#181 Tommy Diehl- Drummer for Ryan Montbleau, Yes Darling, Jamie McLean, Chad Hollister, Stephanie Ryann & More!
Tommy Diehl is a Fairfield County, Connecticut-based drummer who has worked in many genres including jazz, classical, theater, singer-songwriter, folk, rock, country, blues, hard rock, ska. He has toured, performed or recorded with Ryan Montbleau, Yes Darling, InAshton, Spookie Daly Pride, Acoustic Junction (Fool’s Progress), Jamie McLean Band, Chad Hollister Band, Stephanie Ryann, Helmet, Moriah Formica, Queen V, Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, Andrew Jones & SpiritHouse, Frank Migliorelli & The Dirt Nappers, Kim Fox, Skamikaze, Vinny Nobile & The Trummytones, The Cherry Bluestorms, Frank Manzi, Barry Kingston, Todd Thibaud, Jeffrey Mitchell-Ross, Zo Tobi, Jeff Tuohy, and many others.
Drumming has taken Tommy on a journey that began in the elementary school band in Ohio and continued on to venues and festivals across the country and overseas. These experiences landed him in recording studios from Boston to NYC to Nashville to LA and many others. While out traveling with his drums, Tommy has made lasting friendships, seen long-distance family members, and even met his wife! He learned self-discipline, how to listen with his whole body, how to let go and let the music happen, and so much more. Music is his passion.
Gig Alerts
Drive in concerts are a possibility. In the past, Marc Rebillet announced he was doing that type of concert. Now, Garth Brooks is going to give it a try. He will be streaming live from Nashville to over 300 drive in screens around the USA and Canada.
Make Music Day is coming up on June 21st. It is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st. Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it is now held on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries.
Coachella and Stagecoach have cancelled their 2020 concerts. You can get a refund if you have bought tickets already.
Juneteenth
You may have heard about Juneteenth coming up on Friday June 19th. If you are curious what that is, you can read more about it HERE.
If you’re wondering how to celebrate, you can click this Instagram page and see some suggestions.
If you want to, you can also check out the Black History Playlist on Spotify to celebrate. NSFW.
Educational Spotlight
Shout-out to these fine schools for winning the percussion ensemble competition hosted by PAS (Percussive Arts Society).
Product Review
Vic Firth has come out with a new version of their Stereo Isolation Headphones. These are high quality stereo headphones which reduce overall noise levels by 25 decibels. This redesigned version of our popular isolation headphones features a larger driver for a more powerful low end, cleaner mids and clear highs for a superior sound.
New play along album by (friend of the show) Carter McLean, and Damon’s old boss, Charlie Hunter. This was recorded with Luna, in their home studios with the intention of other musicians playing along WITH IT. A great practice tool. Guitars, keys, horns, percussion, etc. It’s also a fun groove record to just listen to!!! ONLY available directly from Carter. To order email: cartermclean@gmail.com.
Iconic Recording
This recording is one of the top protest songs (stay safe if you’re out there protesting). It is “Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)”. This song was released as the third and final single from and the climactic song of his 1971 landmark album, What's Going On. Written by Marvin Gaye and James Nyx Jr., the song depicts the ghettos and bleak economic situations of inner-city America, and the emotional effects these have on inhabitants. It features members of the Funk Brothers including Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Jack Ashford and Bobbye Hall on percussion, with Richard “Pistol” Allen on drums.
Music News
Clubs nationwide have opened their doors to protesters looking for first aid and a place to decompress and recharge - Article
A new petition is making the rounds to replace Confederate monuments with a Dolly Parton statues - Article
Lady Antebellum’s New Name, Lady A, Is Already Taken by a Black Blues Singer - Article
Lady Antebellum Meets With Black Singer ‘Lady A’ After Taking Her Name — But They Won’t Be Changing It Back - Article
What does ‘Antebellum’ mean, and why is it so controversial? - Article
In a recent budget proposal, city officials have proposed eliminating the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) and completely defunding the 27-year-old Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF). This would represent a devastating loss to arts access and would negatively impact the city’s cultural economy. In response, members of Philadelphia’s arts community have united to create #PhillyCultureUnited - More Info
Scheduled to open in Downtown Nashville Labor Day 2020, the National Museum of African American Music will be a 56,000-square-foot facility that will encourage visitors to discover the central role African Americans have played in shaping and creating all genres of American music. From classical to country to jazz and hip hop, NMAAM will integrate history and interactive technology to share the untold story of more than 50 music genres and sub-genres. It will be an unparalleled institution, unconfined by record label, genre or recording artist, and tell a unique narrative through the lens of Black music.
