Part of Michael’s Drums series of life-long joy
Michael’s Drums 2
9 Jan 2001 updates
Xmas brought a large LP cowbell, a Zildjian large/low ice bell, a LP (green plastic) jam block, and an LP cowbell rack. Sweet. Nothing beats the spirit of giving; receiving comes close, though.
Through an unusual chain of events last year, I met a friend of an employee of a client, one Mr. Terrence Brown. The Talented Mr. Terrence is a born musician and a generally nice guy.
Over the course of a few days back in September 2000, he and I brainstormed several tracks.
Mastered Primary Jam (.mp3 4.3M) — added 3 Oct 2002
We were both playing and no one was watching the 2track controls, so you can hear the distortion as we proceeded to overload the mic and saturate the tape. The mic was mounted high up on its boom in the sound room, too close to the drums; Terrence played guitar through an old Crate transistor amp sitting next to the drums; there was no EQ or compression during recording — it was an all-tube signal path straight to tape. Nice, except for the too hot drums and hotter levels.
The digitizing cost significant liveliness, but the grooves survive. I wish the unbelievable alacrity of the master would convey over the web and mp3…
Youngest bro Chris has taken up drums…and audio production. And, since he’s naturally good at everything, he’s jumped right in!
Chris added a third snare, a 13″ 6ply maple Pearl piccolo w/ Ambassador batter head. Crack! Compared to the Ludwig brass 14″ black beauty and the Ludwig chrome 14″, this piccolo bad boy is relatively monotone, outrageously snappy and loud, and (alright, I’ll say it) -too- sensitive. The piccolo was in main position for a time, but it was just too hard to keep under control. Now, the brass snare has regained the main position. Somehow, the chrome 14″ goes so well with the chrome LP timbales, so it hasn’t moved from second position. Poor maple piccolo is snare #3, back by the 15″ jazz hihats. It is true, one can never have too many drums…probably something like kitchen spices and knives and pans for great chefs…
Faves:
Best 70’s: Rolling Stones / Beast of Burden
Best 80’s: Fixx / Saved By Zero, Madonna / Like A Virgin, Motels / Only The Lonely
Best 90’s: Sarah McGlaughlin / Building A Mystery