NAMM 2009

Wow, what a great year at Namm. This is the first year I attended the convention as an endorsed artist. Mark at MRP drums hung up a huge banner of me just under the MRP banner, it looked great.

The first day, I spent mostly with my good friend Steve Ratcliff. I was lucky enough to get into the Sabian party where I saw Jojo Mayer perform with his group. As well at F5 perform with Jimmy DeGrasso on drums. A friend of mine took me back stage to watch F5, that was way better to not have to fight the crowds.

The second day was even better than the first. I sat in on a bunch of Ableton Live demo's. Saw Peter Erskine perform with his Quartet, checked out lots of new cymbal companies, and met a ton of new people. That night I scored some tickets to see Papa Roach and the Street Drum Corp. That was a cool show, but I am not really into Papa Roach.

Anyhow, I will be posting videos up on You Tube from the show, as well as pics on my web site soon. It was a great time, hopefully I will meet you all down there next year.

Peace, STEVe

Traveling

To the NAMM convention.  I am packed and ready to go.  Lucky for me I live in CA so I don't have to travel very far.  The convention is in Anaheim, CA, right next to Disneyland.  This year is the first year I will be attending with a badge from my sponsor, MRP Drums.  It's pretty cool to finally be an "artist" at the convention.  It was last year at the convention that I met Mark, from MRP, who later endorsed me.  

MRP drums will be booth # 2634 - Hall D  

Make sure to stop by and say hi, tell Mark what you think of my drums, if you've seen them, and check out his new gear for 2009.  

Alright, see you at the NAMM show.

STEVe

Tower of Power

I went this past Saturday night to the Fox Theatre in Redwood city  to see one of my favorite drummers, David Garibaldi.  He plays with Tower of Power, which is one of the best funk bands ever.

The show was packed, sold out.  We were up at the front so I had a great view.  He played with the precison that I hoped for.  His style of funk drumming is so unique and cool.  It was great to watch him play classics, like What is Hip as well as newer tracks.  

Davids book, Future Sounds, is one of my favorite books. The techniques and grooves you will learn out of that book will be used in all sorts of situations.  

Anyhow, check out more of David Garibaldi at:

  www.drummerworld.com/drummers/david_garibaldi.html

Enjoy!  STEVe

What a riot!!!

Well, the show last night  with Farewell Typewriter was closed due to rioting one block from the club.  We got down to the Uptown and the employees had just decided to close the club.   Probably better for everyone since the rioters were setting cars on fire, breaking windows, and causing a real scene.  

Farewell Typewriter is not in the business of playing dangerous shows.  Nor do we like to endanger our fans.

Since we didn't get to play, we invited anyone going to the show over to The Fireside Lounge in Alameda.  (plenty far from the riot)  That was a blast, not as good as playing a live show, but still fun.  There were a ton of people that followed us there, we played pool, had some drinks and hung out.  

Looks like the show will be rescheduled for Feb. 18th, hopefully you can all make it.

STEVe

Here's a video of the riot:  http://www.wikio.com/video/749830

Park St. Trio is born

Yo, exciting news.  I have just formed the Park St. Trio with my good friend Jason Countryman on guitar and Aaron Shaul on bass.  

We are going to explore jazz standards, as well as pop songs done in a jazz lounge style.  Jason and I will be working on the arrangments, which should be what I call, pop-jazz.  We want the songs to be listenable and enjoyed by all audience members, not just other musicians.  Jason will be singing some of the time as well.  

We will be recording next Monday and starting to play out next month.  I will of course tell you when we have a web site you can check out and a myspace to link to!  

In the mean time, I am playing at a great club, The Uptown, in Oakland this Wednesday, Jan. 7th, with Farewell Typewriter.  This place is rad!  I will once again be playing with a minimal kit...  so kick, snare, hat and ride.  Very naked, very fun!

Keep it real!  STEVe