You posted them… I replied. I did the best I can. I’ll try to respond to all of you as fast and as best I can. Thanks. –Steve
1) Drums Of Death, Arlington, VA
Q- I’ve seen you a few times and every time your kit is set up differently. I noticed you always keep the ride cymbal on your left side by the hi-hats, are you a left handed drummer playing on a right handed kit? Also, you always use electronics, have you thought about using an all electric kit or a V-Drum set up?
A- I feel I should always change the kit around when I get really comfortable. The reason being, I start to get locked in and too comfy and I recycle licks which I hate doing- so I like to keep it fresh and unpredictable and inconvenient because it produces more interesting results in my opinion. I’m right handed, I just like to keep the ride to my left… I don’t know why. If you buy me V-Drums, I’ll use them! I’ve always liked the combination of acoustics and electronics.
2) Your Worst Nightmare, Long Branch, NJ
Q- So, you’re bald right? Is that why you shave your head? I love Ms. Pac Man meets Twiki!
A- I do it for spiritual reasons… yeah, I’m bald…
3) Mike Noordzy, Piscataway, NJ
Q- You forgot Max Weinberg in your influences section on your Myspace, just letting you know, now get your fucking shine box.
A- Your right… how could I forget? Call me Spit Shine Tommy!
4) Yer Mom, NJ Bitches!
Q- Where do you see yourself in ten years? Do you think you’ll ever make it??? …I don’t think you will because no one cares about your music. Ha!
A- Hopefully, I still be here doing this. What do you mean by “make it”? There are different notions of “making it”. I consider myself to have already made it for doing what I have set out to do. Sure, I would love to have my music reach more people but I’m working on it… to do this it helps to have money and real management. Radio and television promoters have contacted me many times offering to have the music put out to hundreds of stations but they want thousands of dollars in return… would you like to pay them for us??? If you’ve ever wondered why shitty music gets played so much and why bands who suck get a lot of attention, it’s because they have money or they have people behind them with money. I have had the extreme pleasure and good fortune to play with people who have influenced me like the Moth Guts guys, Herb Robertson, Blaise Siwula, Evil Dub, that one Billy Martin show at The Stone, and of course, Sean Wegeler. It is experiences with these people that “made it” for me.
5) CJB, Boston, Masssssssss
Q- Why do you always where black?
A- I don’t, sometimes I wear other colors but I tend to stay away from pastels.
6) Kill Emo, New Jersey (HELL)
Q- Is Alicia out of NUFH? Out of all the people you play with, what’s your favorite gig?
A- I have never made a band member sign a contract. If Alicia wants to play, she is welcome to. NUFH has members that play when they can and when they want to. Sean Wegeler hasn’t played on every gig. Adeo has fronted us a few times… Sean Calvert, Mike Noordzy, Anthony Ware and others have stepped in when they could and I’m grateful to know these people. As far as my favorite gig goes… they’re all my favorite, but honestly I like it when I play shows with people I don’t know or who I’m not use to. It’s always more exciting and unpredictable as to what’s going to happen when you play together and everyone is just going for it, playing together in the moment based on that particular evening. Sometimes it’s a train wreck, sometimes it’s beautiful, but it’s always an experience. I also like having guests on NUFH stuff and Soul Amputation stuff because it’s great fun for me to see how these people are going to react and play and put their twist on the material. Back in the day, In Petto had a handful of good shows. We got to play a show once with Trevor Dunn and Shelly Burgon, and we played with Dysrhythmia and Time Of Orchids… those were some fun times.
7) Mike Goldberg, Lehigh
Q- What draws you to drums/music? What are the pros and cons of being in a band vs. solo stuff? What’s your practice regiment and how do you think you could improve?
