Rob Barrett, World Drumming Champion, Educator and Top Barber from Dublin.

Rob Barrett is a well respected drummer, educator and Top Barber from Dublin. Having started his drumming career, as a marching band drummer at the tender age of 9, he then went on to become one of Ireland’s most accomplished pipe band drummers with the St. Laurence O’Toole pipe band, under the tutelage of the brilliant Stephen Creighton. Rob has won almost every major honour, including several World Drumming Championships’. When it comes to kit drumming, Rob has been a well respected player for many years.Rob spent 10 years working in the Drumgeon in Musicmaker, where it is fair to say he was regarded as a reliable source for any drum advice. He also built up an amazing roster of drum teaching accolades having worked with some of the world’s top drummers

. 

What type of drum kit do you use?

At the moment I go between an Ayotte Velvet series steel hoop kit and a 1970’s Pearl Wood/Fiberglass. 

The Ayotte is a 22x16, 12x9, 16x15 Maple kit. 

The Pearl is a 22x16, 12x8, 13x9, 16x16. 

My main snare is a Ludwig Acrolite 14x6.5. 

And I’ve a mish-mash of Sabian cymbals. I’m kind of known for having loads of hi-hats. I’ve got 3 or 4 different sets on my kit at any time. 

Who are your favourite players?

My favourite players right now are: 

Stephen Creighton who is my pipe band mentor and World renowned Drum Sgt of St Laurence O’Toole pipe band. 

Dan Mayo is a super experimental kit player who combines acoustic drum sounds with modular synths and heavily processed effects. 

What are your favourite albums / songs?

Wow there’s so many great albums and tracks to pick from so I think it’d be easier to give you the tracks and records I can’t stop listening to recently. 

My favourite albums currently are:

KAYTRANADA - 99.9%

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a butterfly

Favourite song currently is:

Illingsworth - Magic Deck

Can you tell us some of the artists that you have played / recorded with?

My first serious band was Distractors who were a Finglas based rock and roll outfit that toured Ireland for 3/4 years and played all the usual venues and festivals. After Distractors I took a few years break to concentrate on Pipe band drumming. 

I am the current drummer for Dublin rapper Rebel Phoenix @rebel.phoenix

Alternative band Errorists @erroristsband

Experimental improv band RRestlers @rrestlers

Dublin blues legend Mary Stokes @mary_stokesblues

What advice would you give someone wanting to play drums?

For anyone thinking of playing drums I’d suggest getting lessons. Try out a few different teachers and find out which teacher suits you best. Go into Musicmaker and make friends with the lads in there. They are a great source of info and advice for all levels of drummers alike. 

Also try and remember that no matter how serious you do or don’t take it, it’s only drums!! It’s supposed to feel great and be fun always! If it doesn’t enrich your life and soul it mightn’t be for you. 

How did you cope during the COVID-19 lockdown?

I know it may seem a little strange but I really enjoyed the lockdown. I didn’t realise how much I needed a recharge and a rest. I’d been grinding and working flat out for quite some time whether cutting hair in Trench or drumming with various acts and artists. So when the lockdown happened I took a breather and was mindful of getting into a daily routine. I didn’t drink any alcohol, started practicing yoga and spent a lot of time with my practice pad a sticks. I revisited a lot of my pipe band tunes which was great!! 

I know that gigs won’t be happening any time soon so I’ll keep up my practice and enjoy working in the barber shop now that we’ve reopened. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Rob  is regarded as a great drum tuner and can still be found working with some of Ireland’s top bands/drummers/studios. His @kungfudrumming classes are a popular fixture in @yellowdoormusicstudios and has brought a sense of community for the resident drummers while refining their craft. 

Read More

Dennis Cassidy - Promotor / Collaborator & Drummer with various artists including jazz/hip-hop collective Mixtapes From The Underground

What type of drum kit do you play?

