Lowbrow

Stroman

Diamond Member
I'm gonna expose myself for the lowbrow, no-talent hack I am.

I just watched a clip on IG featuring the great Vinnie Colaiuta. He was playing some smoking stuff. And I couldn't find a beat or a pulse to save my ass. I know it was there. At some point I picked up on it from the bass player. But what Vinnie was playing?! I just didn't get it.

I realized then that, if I don't get it now, I probably never will. He's playing at a level and in a mindset that I just can't fathom, and if haven't gotten there in the 50 years I've been playing... well, it just isn't likely. Lol

I'm not complaining, really. There's a lot of stuff I like, a lot of stuff I comprehend, and then there's stuff I'm just going to have to take the experts' word on. There are a couple of highly respected, hugely popular monster drummers that I feel this way about.

There's my confession. Anyone else feel that way?

While you're typing, Imma take my lowbrow self over here and listen to some Monkees.
 
I get the same feeling when I watch monster Jazz/Bebop players. It sounds cool. I like it. I have no freaking idea what they're doing. I have no clue where ONE is. LOL I have gotten comfortable with the fact that I don't have enough heartbeats left to understand it or, learn it.
 
Uh...Mr. Stro....which song were you listening to with the complicated Vin?.....sir.
 
Uh...Mr. Stro....which song were you listening to with the complicated Vin?.....sir.
I wish I knew. It was just an IG clip with no reference. I can try to find it again, but the odds are slim. If I do, I'll link it.
 
I don't worry about that kinda stuff at all.

For all the amazing players I've had a wander into that rabbit hole at university. It's nice to know what they're up to and with a bit (lot) of practice, I can do a very bad attempt at it. Something for the long winter nights far from the ears of any paying punters!

I've got way more work, made way more money and made far more people happy keeping things simple and not drawing unnecessary attention to myself on stage.
 
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While I appreciate/envy what Vinnie, Bozzio etc. can do, I have a very short attention span for it. My musical tastes are more mainstream/accessible, and their projects are aimed at a more technically-minded (read: niche) audience of musicians.
 
I'm gonna expose myself for the lowbrow, no-talent hack I am.

I just watched a clip on IG featuring the great Vinnie Colaiuta. He was playing some smoking stuff. And I couldn't find a beat or a pulse to save my ass. I know it was there. At some point I picked up on it from the bass player. But what Vinnie was playing?! I just didn't get it.

I realized then that, if I don't get it now, I probably never will. He's playing at a level and in a mindset that I just can't fathom, and if haven't gotten there in the 50 years I've been playing... well, it just isn't likely. Lol

I'm not complaining, really. There's a lot of stuff I like, a lot of stuff I comprehend, and then there's stuff I'm just going to have to take the experts' word on. There are a couple of highly respected, hugely popular monster drummers that I feel this way about.

There's my confession. Anyone else feel that way?

While you're typing, Imma take my lowbrow self over here and listen to some Monkees.

The same thing happens to me when I watch a really good Jazz player. I'm just lost. While I appreciate and admire the skill of such drummers, my attention span for it is very short. For the most part, I like playing and listening to simple Rock songs.
 
I'm gonna expose myself for the lowbrow, no-talent hack I am.
On the contrary, kind sir. It's exactly the same as the question of which do you prefer: Vanilla ice cream or Superman ice cream?

If music falls under the heading of "art" (not the GetAgrippa variety :D), then it's understandable that not everyone will "get it." There are many different art forms I'm not able to (or don't care to) learn to appreciate - that clip would be one. Does that mean I'm obtuse? I'd hope not. I might be lacking some intellectual faculties, but I'm not obtuse. I think.

So, let's put on the headphones and enjoy some Monkees. Do you want the left ear or the right ear? :ROFLMAO:
 
I'm gonna expose myself for the lowbrow, no-talent hack I am.

I just watched a clip on IG featuring the great Vinnie Colaiuta. He was playing some smoking stuff. And I couldn't find a beat or a pulse to save my ass. I know it was there. At some point I picked up on it from the bass player. But what Vinnie was playing?! I just didn't get it.

I realized then that, if I don't get it now, I probably never will. He's playing at a level and in a mindset that I just can't fathom, and if haven't gotten there in the 50 years I've been playing... well, it just isn't likely. Lol

I'm not complaining, really. There's a lot of stuff I like, a lot of stuff I comprehend, and then there's stuff I'm just going to have to take the experts' word on. There are a couple of highly respected, hugely popular monster drummers that I feel this way about.

There's my confession. Anyone else feel that way?

While you're typing, Imma take my lowbrow self over here and listen to some Monkees.
Vinnie is the 99th percentile, we're not.

