520 - Adam Gust: Somatic Drummer, The Addiction to Tension, The Connection Between Emotion and Muscle Memory

Shawn King. Shawn has been the drummer for the band Devotchka for over 20 years and has been based in Denver for longer than that. Over that time he has been tightly woven into the Denver scene and involved in all kinds of projects from experimental festivals to musical theatre. We are right around the 20 year anniversary of both Devotchka’s album “How it Ends” and the movie “Little Miss Sunshine” for which Devotchka provided the soundtrack and score. In this epsidoe, Shawn talks about: The high premium placed on multi-instrumentalism in Devotchka The record label model vs. the Patreon model, and the full record model vs. the single model  Treating the drumset as the multi percussion instrument it is, thinking more in terms of patterns than grooves  Structuring improvisation through parameters and limitations  What has kept him in Denver Recording the soundtrack for “Little Miss Sunshine” Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Curt Bisquera is one of Los Angeles' top recording / touring drummers and producers. Curt has recorded and/or toured with the biggest names in music including Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Josh Groban, Ricky Martin, Sarah McLachlan, Hans Zimmer (Superman / Batman), The Beach Boys, Lana del Rey, John Legend, Tina Turner, Celine Dion and countless others. In this episode, Curt talks about: Embracing new social media norms The power of the human connection Adapting to changes in the industry Recording digitally for the first time on the first Seal record How to reconcile the threat of A.I. The importance of time feel and groove above all else Recording with Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty Low snare drum tunings X: @curtbisq IG band: @alnesbittalchemy The Kirkee B. Show: IG - Youtube: @thekirkeebshow Drum Consultation: [email protected] ⁠Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage

Adam Gust is the world's first Polyvagal-Informed professional drummer. Using his performance experience and knowledge of nervous system science, Adam has created the Somatic Drummer - a unique combination of science, wellness, and drumming. Adam's 'Science of the Groove' was the first talk about the Vagus Nerve to appear on TED.com, exploring how drummers sync their brains and bodies to find their 'groove,' a feedback loop between intention and action. Conducting workshops at top institutions like USC and Musicians Institute, Adam teaches how resourcing our nervous system optimizes wellness and musical performance. In this episode, Adam talks about: Assessing and diagnosing Matt’s stress injury and how Adam’s knowledge is applied The addiction to tension that we can acquire The connection between emotion and motor learning aka muscle memory Recognizing that the joy of playing drums is priority one Link to "Tuning Your Nervous System" Link to Adam's Master Class Link to Basic Bow Staff technique ⁠Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage

Growing up in a musical family gave JT an early start into sound and rhythmic exploration. He set on the path to becoming a working musician while playing in his father’s big band as a teen. Over the years he remained steeped in the improvised music scene, both as a performer and presenter. As a session drummer JT has appeared on Grammy record of the year “Folklore” (Taylor Swift) as well as the follow up “Evermore”. Grammy nominated “s/t”(Bonny Light Horseman) as well as critically acclaimed records by Bon Iver, Big Red Machine, Cassandra Jenkins, The National, Maya Hawke, Ed Sheeran, and many others. In this episode, JT talks about: Getting opportunities to record for Taylor Swift and others through older, more localized relationships Going from deep in the jazz world to deep into electronic music Being. not just your own marketing department, but your own HR department Being a booker for a music venue in Minneapolis, and balancing modern metrics like social media following with old school legwork What insecurity causes us to do and not do How your identity as a drummer is cumulative, not compartmentalized ⁠Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage

Sterling Campbell was born and raised in New York City at a time when the music scene was rich with innovators like David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell and many others. Sterling would go on to work with David Bowie from 1992 until 2004. Other notable artist Sterling has worked for throughout his career include Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Soul Asylum, Chic, Tina Turner, David Byrn and many others.  Since 2012, Sterling has been working and touring with the B-52s.  In this episode, Sterling talks about:  Reconnecting and touring with Cyndi Lauper  Physical demands of touring at 61 His early roots and meeting Dennis Davis in 1978 Events that shape us, our drumming and music  Adapting to the new tech of the day in the 80’s David Bowie’s creative process and sense of humor Recording remotely on an electronic kit Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

