What I'm Doing

Today I did some percussion overdubs while hanging out with Wade Baynham over at his studio, The Second Story.  Later tonight I have a rehearsal with Christa Wells down in Raleigh for some Christmas house concerts and performances that are coming up in North Carolina and Nashville.  Tomorrow night, I'll be rehearsing with Luego (fresh back from a European Tour) for a show I'll be playing with them in Charlotte on Friday night at The Evening Muse.

Last weekend I played a show with Thad Cockrell at The Pour House down in Raleigh.  Good show - the place was packed (as usual when Thad plays) and The Civil Wars came in from Nashville to open the show.  Very impressive those two are! 

I've got a lot of projects on the burner...and trying to figure out how best to go chipping away at them.  I've been working on getting more loops out via my "Tricked Out Tuesdays" post, but my hope is to get them to another blog or site, so that it's easier to subscribe to the feed - so that everytime I post a new loop, you'll get an email (if you want one).  Maybe I should just create a email list?  Hmmm.  Anyway, I've been mulling over that.  I'm also starting to actively seek out opportunities to produce (or in my mind, I'd feel like I'd be more of a project manager/ co-producer).  Or should I say, "collaborate."  Drop me a line if that sounds interesting to you. 

I'm also slowly chipping away at a beginners drum book and possible internet lessons in my teaching.  I've enjoyed getting to teach a few clinics this Fall (one in Wheaton, IL and another up at Anderson University), and it's been a great experience working as an Adjunct Percussion instructor down at Southeastern in Wake Forest.  I hope I get more opportunities to share my knowledge and thoughts.  It's always fun meeting new folks and sharing the little bit that I know and have experienced.

I'm looking forward diving more into the Toontrack Software (now that I've finally upgraded the storage on my MacBook - I have room for all of their wonderful samples).  Thanks to a referral from a friend, I pursued a relationship with Toontrack and am now featured on the Toontrack website, next to Futureman, and Chris Whitten, Chester Thompson and bunch of other amazing drummers/ musicians and producers.  If you haven't checked out Toontrack's Superior Drummer software, it's pretty amazing stuff.  I'm going to be working on some tracks with a producer in Samoa (yep - Samoa!), using Toontrack to generate the drum sounds via midi.  Basically I'll be recording the midi tracks here at my place and emailing the midi files to him in Samoa.  He'll use Toontrack to supply the drum sounds and tweak and mix them using Superior Drummer.  

Well, it's raining out and I've got a bit of driving to do to get down to my rehearsal this evening.  Thanks for reading and checking in.  Drop me an email or leave a message on my Contact page if you want!  And if you hear of anyone needing a drummer - I'd appreciate it if you passed my name along or referred me.  I appreciate the work and love meeting new people!  Until next time!  Have yourself a Merry Little (fill in the blank)!