Wally Schnalle

Last night was a jazz night. I got an chance to check out my old (not his age) drum teacher, Wally Schnalle. Wally was the first drum instructor I had that taught me proper technique, as well as creativity and finesse on the drums. His music has morphed and changed over the years I have known him (that's about 17 years now) and his CD's have become better and better.

I have not heard his current disc, but after seeing him play last night, I think it's going to be a return to traditional jazz and funk. Where as his last few efforts traveled into the electronica world quite a bit. His playing is as crazy as ever, strong grooves, big fills and great dynamics. I tried not to spend too much time counting during the show, but as drummers that's really hard to do. The odd meter grooves were solid. I think the second song they played was in 13, or 6 plus 7. But after the show my old friend Leonid was convinced that is was in 11, or 6 plus 5. Who cares, it's was bad ass. The bass player was super tight with Wally. He held down the grooves while Wally played crazy polyrhythms and solo'd way over the bar line. It's always fun to watch a bass player and drummer gel like that.

I would recommend Wally's music to anyone into pushing the jazz limits musically and on drums. He's a great song writer and an incredible drummer.

Check out his web site for future shows and recordings: http://www.itrhymes.com

ALSO... I posted some videos from my show last Wednesday at the Uptown. You can check them out and tell me what you think. I am using my small drumset, which I recently heard Wally calls "The Truth". So, it's my MRP kick and a snare drum that my students dad made for his boy. It's his first effort using Bubinga.

Check out all my video's at: http://www.youtube.com/schoolofdrums

Thanks, STEVe

The Uptown Show

Well, last night we played at The Uptown. It was the rescheduled show from the day of the riots. I love The Uptown!!! They have such a great venue, 2 full rooms, a large balcony, a great back stage area... The bartenders are fast and make great drinks, the sound guy was cool and good... Really I have a ton of great things to say about the venue and only one complaint...

The complaint:

We were the last band to go on. After we play we like to hang out with our fans and friends, meet new people, ask people to sign our mailing list, buy CD's... do all the stuff that bands should be doing after they play. But this place kicked us out so fast, we barely had time to pack up our stuff and talk to the fans. So, here's the question... How do they expect us to bring new fans and more people to the venue next time we play, if they don't allow us to promote ourselves to new people?

Other than that, the show was great. I will be uploading a video or two, if the video turned out alright. Hopefully you can all make it out to the next one. We have such a great time performing, we want everyone to see it!!

Keep it real and let the bands promote!!!!! STEVe

Part 3 - Playing on the Radio

Well, on Saturday the 7th of February, Farewell Typewriter got to play an acoustic show on Pirate Cat Radio, 87.9 FM. It's a local San Francisco station that broadcasts out of a cafe in the Mission District. You can stream it live at: www.piratecarradio.com

The show was a blast. We worked out about a half of our tunes on acoustic guitars and ukuleles. The cafe was packed, not that it holds a ton of people. I was playing brushes on a snare drum, cowbell, one cymbal and tambourine. I also got to play Baritone Uke on Eleanor Rigby, that was really exciting. Then at the end of the set, I got to try out my singing skills and sing a counter point line with Grant and Jason.

Anyhow, the show speaks for it self when you listen to it. The link is:

http://www.nerdnetworks.org/pcr/SpicyMeat-20090207.mp3

It starts about half way through the 2 hour show, so just scroll ahead.

Let me know what you think, this was a super fun show. I should have some video's up soon!

STEVe

MUSIC PART 2

Yo, after seeing a metal band on Wednesday night, I thought I should mix it up and see a jazz show on Friday night. So, my friend Sean and I headed out to one of my favorite venues in San Francisco, Cafe Du Nord. It's a great, kind of dark, club. Small, intimate stage, good sound and great drinks.

It was Scott Amendola's 40th Birthday Bash. Featuring Charlie Hunter, Ben Goldberg, Ron Miles, John Shifflett and Jeff Parker. This was a great show. They were doing all kinds of jazz, from standards to weird experimental stuff using samples and electronics.

I first saw Scott Amendola play with Charlie Hunter and Pound for Pound back in Santa Barbara. I was blown away by him then and he has only gotten better. He has a unique playing style, very free and open. He can go from the phattest grooves to the heaviest swing. I was very impressed with his brush work as well, songs where it seems like he was just soloing over the entire thing. You should check out his site: www.scottamendola.com

So, other cool things about the show: I was standing about 5 feet away from Scott and about two feet away from Charlie Hunter (who is one of my favorite jazz guitar players). I could actually read Charlies music on the floor in front of him, it was really cool to read along with the band. Their charts were really cool and creative. We also got to hang out and joke around with Charlie Hunter after the gig, that was very cool.

Jazz or metal, it doesn't matter... Great drumming is great drumming!

Alright, that was part 2. Tomorrow, I talk about playing on the radio :)

STEVe

So much music, I think my head may explode...

Ok, there is a lot to write about so this is going to have to be a 3 part blog.

Part 1

MESHUGGA!!!! Holy Crap! I went last Wednesday to see them with Cynic @ one of my favorite clubs, Slims in San Francisco. First off, the show was sold out, so I ended up traveling to the show solo, but meeting up with my good friends, Troy and Jasun from Zero Hour. BTW, this concert was also on my birthday!!!!

I show up just in time to get a drink and get as close as I can to watch Cynics drummer, Sean Reinert. I had never seen this guy before, but he was great. Fun to watch and had some really interesting parts. I like the way he mixed up his rhythms, not always playing 16ths and 8ths, but placeing triplets and odd grouping over the music. He also, busted out some mallets on the cymbals, which I will always have a soft spot for after my time playing in band.

Meshugga came on and were screamin' loud. I was glad I brought my ear plugs. I was really sad when I noticed that the lighting really sucked for seeing the drummer, Tomas Haake. He is like a machine. The double kick stuff he was doing, was off the charts. His quarter note china cymbal parts are perfect. This was a super tight band. They seemed thankful to be there and to all the fans for coming out, which I always appreciate.

All in all it was a great B-day show. Very Metal, Vey Loud, Very Aggresive. BUT... It always amazes me how nice all those metal guys are. They may look tough, but most of them have really soft hearts. Haha, I let the secret out!

Tomorrow, I talk about the show I went to on Friday!!!

STEVe