In 2006, J-rod uploaded his first Youtube video, receiving positive feedback that reinforced his belief in using his musical talent to educate and inspire others. Committed to honing his craft, J-rod enrolled in the Atlanta Institute of Music, graduating in 2012, and later joined The 4 Korners band in 2013. With a growing online community of over 700K+ followers, J-rod’s brand transcends his talent, drawing in aspiring and talented musicians with his style, methods, and dedication.Currently serving as the drummer for Janet Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, and The 4 Korners, J-rod continues to make waves in the music industry through his passion and dedication. Adapting to his first big pop gig coming from the jazz fusion world Being told to go for it “in show mode” for his audition video Adjusting to the smaller box of a pop gig and still finding ways to be himself How this live gig is improving his session playing Learning to navigate the infrastructure of a big tour Ways to have the compensation conversation Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Jorge Palacios is an in demand drummer based in San Diego, California. He’s been the drummer for iconic rock star Rick Springfield since 2010. Other artists he’s worked with include Paul Young, Tommy Tutone, Sammy Hagar, The Mustard Seeds and many others. In this episode, Jorge talks about: Embracing different genres Balancing local and touring gigs Making real connections Drumming for Rick Springfield  What he learned working cartage in L.A. Drumming for Sammy Hagar  Bringing the energy ⁠Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage

Kassandra is working with altadenamusicians.org to get instruments to musicians affected by the LA fires. Go to altadenamusicians.org and download the Instrumental Giving app to help. Kassandra Kocoshis was raised in a musical family and has been playing percussion since she was eleven years old. She received her Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance from DePaul University and her Masters of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts. In 2010, Kassandra relocated to Los Angeles to earn her MFA in World Percussion at California Institute of the Arts under the tutelage of Randy Gloss. Currently she is freelancing in Los Angeles playing with pop, R&B, soul, new music, rock and flamenco groups around the city. She is a current member of California soul band “Beat Mosaic" and the all female salsa band "Las Chikas". She has recorded with artists from an array of different genres including Meghan Trainor, Vahagni, Soul Scratch, Beat Mosaic, and many other artists.   Kassandra is an LP and Amplified Timber artist. Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the music landscape, nationally and internationally. His various awards and honors include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, a GRAMMY Award for Back to the Sunset (2018), two additional GRAMMY nominations, two Latin GRAMMY nominations (including Best New Artist in 2007), and the Jazz Journalists Association’s Up & Coming Musician of the Year in 2006. As a composer, Prieto has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands, ranging from duets to big bands. He has received commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Princeton University, Jazz at Lincoln Center, MoMA, Whitney Museum of American Art, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Jerome Foundation, East Carolina University, Painted Bride Art Center, Meet The Composer, WNYC, New Music USA, Hazard Productions, and Metropole Orkest, among others. Prieto has performed at many national and international music festivals as a bandleader. Since his 1999 arrival in New York, he has also worked in bands led by Michel Camilo, Chucho and Bebo Valdés, Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill, among others. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops around the world. He was on the jazz studies faculty at New York University from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 joined the faculty of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. In 2016, Prieto published the groundbreaking analytical and instructional drum book, A World of Rhythmic Possibilities. In 2020, he published Rhythmic Synchronicity, a book for non-drummers inspired by a course of the same name that Prieto developed at the Frost School of Music. In 2025 he released the book "WHAT ARE THE ODDS" the third book in his catalog, and it shows not only his passion for rhythm and drumming but furthermore his commitment to music education at large. This one takes you to a fascinating journey of rhythms and meters. The book features 519 examples, and each of them comes with an audio track and a video clip. He is the founder of the independent music company Dafnison Music, established in 2008. In this episode Dafnis talks about: Building a career on your own terms Teaching at Frost School of Music at Miami University His new book: “What are the Odds” Asking tough questions about tradition as it relates to Latin music Allowing patterns and phrasing to dictate the time feel Valuing the content you play over the ability to play with a click Here's our PatreonHere's our YoutubeHere's our Homepage

As an internationally acclaimed drummer and percussionist, Bill Ransom has played some of the world’s biggest halls with a host of world-famous artists. While building his performing career Bill also worked as an educator, guiding countless young drummers into professional careers. One passion fueling another. He has toured and recorded with artists including Patrice Rushen, Aretha Franklin, Marion Meadows, Cecil Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Mary Wilson, and James Newton.  Bill currently tours the world with renowned singer, Beth Hart, and is an endorser for Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, and Paiste cymbals. Bill has been on faculty at Cleveland State University since 2007 teaching drums, mallet and hand percussion, and jazz combo. In this episode, Bill talks about: His gig with Beth Hart, and what she needs from the drum chair School at Ohio University and The New School in New York Living in New York for awhile but returning home to Cleveland  Cleveland’s active theatre and jazz scenes  “You gotta talk” Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage