but he’s also super articulate, deeply creative, and clearly hears the instrument in his own way.

I’ve known about John for a long time, so getting to finally sit down with him was a real treat, and he did not disappoint. He was kind, energetic, sharp, and just really fun to talk to.

JOHN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Artist - Rush Album - Permanent Waves Release Year - 1980 Drummer - Neil Peart

Artist - Siouxsie and the Banshees Album - Juju Release Year - 1981 Key Track - "Arabian Knights" Drummer - Budgie

Artist - Return to Forever Album - No Mystery Release Year - 1975 Key Track - "Sophistifunk" Drummer - Lenny White

Artist - D.O.A. Album - Bloodied But Unbowed Release Year - 1983 Key Tracks - "The Prisoner," "Slumlord," "Waiting For You" Drummer - Chuck Biscuits

Artist - Yes Album - Fragile Release Year - 1972 Key Track - "South Side of the Sky" Drummer - Bill Bruford

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Artist - Led Zeppelin Album - Houses of the Holy Drummer - John Bonham

Artist - Billy Cobham Album - Spectrum Drummer - Billy Cobham

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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Drummers On Food On Tour On Drumming (Lactaid is sick) Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

This week, we’re celebrating the release of Mike Robinson’s new Food on Tour Guide. Mike has toured with Say Anything, Oliver Tree, K.Flay, and many more and this guide is built from years of eating on the road.

It’s a curated digital map with more than 2,000 spots across three layers: food, drink, and tiki. It gets updated regularly and helps save you from wasting money on bad meals while touring.

To celebrate, Mike, Eric, and I each share five spots that have stood out to us over our combined decades on the road. Once you download the guide, you can find links to all the places mentioned in this episode by searching Drummers on Eating.

But in the meantime, here are the picks:

Ben’s picks:

Slick Rock Burrito – Spokane, WA
Decibel Sake Bar – New York City, NY
Molinari Delicatessen – San Francisco, CA
Thai Station – Carrboro, NC
Ichiran – Brooklyn, NY

Eric’s picks:

Kopp’s – Milwaukee, WI
Aqui Con El Nene – Tucson, AZ
Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles – Los Angeles, CA
Nicoletto’s – Nashville, TN
Terry Black’s BBQ – Texas

Mike’s picks:

Brat House – Milwaukee, WI
Sotto – Cincinnati, OH
Rossi & Sons – Poughkeepsie, NY
Nong’s – Portland, OR
Mai-Kai – Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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The Drum Panel: What is a blue groove? Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming...a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.

In this segment of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Matt Starr (Sarah McLachlan) for a conversation that starts in the weeds and slowly turns into therapy.

We kick things off with some proper nerd talk about trash can endings, stingers, and the infamous shugidaboom. From there, the conversation opens up into music education, what band programs still get right, and what probably needs to change if we want young musicians to feel like there’s a real place for them.

Along the way, we talk about community, ego, self-direction, and why playing with other people is still the part of music you can’t really learn from a screen. Then the back half gets more reflective, as we get into success, creative identity, and the weird pressure of trying to make something that actually feels meaningful.

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

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