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Ben Hilzinger

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Drummers Pathway Podcast
Drummers Pathway PodcastEpisode 90 - Ben Hilzinger (Drummers On Drumming, Social Media & Authenticity)This episode features my conversation with drummer Ben Hilzinger. Based in LA, Ben’s career spans over two decades as a touring and recording drummer who has worked with artists such as Eve 6, Cannons and many others. He's also the Director of Artist/Client Relations for Big Fat Snare Drum. Ben is the host of the podcast "Drummers on Drumming" where he has established a community of like minded musicians through his candid discussions about life and navigating a career in the music industry.  Ben recently released his book “Drummers on Drumming”. Adapted from the podcast...
2026-02-021h 27Drummers Pathway Podcast
Drummers Pathway PodcastEpisode 90 - Ben Hilzinger (Drummers On Drumming, Social Media & Authenticity)This episode features my conversation with drummer Ben Hilzinger. Based in LA, Ben’s career spans over two decades as a touring and recording drummer who has worked with artists such as Eve 6, Cannons and many others. He's also the Director of Artist/Client Relations for Big Fat Snare Drum. Ben is the host of the podcast "Drummers on Drumming" where he has established a community of like minded musicians through his candid discussions about life and navigating a career in the music industry.  Ben recently released his book “Drummers on Drumming”. Adapted from the podcast...
2026-02-021h 27Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Gunnar would request a bald cap firstWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming ... a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week's Drum Panel features myself (Ben Hilzinger) alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer) aka **The Dream Team** We talk about: The specific tools we each use to stay on top of gigs, holds, and payments The not-so-obvious challenges of over-scheduling and saying “yes” to everything Gunnar’s hot take on whether live percussionists should be allowed cymbals How double-drummer bands actually work, including famous examples and personal wish lists The real anxieties and logistics behind committing to tou...
2026-01-2846 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: A narcissist and a self-deprecator walked into a bar [gig]...Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City. We talk honestly about rejection, identity, and what actually gets built in the moments when things don’t go your way. In this episode, we talk about: Rejection as a mirror, not a verdict, and how quickly one “no” can distort your self-image The danger of ruminating on tiny moments, and how over-analyzing the past steals energy from the present Why auth...
2026-01-1438 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: We all chose Grandma as our least favoriteWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. Happy New Year. This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City. In this episode, we talk about: Burnout as a signal, not a failure, and how to tell when you actually need to step back The success trap of linking worth to being busy, and how scarcity thinking keeps you stuck Dependability, kindness, and the invisible parts of your reputation that shape your career Grace under pressure, and wh...
2026-01-0752 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: 15 sec > 15 minWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. Featuring myself, Ben Hilzinger, with Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, TrackTribe) & Eric Urrea (Marina City) Inside this episode The real life of high-output music production How drummers survive the modern content grind without losing their mind Touring vs session vs teaching: finding the mix that keeps you sane When your “Instagram drum sound” fights your natural playing How to meet heroes backstage without being that guy Building drum sounds, dealing with phase, and chasing ideas that actually feel good Progress, burnout, and what it mean...
2025-12-101h 04Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Choose your hard, but don't get bajiggityWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) & Zack Albetta (Working Drummer podcast, & Juliet Broadway tour) Inside this episode: When to chase a stable gig and when to walk away How Broadway touring shapes your mind, body, and playing Staying confident when you’re surrounded by people who could change your career The honest math behind consistency vs freedom --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drum...
2025-11-2656 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Infiltrating hardcore with collared shirtsWelcome back to The Drum Panel with me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside Eric Urrea and Kris Mazzarisi. We cover a lot of ground today, but most of our conversation centers around image—what it means, how it evolves, and why it matters. It’s a loaded topic that hits everyone differently, but we do our best to share honest takes from our experiences as working musicians. Think of it as equal parts peer therapy and real-world advice for drummers coming up in the scene. - Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯...
2025-10-0843 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: What do you mean you like what I do?Welcome back to The Drum Panel! Featuring: Ben Hilzinger (me!), Joe Lana Jr. (@thecowboydrummer), and Eric Urrea (Marina City) Inside this episode: Why Creators Struggle to Accept Compliments The Trap of Overthinking Content Creation Balancing Comedy, Drumming, and Self-Worth Online When Do You Feel Like a Drummer vs. an Impostor? The Subtle Art of Playing Soft and Why Grip Debates Are Overrated --- 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 mome...
2025-08-0645 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingCain Daniel (Jesus Molina) breaks down the five records that influenced his playingWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another installment of Big Fat Five—where I ask my favorite drummers (and, honestly, just favorite people) to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the instrument. Today’s guest is Cain Daniel. You might’ve caught him on a recent episode of The Drum Panel, but this time he’s here for the Big Fat Five treatment. I first saw Cain play with Jesus Molina, and his creativity, clarity, and confidence behi...
2025-07-3029 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: You’re totally not a mound of dirt Ben (me..hi!), Mark Stepro (The Wallflowers) and Eric Urrea (Marina City) talk about the gear that go away... Our favorite BAD recordings How to stay in love with drumming when it’s also your job When to say yes to a gig—and when to walk away Should you charge for prep time? And how much is your time actually worth? Why some “Instagram drummers” aren’t your competition—and that’s fine --- 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...
2025-07-231h 02Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Debby Boone Pat PatIn this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Bruce Springsteen, Mother Feather) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.  Today we discuss: How Gunnar personalizes drum parts for legacy bands like Eve 6 while still respecting the original recordings The balance between improvisation and replication—what “respecting the instrument” really means Dream gear: Lars Ulrich’s ...And Justice for All Tama kit and Herb Alexander’s wild setup from “My Name Is Mud” Behind the scenes of the Primus / Puscifer / A Perfect Circle tour and being...
2025-07-0253 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: The Schelp is Real...I'm Happy?In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Cain Daniel (Jesus Molina, Derek Hough) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.  Today we discuss: How we get out of a creative rut Redefining success — how your goals change as you grow Self-work — therapy, breathwork, and staying sane on the road Live performance as meditation — the balance between awareness and letting go Gear stories that hurt Pushing back on bad adviceIf your younger self saw you now… — the reality vs. the fantasy Insurance tips every musician should know (se...
2025-06-2555 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Taste Is Fake, but My Feelings Are RealIn this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Max Flanders (Lukas Nelson), and Dean Sinclair (Capital Soirée, Worry Club, Ostin) for a roundtable on the ever-fragile topic of taste. Today we discuss: How to handle unsolicited feedback without spiraling into existential dread The delicate balance between self-expression and being hireable Whether “good taste” is something you're born with—or can develop That awkward moment when a producer tells you to “play something you’re already playing” Learning to interpret non-drummer feedback without losing your mind The anxiety o...
