Drummer Interview: Joe Stickney of Bear In Heaven @ Pitchfork Music Festival

One of my drum students alerted me to Bear In Heaven‘s intriguing sound and layered grooves after stumbling upon them at a bar. Less than a year later, they’re playing a great set at Pitchfork Music Festival. Particularly impressive is the way Joe Stickney keeps the band lock-and-step with solid time, intricate coordination, and dropping in with drum fills at just the right time.

Listening to the records, I assumed that those layered drum parts were programmed – I was wrong. Joe is a great drummer, coordinating different parts on each limb. Passionately pushing the music forward while complementing synth-based music, you might say he’s sort of like the beating heart of the Tin Man. -Paul Goodenough

and here’s recent performance of theirs where you can witness Joe in action.  Watch it, then make sure you catch Bear In Heaven’s next show near you: