Here's Mal Evans with his tambourine from The Beatles GET BACK documentary... this takes place before the 'Instant Karma' video.

I hit these for about 4 minutes and people in the room clapped afterwards. We did this for about 2 hours and then both decided to call it a night. 
#socialcontract

I love adding little 'x-factors' to my practice and gig kit. Whether it's a block, bell, tambourine, or something I found from Home Depot, it's a challenge to tastefully work it into what I'm playing. Adding things here and there would usually mean bringing along other clamps or brackets to mount them. Lame! 

So my way of utilizing something that's already there is using long floor tom legs as percussion mounts. They're not within striking range so there are no stick interference issues. Without something mounted to them, they look like weather towers stuck in the middle of the kit. With some trinkets stuck on them, the kit looks complete and others won't even notice the percussion is  f l o a t i n g.

Pearl videographer Garrett DeLozier and I went down to The Ryman on a brisk Sunday afternoon to meet Rafael Pereira, percussionist for Janelle Monáe.

We timed it just right as Rafa and his beautiful wife had just arrived to the venue. After a quick set-up, we discovered that there could be no noise from the stage for another 45 minutes due to venue restrictions. So we found a great spot outside to shoot the interview portion but there was construction going on nearby. Not to mention that some of the workers walked up to see what was going on... "Hey, whuch you guyz iz doin', huh? Is dis a video... will i be on cameras?"  

We quickly bounce back inside and find an ambient stairwell that had some vibe to it. As soon as we start rolling, doors from upstairs and downstairs were opening and closing but Rafa (a total pro) nailed everything in one take. We finished that just in time to catch some footage of him onstage and that's it... hugs and kisses and we're out!

Getting curve balls thrown our way is always expected but its so nice when the subject is just as chill and goes with the flow... Rafa is water! You'll also be seeing more of him in some 2014 videos so stay tuned to Pearl Drums' social outlets.

Had a BIG time playing in the house band at the Agape Animal Rescue Masquerade Ball tonight! 

Tons came out to support a terrific cause, listen to some music, and wear a cool animal mask. 

It's gang signs and devil horns pre-show and the band roster was John Willis (gtr), Mike Rojas (keys), Dan Frizsell (bass), John Conley (gtr), Nick Buda (drums), me (jingleys), Kelley Norris (vox), and Brett “Scoop” Blanden (FOH). 

Thanks to Gary Chapman, High Valley, Sarah Davidson, and the funky funky Brian Fuente for taking point.

Had the pleasure of clunking some percussion on this one. 

Thanks to Dan Frizsell and Phil O’Donnell for not throwin' me out when I play Sugar Hill Gang's "Apache" for mic check. :)

Here is a playlist of music that I provided drums and/or percussion... Enjoy.

Played a session with Skully, the hottest act in Nashville! He loved the new brass tambourine but said 'a percussionist is just a drummer who can't swing'... and then he headbutted me. :)

Instrument of the session at Legends Studio was the quickly-created Triple Stack Tambourine. 

It was also cool to use the Zildjian Gen 16 crash & ride as acoustic cymbals for the "dramatic swells". They have really unique characteristics that set them apart from the suspended cymbal I regularly use.

Photo taken at Legends Studio/Steve Richard session...