A Carribean cruise, 6 Month UK tour, photo shoots and introducing the City Banker Forcefield!!!

Posted in 1 on 11/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Me and my trusty Cymbal/snare trolley AKA the City Banker Forcefield!

Im writing to y’all from the 4th carriage of the Central Line tube on the way to tonight’s Gemma Mewse gig in Notting Hill. As you can see, I have my cymbals and snare with me on my trusty Granny trolley turned City banker leg destroyer! It’s quite satisfying watching the suited and booted trying to barge past me without looking down amongst the crowds, only to find that they walk into a very heavy immovable object and either end up with a painful bruise on their shin, or, even better, lose their balance, get all flustered and stumble around! Followed by a dirty look, and a little chortle (do we still use that word?!) from me. It’s a bit like having a forcefield all of your own. Shields up Mr Spock!

So the last week has been hectic! An offer of a 4 week carribean cruise had to be turned down due to the projects I’m involved with here. Further to that a new bollywood show got in touch asking if id be up for a 6 month uk tour. Have yet to hear more about that but I may well be able to fit that in with my other commitments should they come back to me.

Anyway last weeks gig with Caroline Jay was a great success and she has now been asked to play at the Bloomsbury Theatre on fri march 26th. This will be a top gig in a fantastic venue. Well worth coming down. Supporting Steve Carlson from the USA.

The Bloomsbury Theatre. Come along to the Gig!

My good friend Juan Zelada and his hot band are playing on this night too. I depped with Juan for his full time drummer Rick Chambers a year or so ago and it was Wicked. Juans energy, charisma and music is fantastic. You can’t go wrong coming along to this gig! You can get tickets by dropping me an email to contact@uksessiondrummer.com

Carline Jay rehearsals. The view from behind my drums at Panic

Gemma Mewse

More rehearsals with Gemma Mewse and a gig tonight at Notting hill arts club. Again a top band. The venue is a bit of a mission but Gemma will draw the usual up for it crowd so it should be a good laugh.

Malham Road

OH BOY! Malham road is really kicking off. We are getting constant positivity from new fans and industry people. We rehearsed the live show for the first time on sun night at creekside studios and the vibe and energy in the room was amazing! Following this, we had a photo shoot with the outrageously talented John Fitzpatrick, as you can see below. Join the malham road story at www.myspace.com/malhamroad. Become a friend and check out the tunes. This is a really exciting project!

RIght next stop on the tube is mine…

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Administration, Musical Directing + Bridge gig

Posted in Everyday things, Gigs with tags , , , , , , on 05/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Aside from the physical side to actually playing, there is the “administrative” side…. (Which is usually pretty boring to be honest!).  I’ve spent the last couple of days arranging rehearsals, booking studios, getting music to people and liasing with producers in relation to the two artists that I have been MD’ing (if you weren’t sure , MD means musical director). It’s a whole lot easier with Email etc and it makes me realise how much time the internet, and Email, actually saves us all. Just thinking about the fact that I can send 10 tracks via Email to someone on the other side of London, at the click of a few buttons, as opposed to what it must have been like 10-15 years ago whereby you would have to pop the CD in the post to each person. Plus, sending over sheet music, phoning to work out when everyone’s diaries are free at the same time, calling round different studios, probably looking through the yellow pages for studios in various areas, etc

In addition to this, we have a bit of a photo shoot on Sunday with Malham Road which is going to be great fun! We are putting the live show together too, which we are all very excited about. Interscope records are really into it all which is awesome. So, getting together the right outfits etc can be time consuming, although fun.

The Bridge – Live at sound

GIG: On Saturday, the bridge are re-forming to play at Chelsea arts club. It’s going to be great to play these tunes again with awesome musicians. Plus, the 3 course meal they serve up to us really is exquisite!

Caroline Jay’s gig in Hoxton went really well  on Wed. So much so, that she has been immediately booked to play at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on Fri March 26th. Got 800 seats to fill, so come along and enjoy a night of top soul! There are 2 other acts on as well, including my great friend Juan Zelada. I played for him a couple of years ago, and he was also in the Jenny Lynn Smith band, plus came to Italy when we recorded Natalie Griffiths stuff. His own music is absolutly brill and again, great musicians in his band, including Drummer Rick Chambers. So, it really will be a top night.

