larry44673 + Musician in Cambridge, ON

SEEKING

ABOUT

I am 62, retired from my day job and drumming is my focus now. I haven't done this all my life, but I PLAY AT A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. I learned how to drum in Sea Cadets as a kid (14) as a Marching Snare Drummer for about 2 1/2 years at which time I took lessons on a full kit as well. Then I focused on work until I retired 11 years ago. I've been back at it for about 10 years now. I'm not a heavy player; in fact, just the opposite. My style is very much like Ringo's; I sit high and play down and I prefer rhythm and complexity over power and speed! I can play loud if I have to, but it's not how I usually play. I like to be able to move around my kit very fast and you can't do that well with tightly flexed biceps! Everyone I have met likes my playing style. I sit like Ringo (perched like a canary in a tree top). It's a very old jazz style and today, most rock drummers want to sit low and reach up. There is a reason I play like that but that isnt important right now.

I put unspecified gigs because I did march in many Parades as a drummer when I was a kid. Does that count or even matter at all? I've also attended a few "Open Mic's" with a Cajon with reasonable success, but it's pretty hard to hook up to new players after 60 years old. A lot of people feel that if you haven't done this all your life, you "can't" be any good. What do you think? Being able to play at a pro level and repeatedly passed over because of a "lack of experience" has become very frustrating and I am at a total loss on what to do now?

I play Pop, Light Rock, Acoustic, some New Country, Motown/Hip-Hop and Heavy Blues. I'm just NOT a smasher... sorry peeps! Ideally I would suit a lady singer with a pop/light rock/semi-accoustic type of playing style. I DON'T want to play older classic rock from the 60's & 70's I'm NOT your guy! Even heavy stuff from the 80's & 90's too. I'm a light player!!!!

Screen name:

larry44673

Member since:

Jan 24 2014

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

45

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Most available:

Days

Influences

I grew up listening to Classic Rock but I also got pretty tired of it too and now I don't want to play it. I am a very light player and usually play with Wand bundles and Regal-Tip Combos which are even lighter than 7A Jazz sticks! I'm not into beating my drum gear to death.

I listen to a lot of Pop music and new Rock-n-Roll as well as some Hip Hop (Wild, Wild, West - Wil Smith), Motown (Marvin Gaye & Pointer Sisters), Electronic (Glenn Morrison) New Country (Shania Twain) and Light Rock/Acoustic (Colbie Cailat). I'm NOT into Classic Rock, Classical, Old Country (Johnny Cash yuk!), Rap, Death Metal or Screamo. My drumming influences are: Ringo Star (The Beatles), Ginger Baker (Cream), Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Neil Peart (Rush). And last but not least, Karen Carpenter (yes, she was a great drummer too).

Oh Lady Singer with guitar.....where are you?

Instrument experience:

Drums:

Advanced

Other:

Advanced

Other Percussion:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Sonor Versagig (Maple) and Pearl Export (Poplar/Mahogany) drum kits, 2 custom Mapex Snare drums (Mapex Exterminator & Pearl Sensitone Nickle over Brass Snare), 2 complete Dream Cymbal sets, 3 Stagg cymbals, 5 Cow Bells plus some accessory percussion pieces. I also have a custom Cajon, pro quality Bongos, a 25w Bass Amp, 10w Guitar Amp, 2 Condenser Microphones, Mackie 8 Ch Mixer and Tall Mic Stand and 3 Low Mic Stands (for drums). I also have the most ridiculously expensive Tambourine made; I don't even know why I bought it, lol.

You can reach me at canadiandrummer54 at gmail dot com. anytime.

MUSIC