DRUMMERS ON DRUMMING dives deep into the groove, quirks, and ingenuity that define some of the world’s most innovative drummers. Hosted by Ben Hilzinger (Cannon...
The Drum Panel: Defining Success, Underrated Drummers, and the Gear We Love (That’s Not a Drum)
Episode 10 of The Drum Panel
Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM.
For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Jessica Burdeaux (Covet, City Mouth, Host of Reverb.com's "What's That Sound?" series on YouTube).
Today we discuss:
How do we get into the mindset of authentically emulating grooves?
Thinking like a producer: Approaching drumming with overdubbing and auxiliary percussion in mind.
What’s a style of music you feel you should know more about?
How do you decide when to cut yourself off from outside influences?
What’s your favorite piece of music gear that isn’t a drum or cymbal?
If you could play one iconic groove perfectly, what would it be?
Who are some drummers you think are underrated right now?
How do you currently define success as a drummer?
Are koalas marsupials?
As promised...
Josh Freese
Jason Gerken
Casey Deitz
Valerie Franco
Ulf Mickael Wahlgren
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
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45:04
Big Fat Five: Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, Seal, Mariachi el Bronx, Ways Away, The Hope Conspiracy, Boysetsfire, Paint It Black, Chuck Ragan)
Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument. This format also inspired my book, Drummers on Drumming, which is available now as a paperback or ebook on Amazon.
Today’s guest is Jared Shavelson. I met Jared through a mutual buddy and Big Fat Five alum, Mike Robinson. Jared is the real deal. He studied jazz in college but left early to kickstart his career—and it’s safe to say that decision paid off. Over the years, he’s played with Seal, The Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx, Joyce Manor, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, The Aquabats, and so many others.
I just saw him perform with Mariachi El Bronx on New Year’s Eve, opening for Morrissey at The Palladium. He was playing a cocktail kit, and the Afro-Cuban rhythms he was laying down were absolutely insane—I was completely blown away.
Now, we were supposed to record this a few days ago, but life in LA had other plans. Between the fires and travel chaos, it was hard to pin down a time. Jared ended up flying out of Los Angeles Thursday night, only to get stuck in Atlanta during a snowstorm when his flight was canceled. After being stranded at the airport for 18 hours, he decided to help pass the time by hopping on the mic with me. That’s why the audio in this episode might be a little rough—picture Jared huddled in the corner of a busy terminal while we recorded.
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
JARED'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Led Zeppelin 1
Artist - Led Zeppelin
Release Year - 1969
Key Track(s) - Good times bad times / How Many More Times
Drummer - John Bonham
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Album - Time Out
Artist - Dave Brubeck
Release Year - 1959
Key Track(s) - Take Five / Kathy’s Waltz
Drummer - Joe Morello
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Album - Alice In Chains Unplugged
Artist - Alive in Chains
Release Year - 1996
Key Track(s) - Nutshell / No Excuses / Down in a Hole
Drummer - Sean Kinney
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Album - Out of Step
Artist - Minor threat
Release Year - 1984
Key Track(s) - Betray
Drummer - Jeff Nelson
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Album - The Egg
Artist - Shiner
Release Year - 2001
Key Track(s) - The Egg / Surgery / Andalusia
Drummer - Jason Gerken
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
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38:49
The Drum Panel: 2024's Biggest Wins, Unexpected Lessons, and the Stack Debate
Episode 9 of The Drum Panel
Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM.
For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for Winnetka Bowling League).
Today we discuss:
What was the most game-changing moment in your drumming or musical journey this year?
Which performance, session, or project from this year holds a special place in your heart—and what made it so meaningful?
What’s one surprising thing you discovered about yourself as a musician this year?
Did any piece of gear or tool unexpectedly transform your playing this year? Share your story!
Hot take: Is spending more than $100 on a stack just plain unnecessary?
Time to settle the debate—Is Buddy Rich a legend or just overhyped?
Let’s get it out there: What are some of your biggest drumming pet peeve?
Listen to 500 Anõs by La Armada HERE
Check out Kris' cute little digital recorder HERE
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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
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43:53
Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 2
Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out.
In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredible drummers like Joe Bagale, David Raouf (rdavidr), Joe Seiders, Ilan Rubin and Jesse Kongos. These highlights give you a taste of the insights and inspiration you’ll find in the book. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the creative minds of today's top players.
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Get Your Copy of the 'Drummers on Drumming' Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
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30:42
Excerpts from My Book: Drummers on Drumming, Part 1
Ok, I promise I won’t be promoting my book forever—but give me at least a few weeks to talk about it (I’m proud of it!). And hey, the sooner you grab a copy, the sooner you’ll stop feeling guilty... and, well, left out.
In this episode, I read a few excerpts from my new book, Drummers on Drumming. You’ll hear stories and song choices from incredible drummers like Jason McGerr, Madden Klass, Jojo Mayer, Noa Kahn, Andrew Marshall, Michael Benjamin Lerner, and Brendan Buckley. These highlights give you a taste of the insights and inspiration you’ll find in the book. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the creative minds of today's top players.
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Get Your Copy of the 'Drummers on Drumming' Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
DRUMMERS ON DRUMMING dives deep into the groove, quirks, and ingenuity that define some of the world’s most innovative drummers. Hosted by Ben Hilzinger (Cannons, Eve 6) and powered by Big Fat Snare Drum, this podcast brings together a unique blend of personal stories, raw insights, and surprising perspectives.
Each episode unpacks what makes a drummer's voice their own—whether it's through Big Fat Five, where guests reveal the five albums, moments, or influences that shaped their style, or The Drum Panel, a spirited roundtable tackling the instrument's most polarizing debates. Expect bold opinions, unexpected connections, and an authentic look at the drumming life—on and off the kit.
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Get Your Copy of the 'Drummers on Drumming' Book Today!
🎯 Click here to order now!
Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.