Working Drummer

Jason Smay has been in Nashville for a decade and plays with his son, McKinley James. Prior to that, he was based in Rochester, NY and toured with JD McPherson, Los Strait Jackets, and others. He and McKinley are also part of the Nashville group The Tiger Beats with Patrick Sweany and Ted Pecchio. In this episode, Jason talks about: Bringing his son McKinley James up on the Rochester scene Touring with JD McPherson from 2011 to 2020 Moving to Nashville because it was best for McKinley’s career   Entering the Nashville scene without expectations Committing to what you love long enough for opportunities to come to you, rather than chasing trends or money gigs How people have the power to make or break your experience, regardless of the music and the money Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in the church among talented and influential mentors, Kevin Watkins developed into a professional drummer and musician. Opportunities for recording, touring and even singing were readily available. His longest gig was with Country Gospel band, Brush Arbor. Although they were based in SoCal, they spent a lot of time in Nashville, recording and doing TV.  Later in life, Kevin’s drumming took a bit of a back seat to audio engineer and production work. He quickly became passionate about the other side of the glass in part because of his experiences as a player.  Even though live FOH and production opportunities kept him busy, drums always remained in focus. In early 2023, Kevin made it official and launched K-Wat Drum Co. In this episode, Kevin talks about: How he started building and restoring drums What makes a “go to” snare drum Creating a drum with character The reasoning behind the names of his snares The origin story of K-Wat drums Growing up playing in church Learning from Dave Williamson, Scott Williamson’s father His long time affiliation with the Christian band Brush Arbor ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah has been behind the scenes in the drum industry for decades, from her longtime role at Zildjian to her podcast Sarah Hagan Backstage to founding and running the Royal Cymbal company with Paul Francis. Most recently, she stepped into her newest role as director of artist relations for both Gibraltar Hardware and Rogers Drums. In this episode, Sarah talks about: Her new gig with Rogers and Gibraltar and some of the flagship products from both companies How she got into the business side of drums as a college intern Harnessing her superpower of connecting with people and connecting people with each other The experience of hosting a podcast The Royal Cymbals venture, and what she learned from being a hands-on fabricator of cymbals How cymbal trends may be returning to “cymbal-sounding cymbals” Her perspective and advice about the social media landscape Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born in Brooklyn, New York Rick Dior began his professional music career at the age of thirteen, freelancing in and around the metropolitan area in various small ensembles, orchestras and theater productions. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with timpanist Fred Hinger and jazz composer Bob Mintzer. He also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello. Rick has performed as a percussionist with a variety of superb artists in many musical genres including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, Martina McBride, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Linda Rondstadt, Glen Campbell, Bobby McFerrin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Randy Newman, and Marvin Hamlisch. He has added his drum set talents to performances with many great jazz artists including Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Rich Perry, Harold Danko, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Chris Potter, Lionel Hampton and Russell Malone. Rick also has an extensive orchestral percussion background and has performed as principal percussionist, section percussionist and timpanist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Ballet and Opera Carolina since 1990. As a first-call theater percussionist and drummer in Charlotte NC, Rick has performed in dozens of Broadway show tours. They include Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wicked, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Hairspray, South Pacific, West Side Story, 9 to 5, Mary Poppins, Bring It On, Newsies, and Beautiful. His recording credits are extensive and include CD releases, movie soundtracks and commercial radio/television spots. As an engineer and producer Rick has been involved in hundreds of recordings. These include recording projects with artists such as Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Ed Thigpen, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Spiro, Joey Calderazzo, Michael Carvin, and Jimmy Cobb. Rick is also a very active educator and has served as the Professor of Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 2001. He also maintains a busy private and online teaching studio. In this episode, Rick talks about: The variety of demands performing with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Playing percussion with touring musicals and the skills needed How important it is to develop fundamental technique at an early age Studying with and befriending the legendary Joe Morello Rick’s Youtube channel: it’s beginning and it’s appeal His custom built drumsticks ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Carman is a Nashville-based drummer, author, and educator known for his deep pocket, soulful touch, and command of blues, soul jazz, and roots music. Originally from the Boston area, Carman built his reputation on the New England music scene as a first-call sideman and session musician. From 2018 to 2024, he toured internationally and recorded with GA-20, a three-time Billboard #1 blues artist on Colemine/Karma Chief Records, helping the band earn repeated Boston Music Awards for Blues Act of the Year. Now based in Nashville, Carman records and tours with Parlor Greens, an organ trio on Colemine Records, and continues to be an in-demand session drummer and bandleader. His playing draws on vintage electric blues grit, organ-jazz lineage, and a