As part of the London International Music Show, Drummerlive seemed very busy this year. The main concourse was always crowded with musicians of all descriptions but the general roar of the drum showroom spilled out and made the whole Excel building buzz with energy. The drum showroom itself seemed a little smaller this year and some of the stall owners told me that sales were down – I guess we are all feeling the economic pinch. But like many folks I don’t go to the show to buy stuff or look at kits but to see the drummers so let’s get cracking...
Wait, first of all there were a few characters missing from Drummerlive this year. The ubiquitous Ronn Dunnett with his top camera gear and snare drums wasn’t there. Another big hole was left by Nicko McBrain this year. He had a gig with his little band so he sent a us a humorous video apology (showed on the big screens) and left the MC work to
Ian ‘Crofty’ Croft - the editor of drummer magazine and the strong pivot on which the whole show turns.
Ian always seems to have time for anyone and his admirable character really holds the whole thing together.
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George Barnett
Watch this kid. He is flamboyant and expressive but totally into music first and drumming a close second. His too short set was simply a 10 minute long track that was made of snippets of all sorts of songs, feel and genres seamlessly mixed and played with total appropriateness and conviction.
So many songs but the one that I remember best was a very jazzy pink panther piece.
George is a star - and we all just don’t know it yet.
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all pictures: Jason Horsler
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| Ray Luzier
Ray was my favourite performer on Saturday after Chad of course.
Ray is a brilliant drummer and showman. His chops are fantastic and yet so tastefully inserted into the music.
He’s a great stick spinner and he grimaces and smiles wonderfully – totally engaging you in his drum world.
He brought on legendary bassist Billy Sheehan for solid jam . And you could tell they were jamming but the arrangements were so complex that it looked like they’d been playing together for years.
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| Derico Watson
Papa Jo Jones – that’s who you think of when you watch Derico soloing.
He does a bit of that minimalist thing while playing the audience with his eyes brows and he even smiles like Jones.
Behind the showmanship was a totally solid drummer with incredible pocket and virtuoso time keeping and distorting.
You can hear why he is the drummer for a giant bassist like Victor Wooten.
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| Trevor Lawrence Jr.
Snoop dog’s drummer delivered with consummate skill and feel. You can see why he has been nominated or has won a Grammy every year for the last eight.
I couldn’t stay for his whole show (lunch time) but he did this lovely jazz solo bit that was interspersed with almost crazy metal like blasts that had superbly wide dynamic range.
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Jojo Mayer
What can be said about this funny serious performer that has not already been said?
It seems impossible that he has gotten better since I first saw him on 2005 but he certainly has. He didn’t solo - but didn’t really need to.
He played a stunning set of Nerve tunes which to me often sound like they were recorded underwater.
It was a very charged atmospheric set from the master of hand and foot technique.
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Chad Smith
His royal chilli-pepperness was every bit (and more so) as wild as expected. His larger than life character knows no bounds including the fire safety laws of England. First thing he did when he saw the packed hall sitting in neat rows of seats with a 4 metre fire channel in front of the stage was to tell us all to pick our chairs and bring them forward to the stage. Image about 2000 people doing just that, in a wave, laughing. Imagine the Excel security teams pulling their hair out! But Chad wasn’t finished with that lot either (more about them later).
He went on to power his way through some chilli songs talking between each with us and cracking jokes. He asked for requests but he only had the latest album with minus one music so I shouted out that I wanted to hear ‘ready made’ and Chad heard me.
He liked the suggestion very much and even came over and asked me my name and dedicated the song to me. I requested it because I think it has the best drumming on the whole double album with that lovely shifting groove and the funky middle section.
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After the song Chad stood up and noticed that security were trying to make a safety channel down the middle of the hall through the audience but to do that they were taking chairs away from people and telling them to move to the back (very unfair). So Chad was having none of that! He eventually jumped off the stage and chased the security away.
The power of an ‘A’ list drummer! But the great theatrics and hilarity aside the drumming was all loose and deep pocketed with a powerful snare sound. The man brims with energy – he lost or broke at least 6 drumsticks in just 4 songs.
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Josh Devine
This winner of the Mapex drummer of tomorrow has blinding chops and from where I sat I could see Ian Croft and Ray Mayorga watching from the wings with their mouths open.
I could almost imagine Roy saying: ‘I have to follow that?’
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| Roy Mayorga
Stone Sour’s powerhouse with his cool set-up was an intense and monstrous drummer to watch.
His double bass technique was gripping not so much for speed but how it mixed into fills all over the kit. His kit had unique sounds from those huge side-mounted bass/toms and octobans.
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Pete Ray Biggin
Pete did Britain very proud. His humble smile gave away little of the drumming giant he is.
But then he started drumming and we were all left breathless. I now know why Robbie Williams, Amy Whinehouse, Lily Allen, Sean Lennon, Daniel Beddingfield, Estelle, Mark Ronson and many more call on Pete for the duty. I really loved his entire performance.
Sometimes at these shows the artists has moments with a few slightly dull patches but not so with Pete. Whether it was soloing or grooving he was totally tasteful throughout.
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Gavin Harrison
Gavin wins the prize in my books for being the best drummer in the show. How can such neat drumming still be so expressive? How can such complex arrangements, time signatures, filling and playing over the bar, all sound so effortless and smooth?
Gavin has flawless technique. Sometimes his hands barely seem to be moving while the sticks are blurring. He makes full and creative use of all those bells on his kit giving him a unique overall sound.
Gavin was the only performer to receive a full standing ovation and it was certainly well deserved.
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Jason Bonham
First off that steel drum kit is loud people. I was on the stage during the sound check when Bonham started messing around on it before the mics were on and I think it could have handled the job unmiced. Then there’s Jason himself. He is one mean looking dude but he’s really friendly.
There were a few wet eyes in the crowd when he came on and dedicated his show to his dad. He then proceeded to play The Song Remains the Same and Heartbreaker flawlessly and with all the feel of his dad. Then he played a selection of tunes from Genesis and The Who. I particularly enjoyed ‘Who are you’.
He talked a little between each song and he even gave a tantalising mention of the question that was on all our lips (are you going to tour with Zep?) and like a politician he managed to humorously not answer the question but hint heavily that the answer just might possible be - and please Lord make it so - yes. |
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He also said that many people feel he was born with a silver or platinum spoon in his mouth having a dad like his but he said its very hard to fill those shoes.
But then he goes ahead and does that with his last song, with a lump in many throats including his own it seems he proceeded to execute a beautiful rendition of Kashmir. It was an astounding way to end a great weekend. |
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Hopefully see you next year again!!!
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