Serpent's Rise drum cam....

[Derek Roddy]

Just wanted to pop up a short rehearsal video (drum cam) of the new band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3DVcfqQrGs

We are slowly finding our own sound and getting comfortable writing with each other.
I tell you....I haven't had this much fun with a band in 15 years.
Maybe because, this time....it's actually a band? Haha.

Anyway, thought you guys might like to "head bang" to some metal today! LoL.
Cheers everyone....Hope you all had a Rockin' 4th!

Derek Roddy.

[Mr. Pasquini]

Let me be the first to say that is astounding! I'm really excited about Serpent's Rise, I can't wait for the finished product! Keep playin', Derek, I'm still astounded every time I hear your playing!

[Ironcobra]

Great stuff Derek, It's amazing how you can go so fast and still keep time, the playing was extremely solid.

How come you're not using both bass drums? I noticed the Axis double pedal =)

[Construct]

Good stuff! Keep it up D!

[sticksnstonesrus]

Setting the bar, Derek, very high it has become. How does it feel to have everyone shaking their heads and and having "high-pitched dog ear" look?

Also...When the switch to Meinl? Is it a sweeter spot than "the other" brand?

[Mr. Pasquini]

Great stuff Derek, It's amazing how you can go so fast and still keep time, the playing was extremely solid.

How come you're not using both bass drums? I noticed the Axis double pedal =)

He runs two different sized bass drums, they're for different sounds, that's why he uses a double pedal and a single on the left drum.

[blastface]

That is an awesome video, incredible drumming and the riffs are sweet as well.

[Derek Roddy]

Thanks so much everyone.
We keep getting these killer comments about the sound of Serpent's Rise.
I'm glad that the tones and ideas we hear....are heard by the listeners as well.

I'm very happy about the way it's turning out. We aren't in any hurry though.
We will keep releasing video on the internet... until we feel we've reach the point we want to be at.
Then we will record our efforts and release it for free download online.
We will also have hard copies for sale for those who are still into that kind of thing. Haha.
The point of all of this is to create FANS. They seem to be missing from a lot of modern day music available.
It seems bands have traded in fans.... for 10 minutes of fame and a single. LoL.

Oh well, glad you guys enjoyed it and look for a lot more in the near future.
Cheers.
D.

[Derek Roddy]

Also...When the switch to Meinl? Is it a sweeter spot than "the other" brand?
Almost 2 years ago now.
Why?
Simple...
Better cymbals, better company.

It's my first "official" cymbal endorsement.
I've endorsed about every brand of cymbal...but, Meinl was the first to endorse ME for a change! Haha.
Cheers.
D.

[Derek Roddy]

How come you're not using both bass drums? I noticed the Axis double pedal =)

Mr Pasquini had it right but I'll go into a little more detail for you.

This set up all started with me wanting to work on my left side but.... didn't have room to set up another kit... left handed.
I was already experimenting with different tom set ups.
I found that if I ran the 10 and 12 backwards...added a 14 to the left of my main hats...with the left bass drum, this gave me a left handed kit that was integrated into my "normal" set up.
I had been using the right side hi hat stand for awhile so...I can play open and close hat on the right foot and play bass drum with my left.
The idea of adding the double to the main kick and using a single on the left was just to have another "type" of Bass Drum sound.
I use the right BD for the tight punchy sound that is needed for Double Bass, and the left kick is boomy more open sounding...for BIG Bass Drum sounds.
On this video though....my left kick mic went out so you can not hear it as it should be. Some of my other Youtube vids have better examples though.

Cheers Man...hope that answered your question.
D.

[sticksnstonesrus]

Almost 2 years ago now.
Why?
Simple...
Better cymbals, better company.

It's my first "official" cymbal endorsement.
I've endorsed about every brand of cymbal...but, Meinl was the first to endorse ME for a change! Haha.
Cheers.
D.

Why? Well, there is always an interest in if and endorser endorses a company just to have the perks of endorsement, or if they truly back the product. Obviously, there is a lot of both, for an assortment of reasons.

As belated as it may be, congrats on having been sought out for the endorsement. You've certainly earned that kind of attention. The difference must be justifying.

[Derek Roddy]

Why? Well, there is always an interest in if and endorser endorses a company just to have the perks of endorsement, or if they truly back the product. Obviously, there is a lot of both, for an assortment of reasons.

As belated as it may be, congrats on having been sought out for the endorsement. You've certainly earned that kind of attention. The difference must be justifying.

I hear ya.
I really believe in the Meinl company. They really have their stuff together. The cymbals are by far the most musical and durable cymbals I've played.
I've toured with about every brand of cymbal and the only cymbals that lasted an ENTIRE tour... were the Meinls.
That proved a lot to me.
Apart from having Meinl themselves telling me "they believed in what I was doing" and "couldn't wait to show me that they did"!
Boy...have they! Haha.


