#253 Josh Kiggans- Drummer for Ward Hayden and the Outliers and More!
Photo of Josh taken by Elizabeth Ellenwood.
This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals. Check out their Tasting Tour Dates.
This week’s guest is Josh Kiggans, drummer for Ward Hayden and the Outliers.
Happy Birthday!
Pete Korpela is a Los Angeles based studio and touring percussionist, recognized internationally for his versatility in orchestral, latin, jazz, world, rock, and pop music. He has collaborated with such renowned talent as, among others: Danny Elfman; Hans Zimmer; Alan Silvestri; Michael Giacchino: John Powell; Harry Gregson-Williams; Josh Groban; Robbie Williams; Jeff Russo; Henry Jackman; Marco Beltrami; Michael McDonald; Carter Burwell; Disturbed; Alan Parsons; Calle 13; Rickie Lee Jones; Al DiMeola; Kelly Clarkson; Madeleine Peyroux; Lizz Wright; Ed Shearmur; Kandace Springs; Ana Moura; Joe Trapanese; Rob Simonsen; Melody Gardot; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; Seth MacFarlane; and the 91 st Academy Awards Orchestra.
Some of the movie and TV soundtracks Pete has performed on: The Lion King (2019); Spider-Man Far From Home; Mulan (2020); Jumanji 3; Spies In Disguise; The Addams Family (2019); It 2; Doctor Sleep; Ready Player One; Men In Black International; Christopher Robin; The Predator; Ferdinand; LEGO Movie 2; Onward (2020); Call of the Wild (2020); Mandalorian; Star Trek Discovery; Lady and the Tramp; ToGo and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Pete has appeared at Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Sydney Opera House and O2 Arena (London), and has toured across US, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Philippines. In 2011, he joined Josh Groban’s “Straight to You” world tour and is currently Mr. Groban’s percussionist. In 2012, he toured extensively, with jazz vocalist Melody Gardot, and with tenor Nathan Pacheco. Between 2003 and 2007, he toured throughout the United States with the first National Tour of Tony-Award-winning Walt Disney’s The Lion King, as a marimbist and featured on-stage percussionist. He has also performed with major Broadway shows Hamilton, Motown and Beautiful.
An active Los Angeles-based studio musician, Pete has been working with composer Jeff Russo on the new Star Trek: Discovery series, which features a wide array of exotic percussion instruments from Pete's ever-growing collection. His work can also be heard on the award-winning Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations soundtracks—with over 10 million copies worldwide—and in movies Straight Outta Compton (composer Joe Trapanese) and Going in Style (composer Rob Simonsen). He has featured in popular TV shows, including: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Conan O’Brien; Jimmy Kimmel; Ellen, Good Morning America; Live with Kelly; Later… with Jools Holland; Dancing with the Stars; America’s Got Talent; and PBS Presents: Jackie Evancho. And in 2010, Pete performed with Cirque du Soleil as musical director and lead drummer in a nationally televised project.
