His bio page claims he was hired by that band because of his wild style:
Who cares.
Music is a form of art. Some people express it differently. If you take this sort of thing to the next level people will be complaining if musicians in a band don’t look a certain way, long hair, leather pants etc… That’s the sort of crap that gave us all of that cock rock from the 80’s until grunge came in and kicked their asses.
I saw that video a couple weeks ago. I got the impression that this was a “show band” - the type that works regularly playing things like conventions. We’ve gotten a few bands like this at the convention center where I’m a cook. They usually come in the last night of a big convention and provide the entertainment after the big banquet. Their job isn’t to play a musical concert for discerning music fans, it’s to entertain. Play songs that everybody knows, that people can dance to if they want to, throw in a liberal dose of comedy and hamming it up, and make sure the audience has a good time.
And get paid several thousand dollars to do so.
Good quote from an interview linked from his site:
Jeebus. That many dates a year? That’s a steady paying gig in anyone’s book. Even if he has/had his sights set higher, it doesn’t hurt to have steady work and the bills paid in the meanwhile.
I’d have to agree with that (as regards what people like, not what I like). I mean, Lady Gaga is current da shit and yet she can’t really sing nor dance. I don’t see how you can diss this guy at the same time as holding up every boy band and most every pop singer as being a perfectly acceptable musician.
Exactly. I’m sure he has his own “serious” music that he works on in his down time.
It’s the same situation with “Tribute” bands. The keyboard player with the Genesis tribute band The Musical Box produces his own music. The steady paycheck funds his own career, which might sell 2000 CDs per release.
I said I would fire a drummer like that from MY band. If this band is happy with him, and the audiences are happy too, it’s fine by me.
Then again, my band doesn’t perform in gold lamé jackets for convention attendees. And for that, I’m eternally grateful!
Maybe this guy isn’t all that great as a musician, but he’s definitely a great performer, of which the music is only one part. OK, so he’s not a perfect match with his bandmates, but if anything, they should step it up to match him, not ask him to step it down.
That’s what a band with Michael and Dwight from The Office would look like (if they had talent).
Ultimately, I agree with this. I hear what **DChord568 **is saying from a personal standpoint, too - I would have a problem with that level of cheese in my band, but don’t begrudge bands that sell it.
Their approach is not my style but more power to 'em if they get paid.
IMO he looks ridiculous, even for a wedding band in shiny gold jackets. It got him attention, I guess, so good for him, but I thought he looked really, really stupid. Just play the goddam drums man.
Jeez, lighten up. The guy was entertaining, isn’t that what entertainers are supposed to be?
Am I the only one who didn’t have a problem with the drummer, but did have a problem that they were playing that song too damn slow?
That’s absolutely joyous. Look at him go! Is he doing the robot at one point? Legend.
Also, everything I Love Me, Vol. I said.
And!
Compared to the guy that plays it perfectly, Frank Beard, he looks pretty over the top and silly. However, I seriously doubt anyone in the audience came there expecting to witness musical perfection. They came to be entertained and the fella is that and a half.
See, that’s the thing. It’s the drummer’s job to maintain the correct tempo. They’re the conductor of a rock band. Go listen to the original for a second, the cymbal hits that flashy douchebags like this guy put in the song, Frank Beard left out. I’m not even really a drummer, but those cymbal hits take time to do, so you slow down the song. Mr. Beard knew what he was doing. I suppose the case can be made for this guy, but I certainly don’t agree. I think he’s the equivalent of a flashy guitarist that plays his super fast solo off key while picking with his tongue. It might be your bag, but not mine.
It probably is their bag to be funny (notice the toilet seat on the percussion kit). I doubt they’re really all that funny if this is what stands out from their show.
It’s at almost the exact same tempo as the original. They are both at 124-126 bpm.
You can easily do those cymbal hits in tempo.
Anyhow, the drummer is fine for the purpose of that band. Obviously, they wanted a crazy over-the-top Animal-type drummer to add some visual entertainment value to their band, and they were successful in that regard. As to his drumming skills, he did a good job staying reasonably on top of the beat despite the theatrics. This was mostly theater, not music, so I can’t really judge how good he might be if he sits down and just plays normally. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were a decent drummer.
I guess if you find it entertaining, you find it entertaining. I don’t. It just looks stupid to me. He’s not a bad drummer, but I just don’t see the point of all that flailing. I don’t get how it’s supposed to entertain me.
I’d book them.
This is strictly conjecture, but I wonder if most non-musicians find him “entertaining,” whereas most musicians don’t.
I’m really to the far right of the spectrum in that I think that nearly all visual accoutrements to rock ‘n’ roll are superfluous and have been damaging to the franchise.
Understand, I’m all for the performers displaying energy and enthusiasm when it comes to playing rock; I don’t want them to stand stock still and looking bored.
But at some point you pass the marker where your actions are fueled by genuine, natural involvement in the music you’re playing and cross into “Hey, look at me, everybody…admire my show biz!” territory.
Like this guy.
FWIW, I also feel this way about elaborate stage props, dry ice, lasers and God knows what else. The more of this shtick you add to your performance, the more I begin suspecting that the music you’re making isn’t enough to stand upon its own merits.
And don’t even get me started on music videos, the single worst thing to happen to rock ‘n’ roll since 1955.
I realize that I’m hopelessly out of touch with majority opinion on this, but if I want visual spectacle I’ll go to Disneyworld. I come to rock concerts to hear the music.