So, my good friend Derm and I are slowly getting our rehearsal space up to task! I can’t tell you how hard it is for me, this, the eve of our Oakland Athletics 2008 Opening Day Part Two: Electric Boogaloo - see, the thing is, I have been just consumed with all things drums and music-related. So baseball will be more of a distraction this year than the attraction it has been in later years. Believe me, I want to go to games like crazy, but I also want to get more drum gear and more practice time and more playing time in! It’s not that easy to schedule all this kinda stuff any more. You young’uns out there better appreciate all the time you guys have, it really shrinks as you get older.

ANYhoo, it hasn’t been since my early 20’s that I’ve felt so strongly about playing again (did I stop? Whoops, must have!). I have a renewed energy as far as my commitment to my instrument, and have in part to thank my weekly jazz workshop, which has networked me with like-minded players and gives me a very creative outlet to perform, with shows to play sometimes even. Also, I think I have a nice combination of magazine subscriptions that is feeding my appetite to consume! Among Modern Drummer, TapeOp, Complex, and Vice, I have quite a unique set of album reviews and new emerging artists to explore.  It’s quite a cross-section of the hip, the tragically hip, the never-will-be-hip, and the "-sters" varietals of hip.

I’ve been listening mostly to jazz these days, but really would like to hear some more rock recommendations - QOTSA has really been floating my boat lately, and I think I should go give that Probot album another listen. Also the classics, like Jim Hendrix "Live at Royal ALbert Hall" has been lotta fun - my default picture of my Ludwig drums are a lot like what Mitch Mitchell plays on that particular album. As soon as Derm and I find a bassist who fits our needs, we’re gonna come destroy a stage near YOU. Really, it’s gonna be great, I’m trying to tell you now.

Here’s me f**king around in the new spot! When I set up these drums, I didn’t really realize how wrong I was doing it - I need some new pics to check my ergonomics. These are by no means exceptional examples of my drumming, but what the hell, it’s what I did.