I'm a bit of a vintage drum nerd so my main kits are a 60s Rogers Holiday in 20, 12, 14 and a 70s Japanese Badge Pearl in 22, 12, 16. I love that old-school dry studio sound, so both kits are set up with coated P4 heads on the toms and an Emad on each bass drum (with plenty of tea towels on standby) My main snare is a Pearl Sensitone Aluminium 14x6.5 that I use on pretty much everything as it has that lovely warm 70s era Acrolite tone and is incredibly versatile. If I'm doing more of a hip-hop/electronic thing I'll bring the Mapex Brass Master 13x3.5 which is essentially a modern, piccolo version of the Black Beauty. It's cranked pretty high with an O-Ring for extra dryness so is perfect for playing breaks and processed sounds. I'm proud to endorse Sabian Cymbals and Vater Drumsticks (huge thanks to all at Musicmaker) so I have a nice selection of Artisan, HH, HHX and AA models to choose from depending on the situation. My main live set up is a pair of 15" Artisan Light hats with 17" & 18" HHXtreme crashes in both brilliant and natural finishes. For a bigger sound I'll put those same hats with the 21" HHX Groove Ride and 19" & 20" HHXtreme crashes. I also have a really nice 22" Artisan light and 20" AA Raw ride with rivets that I use for quieter/jazzier stuff plus a couple of older model HH thin crashes that go together beautifully. Stick wise I go between the Vater 5B Sugar Maple and Jazz Ride models, as well as their Wire Tap brushes and T3 Mallets. 

Who are your favourite players?

There are so many! Style wise, I'm influenced by everything really. From straight up serving-the-song playing and stick-smashing heft, to unorthodox phrasing ideas and bold experimentation with sonics and textures. I started playing in the mid 90's so cut my teeth to all things grunge, punk and metal as well as some of the acid jazz and hip-hop around at the time. In the early 00's I got deeper into jazz and world music while studying in Newpark, which in turn expanded into free playing, minimalism, and electronica. Mid 00's to the early teens was a heavy diet of funk breaks and even more hip-hop, running the Mixtapes From The Underground project, and in the last few years I've been going down the less is more route, checking out a lot of early country, folk and Americana as well as tons of 60's & 70's Krautrock, psych, post punk and new wave. I've also been lucky enough to work at a record store the past seven years which has given me access to a wealth of sounds, so that's been a pretty big influence too. All of these different phases have informed the musician I am today and I'm always excited to keep exploring and listening as much as possible, with open ears and an open mind. In no particular order, drummers (and producers) such as Tony Allen, Stewart Copeland, Jimmy Cobb, DJ Shadow, Dave Grohl, Delia Derbyshire, Billy Martin, Mick Fleetwood, Jon Brion, MF Doom, Steve Reich, Four Tet, Edan, David Axelrod, Matt Chamberlain, Dave King, Questlove, Dosh, Squarepusher and Glenn Kotche (among many others) are all constant sources of inspiration. 

What are your favourite albums / songs?

Bob James - Angela (theme from Taxi) is a big one for me as it holds so many memories. I used to stay up way past my bedtime to watch that show and I always loved the combination of the opening flute line with the footage of the yellow checkered cab cruising across the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. It still gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling all these years later! It's also the first time I heard the majesty of the Fender Rhodes which is pretty much my favourite instrument after the drums. More recently I've discovered the incredible Kentuckian singer/songwriter Joan Shelley, in particular her self-titled album from 2017 which was produced by Wilco main man Jeff Tweedy and features his son Spencer on drums. He's only in his early twenties but has the chops and sensibilities of Levon Helm, Jim Keltner and Ralph Molina combined. It's one of my favourite records of the last few years and is an absolute masterclass in song craft and understated playing. 

Other honourable mentions:

The Cardigans - Life

Joe Jackson - Look Sharp

Feist - Metals

ESG - Come Away With ESG 

Jaga Jazzist - A Livingroom Hush

Beastie Boys - Ill Communication

Can you tell us some of the artists that you have played / recorded with?

I've been very fortunate to work with some amazingly talented folk across various disciplines over the years, but definite highlights would have to be: Nina Hynes, Sean Og's Trihornophone, The Dead Flags, composer Garrett Sholdice, Tryst, Fehdah, Loah, AJ Croce (son of Jim Croce),The Holy Roman Army, Butter, Emma O’ Reilly,Shelley Bukspan, Lethal Dialect, Jamie Clarke (ex Ambience Affair) and my own improv jazz/hip-hop collective Mixtapes From The Underground. 

