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I just finished uploading my first ever collection of drum loops and they are available now via my Band Camp site:  thedale.bandcamp.com  The loops were made with a variety of audio production tools and real percussion instruments.  Some of the loops are crafted entirely with drum machines, others are done with layered percussion.  Most of the editing was done in Logic and Ableton Live.  Also, this collection is available for free to the first 500 customers, so be sure to grab this collection now!   I also have a small collection of some song demos/ experiments available on the site as well.  In time I hope to offer more loop collections and songs as well.  Do you want custom drum tracks or loops  for your next song or project?  If so, please feel free to get in touch!

Here are some old pics - I found these laying around my website and thought I'd repost them here for fun.  Some are from Ocean Way Nashville (recording with Sixpence), one is from an Over the Rhine tour I played years ago, another from the There She Goes video, one from a Buhanan Records recording session circa 2004 or later...I think that about covers it...

@ OceanWay Nashville recording with Sixpence (photo by Ben Pearson)  (btw:  there is a polaroid picture of my wife taped to the mixer)

w/ Over the Rhine (Jack Henderson on Guitar)

a scene from the video "There She Goes" by Sixpence None the Richer (directed by Brandon Dickerson)

@ Ocean Way Studios (photo by Ben Pearson)

@ Buhanan Studios in Chapel Hill

 

Last February I had the pleasure to be the substitute drummer for the Big Star's Third concert that was taking place at the Playmakers Theatre @ UNC.  Big Star's original drummer, Jody Stephens, couldn't make it because of a prior event, so Chris Stamey called me in to sub for him.  It was an awesome night of music, and parts of the show were filmed for a documentary.  This same ensemble (with the exception of me)  had previously done a Christmas show (of the same material) at the Cat's Cradle and about a month after this performance, they all headed up to NYC for a performance there.   

The sound for the videos below was taken from a board mix and you might not see me in the videos, as I was tucked back in the rear left corner of the stage near the Timpanist.    

From YouTube:  

"Kangaroo," from Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers album. The group's influence has continued on, to this: "Big Star Third," a ongoing concert series by a diverse community of musicians performing the whole of Third, working from scores re-created by composer Carl Marsh. Chris Stamey (the dB's) provides additional orchestration and serves as the series producer.

Players include Stamey, and members of the Lost in the Trees, The Old Ceremony, Birds and Arrows, Mayflies USA, and the NC Symphony. Lead vocal by Brett Harris.

Video by CreatoDestructo Imagery.

   

In the next video, which was compiled with footage from the Christmas performance and the one I performed in, my playing consists of cymbal rolls in the middle and there is a brief moment where you can see me and the timpani player.  

From YouTube:

This song is "Holocaust," from Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers album. Time has proven its reputation as a haunting masterpiece - and a fitting tribute to the talents of songwriter, Alex Chilton. The group's influence has continued on, to this: "Big Star Third," a ongoing concert series by a diverse community of musicians performing the whole of Third, working from scores re-created by composer Carl Marsh. Chris Stamey (the dB's) provides additional orchestration and serves as the series producer.

This video captures two separate performances. Players included Big Star's own Jody Stephens, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Mitch Easter (Let's Active), Stamey, and members of the Love Language, Megafaun, The Rosebuds, Lost in the Trees, The Old Ceremony, Birds and Arrows, Mayflies USA, the Tomahawks and the NC Symphony.

Lead vocals by Django Haskins. Additional vocals by Sidney Dixon.

Video by CreatoDestructo Imagery.

What I Do:

Here are some videos and final audio of the sort of work I do when I'm hired for a recording session. Both videos and audio samples are from the album project "Umbrella Spokes" by Convergence. In this first video I'm playing the drum and percussion parts for "Lost":

 

 

 

And here is the completed track: Lost by Dale Baker

 

In this next video, I am recording the tracks to the song "Constellation."

 

 

 

And the finished audio sounds like this:

 

Constellation by Dale Baker

 

If you'd like me to play drums on your project or help you in anyway with getting your creative vision realized, please don't hesitate to contact me!  I'd love to hear what you're working on and help out however I can.

To hear more examples of my recorded work, check out my demo reel.

I have been enjoying the new Radiohead video:  Radiohead from the Basement  In the video, UK session drummer Clive Deamer is seen playing drums along with Phil Selway.   I was not familiar with him, or his drumming though I've been a fan of some of the band's he's played with like Portishead and Robert Plant.  As I was wandering the internet to learn more about Clive, I found this quote from him to be quite inspiring:

"You can't just sit there on your bum expecting things to come to you just because you've played with a few big names. If you want to be taken seriously you have to keep kicking yourself up the arse and taking risks."

I recently received an email from a drummer who was "Looking to move to a two crash set up."  And he was wondering what my recommendations were.  Here is the answer I wrote back: 

As far as a two cymbal set up goes - depending on the style of music your playing, it could vary slightly as to what I would go with.

This would be my 2 cymbal set up if I were doing more of a rock/ pop sort of thing.   For my "Ride", I would use a 24" K Constantinople.  I love the way this cymbal sounds.  It has a clear bell sound, good stick definition and a wonderful full body wash of sound as you crash into it.

For my "Crash"  I would use a 21" K Constantinople Big Band Ride (I don't know if they make these anymore).  This cymbal has a great ride sound, but also works great as a crash.  It's just a really versatile cymbal.  I used to own 2 of them and would sometimes use one as a crash and the other as a ride.

For hi-hats I would use a pair of 17" K Dark Crashes.

If it was more of a jazz gig - then I would maybe go with a 22" K Constantinople as my ride and then a 20" K Constantinople as my crash.  For hi-hats I would find a pair of vintage 14" K's or maybe a vintage 14" K as a top cymbal, and then a 14" New Beat as your bottom cymbal.

Have you ever tried a two crash set up, and if so what cymbals would you use?

"The basic idea was cars playing drums - cars playing rock and roll drums..."

Drum Doctors in LA  (with tech Tod Burr) provided the drums for this ad.  Eddie Braun was the stunt driver/ drummer.  The video starts to bog down a bit around 1:30 with info about the cars - but other than that this is a fascinating video. 

 

 

In this next video they talk more about the math involved and show more behind the scenes stuff:

 

Is this cool or what? !!!

It is still amazing to me that a song I played on over 15 years ago still gets air play on the radio and in movies.  I found out recently that "Kiss Me" was also featured in "You Again" starring Kristen Bell and Jamie Lee Curtis, along with Sigourney Weaver and Betty White (among others).  Here is the trailer (the song isn't featured in the trailer, FYI):

Adding drum and percussion overdubs for a client in Los Angeles. @ Second Story Studios in Durham, NC--

Found this on my kitchen table this morning.  Byzantine Breakfast!  (my wife is working on one of her commissions)