Drumming

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  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,459
    I love Matt, but Dave will always be my favourite PJ drummer.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    I can't help but comment on these type of threads! Matt IS the drummer in Pearl Jam, everything else is a "what-if?". Why doesn't someone start a thread about replacing Jeff with Flea or some damn thing? Maybe Bruce Springsteen should replace Eddie? Matt is a master, literally. One of the best rock drummers alive. A legend in rock drums. As far as the early drummers, my opinion is that Dave A. was a beast, and very talented. His stuff sounds dated to me now on occasion, but is a good drummer, no doubt. Jack is also a fantastic drummer but couldn't handle the shows, and you can hear it on some of those boots. All the drummers they've had have contributed to the legacy, but Matt IS the legacy!
    KORITFW
  • Umbertotamba
    Umbertotamba Posts: 1,385
    Don't get me wrong without Matt Cameron we would not have Pearl Jam! With that being said I wish he would slow down on some of the older songs, the feel on some of them have changed. I really like Even Flow on the original recording and in the early boots, but over the years the song has evolved live, the whole song has been sped up and is not the same song played live anymore.

    My favorite personally was Dave A, but I have grown out of the angst I had in the 90's and so has the band. I love where the band is now and that is with Matt and Pearl Jam would not be the same without him.
    Springfield MA 94, Hartford CT 96
  • RoleModelsinBlood31
    RoleModelsinBlood31 Austin TX Posts: 6,239
    Good thread. I enjoy the jack years the best, and don't think matt is much moe than a metronome as far as personality, but he's a necessity. Everyone's right that thanks to him they're still a band that's kicking ass and not just around and nostalgic like SD. One of the cool parts of PJ is all the different ways they've twisted and turned throughout the years thanks to the fact they had so many personalities behind the kit.

    Maybe I'm just stoned.... Ok, I am stoned, but did Stone use to have cooler riffs that bounced off of and intertwined with the drums back with those more creative drummers than he does now? I think of Glorified G.

    I also liked those years a lot because they didn't have Boom, and I just like the edgier, rawer sound they had without the layers of the organ.
    I'm like an opening band for your mom.
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    Another theory: All the past drummers were so damn good (and so was the band) that we just can't fully appreciate Matt. We're spoiled. If Matt was playing on all those old shows we would worship him without question. I remain convinced that Matt is simply the best. He would have sounded amazing behind a raging '93 Eddie Vedder. Just listened to my new Vault vinyl. MFC is tough as nails.. and FYI, Matt slows down Eddie's intro to Immortality expertly. Just behind the beat. I don't think the relatively faster tempos of recent years is all Matt's fault. Often the guitars start the song insanely fast and he has to reign 'em in.
    KORITFW
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    Wait a minute! Is the new vault Bellingham release Matt's first show? Listening now ( for the millionth time, but first on vinyl) And GOSH DARN that is the best drumming I ever heard!
    KORITFW
  • mrk2
    mrk2 Finland Posts: 2,091
    Nope, Matt's first show took place 2 years before Bellingham ;)
    225xxx - 6/28/00, 10/20/01, 10/22/01, 9/11/06, 9/22/06, 9/23/06, 6/18/07, 6/26/07, 8/15/09, 6/25/10, 6/30/10, 7/4/12, 7/5/12, 7/7/12, 7/10/12, 6/26/14, 6/28/14, 7/3/18, 7/5/18
  • RoleModelsinBlood31
    RoleModelsinBlood31 Austin TX Posts: 6,239
    TheGhost wrote: »
    Wait a minute! Is the new vault Bellingham release Matt's first show? Listening now ( for the millionth time, but first on vinyl) And GOSH DARN that is the best drumming I ever heard!

    Best evah?

    Definitely check out bonham in zeppelin's "when the levee breaks" then. Also search Clyde Stubblefield. And Jon Fishman as a drummer who goes in and out of different timings is a good one to listen to- not the best but he's quite impressive. Like I said, it's hard for me to not like anything about Pearl jam! but Matt is kinda like a one trick pony compared to these guys.
    I'm like an opening band for your mom.
  • SS9981
    SS9981 Posts: 1,729
    ^^^^ Agree! And as far as the way Matt treats fans, we stayed in the same hotel as the band in Knoxville '98. Ed shook our hands, talked to us & even graced us with a picture. Mike came down to the lobby, went BACK to his room to give us a guitar pick each & played pool with other guests in hotel bar. When I walked up to Matt & tried to put out my hand to tell him it was an honor to meet him, he said nothing, looked at me like I was an annoyance to him & walked right past us. Sorry, but that's a world-class dick move. You want a machine, buy a drum machine & sit back their. But program it to Dave A. & The Mighty Jack Irons!
    Scott A. Setser
  • nicknyr15
    nicknyr15 Posts: 9,200
    The "Mighty" jack irons wouldn't be able to make it through half of a modern day PJ show. Just saying...

    And Dave A is a one trick pony. He fills every space with a splash or a China hit.... He's the least versatile out of all 3.
  • halv
    halv Posts: 712
    edited January 2015
    Matt is a world class drummer. Dave's A's style of drumming (all high hats and cymbals) while exciting just wouldn't fit PJ's current style. I can't help but think that it's not Matt's drumming people don't like, it's Pearl Jams music the last decade or so. It's changed, and that's not just because of Matt.
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    RoleModelsinBlood31 wrote: »
    TheGhost wrote: »
    Wait a minute! Is the new vault Bellingham release Matt's first show? Listening now ( for the millionth time, but first on vinyl) And GOSH DARN that is the best drumming I ever heard!

    Best evah?

    Definitely check out bonham in zeppelin's "when the levee breaks" then. Also search Clyde Stubblefield. And Jon Fishman as a drummer who goes in and out of different timings is a good one to listen to- not the best but he's quite impressive. Like I said, it's hard for me to not like anything about Pearl jam! but Matt is kinda like a one trick pony compared to these guys.

    Well, I was being a bit hyperbolic. But, yeah, I think Matt stands up with my favorites, including Bonham! I saw Stubblefield play once, sadly not with JB. Amazing.
    KORITFW
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    nicknyr15 wrote: »
    The "Mighty" jack irons wouldn't be able to make it through half of a modern day PJ show. Just saying...

    And Dave A is a one trick pony. He fills every space with a splash or a China hit.... He's the least versatile out of all 3.

    Oh don't get me started on Dave and his cymbals! The splash is the worst. He almost ruins unplugged for me, and not only because he plays way too hard for that setting.
    KORITFW
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    mrk2 wrote: »
    Nope, Matt's first show took place 2 years before Bellingham ;)

    'doh!
    KORITFW
  • Brisk.
    Brisk. Posts: 11,578
    edited January 2015
    I have heard every bootleg. Matt rarely does the same thing twice, so many intricate cool fills and extra notes on beats etc. I think nowadays it's picked up since couple years ago. His prime was in 2000 when he had that beautiful Ayotte kit.
  • bosshogg18
    bosshogg18 Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,100
    Pearl Jam is my favorite band by a mile, and have seen PJ live 25 times, but Matt's drumming never stuck out as anything miraculous, at least to me. When I finally saw Soundgarden at the Gorge a few years ago, Matt's drumming blew me away. I remember thinking to myself, "why doesn't he drum like this with PJ?" To all the drummers, is it a different style, rhythm, etc? I am not musically inclined, but to my untrained ear it sounds different. Any input would be welcome.Thanks.
  • SS9981
    SS9981 Posts: 1,729
    Saw Soundgarden a year & a half ago Brian. He was SO much better with them! I realize he's a "comfortable" fit in Pearl Jam. But as I said before, he's not bringing anything to the table that any other drummer, with his experience, would. With S.G., I couldn't believe the difference. Just my opinion.
    Scott A. Setser
  • TheGhost
    TheGhost Posts: 539
    Soundgarden are a better showcase for Matt to impress. It shows him off way more. What I admire about his work with PJ is I guess, less of a showy thing. It's just more basic rock drumming whereas SG is like mathy prog/metal/art rock. With PJ its' just quality time keeping, propulsion, tone, endurance, and yes, a ton of creativity. He's just a solid and savvy drummer.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbtnS4O7eOQ

    just watched this clip of a very cool Porch where Matt's drumming approaches Jazz. He's got many talents.

    KORITFW
  • october22
    october22 Posts: 2,533
    PJ_Soul wrote: »
    I think it's about the band, not Matt's skills. He kicks ass in Soundgarden because he can throw everything he has into much shorter shows instead of successfully running the PJ marathon. He was by far the best thing about SG when i saw them live. Granted, it happened to be a disastrous show, but Matt was the one shining light. But SG doesn't offer as much competition for Matt. Basically, PJ is very much a guitar band with one of the most captivating and engaging lead singers of all time. Matt's necessary, obviously, and he does a good job with what he's given and what he offers in PJ, but he is playing behind the likes of Eddie Vedder, McCready, Stone, and Jeff. I love SG, but IMHO Pearl Jam wins the best ensemble award, and that kind of reduces Matt's impact.

    Matt can do more given the right circumstances. That said, he IS the drummer. If PJ is lacking in some way as far as drums go, then it's Matt ' s job to step up and bring it when they're working on albums and writing songs.... maybe he needs to do a better job of that. He needs to assert himself more as the band's drummer. Perhaps him being the only non-original member has something to do with that?

    But another "that said".... i really never listen to Pearl Jam and think that there is something lacking. Would I notice if the drums suddenly reached John Bonham levels (JB is one of my favorite musicians of all time - I really appreciate god-like drums skills!)? Yes, of course. That would be really interesting and awesome. But i don't miss that when I hear PJ's music either. A great band still isn't necessarily all things for all people. In the end, I am very satisfied with MC's drumming for PJ specifically. He gives them what they need as a band.

    Btw OP, have you listened to Drumgasm??? Give that a spin and then come back and tell us that Matt's not got the skills - I doubt you would.

    Plus, he's really likeable. :P

    I agree with you except for what you said about the guitars. I think Kim is a much more interesting guitar player than Mike and Stone.
  • chain
    chain Montreal Posts: 336
    I hear the OP... i would appreciate a little more grind in Matt's drumming... but hey, he's the best talented drummer PJ had in all those years...

    Yes PJ would pretty much be over without MC... so lets settle with Matt "Metronome" Cameron... just wishing some songs would return to what they were... including songs from MC era... (like all the Binaural songs)...

    If that's the way they need to play those songs to stay with the marathon shows and the variety they have, well that's the way it needs to be!
    Toronto 96-09-21 / Montreal 98-08-20
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