Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Check this out if you have 30 seconds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slo0rndyFag&feature=youtu.be
I had to share this video I shot at a local casino the other day (oddly enough, I was at this casino to see a Tony Bennett concert, who had Count Basie's drummer, Harold Jones playing for him - it was swingin' - but that'll be another discussion). Anyway, what you're seeing is the standard fair cover band in the middle of the casino, and obviously, he's playing V-Drums so the band can have a good mix that doesn't bleed into the ears of the gamblers.
I shot this from behind the drummer, about four feet away. And I walked away disappointed. He was playing so hard that literally, I heard the clicking sounds before I even heard the band. In fact, the clicking is what drew me to them in the first place. I didn't hear any song until I got right where I was! I felt like if he had a real set of drums, he wouldn't know how to play them quietly enough and still get a phat sound (or it would take a few rehearsals for him to get that part of his playing back - if he ever had it).
Yes, I'm aware that the V-drums are probably a requirement for his gig. And many people here would say that "At least he's playing and has a gig playing close-to-drums". But man, to see one of Count Basie's drummers play with Tony Bennett, and then to see and hear this on the way out, it was like a cold shower of the sad reality for most musicians being generally beer salespeople and not trying to disturb the gambling in the casino.
I had V-Drums and realized I wouldn't gig them long ago. Seeing this just confirms it. I want to see real drums if I'm confronted with a band, and I want to see some finesse from the drummer pulling beautiful tones out of his kit. If I'm going to get clicking, the guy better be tap dancing. Thoughts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slo0rndyFag&feature=youtu.be
I had to share this video I shot at a local casino the other day (oddly enough, I was at this casino to see a Tony Bennett concert, who had Count Basie's drummer, Harold Jones playing for him - it was swingin' - but that'll be another discussion). Anyway, what you're seeing is the standard fair cover band in the middle of the casino, and obviously, he's playing V-Drums so the band can have a good mix that doesn't bleed into the ears of the gamblers.
I shot this from behind the drummer, about four feet away. And I walked away disappointed. He was playing so hard that literally, I heard the clicking sounds before I even heard the band. In fact, the clicking is what drew me to them in the first place. I didn't hear any song until I got right where I was! I felt like if he had a real set of drums, he wouldn't know how to play them quietly enough and still get a phat sound (or it would take a few rehearsals for him to get that part of his playing back - if he ever had it).
Yes, I'm aware that the V-drums are probably a requirement for his gig. And many people here would say that "At least he's playing and has a gig playing close-to-drums". But man, to see one of Count Basie's drummers play with Tony Bennett, and then to see and hear this on the way out, it was like a cold shower of the sad reality for most musicians being generally beer salespeople and not trying to disturb the gambling in the casino.
I had V-Drums and realized I wouldn't gig them long ago. Seeing this just confirms it. I want to see real drums if I'm confronted with a band, and I want to see some finesse from the drummer pulling beautiful tones out of his kit. If I'm going to get clicking, the guy better be tap dancing. Thoughts?