This week we welcome one of our favorite guests, Lee Falco, back to the show as third mic. Lee was in Atlanta for a performance with guitarist, Doyle Bramhall II and was gracious enough to sit down with us before he hit the road. Make sure you say hello to Lee if you see him at a show in your city. To learn more about Lee and see where he'll be appearing please visit his web site: https://leefalco.com/ In this episode we take on the ultra subjective topic of feel. What does it mean to you? What ...
Feb 19, 2018•1 hr 20 min
Happy Thursday to all! This time around we are working on a great rudimental solo by the legendary author, George Lawrence Stone. The solo we'll be practicing is once again found in the NARD book and is titled, "Old Tin Can". This is another short, catchy, traditional solo. However there are a few twists and turns in this compact little ditty that will keep your concentration on point! As with many rudimental solos the introductory roll off should be interpreted as a seven stroke ternary roll. H...
Feb 15, 2018•7 min
The shuffle is one of the most elusive grooves for any musician to master. It certainly complicates matters when there are numerous regional and genre interpretations to consider. In this show Phil and Jon spend some time discussing their experiences and listening to some of their favorite recorded shuffles. But first we take a moment to discuss the lean winter months and answer listener questions. We tackle an inquiry regarding the perceived importance and differentiation between the various ty...
Feb 12, 2018•1 hr 26 min
The phone rings. Someone is asking you about booking your band. Do you gracefully pass that task to someone else or start conducting business? In this episode we encourage you to put on your business suit and go to work. Unless you have an exclusive booking agent contracting work is something we should all be comfortable with. However, if you've never done it before the contracts, riders, communication, timeliness, and incredible amounts of detail are daunting! In this show we discuss what we've...
Feb 05, 2018•1 hr 7 min
We're back with a new edition of "Accountability Thursday". This time around we'll be doing something a tad different. We're going to balance this week's exercise by giving you something easy and fun to play but we want you to memorize it! It may sound difficult but it's really a peach to play. We'll tackle the super traditional solo, "Three Camps" and break it down into bite sized chunks. Threes are wild this week so inside of this solo we're only using three primary rudiments: five stroke roll...
Feb 01, 2018•7 min
As drummers we've grown accustomed to taking our share of the blame for everything from count-in's to endings. In this show Phil and Jon talk about their experiences in the hot seat and discuss diplomatic ways to address and get past the 'Punching Bag Syndrome". Don't be the scapegoat if you're not guilty! It's time to realize that everyone in the band is responsible for their own tempo, feel, volume, phrasing, and song form. We finish the show by each host picking a great drum track. Also new f...
Jan 29, 2018•1 hr 8 min
This week we conduct our first ever show with the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. Joining us in studio is prior guest and legendary performer/educator, Jack Bell. Joining us remotely are past guests: Joel Rosenblatt, Tom Brechtlein, and Ryan Brown. The topic we tackle this episode is the teacher's inclination on whether you prefer a student with lots of natural talent (and below average work ethic) versus a student with below average talent and a high work ethic. We also give our sel...
Jan 22, 2018•1 hr 12 min
For episode 2 of "Accountability Thursday" we doff our cap to Austin resident Tom Brechtlein and work on the NARD solo, "The Texan". Tom recently relocated to Austin and has worked out of the NARD book (he talked about it during our chat from episode 65) so we thought it was only logical to make this solo a part of our new show! This solo is a bit longer and has a few more twists and turns than our last solo. The highlights feature eighth note, ternary style, seven stroke rolls along with dotted...
Jan 18, 2018•10 min
This week we conduct our first interview of 2018. We welcome artist relations manager of Regal Tip, CW Dunbar. In this episode we cover the history of Regal Tip and discuss the company's upcoming 60th anniversary. After that we go through the product catalog and discuss the manufacturing process of your favorite Regal Tip instruments. He also talks about the daily operations at the company and what it's like to work in the factory. We finish up with education, clinics, endorsement and artist tal...
Jan 15, 2018•1 hr
We are back with fresh, new episodes for 2018! We start off the new year with an artist feature with one of our favorite musicians, Lewis Nash. Originally from Phoenix, Nash relocated to New York City over 30 years ago. He skyrocketed to the top of the jazz world and became first call for luminaries such as: Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, and many more. Recently he moved back to Phoenix where he established "The Nash", a non-profit perfor...
