Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

347 - Joe Gilder: Home Studio Corner, Get It Right At The Source, Advice When Recording Drums Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

Joe Gilder is a musician, songwriter, and producer living in the Nashville area with his wife Pam and 3 kids.

Joe started Home Studio Corner back in 2009. Over the years, he's created thousands of pieces of content — videos, podcasts, articles, training courses, and more — all with the goal of helping home studio folks make better music.

In addition to Home Studio Corner, Joe's worked for Sweetwater and Presonus, as well as leading worship for a few churches in the Nashville area.

Looking for free help? Check out his YouTube channel as well as these free resources.

Looking to dive deeper? Check out my courses here.

In this episode, Joe talks about:

How “Home Studio Corner” got started and what it is
Advice for content creators
Get It Right At The Source - G.I.R.A.T.S.
What Joe loves about working with drummer Tim Horsley (WDP ep 025)
Advice when recording drums
Ideas for growing your home studio clientele

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346 - Frank Zummo: Going Solo in the EDM World, His Physical Regimen, The Lasting Influence of Dom Famularo Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Frank Zummo is currently the drummer of the rock band SUM 41, EDM Artist Kayzo, and has recently begun releasing music and doing live performances under his own name. His schooling started with Dom Famularo and continued at the Drummer's Collective in Manhattan. In 2004, Zummo co-founded the award-winning drum ensemble Street Drum Corps, which became his biggest project to date, resulting in countless world tours, Vegas residencies and performances onstage with Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chris Cornell (Soundgarden); and has now expanded into a nationwide franchise with several theme park residencies. Other projects Zummo has in his pocket include: Motley Crue (filled in for Tommy Lee during a hand injury), Krewella, Gary Numan, Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots' late singer), Julien-K, Dead By Sunrise, Orianthi, the Start, Dhani Harrison, and many more.

In this episode, Frank talks about:

What he learned from DJs about how to put on a live EDM show
How drummers like Tommy Lee and Chad Smith inspired his approach to live shows
What he does (and doesn't do) to manage the physical challenges of his playing style
How Dom Famularo set him on a positive path
Assembling and managing his business team

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345 - Tommy Harden: Nashville Studio Great, Drumming for Legendary Country Band Alabama, Playing for the Song Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

Tommy Harden has been in Nashville since the early 90's. The first gig he landed was 4 months after moving to town with the Grammy award winning Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. He then went on to tour with Ricky Skaggs, playing drums in the coveted Kentucky Thunder band as well as touring with Reba McEntire for 14 years. Tommy has played on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, The View, Regis and Kelly, and many others. He has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, and the Capitol for the 4th of July, and has played in every state in the nation, in arenas and amphitheaters all over the country.

Since getting off the road full time in the mid 90’s, Tommy pursued studio work, where he became a top call, ‘A' list studio drummer. He played on hundreds of recordings for artists such as Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Big and Rich, Waylon Jennings, Jessica Simpson, and has been on number one hits for Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, and James Otto. Since 1997, he has played on an estimated 5,000-7,000 sessions.

Tommy was featured playing drums in the movie ‘Muscle Shoals', playing for Rick Hall and Candi Staton. He fronts his own band, Lost Hollow with his wife Lorrie. He currently tours with the legendary country band Alabama. Tommy has a studio at his house called Tommy's Dungeon, where he does drum tracks for clients all over the world, produces, and writes songs.

In this episode, Tommy talks about:

His home studio and the build of his drum room
Recording and performing hacks
His duo: Lost Hollow
Playing for the song
A look behind the scenes when recording couple #1 hits
Changes in the industry that lead to his work with Reba McEntire
Touring with Alabama

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344 - Mike Jackson: Multi-talented Musician, Composer and Overall Creative, Understanding the Technical Side of Creating Music Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

Mike Jackson is a multi-talented musician, composer and overall creative with over 30 years of experience in the fields of music, commercial composition as well as video and audio production. He has composed music for a diverse range of clients and formats like CD-ROM game titles such as Spy Kids® and Totally Spies®, WGN's Footnote and CMT.

