Robonzo.com

I don’t typically hear drums in bluegrass music. I recently became somewhat the fan of bluegrass following an invite to a “walnut harvest and bluegrass festival” party. Going just a bit farther back, I was blown away the first time I heard an album called Strummin’ with the Devil, the Southern Side of Van Halen. Last night, in a Seattle restaurant, I caught a wonderful bluegrass quartet. This genre is somewhat void of drum sounds. Perhaps the absence is most common among local acts, where finding a player with the proper style and discipline is challenging. It apparently does exist however. A search found the following site of interest.

Bluegrass Drum Workshop at OIBF

At my core I’m a rock and funk drummer, but I can totally hear drums in bluegrass music. Perhaps in another listen to Strummin’ with the Devel, I’ll find drums lurking in the mix.

In a recent concert at Japan’s legendary Budokan venue, super-hot pop star, diva Beyonce performed with a huge band (two keyboard players, a 4-piece horn section, backup singers, dancers, guitar, bass, a percussionist and two drummers. Oh yeah, it was an all female band. Her band was great, and Beyonce was fun to watch. This probably goes for the entire band, but I immediately noticed that the sound mix (broadcast on DirecTV’s The 101) was far from complimentary to drummers Kimberly Thompson and Carmalita Glaspie. These women, accompanied by percussionist Marcella Chapa, are great players. It made me a bit sad, not only for my ears, but for Beyonce’s entire band. A great drummer (or two) brings dynamics and excitement to the sound of any band . If this telecast was indicative of the sound mix at a live Beyonce show, I for one would be a disappointed member of the audience. Having participated in televised performances, though never any as grand as DirectTV’s The 101, I understand that it’s a completely different game than mixing for the typical live show. Still, I can’t resist the criticism. I love looking at Beyonce (what’s not to love), but unless you really love her music, I can’t highly recommend this show. I’m up for listening to any great band, but this band does not get equal sound-mix billing. I guess it’s intended to be all about Beyonce.

~r