Matt's live drumming today VS. '98/2000

drummerboy_73

So I've been watching a few Youtube uploads of some of the recent shows, and maybe it's just me, but it seems like some of Matt's drumming just doesn't have the intensity as it used to. Before you slam me, I don't mean to say that Matt is not playing well TECHNICALLY or that he doesn't have the same energy, but some of the drum parts themselves seem to be more stripped down. For example, on "Sad" on 9/25/09, he's playing a straight 2/4 on the snare in the verse, whereas he used to do a more offbeat pattern. Kind of weird, 'cause he really used to do more live than what was on recorded versions, but now it seems the opposite; his playing is a bit more straightforward than the records and to me, has lost some of it's character compared to '98/2000 live shows. The fills are more stripped down and on songs like "Given To Fly", where he used to do some crazy fills on the outro (listen to "LO2L"), he's now just kind of fading out. Perhaps he's found himself more comfortable with his role in the band and has purposely toned down some of his "flashier" playing to fit the maturity and mindset of the band these days...who knows?

Anyhow, not a criticism - just an observation - and wondering how anyone else might feel. I still love 'em the same, but as much as I love Avocado and now Backspacer, I still find myself listening to '98-2000 boots more often than any others. CHEERS!

Gern Blansten

Serious????

Got Guts

Some of you people on here have way too much time on your hands.

Not a criticism, just an observation.

12345AGNST1

Gern Blansten wrote:

Serious????

yea, hes actually completely right. You mean you haven't noticed this yet?

I think his playing is simpler more now than it was simply because he matured and hes 10 years older. He still does go crazy quite often though, it seems like hes a little more on fire this tour than the last tour. i was disappointed with his playing in the Hartford boot from last year.

Seattle1974

drummerboy_73 wrote:

So I've been watching a few Youtube uploads of some of the recent shows, and maybe it's just me, but it seems like some of Matt's drumming just doesn't have the intensity as it used to. Before you slam me, I don't mean to say that Matt is not playing well TECHNICALLY or that he doesn't have the same energy, but some of the drum parts themselves seem to be more stripped down. For example, on "Sad" on 9/25/09, he's playing a straight 2/4 on the snare in the verse, whereas he used to do a more offbeat pattern. Kind of weird, 'cause he really used to do more live than what was on recorded versions, but now it seems the opposite; his playing is a bit more straightforward than the records and to me, has lost some of it's character compared to '98/2000 live shows. The fills are more stripped down and on songs like "Given To Fly", where he used to do some crazy fills on the outro (listen to "LO2L"), he's now just kind of fading out. Perhaps he's found himself more comfortable with his role in the band and has purposely toned down some of his "flashier" playing to fit the maturity and mindset of the band these days...who knows?

Anyhow, not a criticism - just an observation - and wondering how anyone else might feel. I still love 'em the same, but as much as I love Avocado and now Backspacer, I still find myself listening to '98-2000 boots more often than any others. CHEERS!

I took my friend (who is a drummer) to Seattle 1, and he made a similar observation. He thought that Matt played it straight forward and stripped down a bit. I thought he rocked, but that was his perspective.

Stove

I was at both chicago shows and was a little bummed he didn't go ass crazy for the evenflow solo. But I didn't really notice but if he is...it makes sense. He's been with the band for awhile so he has maybe found his niche with were he fits with everyone else. There's alot of personality on the stage and maybe he feels he doesn't have to do crazy fills for every song. I think if there's anything to be said about the boots is they've really turned matt up in the mix! Which I guess is good if you a big fan of Matt, like I am! Having said that he is such a great addition to the band and will always be my favorite (with Jack a close close second!)

adamdude

98 and 00 were my favourite years for matts drumming - including his soundgarden years

vedder_soup

i think matts drumming now is a lot better!
he took a while to get into a spot with the band. seems a lot more technical to me now.
given to fly is an example. listen to a 2000 vs a 2008, i know what i would take

Brisk.

Got Guts wrote:

Some of you people on here have way too much time on your hands.

Not a criticism, just an observation.

....whats your problem. Its an very intersting point he is making, judging by his username and knowledge he is a drummer so it interests him and others. Better than these stupid threads making a story using words from pj songs and albums....

Anyway, he lost it all when he got rid of his Ayotte

Gary Carter

12345AGNST1 wrote:

Gern Blansten wrote:

Serious????

yea, hes actually completely right. You mean you haven't noticed this yet?

I think his playing is simpler more now than it was simply because he matured and hes 10 years older. He still does go crazy quite often though, it seems like hes a little more on fire this tour than the last tour. i was disappointed with his playing in the Hartford boot from last year.

i have noticed this too. it's not really that hard to pick up. i always love when board members who are drummer get really in detail bout the drumming sound of pj.

adamdude

vedder_soup wrote:

i think matts drumming now is a lot better!
he took a while to get into a spot with the band. seems a lot more technical to me now.
given to fly is an example. listen to a 2000 vs a 2008, i know what i would take

me too. i'd take the slower, more focused 2000 version.

AboveTheWaves

Depends on the song...

Personally, I wish he would still drum Insignificance, Breakerfall, Faithfull, & Given To Fly the way he used to.

Insignificance especially. That song was fire in 2000, now its just lacking something.

12345AGNST1

vedder_soup wrote:

i think matts drumming now is a lot better!
he took a while to get into a spot with the band. seems a lot more technical to me now.
given to fly is an example. listen to a 2000 vs a 2008, i know what i would take

wait what? You prefer his drumming better now so are you hintig that the NEW g2f is better than the old? Noooo waaaay dude.

Guitarhero27

Less is more...

and in a musicians world: doing less takes some serious skill.

It sounds funny, but its true.

Brisk.

Guitarhero27 wrote:

Less is more...

and in a musicians world: doing less takes some serious skill.

It sounds funny, but its true.

Then you havent listened to Brann Dailor :P

dustinpardue

nothing is going to top 1998

kenny olav

I've always thought that the drumming on LO2L sounded like overkill. It's impressive, but overpowers the band. I think he's found his place since then.

i am a target

While he is a great drummer I never felt his style meshed with PeArl Jam very well. I don't think his style is suited for their kind of music. He was perfect for Soundgarden..but Dave A. was and will always be the best drummer for this band.

rebornFixer

i am a target wrote:

While he is a great drummer I never felt his style meshed with PeArl Jam very well. I don't think his style is suited for their kind of music. He was perfect for Soundgarden..but Dave A. was and will always be the best drummer for this band.

It has gotten to the point where I cannot even imagine what Dave. A would sound like on most of PJ's musical catalogue. He was on two albums, as was Jack Irons. Matt has now drummed on four studio releases. How can Dave. A. still be "the sound of this band" (not your direct quote, but rather a summary of people's arguments)? I don't see it.

Gern Blansten

rebornFixer wrote:

i am a target wrote:

While he is a great drummer I never felt his style meshed with PeArl Jam very well. I don't think his style is suited for their kind of music. He was perfect for Soundgarden..but Dave A. was and will always be the best drummer for this band.

It has gotten to the point where I cannot even imagine what Dave. A would sound like on most of PJ's musical catalogue. He was on two albums, as was Jack Irons. Matt has now drummed on four studio releases. How can Dave. A. still be "the sound of this band" (not your direct quote, but rather a summary of people's arguments)? I don't see it.

yep.....and just look at Matt's songwriting credits....he was the missing link

sj.brodie

drummerboy_73 wrote:

'cause he really used to do more live than what was on recorded versions, but now it seems the opposite; his playing is a bit more straightforward than the records and to me, has lost some of it's character compared to '98/2000 live shows.

I own a couple of 98 soundboards and i know what you mean...Mansfield and St Louis 98, check them out

slightofjeff

I don't know anything about anything, but I've been saying the same about GTF for years. He used to go nuts during the outro part. I've got some 98 boots, and they're just phenomenal. He doesn't do that anymore.

That said, on another songs, he does go nuts. I guess he just picks his spots now or something.

SomethingCreative

Kenny Olav wrote:

I've always thought that the drumming on LO2L sounded like overkill. It's impressive, but overpowers the band. I think he's found his place since then.

I respectfully disagree. I think his performances on the '98 were his best with the band. 08/09 have been very good as well but I feel '98 was better. The the 00/03 never really felt right to me for some reason.

Dave A's sound is an example of overkill and overpowering the band.

SolarWorld

i am a target wrote:

While he is a great drummer I never felt his style meshed with PeArl Jam very well. I don't think his style is suited for their kind of music. He was perfect for Soundgarden..but Dave A. was and will always be the best drummer for this band.

:shock: :roll:

Why do people keep insisting on saying this crap? Its completely tone deaf to what everything Pearl Jam is and sounds like today. Its almost funny. Kinda like a birther or townhaller. You can have EV himself say Matt Cameron saved the band and talk about how important Matt is to the band and the music. Then you got this goof ball calling back to Dave A. Seriously? Do you really think it is by accident that he's not in the band anymore? Do you really want 15 symbols on the kit? Dave A could never play Evenflow, confirmed by Jeff in an interview talking about how Matt was the only one that could "hit it" consistently. Just quit it with the "Dave A. is the best drummer Pearl Jam ever hand" crap and "Matt never fit with the bands style".

drummerboy_73

Great comments so far - THANKS...although I really meant this to be a comparative discussion of Matt's playing between '98 to now; not another Matt vs. Dave A. vs. Jack thread!

While we're on the subject though, I think each drummer brought something great and unique to the band, but Matt by far is the best TECHNICALLY and has been a more integral part of the band's survival and progression. Personally, I like Jack's musicality and "earthy" style of playing as well. That's why Eleven's album "Thunk" is one of my favorites - Jack plays on half and Matt on half. Can't get any better than that!

dustinpardue

Tremor Christ 09
Matt Cameron throwing down some fucking meat toward the end of this song, nice lick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CcUnM5Q_a4

yosi

I've noticed too that during the main parts of the song (i.e. verse/chorus) he seems to be playing more stripped down, but generally the song reaches its peak, he still brings out some serious technical drumming. The truth is lots of PJ songs change slightly over the years, and especially the drumming. Matt's beats are constantly varying a little, even from just one show to another. He's always changing up what he's doing.

Gary Carter

SolarWorld wrote:

i am a target wrote:

While he is a great drummer I never felt his style meshed with PeArl Jam very well. I don't think his style is suited for their kind of music. He was perfect for Soundgarden..but Dave A. was and will always be the best drummer for this band.

:shock: :roll:

Why do people keep insisting on saying this crap? Its completely tone deaf to what everything Pearl Jam is and sounds like today. Its almost funny. Kinda like a birther or townhaller. You can have EV himself say Matt Cameron saved the band and talk about how important Matt is to the band and the music. Then you got this goof ball calling back to Dave A. Seriously? Do you really think it is by accident that he's not in the band anymore? Do you really want 15 symbols on the kit? Dave A could never play Evenflow, confirmed by Jeff in an interview talking about how Matt was the only one that could "hit it" consistently. Just quit it with the "Dave A. is the best drummer Pearl Jam ever hand" crap and "Matt never fit with the bands style".

who cares what someone thinks. it's his opinion, lay off the guy. damn people are so fucking rude to other members on here. its such a shame that amount of dickbags that are running around here. least dave a can play the older songs better than matt can and i say that as someone who has over 200 bootlegs of this band. look we all know dave a and ed and jeff were the hugest dicks back in the 90' and didn't see eye to eye. least stone was nice to dave a unlike ed who still to this day beats up on dave like a dead horse. real mature of ed to not let things go after 15+ years of dave a not being in the band. of course ed is gonna say matt saved the band. it be pretty low for not to say something nice bout matt. matt cameron didn't save this band it was jack who was bought in to save this band. of course jeff is gonna say that bout matt when matt is the only one who could ever keep up with jeff. that just shows you how much of a good bassist jeff is

http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/art ... n801.shtml

scroll down to the letting blood part gives insight on just how fucked up this band was from 93-95.

my rankings of pj drummers

older songs
dave a
jack
matt

overall
matt
dave a
jack

Evolution6579

I think '98 Matt was trying to show the fans that he was the new drummer. Here I am; this is what I bring to the table. When Dave A. went the way of the dodo, I was eager to hear how Jack would sound on the skins. He was good but sloppy. They asked Dave Grohl to come out and play at the Big Day Out show cause Jack's wrists were hurting. Dave G. was awesome on the throne but I knew it wouldn't last. He had Foo Fighters hitting in a big way. I was hoping that someone with crazy chops would join the band.

Here comes Matt. He revitalized the band and played with an intensity that still blows me away when I listen.
"You like Given To Fly? Listen to this. TAK TAK BUGGA DUGGA DUGGA DUGGA TAK TSS"
(I'm paraphrasing here, of course)

Matt still plays with the same intensity. I think that, like GOOD musicians, his playing is based heavily on his emotions. If he is feeling the song, he is filling the song. He is subdued when the song calls for it but he can still fuck shit up if you aren't looking. Gonna See My Friend is a glowing example. I also like how he is hitting the cymbal more. Dave A. did it TOO MUCH but Matt uses it to drive a song over the edge.

I think the egos in the band necessitated him to step lightly after the '98 tour and he is now comfortable with the band and can navigate through a song without stepping on anybody's toes.

Thanks for starting the discussion, Drummerboy.

P.S. I love air drumming along with Matt.