This week the Groovecast is delighted to publish an exclusive interview with Joel Rosenblatt. Most of you know Joel from his work with Michel Camilo and later with Spyro Gyra. In this episode we discuss his early flirtations with trumpet and a chance encounter with drums. From there we get to his college studies with Ed Soph and Randy Jones which helped prepare him for his first major gigs. We then cover the gigs with: Matt Murphy, Pure Prairie League, Michel Camilo, and Spyro Gyra. We spend a g...
Jan 30, 2017•1 hr 47 min
A good percussionist can add that special touch that turns a regular gig into pure magic. Then again if the drummer and percussionist are not agreeing on time feel, instrumentation, or timbre the gig can turn into a big, inarticulate pile of mush. In this week's show we discuss the different types of percussionists you might encounter and their particular characteristics. We then talk about what you can do to prevent issues before they happen and ultimately work well together moving forward. In ...
Jan 23, 2017•1 hr 21 min
Adam Deitch has played with The Average White Band, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Scofield, Pretty Lights and currently leads the duo Break Science and funk jam icons, Lettuce. During Lettuce's current tour we were fortunate enough to meet up with Adam for a few hours before show time and talk about life, music, and drums. Knowing that Adam has done several other podcasts along with a host of print interviews we decided to take a slightly different direction. We delve into topics such as: drumming w...
Jan 16, 2017•1 hr 42 min
We can't do it all by ourselves. No matter how much responsibility we have to practice and perfect our art form in private we eventually interact with other musicians, business people, clients, and the public in general. In this podcast we specifically address the incredible importance of building and maintaining positive and fulfilling relationships that last well beyond the gig. To finish up the show Phil and Jon both pick a great, underrated drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new sh...
Jan 09, 2017•1 hr 5 min
To kick off a new year the Groovecast, much like everyone else, is in self-improvement mode. Everyone wants to be better, right? We can safely assume that everybody would like to improve their drumming as well as all the different facets of their life. To do this we need to practice. Seems logical, doesn't it? Well, it's easy to say and a no-brainer in the 'duh' department. However, having a specific goal and then consistently acquiring the motivation and determination to get there is easier sai...
Jan 02, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Happiest of Holidays to the Groovecast Nation! This week we take a moment to reflect on the first year of the podcast. We took the highlights from various shows along with great moments from our interviews to make our "Best of 2016". It's our little gift of retrospective all wrapped in a bow and delivered in the timeliest of fashions! We think you'll enjoy reliving some of the moments from earlier this year. Plus it's a great way to invite some of your friends to listen for the first time! We'll...
Dec 26, 2016•1 hr 10 min
The most commonly known ways to make a living as musician are performing, recording, and teaching. But is that all there is? Well, those might be the most glamorous. But let's face it, the music business is anything but glamorous. In this episode Phil and Jon spend some time revealing a host of other ways to make money inside the music business that may not be nearly as obvious. And no, these other ways do not involve Uber or the phrase, "You want fries with that?" The guys talk about things tha...
Dec 19, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Lil' John Roberts is one of the most sought after drummers in the music business. His resume crosses all genre lines (Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Elton John, Quincy Jones, drummer for many TV house bands, etc.). His drumming peers may know him for his prodigious chops however Lil' John would rather allow his time feel and legendary groove to speak for themselves. In this interview John briefly discusses his early musical upbringing and how that led him to study at ...
Dec 12, 2016•1 hr 51 min
"You don't choose a career in music, instead music chooses you." There are numerous quotes along those lines and today the guys discuss just that topic. Can you or should you choose drumming as a career? Each of the guys tell their own story of how they came into the music business and then talk about the benefits and drawbacks. Topics covered are: being an entrepreneur, starting your own business, personal and family sacrifices, lack of traditional job benefits, travel, willingness to do what i...
Dec 05, 2016•1 hr
In this week's show the guys discuss the importance of and the different types of musical mentors. Phil and Jon both talk about the different mentors they've had, how they've affected their lives, and how it's lead them to become mentors of others. The various types they talk about are: teacher/educator mentors, co-working/gigging mentors, and distant/recorded mentors. Although each are different they share many of the same characteristics. For this week's ending segment the guys decide to talk ...