shuffle vocabulary that has made him a go-to voice for artists seeking deep feel and stylistic authenticity. Alongside performing, Carman is an active educator, offering lessons, clinics, and online content that connect technique to real-world musical situations for working drummers and emerging players alike. Carman is the author of six drum books, including The Shuffle Book Vol. 1 (2026), Philly-ISM (2023), and Haynes-ISM (2022), with the latter two nominated by Modern Drummer for Educational Product of the Year. His other titles include Groove Systems (2021), Shape Beats (2020), and Shape Beats for Kids (2017). In this episode, Tim talks about The many changes in his life and career since we last talked in 2022 The creation and unexpected success of Parlor Greens Colemine Records and other small record labels acting as aesthetic curators for recorded and live music Bouncing around to a few cities over the last few years before settling on Nashville Finding jams/hangs/residencies on a given scene, and being able to read the different vibes there Contributing to a community by creating your own projects/opportunities The process and goals of writing his book on Shuffles How generalities are more useful in considering types of shuffles than definitive categories Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evan Hutchings was Born and raised in Arkansas, Evan grew up playing drums at his dad’s church in Fort Smith. He was the kid that would sit behind the drummer during church and soak in every detail and nuance. Once church let out, he’d jump up on the kit and play, until the next church service started a few hours later.Evan got his first drum set at the age of 8 and began serenading his whole family and neighborhood with punk rock beats and the sounds of the radio. After touring the country with his band The Exception, Evan decided it was time to move to Nashville, TN and attend Middle Tennessee State under the direction of Lalo Davila and Tom Giampietro. It was in college where Evan honed his craft and wanted to become a studio musician.Years later and having played on multiple #1 songs on the radio, Evan is now an in demand studio drummer. You can hear his drumming with , Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan, Jimmie Allen, Sam Hunt, Ronnie Dunn,Keith Urban, Steven Tyler, Toby Keith, Matt Stell, Maddie and Tae, Tim McGraw, Lauren Alaina, Erin McCarley, Rascal Flatts, Elle Langley and many others. In this episode, Evan talks about: Performing in high pressure live scenarios like live TV The welcoming nature of people in the music industry His consistent hunger for knowledge Learning from other musicians Mindfulness practicing and how that effects your drumming Going for it in the studio and not playing it safe Less takes about skills that are needed for session work Performing at 50% - 70% of your total skill level and leaving some in the tank How to dial in a mix for a session Check out Evan's interview with us from before - #142 Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sterling Laws is a well-established drummer in LA, having toured and/or recorded with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, producer Dan Nigro, Natasha Bedingfield, and many others. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in LA where he studied with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens. In this episode, Sterling talks about: Playing with Natasha Bedingfield and serving as her MD Growing up in rural Washington north of Seattle, and picking up drumming from his mom Discovering a viable musical path other than being in a band and trying to “make it” Studying at Musicians Institute with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens Matriculating from school onto into he LA scene and getting his first opportunities from Barry Squire Financial literacy lessons learned early  The support and positivity of today’s LA drumming community Recording for Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, and how the drum tracking for a huge hit is often relatively DIY Getting comfortable with your drumming being manipulated or even discarded altogether in the record-making process How “getting the safe take” will earn you the right to do a more adventurous one Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Brown started his musical journey in Southern California, eventually moving to Nashville, TN when he was 19 years old. He cut his teeth touring and recording with rock bands throughout his 20s, working as a hired gun for both studio sessions and touring artists across many different genres. His resumé includes Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie/The Cure), Paramore, Steve Cropper, Phil Vassar, Thomas Rhett, Casey James (American Idol), Steel Magnolia (Can You Duet), Bucky Covington (American Idol) and many more. His home studio, Shrug Sound Studio is where he records drum tracks remotely and mixes songs for clients all over the world. He also engineers tracks for fellow drummers that don’t have a space to record. Repeat clients Ed Toth (The Doobie Brothers) and Kevin Murphy (Tonic/Jon Pardi), among others, rely on his accessibility, professionalism, and quick turnaround times. His studio is a comfortable and enjoyable place to record music. In this episode, Jeff talks about:     What has changed for him since our first interview in 2015    Taking control of your career     Jeff’s time as a drum tech     Tuning for a variety of scenarios     Finding the magic and energy when tracking by yourself at home     Work flow hacks in the home studio     AI vs a real person tracking     Keeping up with the tech     Taking a break from performing live ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gustavo Cortiñas was born and raised in Mexico City. His interest in drumming and jazz took him to Loyola University in New Orleans where he studied with Johnny Vidacovich, and on to Northwestern University in Chicago, where he has lived and worked since. His sixth album as a leader is entitled "The Drum Also Sings." In this episode, Gustavo talks about: Growing up in Mexico City, the son of two educators, and being surrounded by all kinds of music Being inspired by the individuality of jazz heroes who came through Mexico