Eliel Lazo began playing at an early age, egged on by his enthusiastic family. He studied at Oscar Valdes’ school of percussion (former singer and percussionist, of Irakere band). In 2003, at the age of 19, Eliel won the prestigious PERCUBA International Percussion Prize. Eliel Lazo first visited Denmark in 2004 on an invitation from the Danish Radio Big Band. Other invitations followed. Soon Denmark became a stable base on his travels around the world, and in 2007 he made Copenhagen his home. He has played with musicians such as Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Changuito, Tata Guines, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Oscar Valdes, Carlos del Puerto, Airto Moreira. He has also played with Cuban bands Diakara, Klimax and Habana Ensemble. He have worked with the Danish Radio Big Band, The Savage Rose, The Antonellie Orchestra, Blanco Y Negro, Mikkel Nordsoe Band, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Tip Toe Big Band. Also WDR Bigband from Germany and BBC Bigband from The UK. In 2004 Eliel Lazo recorded his first album ''Art Ensemble of Habana'' with Commodo Depots records from Japan. Then he released his first recording with Stunt records ''Blanco Y Negro'' which was recorded in Cuba. His 3rd album ''El Conguero'' also with Stunt records, was awarded with The Danish Music award best album of the year in the world music category. You can find Eliel's playing on Mikkel Nordsoe ''7 Steps to Heaven'' and ''Diving in space for 3 dacades'' - Hanne Boel ''The Shining of sings'' - the Danish Radio Big Band ''Cuban Flavor'' and ''Spirituasl'', where Eliel is featured as percussionist and vocalist. His playing is also featured on CUBADISCO award winning CD, ''Andante'' of Cesar Lopez Y Habana Ensemble and Kylie Minogue ''Kiss me once''. He performs in the American movie about Cuban music ''Music Under the Radar''. He has taught at conservatories in Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. Eliel's last CD is call ''Eliel lazo and the Cuban funk Machine'' featuring American tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and a line up of Cuban, Danish and Swedish musicians that make this album very unique. This CD is a tribute to the 70s funk and Cuban Songo. The inspiration is coming from bands such as Irakere, the Head hunters, The Meters and specially Los Van Van. The CD was nominated to the 2015 Cuban Grammys CUBADISCO and is nominated to 2 Danish Grammys (Danish Music Awards) World and Jazz. This CD is dedicated to master Jose Luis Quintana ''Changuito'' and Juan Formell (august 2, 1942 - may 1st, 2014)
And Happy Birthday to Kwame Henry Jones.
Gig Alerts
Damon mentions three (of many) agencies you can apply to for gigs working on a cruise ship.
Agency 1 - Agency 2 - Agency 3
Jammcard is the Music Professionals Network. The Jammcard app is a social marketplace for music professionals. Our members are vetted, active pros, and many are the top in the music world. We coined the term “music professionals” and consider “music professionals” to be full time professional musicians, producers, musical directors, songwriters, arrangers, vocalists, top liners, studio engineers, live engineers, managers, tour managers, production managers, stage managers, lighting directors, video directors, techs, crew and more. Essentially, anyone in the studio and anyone on the tour bus.
Additionally to the app, Jammcard creates original content and events, including our members only event, the JammJam. In 2020, we launched Jammcard Music, our non-exclusive and artist friendly label, with the first release being Terrace Martin’s Gray Area.
With the Jammcard Booking feature, any level of musician, from top level pro to aspiring pro, student and hobbyist, is able to book the best music professionals as a work for hire to record, produce, mix, arrange, teach, mentor and/or consult you. Our members are vetted and hand picked pros by Jammcard. Anyone can install the app and send a booking request to our members, but only our members can list their services and get booked.
If you’re a music professional, you can apply to join as a member. Members can create and share a Jammcard profile to be booked and build their creative portfolio highlighting their skills, experiences, videos, photos, tracks, tour dates, media, gear, etc. Whether you’re a musician, producer, singer, songwriter, music director, creative director, manager, live/studio engineer, crew, etc., Jammcard provides a vetted network of members for you to connect with to accomplish your professional needs.
The newest feature is Mentors that you can sign up with for a 1 on 1 session.
Educational Spotlight
PASIC is happening in less than two weeks. There are new names added to the schedule (including several friends of the show).
There are also vaccine requirements you should know about if you’re going to attend.
Product Review
Everyone and their aunt wants to learn how to record music at home. But this guide is only for those who actually want to get started producing pro-level music on a regular basis. -Article
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week is “Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band from the album with the same name.
Music News
What Are Music Royalties (and How Can You Collect Yours)? Music royalties are confusing. Most of us are not trained music lawyers. We’re musicians trying to make a living.
And you probably just want to know how to earn the royalties owed to you. -Article
Punk rock group Mannequin Pussy had nearly $50k worth of gear stolen on tour. Fans rallied to help.
The group set up a fundraiser yesterday to recoup financial losses. In just 24 hours, the group had $43,000 – well over the $30,000 goal the band set for the fund. “If we meet or exceed our actual needs with funds to spare, they will be donated to an organization of our choosing,” the band’s GoFundMe page stated. -Article
Damon mentions two Music Insurance agencies to protect you and your gear.
Music Pro Insurance - Clarion Musical Instrument Insurance
The application window for a new $1,000-a-month cash assistance program in Los Angeles run by City Hall kicks is now open, making L.A. the biggest city in the nation to launch such an initiative.
The 10-day application period opened last Friday. Recipients will be announced in early January.
Recipients will be randomly selected by the city’s research partner, the Center for Guaranteed Income Research, city officials said. -Website
Josh Kiggans Interview
The song leading into the interview is called, “Nothing To Do (For Real This Time)” from the new album, ‘Free Country’.
Josh attended Umass Amherst for his undergrad. He was roomates with (friend of the show) Glenn Robertson.
Damon and Josh talk about hi hat cymbals. Josh brings up Steve Jordan and his large hats.
Josh brings up Terry Anderson.
Josh grew up in Southeastern CT, New London County. He talks about whaling, submarines and the Coast Guard Academy.
Josh was introduced to drums from his Uncle.
Shout-out to Josh’s first teacher (after his uncle) Ken Serio. He then studied with Bob Bert.
Shout-out to Anthony Fors, former drum major of the Umass Minuteman Band.
This is the W.E.B. DuBois Library at Umass.
Josh lived with four other musicians at Umass. Friends of the show Glenn Robertson, and Andy Tamulynas, as well as Curtis Killian and Anthony Leonardi. Shout-out to Jeff Hope and Rob Keedy.
Josh talks about how the iPod vs streaming was different for his learning of music.
Josh talks about recording during the pandemic with his band.
Josh talks about how Steve Ferrone on a Tom Petty tune inspired him.
Josh mentions Al Jackson Jr., Steve Jordan, Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine.
Damon talks about the length of 45 records. Josh talks about the Earl Palmer Autobiography.
Josh talks about being in a power trio vs a full band.
Josh talks about his band’s name change. Damon talks about seeing an old band sticker in the bathroom of the Chicken Box band house on Nantucket.
Josh traces his musical path from his relatives and talks about Red Dirt and California Country music (AKA the Bakerfield Sound). Shout-out to the Buck Owens TV Show.
Shout-out to Cody Nilsen and the low country blues artists he’s studied.
Josh and Damon talk about the difference between Hillbilly music and Race records. Queen Records was the "Race Records" division of King Records and was also owned by Syd Nathan. It was founded in 1943 and was eventually folded into King Records. They also talk a bit about the history of country music.
Josh talks about Hank Williams learning from Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne.
Josh was just featured in Modern Drummer Magazine. He talked about the new album with Ward and the guys that you can get on Bandcamp.
Josh talks about the influence of Charlie Watts and the Rolling Stones on his playing, especially on the new record. He brings up “Can't You Hear Me Knocking” and the isolated guitar tracks by Keith Richards.
Josh talks about some of the direction he got from the producer, Roscoe, that helped him shape his grooves.
Josh talks about being influenced, but not plagiarizing.
Shout-out to the Umass Music Department and the educators that are there.
Before Josh was a full time drummer, he worked at Vic Firth.
Josh bailed on Hershey Park to move to Boston and work at Vic Firth.
Josh talks about picking sticks for artists and some artist preferences.
Damon brings up some Umass alumni who all worked at Vic Firth (besides Josh and Andy). Rudy Gowern, Zach Schlicher and Olin Johannessen.
Josh and Damon talk about being a sideman vs a band member as well as adding the tour managing job can be included. Damon brings up the episode with Ryan Vaughn.
Here are the number of days before a trip that the plane flights will be the cheapest.
Europe 151, Asia 129, Caribbean 101, Mexico 89, Latin America 80, USA 54 (104-29)
Here’s a couple of articles about eating healthy on the road as a musician.
Josh uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, and SJC Drums. Shout-out to Thom Hannum and the late Bob Gulliotti and Eric “Roscoe” Amble.
You can follow Josh on Facebook or Instagram or catch him on tour with Ward Hayden and the Outliers.
The song leading out of the interview is “Bad Time (to Quit Drinkin)” from the album ‘Free Country’ by Ward Hayden and the Outliers.
