Is it me or my drummer? Our weak attempt at Atomic Punk

[LanierP]

So I talked the guys in my band into adding Atomic Punk to our set list for last Saturday's smokey bar gig. Everyone said they knew it cold. In practice our drummer seemed to either drag thru certain parts, or race thru song at breakneck speed. The latter would always happen when doing the chromatic lick at the end of the solo as he would do the snare and tom hits. Looking to see from you guys what your thoughts are. I personally thing he needs to play to click tracks, or practice more with a metronome, but he's insisting he is dead on all the way thru.
P.S. I know this is a sloppy attempt at the tune, but am open to any all all criticism and opinions both on tone and anything else you can think of to better the effort.
Guitar:late 80's Kramer Baretta (Self Eddyized)
Amp: Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive
Cab: Boger 4x12
Effects:Skretty Lil' Miss Sunshine , Cusak Screamer out front. TC X4 Delay in loop
https://youtu.be/2WCK5E9E1Wk Atomic Punk

https://youtu.be/nv1XmGDwXkY So this is Love

https://youtu.be/lSJjQf29cTM The Wanton Song

https://youtu.be/PKH1sohZBgs What is and what should never be

 

[LanierP]

Drummer and bass player are brothers. Thanks for chiming in man. BTW, the Mezzabarba I'm playing thru, kinda wanted to see what you think about it. I have 2 weeks to return it beacuase The shop I bought it from shipped it to me boxed up on end. I called and talked to the owner and he is giving me 2 weeks to decide whether to keep it or not. It's either this or go with a new BE-100, based off of your clips of yours you put up. Really dug those a lot! Anyways, I'm not 100% sold on the 'Barba', but I'd did kick on a few songs.
Len

 

[JamesPeters]

The drummer clearly doesn't know the song cold. Mid-verse fills/accents aren't there, other rolls/fills are off, accents on the wrong beat after a roll/fill, etc. plus wow does he drop the tempo down in the first verse (that was very noticeable).

 

[LanierP]

The drummer clearly doesn't know the song cold. Mid-verse rolls aren't there, other rolls/fills are off, accents on the wrong beat after a roll/fill, etc. plus wow does he drop the tempo down in the first verse (that was very noticeable).

Thought I was the only guy picking up on this. Thanks dude

 

[JamesPeters]

Thought I was the only guy picking up on this. Thanks dude

No problem!

He should watch his performance, and compare it in a second window to the actual VH song. Break each verse and chorus etc. down, and see what he missed. He got the gist of it fine enough; I wouldn't complain if I saw you guys play that in a bar. However dropping the tempo like that...wow lol. He sped up/slowed down a couple more times but that one...I thought my cold medication was messing with my head.

 

[LanierP]

Thought I was the only guy picking up on this. Thanks dude

No problem!

He should watch his performance, and compare it in a second window to the actual VH song. Break each verse and chorus etc. down, and see what he missed. He got the gist of it fine enough; I wouldn't complain if I saw you guys play that in a bar. However dropping the tempo like that...wow lol. He sped up/slowed down a couple more times but that one...I thought my cold medication was messing with my head.

it's like putting your finger on one of the wheels of your old cassette deck. Think I'm going to recommend he do the double window technique. Sadly, it's a problem that more than just musicians notice live.

 

[JamesPeters]

it's like putting your finger on one of the wheels of your old cassette deck. Think I'm going to recommend he do the double window technique. Sadly, it's a problem that more than just musicians notice live.

I'm forgiving with bar bands since I've heard far worse than yours. I'd still prefer to hear a band cover the song as well as possible (I find drums are very important to get right; so much of the feel of the original song is in the drums), but I can forgive some mistakes. But if his claim is that he knows it "cold", well that's another story especially if he's trying to throw his shortcomings in your face as though they're your fault.

Lots of drummers swear they'd rather kill themselves than practice to a click (or record to one), but most of them realize it doesn't turn them into robots once they try doing it and they usually appreciate what it does for their playing. Getting him over that hump might be tricky though. Maybe if he watches his performance and compares to the VH recording, he'll start to realize the scope of the problem.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

The drummer's tempo drifts at times during the verse and leading to chorus. Sounds like you guys just need to tighten it up a bit but in all honesty its not that bad

 

[glip22]

Were you on channel one of the mezza with bright and both boosts?

