jon e rotten
Senior Member
I've read countless times on this forum and in magazines, books etc. etc. about not overplaying, and I've always totally agreed. I started gigging before I could drive, and I just
turned 40, so I've been at this awhile, and it has recently been occurring to me that alot of people say they want drummers to keep it simple, but reality might be something different.
I've always focused on groove and kept the fancy stuff in the practice room, and I just assumed this was considered a plus until recently. The leader of one of my regular bands has been asking me to play more fills and more 'flashy' fills for a couple of years now, and I've been telling him that's not really my style. He contends my style is boring and unteresting, but we've managed to co-exist for about 6 years so all is good.
So to make a short story long, last summer I did a one-off blues fest with some really good players and I decided to let loose a little (actually alot, many more fills and some rather over the top endings) and the response was unbelievable. I kept getting the "I didn't know you could play like that" response, and "I always thought you were solid, but not that good". The phone has rang more since that gig than the last ten years combined.....so it makes me kind of wonder...do people really want you to 'keep it simpe'?
turned 40, so I've been at this awhile, and it has recently been occurring to me that alot of people say they want drummers to keep it simple, but reality might be something different.
I've always focused on groove and kept the fancy stuff in the practice room, and I just assumed this was considered a plus until recently. The leader of one of my regular bands has been asking me to play more fills and more 'flashy' fills for a couple of years now, and I've been telling him that's not really my style. He contends my style is boring and unteresting, but we've managed to co-exist for about 6 years so all is good.
So to make a short story long, last summer I did a one-off blues fest with some really good players and I decided to let loose a little (actually alot, many more fills and some rather over the top endings) and the response was unbelievable. I kept getting the "I didn't know you could play like that" response, and "I always thought you were solid, but not that good". The phone has rang more since that gig than the last ten years combined.....so it makes me kind of wonder...do people really want you to 'keep it simpe'?