Popcorn Jam 5-1-16 Cymbal Killer

Lineup:
Troy Zimmerman-Guitar
Randy Combs-Guitar and Vocals 
Tim Duffy-Keyboards and guitar
Barth Walter-Bass
The Mad Cymbal Basher-Drums
Bob Gleason-Harmonica 

Songs:
Sweet Home Alabama
La Grange
Sweet Home Chicago

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVOQIrO7tW4

Hosts:The Saloonatics (L to R-Tim Duffy, Barth Walter, Kim Bean, Kevin Simnacher)

Drums provided by Kim Bean

Above: Randy Combs

There's a code of ethics that when the host drummer provides his own set, the other drummers are in line to abide by his rules.  Sometimes we do go over the edge.

(Photo: QUIT HITTING MY F**KING CYMBALS SO HARD SMITH!)

There was something that Kim Bean saw when I was behind his drum set during some cymbal accents to Sweet Home Alabama which he didn't care much for.  And proceeded to scream in my ear during mid performance about it too.  And then took my drumsticks away as well!  Afterwards we both got a good laugh about it and he did return them.

I think Kim went out for a smoke and then Rocky Smith came up there and really wailed away.  I thought for a moment one of the cymbals was going to fly off.  And Rocky is a much harder hitter than I am.  I guess I was the more easier one  to yell at.  You know,  the senior citizen drummer over 50 who can get yelled at, since he the most vulnerable one.

But I do not blame Kim at all.  After all, these are his babies that he's letting people come up on stage and play. And there are drummers that will be that picky.  I know I would too  if I had my DW set on stage.  I'm sure he was wondering about those extra pair of drumsticks after the show but he did give them back.

Terry McDowell

But I am surprised I kept my composure through it all.  I think I only did three songs but they were extended versions. I don't hate playing Sweet Home Alabama as much as the Townedgers do, but once a half year will do it for me. Barth sang La Grange but I don't think I played to the record and Russ got back up to do Sweet Home Chicago.  And I had to play a bit more restrained and I think I did okay.

Tiffany Zweibohmer

For the second week in a row Tiffany Z has come to the jams and put on her own show. Last night she was in Moline with 50 Shades Of Rock.  And word has gotten around how good she is.  Of course I already knew that; I saw her with Motorboat on her farewell show last month.  She's very dedicated and determined to make sure she's one of the best around.  If you throw a song at her and if she doesn't know it this week, she will next week and do things on the drums that make you go wow. I like to think she's the daughter that I never had.  Heck, she's not even half my age.  Which shows you how old and ancient that I feel.   Even with her logging plenty of miles to and from gigs, she did come from Moline to play in town today.

Dana "Rocky" Smith

Though it was fun to jam with Barth Walter, at this point out of respect for Kim Bean, I'm not going partake in any more Saloonatics jam sessions anymore.  After five times playing his electric drum set I simply don't like the sound and pounding on them isn't going to help at all. Plus I'd rather not get yelled at anymore for hitting the cymbals hard, although Paiste 2002's can take a decent hit and sound good.  I propose the next time of bringing my own.

And I do have the right cymbal for the next popcorn should Kim take me up on it.

All photos come courtesy of Kevin Simnacher except the picture below. That photo courtesy of Rod Smith Productions

Okay what got me in trouble was on Sweet Home Alabama during the lead guitar break towards the last verse of Now Muscle Shoals Got The Swampers, is that Bob Burns the Skynyrd drummer did a cymbal echo on the second four bar, where the girls go ooooh ALABAMA, he's doing a crash on the beat and a "echo crash between the beats and I was trying to achieve the same thing, going from one cymbal to the other in a crash response.  But then again Burns may have just did a crash to the beat and not the echo cymbal between beats as originally thought.   on the bass drum, he's going BOOM BOOM, Crash, BOOM BOOM Crash.  What I was doing was going BOOM BOOM Crash-crash, BOOM BOOM Crash crash etc.  When done right, it does provide a nice cascade of cymbal crashes.  If and when Kevin Simnacher finishes editing the popcorn jam highlights, I would like to see the end result of  Kim came running on stage to show his disapproval during this segment.  Kim uses a different type of a cymbal quick release holder, which really makes the cymbals look like they're being bashed upon.  I'm guessing there some sort of spring action too.  I don't use spring action quick release cymbals holders myself because this does rob the cymbals of getting the full tone when you strike it, and the only cause for concern is that hitting the cymbal on the rebound, which might crack it if you hit it  too hard.  But in 35 years of playing drums I have yet to crack any cymbal (although one of my delicate A Customs got cracked on the side the cymbal stand fell over years ago) playing live. Nevertheless, I have done many cymbal accents off beat and I did manage to pull the trick off.  But it was the first time I ever got yelled at for hitting any cymbals hard.  And hopefully the last time.

P.S.  I did see the video of the Pretzel Logic song.  It was very good but it sure looked like Rocky was laying into those cymbals.  Oh, well, great job to Kevin and Barb Prouty for the pictures and videos.  They are top notch.