Interview: Brandon Young of Delta Spirit
One of the best things about this TheBestDrummerInTheWorld gig is that I get to meet bands I don’t know shit about.Prior to tonight, all I knew about Delta Spirit was that they were on tour with Nada Surf. Ira Elliot of Nada Surf recommended that I interview Delta Spirit drummer Brandon Young. So, I did, and then I watched their set without ever having heard a note from them. They killed it. Let me warn you about Delta Spirit. They have more soul than you can handle. They also have more drummers than you can handle. Brandon Young could be called the lead drummer, but everyone else is an accomplished…drummer. One thing I’ve noticed about interviewing musicians and one thing I know about being a musician is most dont like to be pegged into some category. I think it would be a disservice to call Delta Spirit an alt-country band but this will give you some frame of reference. Their latest album is Ode To Sunshine. It’s not exactly happy go lucky music. But it is real. If you love or can relate to a tortured soul this could be the band to save yours. Think New Orleans and you’ll have some concept of the sound. But their live delivery is more like a religious sermon delivered by a jaded pastor who doesnt believe anymore and wonders if his flock knows he’s fakin it. The fact that the majority of the guys in the band have played drums can be seen in this great track from Ode to Sunshine. I got the instant groove in from drummer Brandon Young before the show. He didn’t warn me about what I was in for. Buy Ode to Sunshine if you want to feel...
Interview: Taylor Knox of The Golden Dogs
For a guy who started off in this band on bass, Taylor Knox of The Golden Dogs, KILLLLLLS on drums. The bestdrummerintheworld was interviewing Andrew Scott of Sloan (who rules) and Andrew said Taylor Knox IS the best drummer in the world. But I own the dot com part, so I’ll decide. Most of us have a network of friends or trusted sources who turn us on to new music. When you interview drummers you dig in bands you dig you get the bonus of getting turned on to the bands these guys dig enough to take on the road with them. So there’s a good chance you (I) will end up liking the opening band. In the case of The Golden Dogs from Toronto, I loved this band. They were absolutely amazing live. Understatement. Taylor Knox is an amazing drummer, and he calls himself a songwriter. I swear, those songwriters make the best drummers. The record Big Eye Little Eye was one of my most listened to records of the year. I hate to compare bands to other bands (mostly because I hate being compared to other bands) but if the Strokes are considered a “big” band, The Golden Dogs should be as big as U2. Here’s their video for the catchiest song you’re going to hear today. I edited the talk we had about where our families have cottages in Canada right down the road from each other, but we talk about the band, so here you go. TheBestDrummerInTheWorld interviewed Taylor Knox of The Golden Dogs. From Canada, like...
Interview: Ira Elliot of Nada Surf
Although Ira Elliot has probably heard it a million times, my story of my Nada Surf obsession is not a new story. My obsession with Nada Surf was sparked by Weezer. Ric Ocasek of the Cars who produced the first Weezer record which sounded amazing. (The fact that he messed with Guided By Voices we shall leave to another post) Around that time he also produced a record by a New York band called Nada Surf. They had a moderate hit with the song “Popular” and then were lost in major label confusion land. Ira Elliot, Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca held fast and carried on. They “resurfaced” a few years ago on the hipster radar and a friend of mine turned me onto the “new” Nada Surf and I was blown away. Absolutely great songs. The truth is there was nothing new about the band except they just kept on doing what they do and persisted and the beauty is that they really have come out on top. They really seem to have found a smooth stride in phase 2 of a career where most bands don’t get a shot at a phase 2. This is a video for the song Weightless off their latest album Lucky. The band held a contest where fans could make the official video for the song. This video was a runner up, but I thought it encompassed the aesthetic of a great song. Come on, skydiving? That pretty much rules. Ira Elliot is trully a music fan and drum junkie. He loves talking drums and drumming and he used the term “Ringo School” which I’ve used, but he made it sound official. So I’m using it now all the time. TheBestDrummerInTheWorld interviews Ira Elliot, drummer of Nada...
Interview: Brian St Clair of Local H
I’m going to cut to the chase on this one. Local H drummer Brian St Clair is one of the best drummers alive. The first week I moved to Chicago in, I think 92, I saw a great gig every night that first week. I saw, Overwhelming Colorfast, Redd Kross, Guided By Voices at Lollapalooza, and a local band that had a huge influence on me. They were Triple Fast Action. And Brian St Clair was their drummer. Over the next several years I saw every Chicago show they did and was 100% blown away every time. Amazing songs , great front man (Wes Kidd who went on to manage Local H) and a total rock god drummer in Brian St Clair. They made 2 amazing records you can hunt down and buy. When the band faded away, Brian took over the drum spot in Local H. Really the only logical choice because….they’re a TWO piece!!!!!!! Cool before White Stripes and Black Keys. Local H bring the full rock Local H drummer Brian St Clair took time to site down with TheBestDrummerInTheWorld.com at the beginning of the 12 Angry Months tour. Being a drummer myself, I am not the best interviewer nor am I an editing genius, so bare with...
Interview: Andrew Scott of Sloan
You know, being from Canada is a funny thing. I grew up in Windsor, Ontario, right across the boarder from Detroit. When I was a kid, I didn’t even know that America was a seperate country. My best friend John’s parents worked in Detroit and I remember one day when they were talking about crossing the border each day to go to work, and how the customs officials were getting tougher. I thought “What the hell? Customs? Is America a different country??? I thought The Beatles already conquered America?” I was totally confused. So, in a vain attempt to conquer the world myself, I moved to “The States” to be a “Rock-Starr, like Ringo Starr, get it?) This concept of conquering America is not new for aspiring musicians. But as I age, it seems more and more misguided a goal. How about making great music? How about having an enduring career? How about doing something you believe in? I think I was hoodwinked by the alure of KISS Alive! Damn you Gene Simmons. But not Sloan. Sure, they had theire big American hit song with Underwhelmed. But then they got called “The Nirvana of The North”. An underwhelming title in itself. I won’t pretend to know all about what they went through or what decisions they made. Or if they ever fought about “moving to The States to become Rock-Starrs” But one thing is obvious…. They decided to continue on and make great music they were proud of. If you’re a “typical american” (that’s what they call us up in Canada) Then you may not even know who Sloan are. Urgh. Here’s a video for the un-informed. Plus, this song has a line about living in Canada 🙂 So it is with this confused background that I sat down with Sloan drummer Andrew Scott. Sloan are one of my favorite bands and this is one of the best drummers you may have never heard of. My love for Power Pop songcraft is obvious and, first and foremost Sloan write great songs. Great harmonies and every guy in the band writes. The reason I think this band is so important is a) they write great songs b) they’re super tight and super pro live. But there’s a secret weapon in Andrew Scott and here’s why; He makes the case for the “Keith Moon Factor” If you’re a drummer and you love Keith Moon, you know that he is the ultimate “outside the box” drummer. He doesn’t play a hi-hat. He pretty much solos all the time. Listen to I can See For Miles if you don’t know what I’m talking...
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