What advice would you give someone wanting to play drums?

Listen to as much music as you can and find out what moves you. Join a band and play shows. You learn more on stage than you ever can in a practice room. Find a good teacher that inspires you. If you can, learn to read music and work on your rudiments. If you want to be a working musician, learn to play with a click, be on time for rehearsals and gigs and do your homework before said rehearsals and gigs. Get a good physio (your body will thank you for years to come) and always, ALWAYS protect your ears. 

There's no right or wrong way to create, so try not to get hung up on criticism or what other people may think. Being a creative person can be hard and there can be a certain expectation to be switched on all the time, from yourself and from others. It's ok to have off days. This is normal so be kind to yourself. If you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help, be that talking to other artists, friends and family or to a counsellor. Playing music is such a privilege, so enjoy it and if you can make a living from it then even better. Most importantly, have fun! 

What upcoming projects are in the pipeline?

At the moment all gigs are off the table with the Covid pandemic, but I was lucky to get to record some great music before the lockdown happened. The main one being with my longtime friend and co-conspiritor A.Smyth on his debut album which we did with the brilliant Dara Nolan at his Astakalapa studio in Gorey. It's a really special record and I'm so proud to have played on it. Also did some nice neo-soul grooves and percussion for my pals, Sligo based La Gracia. My good buddy and local funkster Danny G is putting the final touches to his second album and there may be some new music from Paj and Selk too. I'm also working on a beat tape for my solo project Mother Tongues, which is all made using samplers and turntables (no drums allowed!) so I'm hoping to put that out over the coming months. 

Photo credit; Stephen Kiernan 

Read More

Brendan Doherty - drummer with Cloud Castle Lake

What type of drum kit do you use?

It's kind of a mix and match kit made up of '60s Rogers toms, an old Premier 20" kick drum from the '50s and a '70s metal shell premier snare. I use Istanbul Agop Cymbals.

Who are your favourite players?

Elvin Jones, Earl Palmer, Danny Richmond, Jim Keltner, Paul Motian, Ringo, John Bonham to name just a few.

What are your favourite albums / songs?

Stone Flower - Antonio Carlos Jobim

Good Old Boys - Randy Newman

Mingus Oh Yeah - Charles Mingus

Hosono House - Haruomi Hosono

Somewhere Else - Sun Ra

Swing Slow - Swing Slow

How did you get involved in Cloud Castle Lake?

Through a friend. They were looking for a new drummer and a mutual friend recommended me, so I went in and we played through some stuff and it just kind of clicked. It's been a great experience playing with them, and many of the other projects I'm now involved in came about through connections I made through CCL. So I'm forever thankful to the guys for having me on board.

What current plans do the group have? 

It's been a pretty quiet year for us. We're all involved with other projects outside CCL and were all pretty busy individually for the past year, so we didn't have much time as we'd like to focus on the band. Once this lockdown ends though, hopefully, we'll be back in the studio working on new music!

How are you spending your time during this COVID-19 lockdown?

I've been having a crack at learning Ableton, which I've been meaning to do for a long time. Doing a lot of cooking, walking, listening to music. It's been a good opportunity to get some practise done. I don't have a kit set up at home so I've just been doing some much-needed hand technique practise

Photo credits; Igor Kwasniak and Red Keane.

Read More

Brendan McInerney - Drums and backing vocals for Bleeding Heart Pigeons

What inspired you to take up drumming?

I guess what started it was listening to early U2 albums', mostly the War album. This was when I was around 10 or 11 and I wanted to start playing. A cousin of mine was throwing out an old drum kit and I started on that for the first few months.

What type of drum kit do you use?

I'm playing a C&C Player Date 2 kit with a walnut veneer finish. I adore this kit! Sizes are (22/10/13/16) and a 14 x 6.5 snare. 

Cymbal wise: Mainly Istanbul Agop - 18" Traditional medium crash, 20" dark crash 21" signature ride with 14" Traditional hats.  For some songs I use a 20" Meinl Byzance flat ride, a really lovely cymbal, have had it for years. I'm also using Roland SPD-SX sampling pads live with BHP.

Who are your favourite players?

To name a few - Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear), Matt Barrick (The Walkmen), Chris Talbot (Wild Beasts), Bryan Devendorf (The National)

What are your favourite albums / songs?

Some of my all time favourite albums would have to be: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest, Sigur Rós - Agaetis Byrjún, Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden, Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest. 

Recent favourites I've been listening to: Stereolab - Dots and Loops (Have become a bit obsessed with Stereolab in recent months)

Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind, Big Thief - Two Hands, Destroyer - Have We Met.

How are you spending your time during this COVID-19 lockdown?  

Been trying to keep positive and stay productive. I have been reading a good bit more of late, (Kevin Barry - City of Bohane, John Connell - The Cow Book) trying new recipes in the kitchen, getting in a cycle, when I can too. Also organising album promo bits with the guys, over zoom calls, I have some of my kit set up in my sitting room at the moment also, so it’s not too bad!

Bleeding Heart Pigeons have a new album 'Stir' coming out this month. Can you tell us what to expect?

We do, we're self releasing it on May 22nd. It's our first release since our debut 'Is' in 2016 and was written and recorded in our small farm shed converted studio, throughout 2017. We took more of a 'song writing' approach this time, I think with the last album we just didn't know when to stop (lol). We wanted to write songs for a more accessible audience while still trying to keep our own sound. I am very proud of the finished product and can't wait to have it out.

Limerick, where you're from, has produced some great acts over the years. What is it about Limerick, in your opinion that creates such great music?

It sure has! There are some really great bands in Limerick at the moment and many of them are great friends of ours. DIY LK have a massive part to play in Limerick’s music scene, from hosting gigs in Pharmacia by really great bands from around the country to their annual festival - Feile na Greine (which sadly is cancelled this year due to Covid-19) it’s an amazing group and am proud to be a part of it. It’s great to have something like it in Limerick. We were never really part of a community as such around the time of the first album, so it’s very nice.

Photo credit: Piquant Media

Read More

Dan Walsh - Drummer / Composer / Producer / Saxophonist

Dan, can you tell us about Fixity and some of the projects you’re involved in? 

Fixity is a home for my compositions and ideas around repetition, space, and textural exploration in song form through improvisation. It has existed since 2015 and since then has taken in the perspectives and skills of numerous musicians from Ireland and Sweden that are important parts of my musical life in different ways. There have been 10 releases in total so far since then, including two LPs released by Penske Recordings, 'The Things In The Room' [2016] and 'No Man Can Tell' [2019]. All available at fixity.bandcamp.com . 

Other ongoing projects I am involved in as either drummer, producer or saxophonist include Senior Infants, The Bonk, Not Earth, The Great Balloon Race and The Council For the Dark Arts Orchestra. I also organise Cork Improvised Music Club, an independently promoted residency dedicated to the world of real-time music making at Plugd Records in Cork City since 2013. 

seniorinfants.bandcamp.com

thegreatballoonrace.bandcamp.com

notearth.bandcamp.com

thebonk.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/improvisedmusiccork

What type of drum kit do you use?

I play a Gretsch New Classic in bebop sizes (18/14/12) with a Sonor SClassix 14x4 Birch snare. Cymbalwise I use  a 20" Bosphorus master series unlathed ride and 22" Istanbul Custom Jazz ride with 14" hihats made up of a KCustom Dark top as the bottom and Meinl Thin crash on top. 

Who are your favourite players?

Mitch Mitchell, Brian Chase, Rashied Ali, Bob Moses, Jim Black, Paul Motian. 

What are your favourite albums / songs?

Cosmic Music - Alice and John Coltrane

Songs Of Experience - David Axelrod 

Kraftwerk 1 - Kraftwerk

Endtroducing - DJ Shadow

Dazzle Ships - OMD

For a long time my favourite song has been 'Naima' by John Coltrane, in particular the version recorded live in Stockholm in 1961 with Eric Dolphy. I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. 

