Thomas Lang

[beat Hit]

Wow Steve, thanks for that great link!! That guy can play!! I've never heard of him before. It's ALWAYS nice to get to hear new names play.

www.montrealdrumfest.com

I just noticed that we will be able to see Thomas Lang live at the Montreal Drum Festival this November too!! Heee Haaa!! The Fest is sooo promising this year. The only sad news on this year's Fest is that Rayford Griffin had to cancel...

Ciao,

[davfrancis]

YES!

Apparently Thomas Lang did study with Vinnie - albeit in an inormal way - heres a treat for all you Lang followers...

"I went to the Baked Potato in LA in the late 80s and this woman at the bar was speaking in German. My girlfriend started talking with her and it turned out she was from Austria. I said "What are you doing here?" and she replied -"Just checking out the drummer" I said "Me too, I love Vinnie he's my hero"and she said "yes I like this guy as well" Turns out Vinnie is her husband!!

[davfrancis]

Oops!! hit the wrong button. Now for the rest of the story...

....So I kind of hooked up with him through her and used to go down to the house for coffee and cake.. Thats how it started, and whenever I was down there I just hung out asking questions -'Whats this?' 'How do you do that?'
I must have got on his nerves for about a year and a half doing that.

It was really unlike anything I had ever experienced before, though. Just being around him, and checking him out at home or at gigs and asking silly questions all the time was really helpful to me. Not so much on the technical side, it was more that I wanted to know about how he used his intensity levels and energy as a musical tool, rather than to ask about chops. I still believe he is one of the most intense drummers around."

Exctract from Thomas Lang interview in Rhythm magazine- March 2000

[royerin]

Yes, you're all in for a treat with Thomas Lang - I'm glad he's finally getting the recognition that he deserves. I was extremely fortunate to have him as one of our teachers when I was at the now-defunkt P.I.T. in London six years ago. Apparently he was there as a favour to the school director or something - he was FAR more advanced that any of the other teachers (he was 28 at the time). I believe he had taken lessons with Vinnie also. His class was "Applied Technique" which was pretty much as the name suggests, but it was like having a lesson with a top player - he's that good. The bass and guitar players would check out his lesson too, something that never happened any other time. A friend of mine said if you could create the perfect drummer, Thomas Lang would be it. Judge for yourself when you see him. He's in this month's Modern Drummer.

Cheers.

[PocketPlayer]

I saw Lang at the Winter NAMM show here in Anaheim, CA. He was at the Sonar booth demonstarting the new BD pedal. He was dressed very laid back in jeans- just like in the new ads. When he played on the electric kit provided, I immediately said to myself this guy is in the Weckl, Vinnie, Vigil class technically. His stick control was ridiculous, even when he played very simple stuff- it was his entire motion that was so mature. I wondered who this guy was. Funny thing is at the Zildjian booth, about every name and pop drummer sat all lined up for for a signing and at the Vic Firth booth was Weckl, Wackerman, Smith, and Arnoff. All I kept wondering was who this Sonar guy was with all these other name drummers.
Speaking of his MD article- How many times did he use the word, "control"? Interesting thoughts about stick grip too.

[Derek DeFields]

I really enjoyed the MD article though I wish it would've been a bit longer. His approach is exactly like a drum corps approach which is quite a bit different than most current teaching methods.

Speaking of control, I think that's what impresses me the most about that Sonor video. That's all I've seen or heard of him playing but I was really impressed with his fluidity. (if that's a word...) Very smooth and had a really nice sound I thought, particularly on his feet. I couldn't believe he was getting such a strong double bass sound playing heel down.

I checked out the sound clips on Audiophile of him but the music was really dissapointing. Hopefully someone can point us to some cool albums with him on them.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 03, 2002 11:37 PM: Message edited by: Derek DeFields ]</font>

[XNavyDrummer]

Great clip. Thanks for the link Steve! What a cool time to be a drummer with so much creative and musical stuff showing up.

Derek's use of the word fluidity definitely applies here. Thomas Lang shows a great example of finesse, power and flow. A very cool example of classical training and contemporary style.

Is he really playing with his heels down or are they just really low?

[Derek DeFields]

Heel down. I got this email from him last night. I had asked him about his videos and if he was really playing heel down with that kind of volume. Here's part of the mail.

"i always play both, heel up and heel down. up for accents and loud, muffled strokes, down for quieter playing and subdivisions as well as for "long periods of time", in order to save energy. my videos are only out in europe, but i will be doing a dvd for warner later this year which is due out in spring in the states. my two instuctional videos will also be re-released on dvd in the u.s. in january."

[Derek DeFields]

almost forgot, found this link with (I think) his entire solo album from 95 posted. Not sure how much this does for me but check it out.

http://homepage.mac.com/mediatorcd/m/m3/Mediator3.html

[Geoff_G]

the german sonor video of Thomas is insane. i love this guy. we will be hearing BIG things from this guy. dig the "approach" & relaxed chops !!!

http://homepage.mac.com/sticktrix/x/vc/GiantStep.html