 

[glip22]

Were you on channel one of the mezza with bright and both boosts? If not that is where Van Halen is.
Your playing was very good and in time. Not the best song for your drummer I think but not terrible by any means.

 

[LanierP]

Were you on channel one of the mezza with bright and both boosts? If not that is where Van Halen is.
Your playing was very good and in time. Not the best song for your drummer I think but not terrible by any means.

Yes, Channel one, bright on , boost on and boost level wide open. My vintage Mxr phase 90 was acting up, so I ordered the Skretty little miss sunshine. Goosed the solos with a Cusak Screamer after the lil' sunshine.

 

[JerEvil]

Yup. Drummer is the culprit in this vid for sure. Meter is all over the place. The solo breaks were brutal. Couldn't tell but perhaps he should work on his left foot hi hat skills to keep a click going between the breaks. At least you all could follow even if he is drifting.

 

[LanierP]

Yup. Drummer is the culprit in this vid for sure. Meter is all over the place. The solo breaks were brutal. Couldn't tell but perhaps he should work on his left foot hi hat skills to keep a click going between the breaks. At least you all could follow even if he is drifting.

Thanks man. I had recommended the Ho hat chirps to keep time during the break part. That's the main part we are in disagreement. Doesn't feel he needs to do the chirps cuz he's on time. Frustrating. Thanks for checking it out brother.

 

[JamesPeters]

Everyone thinks they're in time from their own perspective. When I was 19 I returned a drum machine to the store I bought it from because as I told them "it's drifting". The salesman kept his composure when he asked "are you certain?" But yes, I was certain. That is, until I got the second drum machine and also heard a recording of myself. Oh...so that's why people use metronomes...

 

[Mailman1971]

I enjoyed the clip alot.
Highlights to me were your playing and the Singer.

What the hell is a bass player?
Drummers are drummers. I got one. Says the same thing yours does.



Keep on rocking. Would go see you guys play if I was in the area for sure.

 

[PBGas]

You played great! Maybe your drummer was having a bad night? It happens. When mine is off, it's painful but thankfully it doesn't happen often.

 

[glip22]

Were you on channel one of the mezza with bright and both boosts? If not that is where Van Halen is.
Your playing was very good and in time. Not the best song for your drummer I think but not terrible by any means.

Yes, Channel one, bright on , boost on and boost level wide open. My vintage Mxr phase 90 was acting up, so I ordered the Skretty little miss sunshine. Goosed the solos with a Cusak Screamer after the lil' sunshine.

Does your have the second boost on the footswitch? When you say "boost level" do you mean drive or does your amp have a second gain pot?

 

[LanierP]

I enjoyed the clip alot.
Highlights to me were your playing and the Singer.

What the hell is a bass player?
Drummers are drummers. I got one. Says the same thing yours does.



Keep on rocking. Would go see you guys play if I was in the area for sure.

Thanks man. Well said
Len

 

[maddnotez]

It honestly wasn't that bad man.

IMO of course. Yeah not perfect but drumming is pretty physical, especially if it was maybe later in the set but I do understand perfectionism and I would always recommend a drummer to play with a metronome at all times but I wouldn't be too hard on him or yourself.

I've been in much worse and more embarrasing situations than this lol.

As long as the blonde lady in the beginning of the video had a good time you are doing ok.

 

[LanierP]

Were you on channel one of the mezza with bright and both boosts? If not that is where Van Halen is.
Your playing was very good and in time. Not the best song for your drummer I think but not terrible by any means.

Yes, Channel one, bright on , boost on and boost level wide open. My vintage Mxr phase 90 was acting up, so I ordered the Skretty little miss sunshine. Goosed the solos with a Cusak Screamer after the lil' sunshine.

Does your have the second boost on the footswitch? When you say "boost level" do you mean drive or does your amp have a second gain pot?

Only a single button footswitch for channel switching and no second gain pot. Thank this one is one of the earlier ones. Serial # looks like late 2015. I have the boost toggle on for channel 1, and the boost level knob up all the way. Channel 1 blows away channel 2 in my opinion, but to push my leads a little over the top, I felt the need to put the Cusak in fron with level at 1oclock and gain at about 10 o'clock. The channel takes an overdrive pedal better than just about any amp ive played. The big ? Is the Feedback knob, which at noon is flat. I have her around 2 o'clock and the feel u der the fingers is very good. I have another clip I'm gonna load up of the Wanton song by Zep that want too bad.
Len