I have followed him for years. He had a focus and discipline that is incredible.
 
While I appreciate/envy what Vinnie, Bozzio etc. can do, I have a very short attention span for it. My musical tastes are more mainstream/accdessible, and their projects are aimed at a more technically-minded (read: niche) audience of musicians.
Same. I always refer to that type playing as "above my paygrade". I can appreciate it for what it is and the hard work that went into to developing the necessary skill sets. However, I can't just sit and jam to it and I have no desire to develop those type of chops. For the type of music I enjoy playing and writing, it just is not required. Hell, I am still trying to get out of playing the same sticking patterns and fills. I know that it doesn't REALLY matter. I am an accomplished drummer and can play most any genre pretty well. I can provide the rhythm and back beat for people to shake their booties on the dance floor and maybe even have a couple moments in the evening that would make a fellow drummer take notice. I'll just keep working towards identifying and eliminating the "um' and buts" in my playing and tip my cap to the Vinnie's and IG drummers of the world.
 
On the contrary, kind sir. It's exactly the same as the question of which do you prefer: Vanilla ice cream or Superman ice cream?

If music falls under the heading of "art" (not the GetAgrippa variety :D), then it's understandable that not everyone will "get it." There are many different art forms I'm not able to (or don't care to) learn to appreciate - that clip would be one. Does that mean I'm obtuse? I'd hope not. I might be lacking some intellectual faculties, but I'm not obtuse. I think.

So, let's put on the headphones and enjoy some Monkees. Do you want the left ear or the right ear? :ROFLMAO:
Hey Smoke my friend when I play drums it’s art not music. That’s because I’m not a musician but I did take some Art classes in college (when I was , trying to figure who I was) so music is art to me- just aural rather visual. My taste in music has been a lot like foods- always changing. I use to hate mayo or yellow mustard but I can eat a jar of mayo and the thought use to make me hurl. Music same thing-love a band or song then same band and songs makes you wanna hurl and you wonder about past taste in music. Then time passes and you rediscover said band/songs and you fall in love again and wonder why the long hiatus- and how does that reflect on my taste in music. ROFL. Monkees songs were popular when I was in 7th grade it seems.
 
I'm gonna expose myself for the lowbrow, no-talent hack I am.

I just watched a clip on IG featuring the great Vinnie Colaiuta. He was playing some smoking stuff. And I couldn't find a beat or a pulse to save my ass. I know it was there. At some point I picked up on it from the bass player. But what Vinnie was playing?! I just didn't get it.

I realized then that, if I don't get it now, I probably never will. He's playing at a level and in a mindset that I just can't fathom, and if haven't gotten there in the 50 years I've been playing... well, it just isn't likely. Lol

I'm not complaining, really. There's a lot of stuff I like, a lot of stuff I comprehend, and then there's stuff I'm just going to have to take the experts' word on. There are a couple of highly respected, hugely popular monster drummers that I feel this way about.

There's my confession. Anyone else feel that way?

While you're typing, Imma take my lowbrow self over here and listen to some Monkees.
I've known since I picked up stix I wasn't going to be that!😂

PS Welcome to Lowbrow Lane! You'll like it here good people and good music!😉
 
Since topic has come up- one trait I see in a lot of great players in every genre is a lot are really hard hitters with big stick heights. Man that isn’t me. I prefer lower stick heights and less energy use than all energy in hard hitting.

I’m a lowbrow,red neck turn hippie turn into educated redneck/hippie hybrid that was able to fool a lot of people as intelligent. Seems there is a mention of people like me in the JudeoChristian Bible -God chooses the foolish folks of the world to shame the wise. Something like that but I’m a fool who shamed some wise- freaking miraculously like stepping in doggie doo- oops an accident. Humans are a fascinating species on this planet.
 
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I mean, it's a low brow profession, so.... no problem.

Vinnie Colaiuta has been confounding players at all levels for a long time, it's not some kind of defect if you can't pick up every single thing he does. It's one way of playing, it's not the thing by which all drumming is measured.

In that video we're just hearing a fragment of somebody's tricky arrangement-- that we don't get to see the chart for-- and he's playing tricky stuff on top of it. So of course figuring it out is a going to be a nightmare.

He's also one guy with two hands and feet, and some drums and some cymbals. If you slowed it down dramatically a lot of familiar patterns would emerge, even as he's doing them in odd subdivisions.
 
I feel ya Mr. Stroman. I get this way when I hear some of Jack DeJohnette's work.

It's then I'll put on some Russ Kunkel with Jackson Browne or Andy Newmark with Roxy Music and my mind is at ease.
 
There is a beauty with a drum part that is simple...but extremely well organized..with a great feel.
I have mellowed from my Cobham days.
 
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