A LITTLE Serious, But Not Too Much!

Okay, here's what I wanna say:

I've been listening to most everyone's music, and you all are great writers and players and I say that with all seriousness. Of course some of you are limited as to equipment, but that hasn't bothered me one bit in making my comments. But I digress.

I've been playing music (okay as a drummer) ever since I was 15 and I have seen and heard a thing or two. I've played behind some good bands and played behind some that were so bad I had to excuse myself, go to the little boy's room and sneak out the back door and drive home (The drums weren't mine, thank God!). That's always bothered me and made me feel guilty. I should have sat through the whole set and made the best of it, but at 15 you don't always make the best choices.

The reason I say I've heard and seen some stuff is because I had the opportunity to play behind one or twof great ones: Joe South (before he became famous) came to my hometown to play a sock hop and was missing a drummer, the drums were there set up, I volunteered and got to play a couple of songs when his drummer finally showed up. And Wilson Pickett at Muscle Shoals (again on drums) on a song called "You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your Well Runs Dry), an old blues tune. As far as I know it never made even a flip side, but that didn't matter to me. It was "The Shoals"!

I'm not writing those things to blow my own horn, just to tell you that back behind the drum kit one notices a lot about a singer's style, a guitarist's playing, etc. etc.. But in those days and mostly not in these, no one wants to hear from a drummer. We're asked to provide the rythm section and ride with the bass and that's just about it. "Do that and shurrup, you!"    (it wasn't that bad!)

Because I try to listen and comment to so many of you, let me please just say that I love all the styles you play and sing, but the one thing I've noticed is reluctance to  "Turn It Loose" with that voice of yours. Finding one's "STYLE" and range is important I know, but don't get caught in a rut: Your song's written, you're down with the chords, but your voice sounds like the last song you did and the last one before that one. If you've found your style and range, then exploit it!

That's just some words from a "drummer" you might not want to hear, but they come from the heart of a fellow musician and were written with admiration and respect for all my friends here, so I hope you won't take offense.

Thanks for reading the words of just an ol' drummer and remember to....... (this is your music speaking to you!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdaZ7N-W9vw 

Bill