Nov 28, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Welcome back to part 2 of the Ryan Brown interview. In this episode Ryan gives details about his time in Los Angeles. Ryan talks about getting established, taking gigs, preparation, studio sessions, his teaching practice, family responsibilities, auditions, rehearsals, and a day in the life of touring with Dweezil Zappa. Before we finish I make Ryan play the time honored game show, "Beat the Clock". Hilarity ensues! Join us every Monday for a brand new podcast. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google ...
Nov 21, 2016•1 hr 26 min
This week the show goes on the road and shifts into interview mode! We had the great fortune of being welcomed inside the Zappa family for an extensive interview with Dweezil Zappa drummer, Ryan Brown. Join us as we discuss the topics of: growing up with music, gravitating toward drums, discovering Zappa, beginning drum studies, college audition tours, majoring in music, career decisions, moving to Los Angeles, the practicalities of making a living, establishing a music career, studio work, teac...
Nov 14, 2016•1 hr 19 min
Ahhhh...that click is so comforting...until it's gone! I'd bet some of you thought those words would never be uttered. But they are! Once thought to be a nemesis, the click track is now often a crutch. In this episode the guys discuss how the click track has become a safety blanket to the point of being a detriment. They also talk about how mental games regarding tempo and feel can be a major problem once the metronome is taken away. Numerous solutions are discussed such as: playing exercises wi...
Nov 07, 2016•1 hr 3 min
Everybody's doing it. Well, at least everyone has done it that's had any modicum of success in the music business. What we're discussing today is getting your career established in a new city. Whether you're a young gun or a relocating veteran you'll need some ideas. Phil and Jon cover wide ranging areas of discussion such as: modes and timeliness of communication, financial responsibility, low paying gigs, personal relationships, housing considerations, and the omnipresent and venerable 'hang o...
Oct 31, 2016•1 hr 6 min
The Groovecast has delivered on its promise of an interview and it is a gem! Our guest, Scott Meeder, is the proverbial "Jeff Porcaro" of Atlanta. Even if you're not familiar with his name it's a virtual guarantee that you've heard him on record. He has been the first call session drummer on the Atlanta recording scene for the past 30 years. His credits include: .38 Special, Toni Braxton, Sugarland, Ricky Gunn, Aaron Shust, John Waller, and countless tv, motion picture, and radio dates. We discu...
Oct 24, 2016•1 hr 38 min
Even the best musician will have a bad night. However that does not necessarily mean you're doomed to a bad performance. Even Buddy Rich had bad nights. There's an infamous video of Buddy near the end of his life where he's said to have had a heart attack right in the middle of an amazing solo! Now THAT'S a bad night. So our question to you is, "How good is your bad"? In other words, as a professional musician how can you to ensure that even your worst performance is better than an amateur playe...
Oct 17, 2016•1 hr 11 min
In virtually all disciplines there are very few shortcuts that deliver the desired results. In drumming that is especially true. In most situations practice and patience pays the highest yielding dividends. However, there are a few select instances where experience can provide excellent and sometimes unorthodox solutions to common problems. In this episode Phil and Jon give the listeners a few of these "magic bullets". Topics covered include: Pedal setup and adjustment, drum set ergonomics, alte...
Oct 10, 2016•1 hr 15 min
Concepts on technique can be very polarizing. Everyone is an expert and everyone is correct. "Strict German grip with the level system is the only way to go!" "Forget that mess. Traditional grip using the Moeller technique is far superior." " Well, only if you're a gimp. Real men, like Billy Cobham, use French grip exclusively." See what I mean? In today's show I discuss grip and hand technique from a very different standpoint. I believe that adhering to one, very strict grip and hand position i...
Oct 03, 2016•53 min
In any profession there is an existing vocabulary that is either exclusive or at least pertinent to the discipline. For drummers there is a distinct lineage of definitive method books that are a major part of our musical and educational vocabulary. In this show Phil goes through a list of must-have methods, their origins, uses, and importance in our field. At the end Phil adds a few of his personal, albeit lesser known, favorites to the list. Join us every Monday for a brand show available on It...