Jan 08, 2018•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to "Accountability Thursday" Mini-Episode 1! On the first and third Thursday's of every month we'll practice together using a classic rudimental solo. We're going to ease into the new year with something short and sweet. For our inaugural edition we'll work on "Smitty's Delight" from the NARD drum solo book. There's nothing terribly difficult or unique about this solo however be careful with the 15 stroke rolls at the start of the second half of the solo! Make sure you practice playing t...
Jan 04, 2018•6 min
We finish out 2017 (and wipe the slate clean for 2018) with a final nod toward our favorite segments of the year. Tune in to hear Phil and Jon's favorite gear recommendations, great drum track picks, favorite underrated drummers, helpful repair tips from the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Garage and much more. Join us for one last hurrah before next week's first, new show of 2018. Subscribe today! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your ...
Dec 31, 2017•1 hr 51 min
Join us this week as we take a look back at highlights from our favorite interviews of 2017! We were fortunate all year long to have been given time with some of Groovecast Nation's favorite drummers, educators, musicians, and industry insiders. In this show we highlight the best of the best along with every single "DWG Rorschach Test"! New shows are available every Monday and can be found in Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Su...
Dec 25, 2017•1 hr 44 min
This week we announce that new for 2018 we'll be bringing you even more exclusive content and interactive participation! Starting on January 4th (and continuing on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month) we're introducing a new educational campaign entitled, "Accountability Thursday". We'll ring in the new year with a resolution to practice and we'll do it together as one big listening family! Listen to this mini-episode/official announcement for details!
Dec 21, 2017•4 min
Many musicians suffer from some type of chronic pain. Unfortunately this pain normally threatens the comfort (if not the viability) of your performance. And we haven't even begun to include your basic quality of life! If you or someone you know is affected by chronic pain then this episode is an absolute must-listen. Dr. Howard Schubiner is one of the foremost authorities on chronic pain and his techniques are not only groundbreaking but also drug free. In this special episode he spoke to us fro...
Dec 17, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Alternative sounds, contraptions, traps, accoutrement! They're all the rage and have been for a very long time. However the current preference of alternative sounds on the drum set span the realm of new, acoustic inventions as well as electronic pads and controllers. In this episode we give you some historical context for the implementation of alternative sounds and then run down the list of our favorite, current acoustic and electronic alternative sounds. We finish off the show with our picks f...
Dec 10, 2017•58 min
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." - Plato Politics can be a messy subject. However in this episode we want to view that subject in a different light. No matter what profession you choose somewhere down the line you'll have to engage in some sort of political negotiation. We share our stories and then help with the topics of: networking, backbiting, negativity, who you know vs. what you know, rumors, and much more. ...
Dec 04, 2017•1 hr 13 min
This week we start a new show format! Periodically we'll be highlighting one drummer's career and discography and for this inaugural edition we're featuring drumming legend, Jim Gordon. Jim's career is truly a Hollywood film noir. Aside from playing on some of music's greatest hits Jim also played live with some of rock and rolls greatest artists such as: Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, George Harrison, Steely Dan, and Frank Zappa. However alcohol and drug abuse took its toll on his career...
Nov 27, 2017•54 min
Happy Thanksgiving from Phil and Jon! This week we thank you, the listeners, for your continued support and for the success of this show. We take some time for good natured ribbing of our drumming brethren by discussing all the things that we do better (and sometimes worse) than anyone else in the music community. Practice shortcuts, speed for speed's sake, gear trends, and drum hangs are the punching bags for the week. We also give our picks for a great underrated drum track. Lastly, we have bi...
Nov 20, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Mike Johnston (of mikeslessons.com) is a person of many talents. He's a tremendous communicator, a great player, a wonderful businessman, a superb teacher, and a heck of a nice guy. When you put all that together you have one of the most successful and busy music entrepreneurs of our time. He was kind enough to sit down with us for a chat about his web site, his teaching, and his business methods. We get deep into education with discussions about philosophies and techniques as well as concepts. ...
