I have only just noticed the org musicians hangout and it seems there are a few people who know about percussion.

I am wondering if anyone can tell me something about Xenophobia, the version on ONA Live (which is the only I have heard). At around 5:40 the rhythm changes and some of the emphasis seems to fall on off-beats. Then at around 6:20 the same percussion sound that was providing the rhythm from 5:40 starts pumping out the beats at a rapid rate. Forgive my lack of knowledge of percussion, but I am wondering whether at this point this is John Blackwell playing this or whether it is programmed, played on keyboards or what?

I also love the bass that starts at 7:48, the shifting rhythm almost rocking back and forwards is a fantastic effect.

not off-beats but up-beats.

Count to your self like this:

1 2 3 4

then count like this at the same pace as the previous count:

1&2&3&4&

the & would be the up-beat.


The song doesn't change tempo, but rather the note patterns.


I dig those 32nd notes on the ride cymbol twards the end before they go back into the main groove.
[This message was edited Wed Jan 29 8:29:25 PST 2003 by yamomma]

toccata said:

I'm no percussion expert either, but I'm pretty sure that's still Blackwell. If you listen carefully, you can hear that the beats are not completely uniform (ie. not programmed). He's an awesome drummer.

I love this track.

yamomma said:

I think that may be one of those 'you say tomato, I say tomato' things. Ive always know it as an on beat & an off beat & everyone I know in England calls it that. But one of my american students mentioned that in the states its normally called an upbeat & a downbeat.

Lewis
[This message was edited Wed Jan 29 14:41:11 PST 2003 by thecloud9mission]

tackam said:

Thanks, I knew I'd get some good responses from you guys. I don't normally notice drumming particularly but after listening to ONA live and Xpectation I was starting to think is it just me or is this guy something special.

Getting back to the bit in Xenophobia I was talking about, I assume this is controlled with the bass/kick drum (forgive my percussion knowledge again - I play piano) but the thing that amazed me was the speed his legs must have been working at while he's going crazy over the top of it.

Blackwell, like me, uses the morello technique. This is the nationally accepted standard Drum grip which is designed to work with your body & the bounce of the drum skin so you get the maximum sound with minimum effort. Takes years to master but makes the physical side of drumming a lot easier & also you dont burn yourself out after only a few hours of playing. Drumming is 95% technique.