Sep 26, 2016•1 hr 13 min
This week Phil and Jon discuss the many different ways we can learn to embrace others' strengths and weaknesses. The guys talk about differences between groove players vs. technical players, jazzers vs. rockers, younger players vs. older players, original/artsy gigs vs. corporate gigs, and pressures of the drumming community and how it can breed jealousy and envy. At the end of the show the guys each pick another underrated, great drum track. Please subscribe and join us every Monday for a brand...
Sep 19, 2016•1 hr 6 min
This week we scratch the itch of all you gear heads! We've had listeners contact us about tuning so we decided to compile all the ideas and questions we've received into a show. We discuss tuning from the ground up: starting with the tools needed all the way through fine tuning in the studio or on the stage. We cover every drum on the set, different head combinations, hoop types, tuning for different musical styles, muffling, the many factors of snare tuning and much more. We also answer listene...
Sep 12, 2016•1 hr 32 min
This week the guys land on a touchy subject. Large personalities, self centeredness and over inflated self esteem make for an atmosphere that's just not conducive to creating good music. Phil and Jon each take turns talking about their own experiences and how they've dealt with different ego problems. They also discuss legendary drummers and their respective personality quirks. At the end of the show the guys discuss the importance of cymbal selection. They talk about how they pick cymbals, what...
Sep 05, 2016•1 hr 8 min
You're serious about music and you want to get better. What do you do? Go to college? Hit the road, play gigs, and slug it out? Teach yourself through a myriad of available online media? Maybe just take some lessons from your local teacher? Well, all of those are options and all of them can yield great results. Phil and Jon will tell you all about their experiences along with the benefits and pitfalls of each pathway of education. In part two of this series the guys discuss forgoing the route of...
Aug 29, 2016•1 hr 6 min
You're serious about music and you want to get better. What do you do? Go to college? Hit the road, play gigs, and slug it out? Teach yourself through a myriad of available online media? Maybe just take some lessons from your local teacher? Well, all of those are options and all of them can yield great results. Phil and Jon will tell you all about their experiences along with the benefits and pitfalls of each pathway of education. In part one of this series the guys primarily discuss studying mu...
Aug 22, 2016•1 hr 11 min
Talking about money can create strange vibes. Even best friends will bristle at the mention. In this episode Phil and Jon talk about how they approach negotiating pay. They talk about long term gigs, short term gigs, and one off/sub gigs. Techniques of negotiation are suggested as well as reasons why you should or should not take certain gigs. They also discuss non-cash perks that can be arranged that may benefit you more than money. Recording sessions are discussed from the standpoint of day ra...
Aug 15, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Have you ever been late for or forgotten about a gig? How about forgetting your entire bag of hardware? Well, Phil and Jon have done that and more. The good news though is since they've done this for you, you don't have to! They discuss the horror stories they've had and how they prevent those things from happening again. The boys also answer listener email. Then in this week's final segment they each pick an under appreciated drummer.
Aug 08, 2016•1 hr 4 min
This week Phil does a special educational edition of the Groovecast. In response to emails and posts on social media regarding practicing and performing to a click track or sequence (both live and in the studio)Phil talks about the concepts he's developed over the years. They include setting up your click in a variety of musical settings, developing feel instead of playing metronomically, stating time while becoming a slave to the click, over correcting when straying from the click, click manipu...
Jul 31, 2016•56 min
This week Phil and Jon discuss the importance of preparing for gigs. Yeah, it's obvious...sort of...until you have to really do it. We'll give you tips on how to prepare and why it's crucial to your professional reputation. Also we talk about our favorite/most important pieces of gear and why you should ensure that you have the best of these.
Jul 24, 2016•1 hr 8 min
"Too fast!" "Too slow!" "Too loud!" "Too Soft!" "What are you doing?!" "I need you to...." In the inaugural edition of the show Phil and Jon talk about their experience with 'stage bullies'. You know, the people that micro manage and torment you during a gig? We're not talking about the normal musician who gives musical direction. Rather we're talking about the nasty person in a power drunken frenzy who barks out orders and generally enjoys making their fellow musicians cringe and cower. Phil an...
Jul 14, 2016•59 min