Click the link for a QUICK and EASY way to send a letter to your senator now to extend unemployment benefits for all musicians!
The song leading into interview is by Zo Tobi, called "Chosen" from the album 'Blessed Unrest'.
Tommy Diehl Interview
Damon and Tommy start the interview by talking about the musician BBQ that Damon hosts, which was postponed this year (due to Covid-19). However you can still use the Backyard BBQ Bangers Playlist for your BBQ functions.
Damon “met” Tommy at Nectars in Burlington, VT. Damon was playing upstairs at the Metronome with the Bomb Squad, and Tommy was playing downstairs at Nectars with Spookie Daly Pride.
Friend of the show, Drew McKeon re-introduced Tommy and Damon at a venue in CT years later.
Tommy started his music career in North Canton, OH, home of the Hoover Vacuums. It’s also close by to the prison made famous in the Shawshank Redemption.
After High School, Tommy attended Indiana University. In addition to music, Tommy was really into art. he defines himself as a realist.
Before college, he was taking lessons with Mark Maynor, at Zampinos drum shop. His first concert experience was the Blossom Music Center watching the Cleveland Orchestra.
Tommy was in a marimba ensemble doing ragtime music by George Hamilton Green, and calypso.
This is the John Cage piece for 12 radios. Tommy also mentions the piece Ionization for percussion ensemble.
When Tommy got to IU, there was a new professor coming in by the name of Kenny Aronoff, who is not only a drummer, but also an author. The John Mellancamp album “Scarecrow” changed Tommy’s mind about what was possible on the drumset.
Tommy is a great graphic designer which has been a pandemic proof career, AND he can do the work while he on the road. Fun fact, Tommy did the artwork and logo for this podcast as well as Damon’s album, promo material and Jeff Ross’ album liner notes (the musician, not the commedian).
The three M’s are Music, Mates and Money. You should have at least two of the three to accept a gig. The fourth wild card that could sway your decision is the Milieu. That means a person's social environment (or gig location).
Tommy tells a story about when Kenny took time to hang with him between playing a gig and writing charts for the next gig. Speaking of writing charts, Kenny has a great method for short hand charts.
At the top of Alanis Morissette’s “Eight Easy Steps” from the CD “So-Called Chaos,” we see four, then eight, then seven bars of rest, so we know the drums are out for a while. But with the chart, we know exactly where we are. Then the big fill and into the chorus beat. Aronoff numbered the verses and the choruses, and put a “B” for bridge. Since many bars in a song repeat, he writes the beat or rest and then, under the bar, he writes out the number of times to repeat it. This is an abbreviation of writing out, say, a one-bar beat four times, and it’s also shorter than the common method of writing repeat marks for four bars. On this chart he doesn’t write out the hi-hat patterns, just the kick and snare. Fills, like he said, are marked with an arrow or written out according to need.
Aronoff uses some traditional notation methods in addition to writing the rhythms. He’s written, for example, fp for forte piano (start the phrase hard and immediately go soft). But he also uses plain English (crash/ride) and mnemonic devices (Keith Moon). Also note the “tenudo” markings over the last two eighth-notes of line one, a bit of notation more often seen in a classical music setting. Aronoff is deeply trained and sometimes his huge knowledge peeks out from behind his rock-and-roll demeanor. You can read more of this article in Drum Magazine by CLICKING HERE.
Tommy talks about the many things he has learned and continues to learn from his mentor Kenny, as well as reading the situation and playing for the song. Knowing what is required of him is just as important as the notes to play.
Tommy uses Sabian Cymbals/GonBops Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Promark Drumsticks and Mallets, Puresound Snare Wires, Dem’Sticks. Special shout-out to Gretsch Drums & Ludwig Drums and of course Hoover Vacuums.
You can follow Tommy on his Website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and his Graphic Design site.
The song leading out of the interview is by Jeff Ross, called "Rainbows" from the album 'Only Your Voice'