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Evening rehearsals…

Posted in Everyday things with tags , , , , , , on 02/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Caroline Jay

Tonight I’m at panic studios with Caroline Jay and the boys (Vince Benjamin, Curtis Stansfield, Chris Marshall, Ryan Haberfield). The great thing about being a musician is that you usually end up playing with people who are your good mates (although Im sure I’ll be told they all hate me really! haha). So unlike another work environment, it is a bit of a social occasion too. We have a gig tomorrow night with Caroline at the Hoxton underbelly so if you are knocking about and fancy hearing some top soul then head on down by 9pm!

Don’t forget to check out malham road who I’m md’ing and who are causing a bit of a storm on the electro scene right now…

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Practice Practice Practice… + Tonights gig

Posted in Everyday things, Gigs with tags , , , , on 27/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

Im back into it. YES. After all this time, Im back at the point where I am addicted to it. I start out intending to do 3 hours, yet I do 5. That’s how it was when I was 17 and at last, Im back in that place!!!

This new double kick stuff has been great for me. Even if it isn’t something Im necessarily looking to use in my everyday playing, the mere experience of sitting down to practice again, and looking to get to that next BPM and to overcome the challenge of new independence and co-ordination has got me itching to be in the studio each day practicing.

I’ve been on one particular exercise for about a week now. So far 11 hours this week. Im up to 140 BPM with it, and my D.K. playing has undoubtably come along by miles and miles. I highly recommend Pete Riley’s book Double Trouble to you all. It’s really well structured and Pete leaves no Stone unturned.

Gig: Tonight Im playing with Glen Macnamara at the Duchess in Battersea. Glen was in the Rat Pack and is a real crooner. Great with the crowd and also with a top Band Consisting of Dave Holland: Keys, Vince Benjamin: Double Bass and Mark Crown: Trumpet.

£20 a ticket which includes a fantastic 3 course meal. Door from 19:30.

See you there for a night of swing!!

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Todays practice…

Posted in 1 with tags on 25/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

image

Back in the practice studio today. I’m working on double kick again using 4 bar combinations as you can see above. Having sooo much fun! U to 120 bppm with this exercise now :-)

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Double kick is so much fun!!!

Posted in Everyday things with tags , , , , on 23/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

Last week I got hold of Pete Riley’s double kick book. I have never played double kick before and as Ive been looking for a new angl to approach practicing at, I thought Id drop myself into the world of double kick playing. Having bought a Pearl Eliminator double kick pedal approx 3 years ago, I figured I should probably get it out of the box!

I gotta say, it’s not immediately easy! To be able to play with control and finesse really takes some hardcore time spent at the pedals, and it makes me appreciate even more, the skill of other session drummers like Pete Riley. It also makes me even more scared of Vinnie!!!!

Ive worked through the first few pages which are essentially the basics – Singles, 2′s, 3′s, 4′s. I could spend hours just on singles alone, but realising that I have limited time to practise, I’ve managed to push on to more intricate exercises.

Well, it really is LOADS of fun!! Once you start playing Liner patterns mixing up 2′s 3′s and fours, there are some wicked rhythms that appear. I’ve noticed that one of the most important things is consistency in terms of volume and placement with both pedals. That is what really puts the icing on the cake when it comes to it. Hearing those masters, I’ve noticed that accuracy is key to their success. For me, I find that assertiveness with the pedals is what makes the difference. It’s really satisfying to hear a 4 bar phrase which is deadly accurate. At the moment Im not working any faster than 1/4  note (Crotchet to you English folks out there!) = 140 with all strokes being 16th notes. Technique wise, finding your balance point on the stool is crucial as this effects the speed, power and stamina you have to put into it. And further to this, I’ve fond that allowing my heels to drop after each stroke, whilst staying relaxed has been key so far.

Im actually thinking of hooking up with one of the double kick legends in order to get a bit of direction on this brand new territory.

Anyway, it’s something which Im actually really looking forward practicing and the exercises haven’t stopped going through my mind since I started them! Now, the tricky bit is finding a musical, tasty place in which to fit them and not sticking them in wherever I can just because it’s my new toy….

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Gemma Mewse Gig Tonight 21:30 at the Aragon, Chelsea

Posted in 1, Gigs on 20/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

So tonight Im playing with Gemma Mewse at the Aragon in Chelsea. Onstage at 21:30 and the set should be awesome. We had a great rehearsal on Thurs and have the new backing tracks to fatten the sound. So if you are around, come on down .

I spent 3 hours yesterday in the practise studio again. Although I was struggling to get back into the zone due to other things constantly ticking over in my head.

Ive picked up Pete Rileys book on double kick playing. Having never played double kick before I figured this would be a good area in which to challenge myself. Not sure if Ill use it much, but it’s a fun challenge!

So, a quick bit of dinner, then off to play…

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