

Drummers on Drumming
Ben Hilzinger
A podcast for drummers who think too much. Ben Hilzinger talks to the greats about creativity, identity, staying sane, and finding purpose behind the kit. Powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. For more inforamtion, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 25, 2023 • 53min
Big Fat Five: Jeremy Taggart's (ex-Our Lady Peace, Taggart & Torrens) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Jeremy Taggart. Jeremy has been mentioned on the pod of few times in other drummer’s top 5 in regards to his previous work with the band Our Lady Peace…which Jeremy joined when he was 17 and remained their drummer until 2014. He’s also a fellow podcaster with his show “Tarrant & Torrens”…which we talk about at the end of the show (it's also a musical duo)…plus he's the co-auther of the book "Canadianity ".Jeremy and my mutual friend (and yet another friend of the pod) Mike Robinson of Blame My Youth, K Flay, Oliver Tree sums up Jeremy’s playing in a great way. Quote “Jeremy’s drumming just seems so conversational and almost stream of conscious. But at the same time so deliberate”. I mean...that’s the gaol right? We also get into his friendship…it’ll make you love Elvin even more. All in all, Jeremy has an Infectious laugh and youthful playfulness thoughout this whole conversation. I loved it. Please enjoy this chat with Jeremey Taggart about the 5 records that shaped him into the player he is today. ---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2023 • 1h 3min
Big Fat Five: Dave Scalia's (Elle King) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Dave Scalia. Dave is a Brooklyn-based professional drummer, producer, and songwriter. For the last 7 years, he’s been playing with Elle King, but throughout his career he’s also worked with White Rabbits, Dawn Richard, Theo Katzman, Miranda Lambert, A Great Big World, Darren Criss, Dierks Bentley and many more. He’s incredible, nuanced and purposeful, yet very elastic with his playing. I just love his style and I was extremely excited to chat with him. Please enjoy the 5ish records that shaped Dave Scalia into the drummer he is today. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2023 • 46min
Big Fat Five: Adam Christgau's (Tegan and Sara, Troye Sivan, Miley Cyrus, movies like Pixar’s Luca and HBO’s Station 11) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest Adam Christgau. Adam is one of THE go-to drummers in the live music scene. He’s worked with Tegan & Sara, Troye Sivan, Sia, Weezer, John Scofield, Kacey Musgraves, Brandon Flowers, Ingrid Michaelson, Chaka Kahn, LP, Dan Romer and, of course, many more. He’s also worked on music scores including Pixar’s Luca and HBO’s Station 11. In addition to musical endeavors, