Life Drumming

A series of unfortunate events, and other not-so unfortunate ones.

2007-07-04T01:05:00.000-07:00

Yeah. Story of my life... I'm down on the ground, (literally) thanks to the two most crucial discs in my lower back that just couldn't shut up and stay in place. Talk about rebelling! So, I am now expected to correct my posture, walk a lot, and give up drumming for a while... I can't and so I won't even begin to describe my angst. Prolly have a song about these trying times in our next album! ;)

And our manager - Mr. Khandige finally laid his duties to rest. He quit! Which leaves me with more work to do, which just rocks since my sitting-at-the-comp time is limited, thanks to my back! Life!

In the not-so unfortunate news section, however, we finally uploaded some samples of our upcoming album onto our myspace account, at http://www.myspace.com/myndsnare
and the wrapper is off our new website, which is all shiny and what-not. Visit it at www.myndsnare.com and tell us what you think by mailing in at mail.myndsnare@gmail.com

The album mixing is going well, we've got a couple of more songs to go through before we send it across the seas to the outback for mastering. So, all that's good.

And seeing as we're on a good note, I'll end this post here, and wait for more bad news before posting again... ;) Just kidding. I'll be more regular, I promise!

Lay-ter...
Y?

First class

2007-03-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

No. I didn't fly anywhere. And even if I did, it'll be years before I can afford First Class seats... sigh... being a musician just doesn't pay enough.

No. It's not about having my first class as a teacher either. After eight months of trying to and failing, I finally had my first class as a student, with this amazing drummer - Jeoraj George, who lives further down south in Chennai... hence the lapse in time. And what a class it was too! I'm totally inspired. I actually practiced instead of plonking down infront of the telly... and there was no internal struggle either!

Now THAT is a good teacher. Not only can he play, he can teach. He must be an exception to the "those who can't, teach" rule. He has quite an impressive biography too... been playing for just five years (JESUS, WHY!?), topped his class at Drumtech, London, specializes in Latin grooves and just about anything that makes a normal mind go "What what what what!?!?!?!?!?"

In short, he is insanely brilliant on the drums, and a very good teacher. What more can one want in life I wonder... Did I hear a Porsche 911? Nah! I'm not materialistic. I'll settle for a penthouse with an open air, heated swimming pool (don't wanna freeze them toesies on a cold winter night, now do we?), a large well-equipped studio and a Dodge Viper. Oh! And Carter Beauford's groove, and Mike Mangini's hands, and Thomas Haake's co-ordination and legs... That's all I ask for. The simple things in life... the bare necessities...

New life

2007-03-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm at the threshold of a new life...

I quit my job as a blogger at atlantis Computing last week, after having re-organised my life/ work priorities. I'm embarking on the wonderful/ scary journey of being a full-time musician. A professional drummer, if you will. And I'm going to start by teaching what little I know of the instrument at a beginner's and intermediate level.

Here's to never having to work again in my life! And to only have to play the drums till I die. I don't know about Jack, but all play (as in playing the drums... got that play of words?) and no work, works just fine for me!

On a more serious note, (like E minor, for instance) I've tried to sustain myself as a full-time musician before and have failed... as Jon Anderson (Yes) put it, "Beginning is one place, I've been before..." and it's not so much the beginning I fear, it's more the fear of failure than failure itself. But Chick Corea's "New Life" inspires me to start one for myself...

Before I end this update, I'd like to quote (almost verbatim) what my ex-professor at the Indian Institute of Science - Raghavendra Gadagkar once told me - "I wish everyone would do exactly what they wanted to in life... we'd be such a happy lot!"
Amen!
Y?

Maiden post!

2007-03-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Talk about coincidences! My maiden post coincides exactly with Bangalore's first Iron Maiden concert...
Ah! Iron Maiden... my first awakening to the possibilities of music that allows one to express one's teenage angst... and as I discovered some years ago, a lot of not-quite-so-much-of-a- teenage-any-more angst as well. It'll be mind-blowing watching the Gods of yore wreak havoc upon us, whilst struggling to stand on one toe, shoulder to shoulder with approximately 49,999 other identically angry, screaming Maiden fans (of course, there will be some folks who bought their tickets to be a part of the latest trend, but who gives a rat's bottom!? Iron Maiden's coming!).

Funny thing is, everyone in town has been on a non-caffeine induced "Dude!!!! IRON MAIDEN MAN!!!" trip for a few weeks now. And truthfully, I've been quite placid about it. And why shouldn't I be? I could afford to be nonchalant about it, 'cause unlike the poor sods I hang out with, I've actually caught them once before with my brother in Manchester. But I guess the band was right... "Iron Maiden's gonna get me... again!" And I seem to have "gotten" it an hour ago... And getting that led to this post, which led to a google image search so I could put up a cool band pic, which led to my discovering these inspiring images! I mean, who would've thought dear little sponge bob would be grow up to be an Eddie some day?! And I must say, the sponge bob ones are, if I may, ahem... "killer", so to speak. As for the ironing maiden below, well, its a nun... but we'll let that slide in the spirit of good humour.

So, let's hear it for the band that inspired us all! \m/ "Scream for me Bangalore!!!!!!!"
*bows*
"And now I must sleep."
Y?