You have played with a lot of musicians, is there anyone else you’d like to play with?

I’m really glad to have had the opportunity to play with some really beautiful people throughout the years and I would love to be able to keep on developing these relationships further and finding new possibilities. There are a few folks I would love to play with and learn from such as Matts Gustafsson, Tyshawn Sorey, Roscoe Mitchell, Lee Ronaldo, Marc Ribot... I could go on. 

How are you spending your time during this COVID-19 lockdown?

For the most part, my practice as an artist is built on interaction and collaboration in real time with people so this lockdown has put a significant hold on a lot of what I do. I don’t have a studio right now so it's a time where playing drums and being involved in collective improvisation are not possible. Given the circumstance, what I’m doing is composing, practicing saxophone and recording what I can for various projects in preparation for whenever we can return to our lives. It is not an easy time for musicians and dealing with an uncertain future is a terrifying thing, but we have to be sure to keep what fulfils us present in our lives, every day.  

Picture credit; Kieran Murphy

Read More

R.S.A.G - Drummer and Vocalist Jeremy Hickey

R.S.A.G have a new album 'Chroma' coming out in May. Can you tell us what to expect?

'Chroma' is a mood driven album, with a much richer soundscape and heavy weight percussion. You'll hear songs that will connect to my earlier work and then some from a new more sensitive space. I am proud that my co-writer Jamie Walsh and I were able to merge our musical and lyrical ideas to produce songs of intensity and emotion.

You hail from Kilkenny, a city that has produced some great artists over the years. What is it about Kilkenny that inspires such creativity?

Kilkenny has a great advantage; being situated in the middle of Waterford, Dublin and Cork. As a result, over the years the city has hosted an array of music and arts festivals which attracts people from all over the world. This has created a sense of pride along with a lot of inspiration for the city. Kilkenny has always been a creative hub for artists, producing bands like Crawl Babies, Engine Alley, Kerbdog, Jerusalem Taxi's, My Little Funhouse, Headspin, Surfin' Dead, Blue Ghost, Gout and The River Valley Band, to name but a few. They all in one way or another inspired each other. Kilkenny is also the home of Cartoon Saloon and Lighthouse Studios, who have had two Oscar nominations, for the last two animated features. Is there something in the water? Maybe, but for me it's the people. 

How do you feel you have progressed as a musician over the years?

I feel I've progressed from a lot of different aspects of what I do. My playing has progressed from performing live both as R.S.A.G. and with other bands and artists. With recording and producing music you have to approach performing in a different way. You have to think about the overall sound and how each performance will fit to suit the mood and narrative of each track. This too has been an interesting learning curve for me over the years. Each album brings with it these differences both in playing style and techniques. Technology has also helped my progression. Apart from playing, recording and producing, I also teach music. This too has helped develop and progress my craft. Apart from really enjoying the teaching process I feel I've learned so much from my students. I love hearing how they interpret what I'm teaching, hearing their own individuality and style developing as they grow in confidence.

What type of drum kit do you use?

I use an APK premier kit. It's from the mid 80's. I bought it from a guy about 15 years ago who still had it in its plastic wrapping. I particularly love how the toms sound.

Who are your favourite players?

There are so many but here are a few:

Buddy Rich
Gene Krupa
Tony Allen
Louis Bellson
Max Roach
Ringo Starr
Steve Shelley
John Bonham
Steve Gadd
Jimmy Cobb
Al Jackson
Levon Helm

What are your favourite albums?

In no particular order:

In A Silent Way - Miles Davis
Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
The White Album - The Beatles
Life's Rich Pageant - R.E.M.
Beethoven's 6th Symphony
Repeater - Fugazi
Entroducing - DJ Shadow


How are you spending your time during this COVID-19 lockdown?

I've been keeping busy during lockdown, trying to make the most of my time at home with my wife and two dogs. I'm recording new music, teaching and facilitating a very interesting new music project online with young people from Kilkenny for Ossory Youth. It's aptly called 'Lockdown Session'

You can order the new R.S.A.G album below

R.S.A.G - Bandcamp 

Photo Credit;

Colour photo - Ruth Medjber
B & W photo - Unknown

Read More

James Downing - Cork based drummer (Cajon) and backing vocalist for 'The Shruggs', 'No Direction' & 'THE COVID COLLECTIVE'

When did you start drumming?

I started drumming when I was about seven years of age. My Dad played a lot of traditional sessions and I joined them on Bodhran pretty early on. I had poor technique back then but I did have a knack for rhythm alright.

Progressing from there to a full drum kit I joined a rock covers band in school, you know the usual story, Guns N’ Roses, The Beatles, things of that ilk,

After studying for a year in London I came back home to Cork.

Now my primary instrument is a Cajon and I play as much as I can in any musical style that I can get my grubby hands on.

‘The Shruggs’ is my main band in terms of regular gigs, but I also work with: ‘No Direction’ and most recently: ‘THE COVID COLLECTIVE’ (a musical collaboration in self-isolation) where we get together some of our most talented musical pals and record some videos for online.

Who are your favourite players?

For drum-kit: Buddy Rich is KING!

I Love Steve Gadd, he was a big influence early on. Then you have the absolute groove merchants like: Zigaboo Modeliste and Manu Katché, Bonham too,

I have to give a mention to Brian Downey, who is probably one of the most under-rated drummers of all time. It’s really tricky to play-along to his stuff, (bit like it is to play-along to Ringo as well),

it’s all about the feel (check out Nate Smith too).

I also love to watch Richie Dittrich, he is a super player and an even nicer guy, recently discovered Dylan McCormick Moran too. The drumming future in Ireland is very bright.

For Cajon: I love the flamenco Players:

Pirana, Jose Montana, Paquito Gonzalez and many more real virtuosos, they are a real inspiration.

Paul Jennings, Ross McCallum and Heidi Joubert have some excellent free tutorials online so I owe them a massive debt of gratitude on the hand percussion side of things.

What are your favourite songs or albums?

At the moment, I’m listening to a lot of Nick Drake,

I really enjoy: Kind of Blue by Miles Davis,

anything by The Rolling Stones,

Led Zeppelin’s ‘In Through The Out Door’ is always on heavy rotation…

it’s difficult to pick just a few, (I could go on for ages).

If I had to bring only one album to a desert island I would bring: ‘The Beatles 1’ compilation.   

What’s your current gear setup?

My Drum Kit is a purple standard Pearl Export, with my Powershifter eliminator Single Bass drum pedal (which I’m so enamoured with that it’s nearly dangerous).

As I said, I play Cajon mostly now, and do most of my Live gigs and Recording sessions with a:

Sela Pro Cajon. (it’s got a lovely high-end ‘snap’ and a great low end BOOM with excellent zone definition).

For home use and Practice I sometimes use a Cruz Cajon or a Duende .both lovely bits of kit altogether. 

What advice would you give someone wanting to take up drums?

Do it, have fun.. Music is flippingGreat and it will give you opportunities that you would never get otherwise.

In terms of learning the instrument, I would say spend as much time as you can on correct technique, it’s not a race,

oh, and

the best advice I ever got from a tutor remains:

“Don’t practice when you play and don’t play when you practice”.  

How are you coping during the current Covid19 shutdown?

I’m really trying to keep positive, I miss my band mates so much, I miss the buzz of live gigs and I miss weekly rehearsals. It’s really driven it home how important music is in a number of ways.

Luckily, with ‘THE COVID COLLECTIVE’ at least I’m kept busy online, the first song we covered was ‘Stand By Me’ which seems to be going down really well. I’ve just recorded a part for another one, so keeping things ticking over, it’s a new way of working and will hopefully keep our musicianship sharp and makes us more rounded players when we come out the other side. My aim is to keep improving and stay connected

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheShruggsBandCork/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7bdAqXrszy1uSqn5Glw5d8

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheShruggs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/unwvr/featured?app=desktop

And https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8OSYhxZMSYgCN_IdmJLNSQ

Read More