While serving as staff composer at one of the nations largest production facilities, Mills James Productions, Mike composed music for Victoria's Secret, Toyota, the critically acclaimed "Light Tunnel" at the Detroit International Airport, The Ohio Lottery, for which he received an Emmy® award, and many other fortune 500 companies.

Mike also composed the music for the International Academy of Web Television nominated show Aidan 5, A sci-fi, film-noir, detective drama. Mike is currently the visual and digital experience designer for the company Sedgwick.

In this episode, Mike talks about:

Deciding on plug-ins for your DAW based on experience
G.A.S. - Gear Acquisition Syndrom
Mike’s journey to understanding the technical side of music
Composing commercial music
Reviewing and defining standard recording terms like compression, phasing, etc

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343 - Megan Coleman: Drumming for Grammy-Nominated UK Artist Yola, Gigging as a DJ, Detroit to Jordan to Nashville Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

Megan Coleman was born in the heart of Detroit. She grew up in church, learning from the rich culture that is Detroit Gospel, Jazz and RnB music. She always had a passion for music and had the chance to start exploring that both in church and in school when she started playing drums in Jr. High. She continued to grow in love and passion for music, but wanted instead, to pursue Medicine.

In the midst of these studies, she moved to Nashville to try her hand at pursuing music full-time. Megan has since had the opportunity to grow and flourish both in Nashville and in the industry as a whole.

As a drummer and percussionist, she has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists such as Jackie Greene, Foy Vance, and Ron Pope-to name a few. Most recently, she can be found touring with Yola.

When she is not on the road, Megan spends her time in sessions around town, teaching lessons, or volunteering in mentorship programs.

In this episode, Megan talks about:

Her journey from Detroit, TX, the middle east and Nashville
Learning music and drumming from a non-traditional place
Living in Jordan
Working as a DJ
Embracing fear and anxiety
Working with Grammy nominated artist Yola

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342 - Chad Melchert: 5 x CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) Drummer Of The Year, Abbigail Road Studio, Supporting Canadian artists Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

Chad Melchert is one of Canada’s most pre-eminent live and session drummers who is also an acclaimed drum teacher. This native Canadian calls Edmonton (Morinville), Alberta, home but despite his Canadian residence Melchert has toured all over the world and played with artists from all types genres including Gord Bamford, Brett Kissel, Adam Gregory, Aaron Goodvin, Duane Steele, Hemingway Corner, Gil Grand, Jake Mathews, Dallas Smith, Beverley Mahood, Michelle Wright, Bobby Wills, Mikaila Cooper, Corb Lund, Charlie Major, Tyler Connoly (Theory Of A Deadman), Rose Maddox (Grand Ole Opry legend), Jean Shepard (Grand Ole Opry legend), Ian Tyson, FOXX Worthee, Drew Gregory, Deric Ruttan, Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, Aaron Pritchett, Lindsay Ell, Patricia Conroy, Tenille Alee, Lindi Ortega, Charlie James, Shawn Oates, The Lovelocks, Eric Ethridge, Jeremy Dallas, Chris Henderson, Trinity Bradshaw, Michela Sheedy, Katie Love Hess, Amber Bauer, Amber Stoby, Hastie and The Alibi, Freedom’s Note, Thin Line Sid, Jordan Lee,, The Dungarees, James Murdoch, Deon Blyan, Jay Sparrow, Mike Nash, Dan Davidson, Codie Prevost, Alex Runions, Craig Moritz, and Joal Kamps, to name a few.

Melchert has also earned repeated recognition as the CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) Drummer Of The Year (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and, 2019) and in fact, Melchert was the first drummer to enter the CCMA Hall Of Honor. Melchert endorses, Gretsch drums, Canopus Snares, Remo Drum Heads, Beier Drums Snares, Paiste Cymbals, Porter & Davies Monitoring System, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Protection Racket Cases and, Rhythm Tech Percussion.

In this episode, Chad talks about:

Maintaining and growing his home studio
Home studio hacks
Playing a supportive role in a studio environment
Supporting Canadian artists
Being “studio ready”

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341 - Jake Sommers: Drumming for Country Artist Luke Combs, The Value of Charting Skills, Studying with Dom Famularo Oct 21, 2021

Show notes

Jake Sommers attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia (UArts) as a music performance major. He was fortunate to study under Marc Dicciani, Jimmy Paxson (Ben Harper, Stevie Nicks, and Natalie Maine), Gerry Brown (Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross), Marcus Baylor (Yellowjackets), as well as Erik Johnson. He graduated from University of the Arts in May 2013 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music Performance. He was awarded the prestigious Paul D. Patterson Drum Set Award. Jake also studied under Dom Famularo and John Favicchia.

Jake relocated from his hometown in New York to Nashville, TN to pursue playing drums. Jake started drumming at the honky tonk scene on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Shortly after, he met singer-songwriter /artist by the name of Luke Combs. Jake became Luke Combs touring drummer in 2015. Over the course of Jake’s time touring with Luke Combs, Jake has made appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. In addition to touring Jake teaches lessons and plays on recording sessions.

In this episode, Jake talks about:

Building a home studio client base
How he got the Luke Combs gig
Networking in a new town
His responsibilities in the Luke gig
The value of charting skills
Studying at The University of the Arts Philadelphia

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340 - Shawn Zorn: Memphis Over Nashville, Playing with Mike Doughty and Other Songwriters Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

Shawn Zorn is a drummer from Memphis, TN who now splits his time beween Nashville and Memphis. He has performed or recorded with artists such as Twin Forks, Allen Mack Myers Moors (featuring Zach Myers of Shinedown) Amy LaVere, Will Sexton, Cory Branan, Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing), Anthony Raneri (Bayside), Dashboard Confessional, Susan Marshall, Luther Dickinson, John Paul Keith, and more. He is a creative studio performer who does sessions in the Nashville or Memphis areas and also records remotely from his studio in Memphis.

In this episode, Shawn talks about:

What got him a foothold in Nashville, but why he ultimately prioritizes Memphis
Tracking drums vs. mixing drums
The unique process/experience of recording with Mike Doughty
Creating a sample pack and finding a marketable angle for it
A few of the Memphis drummers that have influenced him

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339 - Dave Moraata: Drumming for Saving Abel, Finding His Own Voice in a Town Like Nashville, Learning from Podcasts! Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

In 2021, drummer Dave Moraata become the newest member of the band Saving Abel. Originally from a small Mississippi town (Philadelphia), Dave eventually made his way to Nashville, Tennessee in 2017. In between raising a young family and holding down a full time job, Dave took every opportunity to introduce himself to the rock scene in Nashville through jam nights, tribute shows and subbing gigs for other drummers. His dedication and attitude paid off when a chance encounter with the original singer for Saving Abel turned into a touring and recording gig of a lifetime.

In this episode, Dave talks about:

Humble beginnings in Mississippi and making the move to TN
Finding his voice at jam nights, tribute shows in Nashville
Getting the gig with Saving Abel
Dave’s personal experience in Nashville
Learning from podcasts like Drummer’s Resource, Big Fat Five and WDP

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338 - Sam Merrick: Resuming the "Hamilton" Tour, Building Cred in Multiple Cities, The Team Effort of a Sample Pack Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Sam Merrick has been in the drum chair for the touring production of Hamilton since January 2018. Prior to that, he was a busy freelancer in New York, working a bartending job for some of that time, and playing a wide range of gigs from weddings to Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. When the pandemic shut down Hamilton, he relocated to the Washington, DC area and set up a home studio where he has done remote tracking and a sample pack which he has just released through The Drum Broker.

In this episode, Sam talks about

The random wedding gig that led to the Hamilton gig
The various learning curves the show presented, from reading to energy
How the show forced him to reckon with some physical issues
Creating "normal" life away from home
"De-Hamilton-izing" his playing over the break, and seeking out inspiration and motivation from others rather than waiting it for to come from within
The sample pack partnership between drummer, producer (Jeremy Page) and platform (Drum Broker)

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