Steve Smith at Catalina

[ladanny]

I just got home from the Steve Smith Vital Information show at Catalina. WOW. Steve is WAY on top of his game. He was on FIRE tonight.

Maybe, it was because he was playing in front of a ton of fellow drummers. I was invited to join the Vic Firth table for dinner, drinks, and the show. What a thrill to watch Steve Smith while sitting next to Gregg B., Ndugu, Myron Grombacher, Carmine A., Danny Cary, Ricky Lawson, and a bunch of others. This was like and HOD hang, but with "famous" drummers.

If you can see the show, go for sure. Steve's kit is setup sideways, so you can see all of his incredible stick work.

Danny

[WecklsMechanic]

Thanks for calling you bum!!

I'll probably go on sun night with Tony Pia.

Can't wait to see the Smithster!!

-j

[ladanny]

Sorry man! I wasn't sure what was happening until the last minute.

Go see the show! Steve just KILLS.

Danny

[sjj123]

http://offices.colgate.edu/healthser...new_page_1.htm

http://offices.colgate.edu/healthservices/ssmith1.htm

I'll bet it was excellent. I got to see Steve w/ Buddy's Buddies & Vital info at this distance...very cool

[likedachuch]

wow danny! sounds like you came back down from the mountain!! so happy for ya [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[WecklsMechanic]

Wow!!! I'm surprised I'm beating Danny reporting about this gig!! [img]wink.gif[/img]

Danny... you shouldn't have left after the 1st show, because Steve pulled out the kitchen sink for the second show.

Man!!! This is Steve Smith like I have never seen before. Played his ass off!! Boucoup chops and lots of variety when it came to interpretation. The warmer he got, the more creative it got. The tunes were great and you can tell Steve is still "stretching" in his quest for new ideals, rhythms, & playing styles.

Saw Steve last year with that "clay pot" player (can't remember his name) and Steve was doing some incredible "trades" with him on the drums. That whole "indian" counting system. Sunday night, he was doing this stuff all on his own. He even played his "own" clay pot for the 1st show!! On the drums, he'd vocalize these rediculous indian chant/accents and then proceed to play them in rapid fire mode........ all on the double bass!!! [img]eek.gif[/img]

So..... me and Tony Pia are sitting there enjoying the show, and who walks in?? Mr. Freddy Gruber. Freddys like grandfather to me, treats me real nice and always has a plethora of stories to tell from the 30's to today in drumming. He's one of the last walking encyclopedia's of drumming.

After the show we're all talking and my friend Tony is tripping out on the old codger. We're all laughing. Steve Smith walks up and give Freddy a big hug. Stood there with us and talked for quite sometime. 1st time I've ever been able to really ask Steve alot of questions.

Steve sez he really likes his DW 9000 Titanium pedals. They look awesome. He had one of those "carbon steel" snares that I guess is made of cymbal material?? Weighs a ton but sounded awesome!! Asked him about his form (posture). Noticed he was always "correcting" himself as a gymnist would do. Always getting back to a "center" point. He said yes.... its something he's learned from yoga pricipals of working from a Neutral place to reduced fatigue and his probability of injury (i.e. back, muscles, etc). I remarked of how high he was sitting on the thrown which allowed his legs to "dangle" off the edge, there again he remarked, it allowed him to work the pedals freely from a natural balance centerpoint. And I can attest, his method makes for some burning pedal action.

Otherwise his "hands" were just amazing. The typical crop of amazing drummers that are out there. Blinding speed and technique, all the while making it look so easy.

What was really cool was helping steve pack his gear. Tony was removing his cymbals and handing them to him. Steve seems really anal though. He likes his stuff put away a certain way. Kinda got territorial for a second. But I don't blame him..... I'm the same way.

I lost my camera's download cable, otherwise I would have posted pics already. I'm going to buy a new one tonight. I still haven't downloaded my NAMM pics yet either.

Anyone who has the chance to see this show, try to go on a night where the energy is high. A night where he's really warmed up and worked out. You'll see the difference!!!

-j

[moosetication]

I caught Steve at Ronnies at the end of last year (there's a review around here somewhere). It was simply breathtaking.

[ladanny]

What a great experience! Must have been fun helping back. Did you help him load into his minivan?? hehehe. Hard to picture Steve Smith driving around in that minivan...

Great hang as always!

Danny

[WecklsMechanic]

Ok!!

So heres the pics I promised. Not too many, just a few. But I also took a short video of Steve doing his "tribute to Gruber" techniques.

Heres a link to the pics....

http://public.fotki.com/WecklsMechan...ve_smith_pics/

And here's a link to the short video......

http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3...V2PWE4508V0648

Enjoy!!