Hello, MD readers. My name is Richard Danielson, and I’m the drummer for Vintage Trouble. Our music has been described as many things. I like to call it “primitive soul.” We have stripped it down to just guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. We keep it raw and a little dangerous-feeling at times, which I love, especially in the studio, where we record everything live and without a click. The feel of humans (musicians) interacting with one another, live and in the moment, is a huge turn on for me. I’m in constant chase of that magic, and I suppose it’s why many of us play music.

Vintage Trouble is currently opening for the Who throughout North America, so I’ve been watching both live Who performances as well as old Who documentaries. Keith Moon was such a huge part of the Who’s musical personality. I’ve been recently re-invigorated by rediscovering how much I love this band and, more particularly, Moon’s style and contribution.

In 500 words or less, let’s take a moment to muse about personality and drumming, or what I like to refer to as attitude. My favorite drummers seem to be tapped into an emotional or personal place when they drum, which not only resonates in their style but also tends to inspire and influence the music around them. Whatever that place “Moon The Loon” was tapped into worked great for him. He had a spirit that perhaps cannot be taught, and that lent so much to the music he inspired. But we can all tap into what makes us tick and bring this to our music. Drummers that play with attitude tend to embody the music they play, no matter what style. Buddy Rich played with so much fire that it was borderline-ferocious at times. Sheila E plays with tremendous attitude when she plays percussion. She’s feeling it, and it’s infectious. Advertisement

Let us not be afraid to express more of our own personalities through our instrument. This tapping into the emotion of what we are playing/hearing/feeling can elevate our game. I see and feel this so often. I consider myself to be an emotional player. Get me emotionally involved in the music, and I am at my best. It may come out in the way that I take a stab at a cymbal based on what I just heard or felt, or in the way I drive a groove or square it up to give it some extra character, or even in the way I might lay at the backside of a beat to widen the entire playing field. Emotion can manifest itself in so many ways. It can manifest in our playing as attitude, and attitude is character, and character is sexy.

I never want to forget what turned me on about music in the first place. I lost that for a number of years, and it feels really great to be back. I challenge myself and all who read this to stay true to your emotions to the point that it affects your instincts behind the kit. Bring yourself to your playing. Cop an attitude!

 

For more on Vintage Trouble, visit www.vintagetrouble.com.