City, from Dave Weckl to Dave King to Brian Blade How circumstances intervened to steer hims path toward both New Orleans and Chicago The immediacy and accessibility of seeing and hearing jazz drummers in an intimate setting “The immigrant blessing” His new record being “conceived during a period of personal and collective difficulty” The ancestral connection between drums and voice Gustavo’s new record Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chase Adam's musical journey started when he was just three years old, collaborating with his father Thurman in the field of music. He spent many years performing in church and later pursued music education at school, specializing in various genres like concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching percussion. Throughout his early years, he played a significant role in establishing the Indianapolis Colts Drumline and the Indiana Pacers "High Octane" Drumline, while also sharing his expertise with local high school drumlines and offering private lessons. As a skilled freelance drummer living in Nashville with his wife and son, he divides his time between touring with The Frontmen, entertaining audiences at local clubs, and making valuable contributions to recording sessions. In this episode, Chase talks about:     What and how to practice as a professional     Recording on his first “master session”     Using drum corp experience in a musical way on the kit     Staying sane on the road         Drumming with The Frontmen     Grooving and making music without the click     Confidence and authority behind the kit     Playing Lower Broadway in Nashville     Dealing with a family tragedy     Home studio work ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Draper is a drummer, author, and performance coach based in London. After coming up on the city's Jazz and Fusion scene as the drummer in the house band at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Chris began getting opportunities in musical theatre, culminating in landing the drum chair on the West End production of Hamilton. His new book, "The Inner Athlete: A Musician's Guide to Performance Conditioning," is the result of what Chris learned through rehabilitation after sustaining two traumatic brain injuries and subsequently getting certified as a personal trainer. In this episode, Chris talks about: No longer having a home studio, and not missing it How a chance meeting at a pub led to his musical theatre career Playing in the house band at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London How some college programs are becoming more open to commercial music, especially when it comes to drums The traumatic brain injuries and subsequent recovery that inspired him to write “The Inner Athlete” What regulation is, physiologically, and different ways to do it The power of breath work Why conventional weight training and athletic conditioning doesn’t work best for musicians Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reuben Spyker is a master technician who has built his career as an educator, artist, and innovative drummer. Reuben has developed teaching programs that emphasize efficient playing, critical observation, and creativity. Most recently, Reuben has combined his obsession with detail and interest in art to create an original signature snare drum with the help of master snare builder Ronn Dunnett. In this episode, Reuben talks about: The many facets of Reubens career Using curiosity as inspiration Finding joy in things like drawing, building things and Davinci Working closely with Ronn Dunnett to build a custom snare drum The importance of critiquing yourself The power of focus Reuben’s different teaching courses ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross McReynolds has toured and recorded with artists such as Katie Pruitt, Maia Sharp, Juan Solorzano, The Muddy Magnolias, Dynamo, Cory Wong, Kelsey Waldon, Caleb Groh, Jess Nolan and many more. He attended Belmont University in Nashville and lived and worked there for many years after, but recently made the move to LA. In this episode, Ross talks about: Moving from Nashville to LA because of a general need for change Going crazy if he spends too long in the studio without connecting with an audience His experience at Belmont University in Nashville Realizing the typical Nashville music career and some of Nashville’s musical values didn’t agree with him How patience can turn seemingly difficult decisions into no-brainers “The passivity of a streaming service” How synthesizers and other electronic instruments he like using still feel physical and tangible and analogue Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Craig Krolicki is a versatile and musical drummer playing a wide variety of styles. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University (The Dana School of Music), with a BA in Music Education. In 1997 Craig moved to Nashville TN, and has toured as a drummer with artist such as Curb Recording Artist Jeff Carson, Hank III, Sony Recording Artist Tammy Cochran, Singer/Songwriter/Producer Gail Davies, Singer/Songwriter Billy Yates, BNA Recording Artist Kellie Coffey. From 2006-2020, Craig drum teched for the country band Rascal Flatts. In recent years, Craig has been teching for Kent Slucher of Luke Bryan. Craig continues to freelance as a drummer in and around Nashville and has even started a new fitness coaching program. In this episode, Craig talks about: Unique tech challenges during CMA week in Nashville Essential gear for playing on Lower Broadway in nashville What a drum tech actually does Being the glue between the drummer and the engineer From Pennsylvania to Nashville Staying in shape on the drums in between performances His new fitness program Coach Craig Fitness (coachcraigfit@gmail.com) ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Pruitt has toured and/or recorded with Eddie Gomez, Mike Stern, Snarky Puppy, Oz Noy, and many others. He was a finalist in the 2000 Guitar Center Drum-Off and went on to study with Ed Soph at North Texas. In this episode, Steve talks about: Facing a lot of adversity quickly at North Texas The differences and similarities in his approach to straight ahead jazz vs. fusion How he things about the word "integrity" "Finding the dance" that makes the music work with certain musicians or groups Taking responsibility, "even when it isn't fair to" The chapter of his life and career spent in South Korea ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Misamore has been drumming since he was 11 years old. He has been the drummer in Dierks Bentley’s band since 2002. Steve moved to Nashville in 1993 from Houston TX. Before he met Dierks, he did all sorts of gigs in town from bars to studio work, to private gigs and everything in between. Steve met Dierks playing the bars in Nashville in 1999 and helped him open some doors at Sony/ATV. Steve has been working with Dierks ever since. Steve played on some of the early stuff like "Free and Easy" "Feel That Fire" as well as a few others. In this episode, Steve talks about: Creative ways to stay engaged with drumming when not touring The evolution of the Dierks Bentley gig Working with Dierks from the very beginning Recreating the drum parts from Dierks' records Translating the studio performance into a live performance Getting his pilots license The parody group Hot Country Knights The early influence of Herman Matthews ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Musty has been the drummer for Train since 2019. He has lived in Boston, New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles and in addition to Train, his touring and recording credits include Grace Potter, Gwen Stefani, Shoshana Bean, Keith Urban, and many others. In this episode, Matt talks about: Learning the recording principle that the only rule is what sounds good to you The Broadway musical in development that Train is writing music for, and learning the “many cooks in the kitchen” approach Being a part of Train’s writing process with Pat and Jerry How to fight jadedness “Doing everything wrong and backwards” in New York Moving to Nashville and finding himself in the drum chair with Grace Potter How the space is what makes recordings sound cool Caring enough to strive for 110%, and not caring enough to not beat the shit out of yourself when you never get there Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Leone has toured and recorded with bands like Ollabelle and Chris Robinson Brotherhood. He has also worked with a variety of musicians including Levon Helm, Phil Lesh, Anders Osborne, Lou Donaldson and others. In September 2020 he joined the legendary band Little Feat. Tony is active on the New York City jazz scene where you can catch his quintet at famous clubs like Ornithology and Smalls Jazz Club In this episode, Tony talks about: Adapting to different musical scenarios Being honest about styles of music you want to play Playing with Little Feat and learning the catalogue The realities of self doubt Spending time & double drumming with Levon Helm Following in his father’s footsteps The duality of jazz and classic rock that shaped him Studying with Art Taylor Fronting his own jazz group in NY ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Radford has been adding soul and rhythmic vibe to the Nashville music scene since 2005, when he first began visiting the city to pick up drum gigs. He would soon move to Nashville from his hometown of Clarksville, TN with his wife, acclaimed painter Kim Radford. After transitioning to Nashville full-time, Radford began touring across the US and Europe with Charles Walker & The Dynamites and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. When not touring, Radford could be found fulfilling a vital tradition for Nashville’s most talented, playing the lower Broadway honky-tonk bars on Sunday nights with The Don Kelly Band. In 2012, Radford helped found the critically acclaimed Luella and the Sun, a blues and gospel-tinged rock quartet. The band released a 10” single, Fly So Free, and toured for two years, performing at festivals such as Austin City Limits and Hangout Fest before disbanding. Also in 2012, Radford joined Justin Townes Earle’s touring band, performing on The Late Show with David Letterman. Radford’s uniquely soulful, powerful drumming style is influenced by the iconic session players of 1960s and 1970s, including Kenny Buttrey, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, Steve Gadd, and Al Jackson Jr. Radford’s extensive and ever-growing record collection is also a constant and evolving influence. In recent years, Radford has been an active session musician around Nashville, recording with producers such as Jacquire King, Brendan Benson, Paul Ebersold, and Jim Abbiss. Radford is also a regular member of the Nashville-based instrumental group Steelism. In this episode, Jon talks about How his vinyl obsession and his drum obsession feed each other Being willing to be a novice at something in middle age Being married to a fellow creative, painter and visual artist Kim Crawford, whose work can be seen around Nashville Recent renewed global interest in Sixpence None The Richer His early days in Nashville and gigging on the “old” lower Broadway Changes in the Nashville scene Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Atkins is a celebrated veteran of the music industry. An honours graduate of the renowned Musician’s Institute in Hollywood CA, Matthew has worked in a wide array of genres and situations. Matthew is equally at home on a stage playing pop-country to a festival audience, jazz to an intimate venue, or top 40 dance music at a high-end corporate event, as he is playing as part of a drum line at a world class sporting event.With a large catalogue of recording sessions to his credit, Matthew is known to be a diverse, creative professional. Matthew has been recognized with honours and awards from groups such as the Alberta Recording Industries Association and the Canadian Country Music Association.Having lived and worked in Asia, Mexico, and most recently Vancouver, Matthew now makes his home in St Albert, Alberta. In this episode, Matthew talks about: The thought process while performing His early touring experiences with Canadian artists Favorite drummer verses biggest influence His take on the supposed threat of AI Experiencing of loss his wife to cancer Nurturing life long careers in music Unique dynamics in the Canadian music industry ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices