About Me
I have been playing drums over 20 years. I like many, many different types of music. In recent years I've mainly been playing two different kinds: blues and punk rock. Seems like opposite ends of the universe but they're similar in a lot of ways. Both have a street level quality to them. Both were born out of frustration and anger and trying to find a way to make it through. When played right both can groove and swing and make you lose yourself for a while. Let me dygress for a second before moving on to more recent happenings.My over all influences are fairly broad. I grew up listening to top 40 radio like most kids do. However, my dad was a big country and western fan so I heard lots of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, etc. around the house. When I firt started playing drums Dad was quick to point out not every song has the same groove. He'd say "Now that song has a good beat. Try to play something like that." Of course, in hindsight, he was absolutely right. As I progressed as aplayer and a person I've gravitated to the playing of a few drummers. No matter what my head space when I hear these guys play it knocks me out. Charlie Watts, Sam Lay, Frank Beard, Earl Phillips, John Bonham, Fred Below, Jim Keltner, Ritchie Albright, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Jeff Porcaro, Al Jackson Jr, Ringo, Steve Gadd and Richard Innes. As an angry young man I got into more agressive music. I was less concerned about the drummers than the way the music made me feel. The connection. I've mellowed through the years, luckily, but still remember why it affected me.Once the Blues wave washed over me I delved deeply into the history and players that made it so great. Through connections in the field I've been lucky to have played with some of the best. Some include Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Carrie Bell(former Muddy Waters harmonica player), Lurrie Bell, Chick Willis, Barry Levenson & Robert Lucas of Canned Heat, Tony Lorenz(former Albert King keyboard player), Big Jay McNeeley, Louisiana Red, Mississippi Bo, Cadillac Zack, Elmore James Jr, and currently I play with the west coasts most excititng electric blues band, The Lubricators(featuring Barry Levenson). With varius groups I've shared the stage with The Neville Bros, Honeyboy Edwards, Bobby Rush, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tommy Castro, Pancho Sanchez, Elvin Bishop, Canned Heat, Eric Sardinas, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Rod Piazza to name a few.On the punk side, the most well known guy I've played with would have to be Joe Wood, former lead singer/guitar player of TSOL. Both of us share the same feeling about the blues/punk connection. I played on a record of his enitled "Long Beach Blues". On this side of things I tend to lean toward the East Coast punk bands like New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Dead Boys, and The Stooges. But my #1 band of this genre has to be Black Flag. Read Rollins' "Get In The Van" and tell me you are not in awe of their commitment and perseverence. Through the years I've been on the same bill with Jack Grisham, Korn (at the Whiskey, early 90's), L7, Tex and the Horseheads, Mother Tongue, Backbiter and the Lazy Cowgirls. Played all the old Hollywood punk/rock clubs in the late 80's/early 90's that don't exist anymore. Raji's, Hell's Gate, English Acid, Three of Clubs, Club Lingerie, The Gaslight, and Al's Bar. In 2005-2006 I played, recorded and toured with a band called Junkload. This was a 3 piece band consisting of guitar, vocal and drums. We played the SXSW festival and many major markets between Los Angeles and Austin. Junkload can be heard on myspace.For my current gig dates check out The Lubricators link on my page or go to myspace.com/thelubricatorsbluesband.