2025-06-1844 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Trash Can Lids, Technique Traps, and Amateur TraitsWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this episode of The Drum Panel, host Ben Hilzinger is joined by Sterling Laws and Fred Eltringham for an insightful roundtable on all things DRUM. Meet the Panelists: Sterling Laws: Grammy-nominated drummer from the Pacific Northwest, now based in Los Angeles, known for collaborations with Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, and more. Fred Eltringham: Nashville-based drummer, a mainstay with Sheryl Crow since 2012, with credits including The Wallflowers, The Chicks, and kd lang. In today's episode, we discuss: Dream piece...
2025-05-1438 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: David Garibaldi (Tower of Power) Shares His Top 5 Influential RecordsWelcome back to Drummers on Drumming…a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m back with another installed of Big Fat Five — a segment of the podcast where we dive into the five records that shaped the way great drummers approach their craft. My name is Ben Hilzinger and today’s guest is someone whose playing and educational work has impacted me personally in a big way. David Garibaldi is not only the legendary drummer of Tower of Power, but his book Future Sounds has been one of my go-to practice tools ever since my...
2025-05-0740 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Jacopo Volpe (Post Malone, Salmo, Damiano David) Shares His Top 5 Influential RecordsWe’re back with another installment of the Big Fat Five—where I invite on a drummer that inspires me to break down the five records that shaped their voice behind the kit. My name is Ben Hilzinger and today’s guest is Jacopo Volpe. Born and raised in Italy, Jaco has played with Vanilla Sky, Post Malone, Damiano David, The Bloody Beetroots, Salmo, Portugal. The Man, and a bunch more. He’s got power, chops, groove, and the kind of confidence that only comes from playing on the biggest stages in the world. I’ll let Jac...
2025-04-3024 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe 5 Pillars of DrummingWhat is up?! Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming — a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. My name is Ben Hilzinger, and today’s episode is a little different.A few months ago, I was sent a book by drummer and educator Mark Feldman — founder of Bang! The Drum School. The book is called Drumming Decoded: The Secret Code to Quickly Go From Newbie to Confident Drummer. It’s a relatively quick read at around 180 pages, but it’s surprisingly comprehensive.Now, I usually try to steer clear of too much “i...
2025-04-0949 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Fred Eltringham (Sheryl Crow) Shares His Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Fred Eltringham! If you listened to our recent episode with Sterling Laws, you heard Fred get a lot of love as one of Sterling’s five picks—so it was an honor to finally have him on the show himself.And I gotta say…his voice is so soothing and calm. Puts mine to shame.Fred has been playing with Sheryl Crow since 2012, but his résumé also includes The Wallflowers, The Chicks, kd lang, Willie Nelson, Gigolo Aunts, Juliana Hatfield, Ben Kweller, and plenty more. He’s a steady, calm ship at sea be...
2025-03-0545 minWorking Drummer
Working Drummer503 - Ben Hilzinger: Playing With Cannons and Eve 6, His New Book and New Podcast, Harnessing His ADHD For GoodBen Hilzinger is a Los Angeles-based drummer and songwriter with 20+ years of performing, recording and teaching experience. Currently the drummer for Eve 6 and Cannons, Ben has also written, recorded, and/or toured throughout the USA/internationally with MXPX, Fitness, Mike Herrera, Party Nails, We Shot The Moon, Glorybots, Ever So Android, Jake Cummings, Josh Eacrett, Dave Cavalier, and many more.In addition to performing and teaching, Ben is the Director of Artist / Client Relations for Big Fat Snare Drum and hosts the ‘Big Fat Five’ podcast. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2016, Ben also taught drums...
2025-01-301h 33Drum History
Drum HistoryDrumming Insights: A look at "Drummers on Drumming" with Ben HilzingerWe are joined by Ben Hilzinger, professional drummer and author of Drummers on Drumming, to explore the stories behind the records that shaped the legends of the drumming world. Ben shares his experiences performing with bands like Cannons and Eve 6, hosting his acclaimed podcast, and diving into the journeys of iconic and up-and-coming drummers through his book.Discover the challenges, inspirations, and unique philosophies that define what it means to be a drummer today. Whether you're a seasoned percussionist, an aspiring player, or just someone who loves great music, this interview is packed with insights to inspire...
2025-01-211h 05Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential RecordsWelcome back to Big Fat Five—a segment of Drummers on Drumming brought to you by Big Fat Snare Drum, where I chat with my favorite drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. I’m your host, Ben Hilzinger, and this week’s guest is the incredible Sterling Laws.Sterling is a fellow Pacific Northwest native now based in Los Angeles, but more importantly, he’s a Grammy-nominated drummer whose resume is as impressive as it gets. He’s worked with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, Chappell Roan, NIKI, Matt Berninger, Liz Phair, The War on Drugs, Linda...
2024-12-0436 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming'Big Fat Five' Is Becoming 'Drummers on Drumming' + A Book AnnouncementHey friends, Ben Hilzinger here. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk to you about a pretty exciting shift I’m making with this podcast. After much thought, I’ve decided to change the name of the podcast. Moving forward, it will be known as Drummers on Drumming.Let me tell you a little about how I got here.This whole thing started as The Big Fat Snare Drum Podcast, just a fun way to connect with drummers I admire—talking about stories, gear, grooves, and whatever else came up. It was a blast. B...
2024-10-2303 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe Drum Panel: Gear Criticism, Flat Toms, and Endorsement Realities: Can You Play Without Knowing the Vocals?Episode 2 PART DEUX of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a segment where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions on polarizing and controversial drum topics submitted by our listeners.Today's episode is the second half of a conversation between myself (Ben), 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: If you're overly critical of gear, are you showcasing your lack of skill? Should snare drums and floor toms always between fla...
2024-09-1144 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Brandon Combs' (Leon Bridges / Joy Oladakun / John Legend) Top 5-ish Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Brandon Combs. Brandon is a drummer, programmer, and producer hailing from Lansing, Michigan. Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Popular Music Studies from the University of Southern California in 2015 and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s worked with so many amazing artists, including Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, Joy Oladakun, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Moses Sumney, Tori Kelly, Greyson Chance, Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, and many more. He’s got a lot of energy and his choices center around very hirable theme. I hope you enjoy the records that helped...
2024-05-2248 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Steve Durham's (Louis Tomlinson / Drummer / Musical Director) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week's guest is Steve Durham. Steve is a Drummer, Musical Director and Producer from London, UK. He began playing drums at 8 years old and was out on the road by the time he was 14. Since then he's worked with Louis Tomlinson (One Direction), Dermot Kennedy, Wolf Alice, Foals, Holly Humberstone, Aurora, Declan Mckenna, Marina and the Diamonds and more. I hope you enjoy the 5 records plus a few honorable mentions that helped shape Steve Durham into the drummer he is today. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!...
2024-05-0848 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Gunnar Olsen's (Puscifer / Bruce Springsteen / Mother Feather) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week's guest is Gunnar Olsen. Gunnar's been on the show a lot recently with "save it for the pod" segments. But I noticed his Big Fat Five episode is almost 4 years old, which is a shame. Recently, I went to the Hollywood Bowl with my friends Mike Robinson and Neal Daniels, both show alumni, to see Gunnar play with Puscifer on the Sessanta tour, celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday. It was mind-blowing. Gunnar is an incredible drummer, one of the best out there. At this show, Josh Freese was playing with A Perfect Circle, but now that...
2024-05-0145 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingDissecting the Drumming of Phil Selway (Radiohead)This week’s topic on our "Save It For the Pod" segment with Mr. Gunnar Olsen is the timeless and seemingly underrated drummer of Radiohead, Phil Selway. Gunnar and I each choose our top 5 Phil beats and go a dissectin’!---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 candi...
2024-03-211h 13Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingDissecting the Playing of Phil Selway (Radiohead)This week’s topic on our "Save It For the Pod" segment with Mr. Gunnar Olsen is the timeless and seemingly underrated drummer of Radiohead, Phil Selway. Gunnar and I each choose our top 5 Phil beats and go a dissectin’!GUNNAR'S CHOICES:-Track - Morning Bell (Live in Oxford)Album - I Might Be WrongRelease Year - 2001-Track - There, ThereAlbum - Hail To the ThiefRelease Year - 2003-Trac...
2024-03-201h 08Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Brian Dunne's (Hall & Oates / Live at Daryl's House) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Brian Dunne. Brian is the current drummer for Hall & Oates as well as the house drummer for Live From Daryl's House. Everything Brian plays sounds like a pre-produced groove and it's no wonder that he’s held the throne behind so many incredible musicians…including but certainly not limited to Joe Walsh, Ben Folds, Allen Stone, Average White Band, Cee Lo Green, Sting, Michael Brecker, Chaka Khan, Hesekiah Walker and many more. His pocket is insane and all of the information in today's episode is coming from someone who KNOWS about studio drumming. I hope yo...
2024-02-0736 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Ray Brown's (Snail Mail) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Ray Brown...drummer for the band Snail Mail. I’ve been a big fan of Ray's drumming since I first heard him on Snail Mail’s debut album, Lush, in 2017. His upbringing in the DC area music scene gives him authority on a lot of music I've never heard before...and I'm assuming maybe some of you as well? He’s got a lot of energy and it was so enjoyable getting to sit back, relax, and learn a lot from a guitarist / bassist turned fabulous drummer. If you’re unfamiliar with Snail Mail, I’m excite...
2024-01-1047 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingIntroducing 'Big Fat Favorites"I wanted to introduce a new segment for the show moving forward called 'Big Fat Favorites.' There are over 160+ episodes of this podcast and you know that I usually play more than 5 songs during the episodes so that means we've talked about almost 1000 songs so far! My whole goal with this show is to help people find their voice by interviewing the most creative and prolific drummers in the world and learning about THEIR influences. In order to keep up with that goal, I'm going to choose a favorite influence from a previous guest and share it at...
2023-11-0137 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Tim Carman's (GA-20) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Tim Carman. Tim international touring musician, session drummer, educator, and published author with both Alfred Music and Hudson Music. He’s released 5 books and we talk about all of them at the end of our chat. Tim currently records and tours extensively with GA-20, a three-time Billboard #1 blues trio as well as leading two of his own projects: Tim Carman & The Street 45s—a world-groove inspired funk band—and the Tim Carman Trio—a vintage organ jazz trio. He loves to shuffle and I loved this chat. Big shoutout to Zack from the podcast Working Drummer f...
2023-08-2346 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Chris Marshak's (Steve Winwood, Amy Helm, Ben Wisch, Sessions) Top 5 Influential RecordsThis week’s guest is Chris Marshak - a drummer and percussionist whose worked with a boat load of great artists throughout the years including Steve Winwood, Amy Helm, James Maddock, Jeffrey Gaines, Willy Porter and many more. We also touch on some pretty vulnerable (yet universal) topics in this one and it felt amazing; he’s a great guy. I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Chris Marshak into the drummer he is today, but get your notes out for this one as he gives some stellar advice than can be applied both on and off the ki...
2023-03-221h 01Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingI get interviewed...This week’s guest is…me! I’ve been getting a lot of questions from new listeners regarding my time in LA and asking for any advice on how to make strides in their drumming career. While I certainly don’t think I’m an authority on that matter, I still welcome these conversations. That being said, I wanted to upload this episode for a good reference as to what I tend to say time and time again. I also acknowledge that my favorite podcasts ARE my favorite podcasts because I feel like I know the host and, while I try to k...
2023-02-2852 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming50 Simple Yet Effective Drum Grooves (you voted!)Alright so…if you listened to the ‘70’s Drum Sounds’ episode, you know that we sometimes do a little questionnaire/poll thing about a certain topic on the Big Fat Snare Drum Instagram. Recently, I asked “What are the simplest, yet most effective drum parts”. Of course, drummers are a bunch of smartasses so many of you answered with “tension rod, nylon washers, the snare strainer…” to which I chuckled. Well done…But for this episode, I made a playlist of all the songs ya’ll responded with and I thought we’d go through them together. Many of them I haven’t h...
2022-05-181h 04Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Anika Nilles' Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Anika Nilles. She doesn’t really need an introduction because there’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said, but she’s a German drummer who took the drumming world by storm in 2013 and has solidified time and time again why she’s one of the best drummers in the world. I’m continuously blown away that I have the opportunity to chat with people that I admire every week and I can honestly say drummers are the best group of people. I love my job….so please enjoy the top 5 influences that...
2021-09-0151 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Justin Scott's (@jscottdrummer) Top 5 InfluencesWe’ve got Justin Scott aka @jscottdrummer on the show today dropping a whoooooole ton of knowledge. I’ve been obsessed with Justin’s drumming for years and I’m sure you have too. If not, you WILL BE after this episode. He is a monster player that can fit more notes in a 15-second clip than I can in a lifetime, but he always puts music first. He’s a great teacher and you can find all of his extremely affordable lesson plans on his website jscottdrummer.net. I have personally bought and used every single one and can’t recom...
2021-08-251h 03Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Bart van der Zee's (Drum History Podcast) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is one of my good friends and host of the Drum History podcast, Bart van der Zee. Drum History was actually one of the first shows I reached out to when creating The Drum Click Podcast Network. I am a huge fan of the work that Bart does with Drum History, but I feel like people might not know the man behind the microphone as much as they should. While he DID do a special Drum History 100th episode where he was interviewed by his brother to tell a little bit about his backstory as a dru...
2021-08-181h 11Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Philo Tsoungui's Top 5 InfluencesToday’s guest is Philo Tsoungui…an independent drummer based in Berlin, Germany. If you don’t already know, one of my duties at Big Fat Snare Drum is Artist Relations. On one of my first days witht he company, Philo received my first endorsement offer. It was so immediately obvious to me that Philo was going to be a tastemaker for years to come and it’s still an honor to see our gear behind that kit. Philo has played with so many acts including Chefket, Mine, Fatoni, Mal Eleve, Elif, and Lxandra. I honestly can’t say enough about...
2021-08-1158 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Lina Anderberg's Top 5 InfluencesMy name is Ben Hilzinger and this week’s guest is Lina Anderberg. I found out about Lina through her Instagram (@linaanderberg) and I was immediately blown away. She’s originally from Sweden, but moved to LA to attend Musicians Institute right before all of the world shut down. It was quite the frustrating story dealing with all that and she is currently in Stockholm waiting for her opportunity to get back to the states. In the meantime, I was really excited to pick her brain because she has an incredible pocket and, at the top of the show, I oo...
2021-08-0454 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Scott Mcpherson's (Sense Field, Elliot Smith, M. Ward) Top 5(+) InfluencesToday’s guest is one of my favorite people, Scott McPherson. Scott founded Tackle Instrument Supply Company and was one of our first guests EVER on the podcast back when we had a different name and a different / no format. Back then, I did a series of episodes called “Behind The Company” and brought Scott on the show to tell the story of Tackle…soooo go check that out; it’s episode #12. In that conversation, we merely scratched the surface of Scott’s amazing drummer career (focusing mainly on his business), but Scott’s also written / performed with Sense Field, M. Ward...
2021-07-281h 10Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingJojo Mayer: Clarity > PerfectionMy guest this week is Mr. Jojo Mayer…a mind-blowing player who helped pioneer the drum n bass movement in New York City by “reverse engineering” programmed drum loops and applying them to the drum set. He is also revered for his exceptional technique, which he dissects in the wildly-popular instructional series titled “Secret Weapons For The Modern Drummer Parts 1 & 2”. He is also the leader of his own band, Nerve, which he founded back in 1997. We don’t necessarily stick to the normal format in this one; Jojo is a great storyteller. We start off with a few anecdotes about a cymb...
2021-07-211h 27Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Dan Bailey's (Father John Misty) Top 5 InfluencesToday’s guest is returning champ..Dan Bailey! Dan is certainly a friend of the podcast and ever since we switched over to the new format, I’ve really wanted to have him back on the show. He’s a well-oiled engineer, studio owner and drummer…not necessarily in that order…currently the drumming and MD’ing for Father John Misty, but Dan’s also worked with Reignwolf, Pacific Air, First Aid Kit, Onerepublic, Christina Aguilera and yada yada yada. Be sure to check out his previous episodes on the podcast from 5000 years ago. But I hope you enjoy todays convers...
2021-07-141h 05Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Tosh Peterson's (@tosh_thedrummer) Top 5 InfluencesToday’s guest is Tosh Peterson aka @tosh_thedrummer. I’ve been following his playing for quite some time now and, while his professional career is relatively new, he’s accomplished a TON and seen more of the world than most players do in their entire lifetime. His showmanship is what grabbed my attention right away, but his finesse coupled with a deceptively controlled bombast is the reason he’s played and IS playing with some of the top players in the game right now including Machine Gun Kelly, Jaden Hossler, Nik Best, Carlie Hanson and many, many more. His is a...
2021-07-0751 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingWhat Makes Ringo...Ringo?This week’s guest is producer, studio owner and drummer, Frankie Siragusa. We are switching up formats a little bit for this episode; I had initially planned for this conversation to be a BONUS episode, but I think it still falls into the traditional format in its own unique ways. We’ve all heard a producer or bandmate say “Hey…give me a Ringo vibe!” when suggesting drum parts for a new song, but what the hell does that ACTUALLY mean? Having recently released the album "Goodbye My Love (Lost Songs of The Beatles Covered and Rediscovered)", Frankie is THE guy to...
2021-06-301h 20Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Ian Chang's (Son Lux, Landlady, Solo) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Ian Chang. I love love love Ian’s playing. I first saw him live back in 2017 in Los Angeles following NAMM where he was performing and promoting his first solo effort, Spiritual Leader, utilizing his Sensory Percussion gear (which we do get into during this episode). In addition to being a MONSTER solo act, Ian mans the skins for Son Lux and Landlady (both have released new music recently btw) among many other projects. His timing within a groove is extremely fluid, but he never loses the essential pocket that makes it all work…and oh...
2021-06-2354 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Mark Stepro's (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Mark Stepro. Mark is the epitome of an LA-based working drummer with a resume that includes recording and/or performing with The Wallflowers, Ben Kweller, Courtney Love, Jackson Browne, Brett Dennen, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam, John Prine, Butch Walker, Leon Bridges…the list certainly goes on. Mark has an infectious energy and we actually shared lockouts across from each other in LA for about a year without ever realizing it. I always just heard this great drummer across the hall that reminded me how much I needed to work on my feel. So thanks Mark...
2021-06-161h 20Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Richard Spaven's Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Richard “Crave The Spave” Spaven. He’s been one of the most requested names as of late and ohhhhhh what a treat it was! Having played with Jose James, Flying Lotus, Gang Star, Cinematic Orchestra, Jameszoo (which I was hipped to via Ian Maciak on HIS episode) and many more, Richard’s career as a sideman alone is enough to put him in the legend category, but it’s his solo ventures that really showcase his unique ability to be a drummer’s drummer without being too drummy. These are, of course, all technical terms, but he re...
2021-06-0952 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Adam Betts' (Colossal Squid, Squarepusher, TTT, MYD, Jarvis Cocker, Squarepusher) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Adam Betts. My brain does not move as fast as his hands can drum (which might not mean a lot these days), but Adam is a beast of a player with a list of collaborators including Squarepusher, Three Trapped Tigers, Heritage Orchestra, Goldie, Jarvis Cocker, Pete Tongand many more in addition to his solo project titled Colossal Squid which has new music coming out this year. Adam’s energy does not stop at the kit and this conversation about his top 5 influences is filled with a ton of insight from one of today’s most c...
2021-06-021h 19Drum Candy
Drum CandyBen Hilzinger of Eve 6 and Big Fat Five on "My First Snare Drum"Host of the "Big Fat Five" podcast and Eve 6 drummer Ben Hilzinger shares his favorite snare sound, the unfortunate fate of his first professional snare, and what he would do to upgrade a cheap entry-level snare drum to make it gig-ready. We also implement and demonstrate some of Episode 2 guest Mike Johnston's ideas for upgrading the same drum.
2021-05-2847 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Griffin Goldsmith's (Dawes) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Griffin Goldsmith, drummer for the band Dawes. He has also worked with countless artists such as Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, Robbie Robertson, Jim Keltner, Elvis Costello, Sharon Von Etten, Angel Olson, Jenny Lewis, Bahamas and the list goes on and on. He’s recently added film scoring to his list of accomplishments. His delicate and deliberate touch is timeless and honors the gold standard of what it means to be a studio musician. Conversations like this are why I get so excited every week to talk to the best drummers of the day. Griffin’s choi...
2021-05-2649 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Mark Guiliana's Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Mark Guiliana. So so much to say. If you’re listening to this show, I’ll assume you are aware of the man but still, he’s a bandleader for his groups Beat Music, the Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet, and Heernt in addition to being a key collaborator with artists such as Brad Mehldau, Avishai Cohen, Dave Douglas, Matisyahu, Chris Morrissey, and the late, legendary David Bowie. Of course the list goes on and on. Mark’s blend of jazz with electronic music continues to set him apart and in this episode, we, as always, di...
2021-05-191h 10DrumTok
DrumTok#19: Big Fat Five Lessons w/ special guest Ben HilzingerWhats up guy’s!!! It's Nate coming at you with another episode and this week I am joined by hitter of circles, beard enthusiast, the BFSD social media/artist relations guy, drummer for Eve 6 and host of the podcast Big Fat 5, Ben Hilzinger. Talking with Ben is like talking to an old friend. We have known each other for a couple of years but it felt so natural just to talk about stuff, work schedule and asking him about life until this point. Including how he started working with Kris over at Big Fat Snare Drum and ho...
2021-05-191h 24Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Jesse Kongos' (KONGOS) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Jesse Kongos of the band...Kongos. I had the pleasure of opening up for and sharing a bus with Kongos for two tours in 2019 and those memories are some of my favorite ever from being on the road. In this episode, Jesse (the drummer and one of the vocalists / singers for the band) breaks down the top 5 influences that shaped the player and writer he is today. ---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) tak...
2021-05-1253 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Ian Maciak’s (@ianhitsdrums) Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Ian Maciak…or as many of you might know him…@ianhitsdrums on instagram. His machine-like playing incorporates the proper pinch of humanity to pull you in and build a soundscape that only he can create. I’ve loved the finesse of his playing from afar for quite some time now and it’s certainly a direction I want my OWN playing to go. You can check him out on the track ‘Sleepy Pietro’ from the new Machinedrum album or relax to his drumming in the “Focus” and Lo-Fii Beats” playlists on the Headspace app…among many other proje...
2021-05-051h 09Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming*BONUS* Aaron Steele Breaks Down A Few Tracks From His CareerThis is short little bonus clip that was cut from the main episode featuring Aaron Steele for the sake of time. In it, Aaron breaks down a few songs chosen by me from his prolific career that represent a few different periods of his life. Be sure to check out the main episode where Aaron breaks down the top influences that shaped his playing and writing style. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the...
2021-04-2915 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Aaron Steele's Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Aaron Steele. Aaron is a melting pot of creativity who has a Rolodex of influences including everything from hardcore to jazz to singer-songwriter to r&b to electronica to funk to pop and back again. Don’t you dare put him in a box! Aaron’s resume includes Portugal. The Man. Hayley Williams of Paramore, Peter Bradley Adams, Chrome Sparks, Jose James and, of course, many more. Our chat went well over two hours, so I consolidated it just a bit. We’ll be jumping in right as we get into the topic of comparin...
2021-04-281h 15Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming*BONUS* Dan Mayo's Top 5 Influences: Part 2This is Part 2 and essentially a bonus episode for my conversation with Dan Mayo. Today, Dan talks about the 5 specific records that shaped the way he tunes his drums (something that he is quite known for) and approaches writing in general. Cheers!---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, i...
2021-04-2219 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Dan Mayo's Top 5 Influences: Part 1Today’s guest is Dan Mayo. Dan is an Israeli drummer with one of the most distinct sounds of any player today…partly thanks to his A&F drum set, but mostly do to his personality behind the kit and background in a wide range of musical genres. His main project is the power trio, TATRAN, but Dan is also a prolific solo artist in addition to working with many other legends such as Ester Rada & Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. We chatted for quite awhile and so I split our conversation into two parts. Part 1 starts off with me p...
2021-04-211h 16Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Matt & Zack from Working Drummer Podcast's Top 5 Drumming InfluencesThis week’s episode is payback for the boys from the podcast Working Drummer forcing me to take time out of MY damn day a few weeks ago to bump up THEIR podcast numbers. Now I’m totally using them. All kidding aside, I absolutely love Matt and Zack. Their podcast (Working Drummer) highlights real stories of the every day “working drummer” and features guests, sometimes with a less recognizable name, but always with an impressive and distinct body of work. These conversations can help us all feel a little better about our own “path”. Please check it out. In thi...
2021-04-141h 33Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Ash Soan's Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is Ash Soan.I don’t even know where to begin; he’s a complete badass and unless you’ve gone OUT OF YOUR WAY to avoid him, you certainly know who he is. Ash has been one of the most in-demand session and live drummers in the UK for decades, but with his growing popularity on social media and the finishing of his Windmill Studio behind his home in Norfolk, England, he’s gone global with remote sessions. His resume includes live performances and/or recordings with Adele, Seal, James Morrison, Cee Lo Green...
2021-04-071h 35Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming**Takeover Episode** Premiere of Sarah Hagan Backstage w/ Gavin HarrisonThis week’s episode is a premiere / takeover of a new podcast by our very good friend...Sarah Hagan. Sarah worked for many years as the Head of Zildjian Artist Relations Worldwide, but now runs her own media and consulting business for the music industry as a whole. Through the years, Sarah has mastered the art of creating, developing and maintaining genuine relationships with the world's greatest drummers. With her new podcast, titled Sarah Hagen Backstage, Sarah is able to pull something a little different from her guests because they aren’t talking to any old podcast host, they’re tal...
2021-03-311h 19Iowa Music Podcast
Iowa Music PodcastEpisode #54- Ben Hilzinger of Eve 6 and Big Fat Five PodcastGreat conversation with Ben Hilzinger, who is currently the drummer for Eve 6, host of the Big Fat Five Podcast and all-around nice guy. We chat about how he developed a love for music, what led him to becoming the drummer for Eve 6, how he started the Big Fat Five Podcast, interviewing some huge musical icons and much more! Check out Ben's podcast out here- https://linktr.ee/bigfatfivepodcast Ben's Website- http://benhilzinger.com/ Big Fat Snare Drum- https://www.bigfatsnaredrum.com/ Eve 6- http://eve6.com/
2021-03-2950 minJosh Belcher Uncharted
Josh Belcher UnchartedEpisode 99: John “Alexander”Arezzi (Mat Memories) & Ben Hilzinger (Eve 6)Episode 99 is jam packed with two fascinating people with spectacular stories! “I got 99 problems and Boredom ain’t one”!!! John “Alexander “ Arezzi is on board to discuss his book “Mat Memories” My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with The Mets! Drumming Prodigy in the Flesh Ben Hilzinger discusses Beating the Tubs for Eve 6, his awesome “Big Fat Five” Podcast and lots more! Enjoy!!!
2021-03-2859 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Atom Willard's (Against Me!, Angels and Airwaves, Rocket From The Crypt) Top 5 InfluencesThis week's guest is Atom Willard. Atom played with some of my favorite bands growing up including Rocket From the Crypt, The Offspring, Social Distortion, and Angels and Airwaves, but he is the current drummer for Against Me! and Laura Jane Grace and The Devouring Mothers. As I often do in the days leading up to these chats, I went down a rabbit hole of Atom's drumming and I was blown away by how much of my OWN playing can be attributed to Mr. Willard...like...it's actually embarrassing. This one meant a lot to me and I hope...
2021-03-241h 02Working Drummer
Working Drummer309 – Ben Hilzinger: Hosting the Big Fat Five Podcast, Drumming for Eve 6, Working in L.A. Ben Hilzinger is a Los Angeles-based drummer and songwriter with 20+ years of performing, recording and teaching experience. Currently the drummer for Eve 6, Ben has also written, recorded, and/or toured throughout the USA/internationally with MXPX, Fitness, Mike Herrera, The classic crime, tapir, cannons, chevy mustang, Party Nails, We Shot The Moon, prxzm, Glorybots, Ever So Android, Jake Cummings, Josh Eacrett, rental 58, ray little, Jody ellen, young Professionals, Dave Cavalier, madhawkes and many more. In a...
2021-03-111h 22Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Nate Morton (NBC's The Voice): Top 5 InfluencesThis week’s guest is the ever-energetic Nate Morton, drummer for NBC’s The Voice. His career spans multiple decades and performances with some pretty damn good artists such as Paul Stanley, Madonna, Chaka Kan, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Carlton, Miley Cyrus, Poe and many, many more. Nate is a monster player who knows exactly how to match the playing-for-the-song element with his own unique and powerful creative voice...no pun intended. This was such a fun conversation and we talked for HOURS so this is a very condensed version for the sake of focus, but I guarantee you will be h...
2021-03-101h 15Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Madden Klass' Top 5 InfluencesThis week we have the returning champion Madden Klass on the show to discuss the Top 5 drumming influences that shaped her playing style. Currently a student at Berklee, Madden also plays with Raavi and the Houseplants, Space Junk is Forever, Mike Doughty, Wheatus, a newer band called Mæges and many more. She was one of the last guests before we switched over this newer format and I’ve wanted to get her back on ever since. Her first episode was a very interesting deep dive into her theories on technique and practicing…so go check that out. It’s chalk...
2021-03-031h 12Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingLiberty DeVitto (Billy Joel)Today’s guest is Liberty DeVitto…the rhythmic powerhouse behind 22 of Billy Joel's 23 top 40 hits and all six of his Grammy Award-winning recordings. His ability to seamlessly switch between mature session musician and bombastic live showman should be a guiding light for a lot of players you and old (me) alike. I had a blast talking with Liberty as we broke down the top five influences that shaped his drumming style. Also…go buy his damn book…which we talk about throughout. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click ...
2021-02-241h 02Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Curt Bisquera—The 5 Career-Defining MomentsToday’s guest is Curt Bisquera…or as most people know him “Kirkee B”. He’s played with so many great artists such as Elton John, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Sarah Mclaughlin, Lana Del Ray, Johnny Cash and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. His pocket is deep and his stories are endless. I brought him on the show to break down the top 5 moments in his career that best represent his legacy as a player. From moving to LA to pursue a career in drumming at MI as a young kid who couldn’t read music to...
2021-02-171h 00Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingThe 5 Essential Levon Helm RecordingsThis could be the most important episode I’ve had the pleasure to record. Levon Helm of The Band was one of the greatest to ever do it. Thusly, everything I’ve typed / erased / retyped / and so on for this intro feels utterly contrived or underwhelming when trying to describe a musician of this magnitude. As Rolling Stone Magazine once wrote, “Levon Helm is the only drummer that can make you cry.”. He changed the game in so many ways and, to be honest, DOESN’T GET THE DAMN CREDIT HE DESERVES.I invited one of my new favori...
2021-02-101h 28Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Tim Baltes' Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His Playing StyleOur guest this week is Tim Baltes or, to many, @timbofromkeno on Instagram. He’s known as a funny man, but a big reason why his schtick works is because he’s a monster player as well. We break down the top 5 drumming moments that shaped his style and, in true form, Tim was authentic and blazed his own trail with his picks…which aren’t the traditional choices. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim Baltes.---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummer...
2021-02-0343 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingMyths Our Drum Teachers Told Us w/ Dimitri FantiniToday’s guest is Dimitri Fantini…a great drummer and instructor based in Maryland. I personally subscribe to his Patreon and I suggest you do the same thing. Since Dimitri is technically one of my online instructors, I thought I’d invite him on to discuss some myths that we hear being taught that are just wrong. We had a great time, but tended to agree on almost everything…BORING! Anyways, we dissect the following myths:1) Only practice what you're bad at/If you sound good, you're not practicing.2) There is one correct way to hold a sti...
2021-01-271h 02Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingZach Lind Breaks Down His Favorite Jimmy Eat World RecordingsZach Lind breaks down his favorite Jimmy Eat World grooves and tells the story of why they each hold a special place in his drumming heart. There are a lot of great perspectives in this episode including how the element of surprise is an artist’s greatest weapon, acknowledging when you’re not needed and how he’s always thinking about what he can take AWAY from a part to make it unique as opposed to adding more.This episode is also sponsored by Waves Audio. This podcast would take me soooo much longer to edit if it was...
2021-01-2056 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming'Save it for the Pod!" Ep. 3 - Where's The Beat?!Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Big Data, Bruce Springsteen) and I were ODDLY excited about recording this one. We each brought on 5 songs that best represent that feeling of, “um…I can’t find the one....guys?!....I CANT FIND THE ONE!!”. It’s happened to all of us and it’s a feeling we both LOVE. Many songs are easily heard (and perhaps meant to be easily heard) with multiple different pulses, while some just go out of their way to have a “gotcha!” moment. Either way, this was the most fun I’ve had with the podcast so far and both Gunnar...
2021-01-131h 12Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat ProgressI invited Kris back on the show to discuss how difficult this last year has been for us (Big Fat Snare Drum) as a small business and what we’ve done to keep the doors open. I’m calling it, “Big Fat Progress”, because I really don’t see this year as much of a setback for us as it was an uncomfortably-forced pivot. After that, I asked Kris some of my favorite questions about his ethos on business in general. Kris is almost always right when it comes to what will resonate with people on a large scale. I guarante...
2021-01-061h 09Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBest of 2020: Part 2LAST EPISODE OF 2020! This is Part 2 of the “Best of 2020” where I put together a show of my favorite clips from the past year. Enjoy! See you (or hear me) in the new year!---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...
2020-12-3045 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBest of 2020: Part 1The next few episodes are gonna be a very self indulgent “Best of 2020”. I’ve put together some of my favorite clips of the podcast so far with a little backstory for each. If any of my previous guests are listening and you don’t hear your clips, it's cause I thought you were really boring and I don’t like you at all. Cheers!---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...
2020-12-2357 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming'Save it for the Pod!' Ep. 2 - Ben and Gunnar’s Top 5 Dance DrummersI’m back with Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Big Data, Bruce Springsteen) for another segment of ‘Save It For The Pod’ where we pause our private conversations about various musical topics until we can record it for the MASSES (that’s you). This week’s episode has us dissecting each of our ‘Top 5 Dance Music Bands That Feature Live Drummers’.---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 d...
2020-12-161h 09Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Tucker Rule (Thursday): Top 5 InfluencesWe’ve got Tucker Rule, drummer for Thursday, on this week’s episode of the ‘Big Fat Five’ pod breaking down the top 5 drumming moments that shaped his playing style…and it’s a damn fun playing style. Not only is Tucker a rhythmic powerhouse, he’s quite possibly the nicest guy in the world (sorry to ‘out’ you Tucker). We had a really fun conversation that went well beyond his influences including lessons learned from working with Dave Elitch, perspectives on practicing, and how each of us deal with the frustrations, yet needed patience, of always wanted to become better play...
2020-12-091h 08Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Yuri Ruley's (MxPx): Top 5 InfluencesToday’s guest is, Yuri Ruley…drummer for the iconic punk band, MxPx. His speed, creativity and disciple were a huge influence on me growing up, and if ever need a good a$# whippin', I’ll put on 'Life In General' and sweat my way through a barrage of beats at tempos that make me question Yuri’s sanity. We discuss the top 5 songs that best represent his influences when he first started playing drums. Please enjoy my podcast with The Legend, Yuri Ruley.---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Cli...
2020-12-021h 08Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming"Save it for the Pod!" Ep. 1 - Dissecting the Playing of Phil Selway (Radiohead)Continuing with the theme of keeping things fresh, Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Big Data, Bruce Springsteen) and I have started a new segment of the show called “Save it for the Pod” or "S.I.F.T.P" where we pause our private conversations about a particular musical topic until we can record it for the MASSES.This week’s topic is the timeless and seemingly underrated drummer of Radiohead, Phil Selway. Gunnar and I each choose our top 5 Phil beats and go a dissectin’!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today...
2020-11-251h 16Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingJames Gadson Breaks Down the Records That Define His Career‘Gadson on Gadson’. Today was a milestone for me. I’ve been such a huge fan of this man for years and I hope I hide my nervousness well enough in this conversation. This week’s guest is James Gadson…one of the funkiest drummers out there. He gave life to the 16th note groove and used it on countless records with Bill Withers, The Jackson Five, Beck, Cheryl Lynn, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and many more. For a time, it was rare to go a whole day without hearing James’ drumming on the radio, and p...
2020-11-1859 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Sarah Thawer's Top 5 InfluencesToday’s guest is Sarah Thawer…a Toronto-based, freelance drummer, percussionist, pianist and overall badass with a style consisting of a unique blend of jazz, Indian, world and funk style drumming. She is one of my favorite drummers to watch, literally, because you can’t help but notice the enjoyment on her face and her love of improvisation is a true testament to her capabilities behind the kit. Her playing blows my mind and I was really excited to have her on the show to dissect the top 5 drumming moments that shaped her style. Her positivity and approach to naviga...
2020-11-1141 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Eric Slick (Dr. Dog): 5 Songs That Shaped His Playing StyleToday’s guest is Eric Slick, drummer for Dr. Dog. Eric is a great player with a modern-day Ringo-esque approach to serving the song…which is an obvious focus when you hear his drum parts...parts that are deceivingly hard to execute well. His effortless technique is something I’ve admired from afar and I was really anxious to hear about the top 5 drumming moments that shaped his style. In addition to his tenure in Dr. Dog and working as a drummer for many other artists, Eric is a prolific songwriter himself. His most recent album, “Wiseacre”, came out this year…...
2020-11-0458 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Daru Jones' 5 Songs That Shaped His Playing StyleToday’s guest is Daru Jones. My God I love Daru. While he definitely puts focus on appearances, as you can see if you’ve ever seen his drum set, Daru has certain sway to his feel that makes it impossible to sit or stand still when you hear his groove. He’s two-time Grammy Award winning player who’s worked with Jack White, Gloria Gaynor, Pete Rock, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell, Talib Kweli, Dwight Yoakam and many many more. I’m sure you picked up on the diversity of that list. Cheers.---Get Your Copy...
2020-10-281h 00Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Steve Goold's (Matt Kearney, Ben Rector, Sara Bareilles) Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His Playing StyleThis week’s guest is Steve Goold…a.k.a the “Steve” of Steve’s Donut. Steve tells the story of working with Kris (BFSD owner) and how the donut came to be before breaking down the top 5 drumming moments that shaped his playing. Steve has recorded and/or toured with countless big hitters such as Sara Bareilles, Matt Kearney, Owl City, Ben Rector, Cory Wong and many more. His respect for the "song" and crafting the perfect drum part is very evident in the choices he made for this episode. I gained a lot and I hope you will too.
2020-10-211h 11Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Raghav Mehrotra's (Broadway's School of Rock) Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His Playing StyleThe guest this week is Raghav Mehrotra. This young man started playing drums when he was three and by 5 years old (IMO) was already better than most lifelong players. He starred in Broadway's "School of Rock" while still physically going to school full-time. He just an insane player and I know he's gonna be on some killer records in the future. He's also an old soul. You think you're talking to a veteran of the craft, but honestly with how much he's already accomplished...he kinda is. Raghav breaks down the top 8 moments that made him the drummer he...
2020-10-1445 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on Drumming"TAKEOVER EPISODE* The Drum Q&A Podcast w/ Dan BaileyThis week's episode is a TAKEOVER by Dan Bailey featuring Episode 3 of his newly-founded podcast "The Drum Q&A Podcast" in which he discusses being a sideman vs band member, playing drums for a drummer, endorsements, and "when to give up on the dream". Dan is a past guest of OUR podcast and a great source of information regarding anything drums. He continues to hold a popular Q&A discussion series via his Instagram Stories, but has come to realize that many of these questions require a more long-winded response to fully explain his viewpoint...hence the...
2020-09-3036 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Randy Cooke's (Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Kelly Clarkson) 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His StyleThis week’s guest is Randy Cooke. I certainly fluff him up at the beginning of our interview, but Rand just has everything you’d want in a drummer playing behind you. He is SO song focused and, as he states, “…It’s not about playing more things; it’s about playing the right thing”. His resume includes playing for Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Kelly Clarkson…and believe me…many many more. Keeping with the theme of this season, Randy breaks down the top drumming moments that shaped his style. Cheeeeers.---Get Your Copy of...
2020-09-2353 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Mike Dawson's Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His StyleToday’s guest is Mike Dawson, managing editor of Modern Drummer Magazine and co-host of the Modern Drummer Podcast w/ Mike and Mike (the other Mike being Mike Johnston). They have exactly 250 archived episodes so go check that out…after you binge all of our episodes. Mike is an insanely artful player who exemplifies the idea of building creativity out of giving yourself limitations. He posts a lot of his weirdisms on his Instagram at @mikedawsondrums. You can also check out his website here. This episode is a reminder of how little I know when it comes to great drum...
2020-09-1642 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Ben Barter's (Lorde) Top Drumming Moments That Formed His Drumming StyleThis week’s guest is Ben Barter…an Auckland-born, Los Angeles-based drummer/producer/storyteller and ex-dishwasher to the STARS. Ben has one of my favorite pockets and tastes in 'groove' so I was SUPER pumped to get him on the show. He’s played every major festival you can think of and has done all the talk shows. He’s the nicest bloke in the world and I know you’ll be smiling the whole time you listen to this one. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to or...
2020-09-0958 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingSeason 2 TrailerSoooooo we sorta stumbled into Season 2 without knowing it... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bigfatsnaredrum/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bigfatsnaredrum/support
2020-09-0201 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Bryan De Leon's (Albert Hammond Jr, The Drums, The Shaking Hands) Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His StyleToday’s guest is Bryan De Leon and we break down the top 5 drumming moments that shaped his playing styles. Bryan’s powerful, rigid, and syncopated drum parts are infectious, to say the least, and it's the reason he drums for power-hitters like Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes, The Drums (a band...a very good band), The Shaking Hands and many more. I’m currently on a road trip right now, so I’m recording from an Airbnb…a tiny closet inside my Airbnb actually, but this episode finally introduced me to New Order and it’s basically all I’ve bee...
2020-08-261h 01Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingBig Fat Five: Brody Simpson's Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His StyleToday’s guest is Brody Simpson and we talk about the top 5 drumming moments that played a huge part in the development of his sound. Brody’s feel and sense of pocket within a pocket are unmatched in my opinion and I don’t think I’m comfortable making it public how much time I’ve spent looping Brody’s videos. Needless to say, if you don’t know him, I’m so excited that you stumbled across this episode. His perspectives on groove and creating parts is a masterclass in many ways. Please enjoy.---Get Your Copy...
2020-08-191h 01Drummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingGunnar Olsen (Big Data, Mother Feather, The Exit) - Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped His StyleGunnar Olsen breaks down the top 5(ish) drumming moments that helped him develop a unique voice behind the kit. SUBMIT YOUR LISTENER PICKS HERE For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok
2020-08-1251 minDrummers on Drumming
Drummers on DrummingKris Mazzarisi and Ben Hilzinger (me!) Share The Top 5 Drumming Moments That Shaped Our StyleHello hello...today's show features the Big Fat Man himself, Kris Mazzarisi and myself, Ben Hilzinger, discussing the top 5 specific moments in either a recording or a performance that helped form us into the drummers we are today. We are all sponges for inspiration until the day we die, but some sponge-worthy moments are more remarkable than others. All of the little flourishes in our playing combine to give us a unique voice, but many of these derive from something we've heard or seen outside of our beautiful little creative minds. This is the first installment of a series...
2020-08-0550 minGoth Yearbook
Goth YearbookEpisode 31: Ben Hilzinger (Eve 6)Ben Hilzinger from Eve 6 stops by to talk to Caitlin and Eric about finding new routines at home, life in LA as a musician and we find out what kind of sitcom Ben would be.
2020-04-261h 21Word On the Street
Word On the StreetWOTS Version 174 with Ben HilzingerToday on the podcast we talked to Ben Hilzinger northwest native and drummer for Eve 6 and Fitness. I asked Ben a bunch of questions including but not limited to:•What High School did you attend and what was your favorite, worst, or most notable memory from you experience in the school?•What do you think of the start of the Seahawks season?•LA vs Seattle?•Why are you no longer playing with ESA?•What bands are you in now?•When listening to music what is the most common way you listen and what is your favo...
2018-09-2450 min