Cheers.
D.

[Just Drums]

Derek! Very cool! Me and my crew will see you at the MD Festival. Looking forward to it!.....

[burnthehero]

Not a big metal fan myself, but I'm definitely a fan of the command you have on the kit. Great video! I look forward to seeing more.

[chopsy]

awesome video... great job positioning the cam so we can see your feet as well as your hands quite clearly.

[SickRick]

You're the first metal drummer ever to play left foot clave in a song...

Allthough I don't like the music I have to say the drumming is just sick. You truly are a monster with sticks... Really impressive!

Questions: How do you memorize the structures? Do you write stuff out or do you just play it over and over?

Do you play any other styles from time to time? I saw some Shuffle/Country style videos of you, but since you have the coordination for it: Do you play any Cuban music in a band? You should definetly do that, I'd love to hear such a great drummer play some music that I actually like.

This makes me regret that I stopped diggin metal hehehe....

[Derek Roddy]

You're the first metal drummer ever to play left foot clave in a song...

Haha...I'm the first metal drummer to a lot of these types of things....So I've been told! LoL.

Allthough I don't like the music I have to say the drumming is just sick. You truly are a monster with sticks... Really impressive!

Thanks a lot Rick. I love to jam...that's for sure.

Questions: How do you memorize the structures? Do you write stuff out or do you just play it over and over?

Well, I write (guitar parts) a lot of this stuff myself but... as a band...we write together. This helps us all learn it while we are together in the same room. We always record so....we can listen to what we created and decide if it's worth keeping or not.
It's just a long "work in progress". We've been working on these tunes for 2 years or so...off and on.

Do you play any other styles from time to time? I saw some Shuffle/Country style videos of you, but since you have the coordination for it: Do you play any Cuban music in a band? You should definetly do that, I'd love to hear such a great drummer play some music that I actually like.

Yeah...But not as often as I'd like.
I do fill in gigs for all types of stuff.. From weddings to acoustic Jazz and blues, Gypsy stuff with brushes and a snare drum. I'm all for playing as much music as I can...despite what "style" it is.

This makes me regret that I stopped diggin metal hehehe....

So...at one point...you liked metal?
I don't understand how you can just not like something anymore?.... If you liked it to begin with.
I love BBQ ribs....always will. How could you just "stop liking" ribs? Haha.

I agree that "what metal was" is not what metal "is" now but... I still like metal. I just decided to create my own "metal" with a bit more substance... in hopes that it will bring back (what people like yourself) saw in it... at one time.

Cheers.
D.

[sticksnstonesrus]

I hear ya.
I really believe in the Meinl company. They really have their stuff together. The cymbals are by far the most musical and durable cymbals I've played.
I've toured with about every brand of cymbal and the only cymbals that lasted an ENTIRE tour... were the Meinls.
That proved a lot to me.
Apart from having Meinl themselves telling me "they believed in what I was doing" and "couldn't wait to show me that they did"!
Boy...have they! Haha.


Cheers.
D.


Great stuff.

I was wondering this...

You've been playing a long time; your muscle memory and mental stability for time must be second nature in order to produce and re-produce musical structures/alignments with the kind of accuracy you do. Could you comment on whether or not you target a BPM when writing and try to recreate that for the studio/live or do you go with "the seat of your pants". The reason I ask is that I'm finding more and more drummers clicking live through in ear monitors that are mixed to the board or pre-laid samples both studio and live. I'm experimenting with tracking our stuff primarily for studio presentation, but also for the exacting redundancy live. Is that something you've shot for in the past with HE (or now with SR)?

Thoughts?

BTW...I love damn ribs...

[Tutin]

Hey Derek, that was great playing and I really like those tunes.

Can't wait until you release the stuff, it just seems to be getting better and better, tighter and tighter. I particularly liked the first clip, the lead riff with the chord progression sounds so cool, especially the last chord; it's not what I expected coming and it sounds great. Well done to whoever wrote that!

I think it's cool what you're doing, having the left set up. I always wondered why you switched your two mounted toms. I set my kit up left handed an awful lot, it really helps build on the left side (funnily enough lol).

Are there any specific things you'd reccomend practising lh?

Again, great tunes. Good work mate!

T

[TitanSound]

I'm not a massive metal fan but the metal bands I do like have very good drummers. You sir are a very good drummer so therefore I like your band :)

[LinearDrummer]

: Do you play any Cuban music in a band? You should definetly do that, I'd love to hear such a great drummer play some music that I actually like.



Man I would luv to see that...
I think DR could pull it off very nicely....