drummer sound and style
dcd6575
Posts: 7
In seeing the guys over the years I have to say that does anyone enjoy the drumming sound/style of Dave Abbruzzese as much as I do? After revisiting the some of the 1992-1994 shows- his drumming style and sound was just awesome. Now - I dig Matt just as much as everyone else - but there was just a different raw sound when they played live back then vs now...
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As some one who has been drumming for 25 years, let me help explain who Jack irons irritates the hell out of you. (or at least me anyway)
Attacks. Yes, Jack is a solid funk drummer but his attacks are just, well, bad. By attack I mean this; Jack always seemed to fade into songs and leave you wondering "is he going to play or isn't he?" Good example is "Off He Goes." Listen to Jack come into the song. It is sort of an indefinite fade in like he doesn't know the song or something. Then listen to someone like Matt play the same song "1-2-3-and-4-and-1." Matt smacks the shit of out that 4 (a sharp snare ending the bar and the 1 is the kick drum beginning his first measure) and 1 and attacks his opening. You know he has entered the song and is going to play like he knows the song.
Accents. Keeping time on the hi-hat. Not that Jack isn't keeping absolutely perfect time, but it is annoying when a drummer accents the shit out of his right hand on the hi-hat. I am normal, middle of the road rock song in 4/4 time the drummer usually playing eighth notes on the hit-hat (be it closed or open). In the pattern 1, and, 2, and, 3, and 4, and 1, and 2, and 3, and 4, and so on and so on. And with that formula, normally the drummer strikes the snare on 2 and 4 every time in that succession (you know like the old joke says, white people clap on 1 and 3 and black people clap on 2 and 4 haha). Jack Irons accents (accent meaning he raises his stick a lot higher so that note has more umph) on every single beat instead of smooth and steady. So instead of 1, and 2, and 3, and 4, and you have ONE, and TWO, and THREE, and FOUR, and when Jack is playing which gives you a crash, crash, crash, crash incessently over and over. See jack play "Corduroy" and then listen to Matt play it. You may understand a little better.
As for Dave A, dude is just obcessed with cymbals. But damn i enjoy listening to him play.
fascinating... thanks for that explanation! my ability to discuss drumming is pretty much limited to "that sounds cool" and "i don't like that". maybe i'm selling myself short, but i've been fascinating with drumming for a long time, and i can never quite put into words what i want to say. your analysis sounds spot on. I think Dave A's fast and furious drumming was right for the band at the time, especially on Vs. Matt's my favorite PJ drummer, and for the most part he makes old songs better, especially Corduroy, but I still prefer the way Dave A played Go... it sounds like a fireworks display.
There was a huge dicsussion on this in the thread about Dave A putting videos up on youtube.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=95437&hilit=dave+putting+videos
Personally the reason i like Jack more than Matt on soft songs is that Jacks soft drumming suited soft songs. I dont like hearing loud drums smacking the time out during Off He Goes, its simple time, the band can count, the drums dont need to be that audible if theyre not adding anything musically, which on a song like that, they arent. On heavier songs, it sounds great. Overall i feel that Matt hasnt drummed to his full ability for PJ.
If you listen to Soundgarden, Wellwater Conspiracy or Harrby McCage...you start to feel that the band could try so many things with Matt. For whatever reason, it doesnt happen, and its a real shame.
Matt's the best live drummer they've had for me, and he's great on the new album.