Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I've heard this so much "it's all about the kick snare and hat" through the years, that after adhering to this mantra, I'm feeling somewhat against it.
I remember meeting this Eagles tribute band and after hanging out with that drummer, he told me that he could do their whole show of Eagles songs with just kick, snare, hat, and a floor tom (important for "Witchy Woman"). And he deplored having to carry at least five drums for the job because he didn't really use them at all. But he understood, as a tribute band, they tried to get the look right as well, so he went along with it.
I think I would feel ripped-off if I paid money to see a band and the drummer just had a bass drum and a snare drum. Music is also seen as well as heard so if I saw half a drum kit on stage, I'd be kinda mad. Like "you don't care about audience?".
I know we always talk about having smaller sets for rehearsals or practice, and some even get away with using less and smaller on certain gigs. But I say I'd still feel gipped if I looked up on stage and only saw TWO drums. Maybe have a second small kit downstage for a "acoustic set" (which is so popular with all the rock bands these days), but your main kit should be there and bigger.
I remember when even the Rolling Stones carried a second stage for the band, Charlie Watts still had the four-piece kit on the extra stage they had, in addition to his regular four-piece on their main stage.
So I get that people want smaller, but at the same time, I think there is a case for going too small. Thoughts?
I remember meeting this Eagles tribute band and after hanging out with that drummer, he told me that he could do their whole show of Eagles songs with just kick, snare, hat, and a floor tom (important for "Witchy Woman"). And he deplored having to carry at least five drums for the job because he didn't really use them at all. But he understood, as a tribute band, they tried to get the look right as well, so he went along with it.
I think I would feel ripped-off if I paid money to see a band and the drummer just had a bass drum and a snare drum. Music is also seen as well as heard so if I saw half a drum kit on stage, I'd be kinda mad. Like "you don't care about audience?".
I know we always talk about having smaller sets for rehearsals or practice, and some even get away with using less and smaller on certain gigs. But I say I'd still feel gipped if I looked up on stage and only saw TWO drums. Maybe have a second small kit downstage for a "acoustic set" (which is so popular with all the rock bands these days), but your main kit should be there and bigger.
I remember when even the Rolling Stones carried a second stage for the band, Charlie Watts still had the four-piece kit on the extra stage they had, in addition to his regular four-piece on their main stage.
So I get that people want smaller, but at the same time, I think there is a case for going too small. Thoughts?