It’s been a busy end to the year! 
UBER UPDATE:
CARS ON FIRE
First off – because the new Cars On Fire album has taken so damned long to come out, we decided to write and record a track to release. We wrote and rehearsed the song in four hours, recorded it in a day and as Ali Ross was finishing the vocals, I decided to use the footage I’d shot to make a video – I think the total time from no song to mix, mastered and finished video was sub 30 hours…
Here’s the link to the song and the video:
Here’s the Cars On Fire Facebook page
Here’s a ‘drum only’ video edit of the track too!
And COF Twitter: @carsonfireband
JAM TRACK CENTRAL
I was honoured to be asked via Craig Blundell to submit some tracks alongside Craig, Steve White, Michael Shack and my BIMM colleagues Mark Whitlam and Jason Bowld, for Jam Track Central.
An already very successful guitar jam track website, they have decided to branch into bass and drums and it’s shaping up very well. It was launched on December the first. I’ve not written music on my own before and I’m pleased to find I can – I intend to develop this craft further! I borrowed heavily from the people that I have been influenced and worked with from the Bristol scene – so a very trip hop vibe going on. Video seems to be the new thing for me – there are video performances of each track, versions with and without click (no drums) and charts for each one. Go have a listen and if you like what you hear – well, it’s £7.99!
Twitter: @jamtracks
OTHER NEWS – 1. MIND OVER METER
I’m having a rejig of the book and will be filming video lessons that accompany the book over Christmas for release in the new year – more video! They will be done in a lesson format so you can work through the sections of the book with the video.
Twitter: @jhesterdrums
OTHER NEWS 2. DRUM BREAKS
Myself and Tim Brown are running another Drum Breaks at Quad Studios in Leicester on January 21st/22nd – the main thrust of this will be studio recording, coming up with drum parts:
I will be covering: Ok guys – reading and writing charts and cheat sheets, rhythm section work and options, grooves; variations and feel, musical fill ideas, internal and external dynamics and drum tone, developing click playing and beat placement.
Tim Brown will be covering: All aspects of getting a killer sound inc. Tuning, Muffling, Mike placements, Choosing the right Drums, Heads , tools and Cymbals for the track. Triggering, using Drum software and Constructing Musical Drum parts, developing consistancy and precision.
It’s going to be a great weekend as was the first one!
FINALLY!
As ever BIMM (@BIMMBristol) is great fun. I’ve been covering Jason Bowld whilst he was touring with Pop Will Eat Itself a lot this term so doing all of the recording, videos etc has been quite a logistical challenge – even figuring sleep into it all! Add Zak (at 2.5 years old) and new addition baby boy Indy (at 10 weeks old) into the mix and you a busy time at Hester towers. Drummer magazines London Drum Show (@drummermag) was a blast in October – it’s always great to get to see everyone! It’s always a fun time getting the magazine to deadline and coming up with new ideas for the videos and lessons is pushing me in my own playing!
Thanks, as ever, for all the support – the music industry is a weird place at times so it’s nice to know the little corner of it that the drum industry occupies is a nice place to retreat to as and when I get the chance!
Have a great Christmas and here’s to more for 2012!!!!