A- Holy shit dude… OK. Drums are the only way that I really know how to communicate effectively and music is spiritual for me. Music is a power and a gift that chooses me, I don’t choose it. When I am inspired to create musically it’s usually coming from a place aligned with this world but not always necessarily of this world in most instances… I have never really been able to just create music when someone has asked me to if they had something very specific in mind with a specific idea THEY had. Sometimes I can, but it’s just easier to take orders than to be a mind reader or try to feel what someone is feeling when other people’s ideas are concerned. It has to just happen naturally. Sometimes I have to forget about the music and just let it happen. Sometimes nothing will happen for months and then it will just happen. Improvising is different because I’m reacting… and sometimes it’s completely schizophrenic, and in this situation you CAN feel what others are feeling and sort of go off on that vibe. I’ll just let my limbs do whatever without really thinking about it. Even if it’s a solo gig, I’ll knowingly or unknowingly throw something out there and react to myself…sometimes I hate myself and sometimes I’ve loved what came out, but I’m still reacting to it or better yet, almost having a conversation with it, experimenting and exploring it. 2nd question: There are way too many pros and cons to list here but I can tell you that it’s easier, not necessarily better, but easier to have the support of a band (especially if I’m personally having a bad gig). When I’m out there alone and if I’m not feeling it, or I screw up, or I didn’t like what I played, I don’t have the others to collectively hold it together, I have to see it through myself. 3rd question: When I practice, I practice… and I’ll get ants in my pants if I don’t do at least two hours a day. However, sometimes I can’t practice due to my job or traveling or just life or whatever. Then, there are times when I really don’t want to practice because I’d rather take a break and empty my brain and come back to the kit with a fresh perspective. But when I practice I warm up first by just kind of playing grooves for a while and once my hands are loose and functioning the way I want them to, I’ll go over exercises that cover everything from independence, linear playing, polyrhythms and meters, clave patterns, Brazilian rhythms etc etc. and then I’ll just jam, improvise, whatever, …come up with new stuff, try things I think of that either end up working or not working… and Soul Amputation stuff etc… I can always improve, I continue to take lessons and seek out what’s being done on these instruments. I can always be better and I can never be “good enough”. There are plenty of clinics and workshops out there, you just have to get off your ass and go. Chris Pennie and Billy Martin have been tremendous, knowledgeable and inspiring teachers to have and I have learned a lot from them. They have been an inspiration beyond words.
8) Your REAL Mom, NJ
Q- When are you going to clean your office?
A- The day after never.
9) Cicci, NYC
Q- You’re the bassist for Universal Rebel and you’ve done all the bass on the NUFH stuff, do you consider yourself to be a bassist, a good bassist? Is it easier for you than drums? Who are your favorite bassists?
A- I do not consider myself to be a bassist, I’m a drummer playing bass. Drums and bass have always been synonymous with each other (being the traditional rhythm section) and I know some great bassists that I’ve played with and I’ve seen them play a lot. I have fun doing it but I only practice bass when there is band practice or on the occasion I pick it up to noodle around or write a song. I got a bass when I was in college because I couldn’t have a drum set in the dorm. I just played along with albums I liked, mainly funk stuff and those first 7 or 8 Sabbath albums. I basically watch the drummer, always know where the one is, stay in the pocket, pull out my few tricks when I see the appropriate moment… yeah I’m a hack! I have no idea. My favorite bassists are Bill Laswel, Mick Karn, John Taylor (yeah the Duran Duran guy!), Trevor Dunn, and Adam Vaccerelli.
10) Plenty For U To Handel, The Jers
Q- Right now currently do you think there are any good bands are drummers? …Because you’re a snob.
A- I think Mark Guiliana is the shit. You should check out Heernt.
11) UR, Jersey… SON!
Q- Is live music dead????????
A- I definitely could see it real soon… especially in Jersey. In other places in this country, I don’t know if it’s as bad… but it’s still bad and has the potential to die. NYC just plain has too much and most of the good venues are gone. There was some kind of generation shift with this whole download age… at least in NJ. Kids don’t want to leave their basement. They’ve got their X Box and their ipods and computers and their SUV vehicles, and it’s real easy for them to get drugs, and they’ve never worked for any of it. They’re not looking for a revolution… they’ve got everything they want. I remember the Brighton Bar in Long Branch use to have people in it all the time with Monmouth being right up the street. Now, those college kids would rather get drunk at a bar with a DJ playing instead of going to check out a band. I saw the shift happen. I feel bad for young people with all the shit that’s thrown at them from the American music industry and the media and their idiot parents. Promoters are constantly trying make money and can’t because of no draw so it all gets real shady on both ends. It really sucks for the musicians who do it for the music and play their asses off who are broke and can’t eat because they don’t have legions of “friends” or party scene or a management/promotional team or any of those things. It’s really hard to wake people out of their coma lactic states but I’m going to be optimistic and say that I think it can be done. I think that if your music is really doing SOMETHING or saying SOMETHING, people will listen and maybe tell a friend. It’s up to all of us to make sure it does not die.
12) I HATE YOUR MUSIC, USA
Q- Why does your music suck? Are you and Sean gay?
A- So if we were, would like our music? Are you a Republican?
13) Chuggs, NJ
Q- Are you a fan of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum? Also, what are you currently listening to?
A- I love Sleepytime!!! They are great live. I just saw them with Secret Chiefs and it was ridiculous. Those two bands on the same bill… wow! My music listening is all over the place. I’ve been listening to a lot of Killing Joke lately. That was a band that I got into when I was younger just because I saw the record, Fire Dances, and just had to buy it based on the name and the look. They turned out to be one of my biggest influences and maybe that’s what got me into playing all over the toms instead of the cymbals. I’ve also been checking out that Eyvind Kang CD Athlantis, some Oingo Boingo, and some Miles and other jazz stuff… I’m sure next week it will be a totally different vibe as I shift gears frequently.