Thomas Lang owns all y'all

**Don Worth** · October 7th, 2004, 03:02 AM

Bought his DVD but have not watched it yet. Looked a t a bit of it and put it away. I leave Thurs for 6 weeks on the road and will have plenty of time to view then. Just wanted to wait so I had something new to watch on the road.

**Kurt R** · October 7th, 2004, 03:40 AM

Have fun and watch them feet [img]graemlins/chat.gif[/img]

When I saw him he was 2 side snares and a snare on a pedal. I wonder if he'll try that out again.

The extras on the dvd Disc one are about the best parts of dvd!!

**matricks** · October 7th, 2004, 07:52 AM

Chris... sorry buddy, i didn't read about how to spot you out until now, which is AFTER the clinic. I left early this morning and didn't look on here, it would have been cool to hang with you there. Oh, and small world: my buddy Mike Cota, here in Seattle, said he knows you. I called him on the phone before the clinic, to rub it in that i went and he had to work. He says he knows you and you mentioned me but didn't know my real name. 'It's a small world afterall...'
Anyways, bummer that i didn't read this sooner or i could have caught you, that would have been very cool. Oh, where can i get some of those "i'm with the drummer" shirts???
You may have seen, or heard me... I was the one who asked Thomas the "hair" question.
Anyways, my brain is fried, i will give a review tomorrow when i recover!
-Ryan

**matricks** · October 7th, 2004, 07:53 AM

P.S. Thomas does own all y'all... and ME too!!! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

**FuseU1** · October 7th, 2004, 05:00 PM

...not if Virgil's reading this! [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]redface.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[ October 07, 2004 02:01 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]

**CLWarunki** · October 7th, 2004, 08:02 PM

matricks! hahaha, it is a small world! get this: I am searching ebay for some snare drums when I come across a 6x13" dw edge in ebony satin oil finish with brass hardware (my entire kit is ebony satin oil, and my 5x13" snare has brass hardware). Turns out that Mike is the guy selling this snare, and I met him when his band opened for Porcupine Tree in Seattle, almost 2 years ago! We have kept in touch on and off ever since that show, and the day before the clinic he called me to talk about the snare drum and catch up. I mentioned that I knew of a guy (you) that was driving in just for the clinic, and turns out he knows you too (you are a "lefty", right?) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Anyways, about the clinic! My gf and I laughed our asses off at that question, that was classic! "...and what kind of hair product are you using in your DVD, cause it looks like you got a nice firm hold". I liked his answer too, "ummm, I didn't use any. I think it was mostly sweat". Man, what a crazy clinic. We managed to get a couple guys to move over so we could have front row seats (we were sitting front left, directly infront of the video screen). There was some totally insane guy sitting on the steps beside us who would constantly mumble things to himself and even called Thomas a "wanker" once when he told the audience he could not demonstrate a new thing he was working on since he did not have the right setup for it. I wanted to have the guy kicked out, but he did prove to be very entertaining... esp when he told Thomas to try his multi-pedal techniques while "driving down the road". He did not mean it in a sadistic way though... i think.

So, about Thomas... man, it was an intense overload to the senses. He was still getting over a cold and was not happy with his own playing though the audience was more than impressed. Into the firt song (Jam, by Micheal Jackson!?!?), he bashed one of his filter chinas (thin!) so hard that it popped halfway inside out, and remained that way for the rest of the clinic (did you notice that, matricks?)...

Thomas pulled off some of the most physically amazing things I have ever seen. Forget typical ostinatos - he did an ostinato between his right foot, left foot AND left hand, while he soloed over it with his single right hand. Amazing.
He also performed a very intricate ostinato over an orchestrated 4-part hi-hat pattern which he soloed over with both hands. After the first set of performing, there was a very lengthy Q&A period, complete with demonstrations etc. One guy had the balls to ask "Who is faster, you or Virgil?", in which Thomas replied with a smirk "I am". Heheheh. And, of course, the hair question topped it off! I wanted to ask him why he was playing to an MJ track and also what it was like to play with Falco, but didn't get the chance.

I could go on for pages, let me just say that I have seen some of the best drummers in the world host clinics and major drum fests, and this was among the very best / most entertaining. Thank god he didn't throw his sweat soaked t-shirt into the audience like Virgil once did. Thomas had a bit more class and style to his teaching and playing than most. If you get the chance to see him, don't miss it for anything. I have a drummer friend here who had to miss the clinic due to "work", and is even considering driving to Edmonton to catch him. It would be well worth the 14 hour drive!

P.S. My only complaints about the clinic were that although Thomas spoke of speed and control, he had nothing to say about actual musicality. And in his solos, as soon as he kicked into a groove that you could move or tap your foot to, he launched into something else 4 bars after. Another thing, he contradicted himself many times in explaining why he uses traditional grip. Last, he did not have enough air or space in his solos, everything was a fast flurry or jumble of notes that flew by at 100mph... if only Thomas had a bit more musicality, he would be the ultimate drummer.

[ October 07, 2004 05:08 PM: Message edited by: CLWarunki ]

**FuseU1** · October 7th, 2004, 08:59 PM

Great [& funny!] review, thx.

#2 question to NOT ask at a drum clinic [that would show your IQ, or lack thereof]:

"Who is faster, you or Virgil?"

[img]graemlins/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [Unless, of course, done in obvious jest]

[#1 ? not to ask: "Did you learn anything from Portnoy/Lars/Lombardo?"] ;cP

VERy few are worth a "14 hour drive" in my opin...well, MAYBE Vinnie...then again, no...[that's a LOT of miles/hrs for anyone who isnt a student out for summer, & even then, man!] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

14 hours of driving one way or otherwise almost qualifies as a fanatical obsessive-compulsive disorder [or "stalking!," as it were]!!

"ROAD TRIP!" ;cP

[ October 09, 2004 09:36 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]

**matricks** · October 8th, 2004, 09:15 AM

Good review!
Hey Chris, tell your friend to see how much plane tickets are... i bet they are cheap and worth it for him instead of the long way (14 hour drive, wow). I used to fly to Winnipeg ALL THE TIME when i dated a girl there. From Van to Winnipeg and back was VERY cheap. Edmonton would be dirt cheap from Vancouver, i would think.
As far as me travelling up there for Lang. Yeah, that was well worth my drive up there!!! Me and a guitar playin' buddy of mine drove up there, got lost in Surrey, had to ask a 'Newfie' or 'Newfy' (however you spell it... a chick from Newfoundland) for directions... i couldn't understand her and got totally lost trying to follow the directions she gave us. I've spent alot of time in Canada and still can't understand those people's accents who are from out east. Ok, enough ranting [img]wink.gif[/img]
Ok, first, Thomas was, of course, killin'. Second, what a nice guy! Not wound up tight, funny, cracking jokes, etc... The one thing that i really took away from there was the efficiency of practice he talked about. He mentioned that since he got asked all the time how much he practiced, that he would find out for sure so he could put a number to it. Therefore, he went back and totalled up ALL his practice logs (something his first teacher made him do at age 5 and has done ever since!). He said that if you divided the total of hours by how long he's been drumming in days, that it would be LESS THAN ONE HOUR A DAY. Yeah... he said that his secret is being focused and totally efficient. Not 'playing around when you practice, and not practicing while you play'. Then he demonstrated 'nooding' while you practice... kinda hit me close to home when i think of how i have been guilty of it! He answered all the questions really well... the Virgil one was funny: 'Who's better: you or Virgil'... Thomas: 'I AM!' with a smirk (of course). Chris, you may have had a wacko there (i was in the middle so i didn't see it) but NOTHING like the one at the Bozzio clinic i went to, haha. At the Bozzio, this one guy raises his hand and starts talking for about 3 minutes on how he (not bozzio, he is talking about himself) is the best drummer in the world because his teacher told him. Oh, and i almost forgot! Ah... the Marco clinic! Chris, when you get a chance, ask Mike Cota about this one! The clinic was held at a bar and during Marco's solo, patrons were actually playing pool... umm, unusual to say the least. Then this drunk guy with a cane and a fake leg (who was there for the clinic) starts yelling and getting all wacky. During Marco's speaking part he had to stop because some guy at the clinic and the drunk guy were about to get into it. The sober guy told him if he didn't get out that he would shove the guy's cane down his throat... he left [img]wink.gif[/img] So yeah, clinics... crazy places, who would've thought?
Ok back to Thomas. Basically, every question he was asked, was covered in his DVD's... that is a credit to his DVD and not a knock to the clinic. This DVD was so comprehensive that, basically, all the questions from the audience are right there on it.
I just watched part of his DVD today, and yes, his playing HAS gotten better... i really did notice. If you watch the 2003 Meinl solo and see him now, you can see improved tightness AND better continuity. I really didn't think it could get tighter, but i was wrong... it DOES! His playing was VERY dense, not alot of time to catch your breath. I am not complaining, if it was someone who could KINDA do it then it would get old but he has enough tricks in the bag that he can pull it off and need no excuses, ram the notes right down your throat and make you like it [img]tongue.gif[/img]
I'll list the quesions, ones i can remember, if anyone wants to know his answers, i can post them (it would take too much time to write the answers on here along with the questions!)
How much do you practice?
What shoes are you wearing?
How did you develope your feet (doubles)?
Can you explain your tuning, esp. bass drum?
What are you working on (technically) now?
Can you explain why you use traditional grip?
Hi-hat foot pedal orchestration?
What advice would you give to someone about developing a practical/balanced practice routine?
In your DVD, what product did you use in your hair to get such a firm hold? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Who's faster, you or Virgil?
Can you explain your cross-sticking?
Who are your influences then and now?
What/who are you checking out now?
What inspires you in drumming and in life?
How has your new family changed your life as a drummer (i.e. practice/professionally)?
What is your method of developing endurance?
That is all i remember...
So, yeah, overall, one of the best clinics i have been to, and a great turnout. I would say over 300+, easy. Don't miss him if you get the chance [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

P.S. Chris, next time you are down in Sea-town, hit up Mike and I and we can hang to make up for the Lang clinic!