Nov 13, 2017•1 hr 42 min
This week we move back into interview mode as we sit down with, Ra Kalam Bob Moses. Bob is known for his vast catalog of recorded music and his collaboration with some of the greatest musicians of our time. Bob has worked with: Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Hal Galper, Dave Liebman, Steve Kuhn, Mike Gibbs, Steve Swallow, Jack DeJohnette, Harold Vick, Edgar Bateman, and guitarist/spiritual mentor Tisziji Munoz. We open up with discussion of his upbringing in New York City where in his ...
Nov 06, 2017•1 hr 34 min
In a list of life's traumatic events being fired from your job is one of the biggest. Many psychologists say that it ranks up there with the death of a spouse, imprisonment, and divorce. In this episode Phil and Jon share their personal experiences along with other real life situations. We then cover what you can do afterward to get past this occurrence and ensure that if it were to ever happen again it wouldn't be due to something under your control. We finish the show with our segment on great...
Oct 30, 2017•1 hr 5 min
This week we debut a new segment - The DWG Garage! In this part of the show we'll put your drums up on the lift, assemble, disassemble, and hot rod your favorite gear! Then our main topic puts a distinct musician's slant on the concept of balancing your personal life with your musical life. Being a professional drummer and the trappings of maintaining a successful career is very different than that of someone with an office job. Everything from our unusual hours to the hesitation of subbing out ...
Oct 23, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Join us as we continue to work our way around the drum set. This week we discuss our favorite hi hats! Picking out the perfect set of hats has its own unique challenges. First, you have to find two cymbals that work together well. Next, they have to feel right. Lastly, they should sound good when played heavy, light, open, closed, chick sound, etc. Those demands are more than we put on any other cymbal. Add to the fact that we generally play hi hats on every single song and you discover that fin...
Oct 16, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Tom Brechtlein is one of the premier drummers of our time. The list of names that he's performed with include: Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, Jean Luc Ponty, Wayne Shorter, Don Grusin, Kei Akagi, Allan Vizzuti, Robben Ford, and Natalie Cole. We were honored to be able to speak with Tom and he did not disappoint! In this episode not only does Tom talk about his association with the above artists he also tells us about growing up in Long Island, NY and how the music programs in public school shaped his...
Oct 09, 2017•1 hr 35 min
Oooommmmm...breathe deeply and be amenable...Being an accommodating, thoughtful musician is a quality that all successful players have in common. In this show we talk about getting past the thought that you have to be uncompromising to be regarded as someone who is knowledgeable about their craft. In fact if you can get to the point of embracing flexibility with a thoughtful and respectful attitude you can more frequently enjoy situations of uncertainty and be regarded as an accommodating profes...
Oct 02, 2017•1 hr 4 min
This week we have the privilege of speaking with industry great, Chris Brady of Aquarian Drum Heads. We get to hear about his drumming career and how it led to his interest in the business side of the industry. He then discusses his initial contact with Aquarian and how he got the job. We then talk about their various product offerings, how they are researched and how they are manufactured. Then we spend some time discussing the business side of the industry. Chris covers: getting endorsements, ...
Sep 25, 2017•1 hr 36 min
I bet you think we're going to wax poetic on the greatest drummers of all time, right? WRONG! Instead we're going to discuss the influences and pressures that all of us face trying to learn their vocabulary and ultimately trying to perform like them. The show starts with us listing several different generations of icons and the 'babies' that were born from their influence. We talk about the importance of realizing your own goals and abilities and how those don't usually line up with generational...
Sep 18, 2017•1 hr 22 min
By nature most informational media is based on giving tips and ideas that help get past problems and negativity. In the past our show has spent entire episodes doing just that. This week we turn the tables and aim the thrusters in full positivity mode. In this episode Phil and Jon talk in detail about what they love about being professional musicians. Each give their musical and personal reasons for why they love their job and explain how those reasons outweigh any negative aspects. We finish ou...
Sep 11, 2017•1 hr 12 min
This week we welcome back master percussionist, Jack Bell, for part two of our exclusive interview. This week we spend time on his lengthy and storied teaching career. Areas covered are: his move to Atlanta and initial job teaching the choral department at a local high school, developing his private percussion teaching studio, being approached to create the percussion department at Georgia State, the ascension of the GSU percussion program, the successful students enrolled, and his various teach...
Sep 04, 2017•1 hr 50 min
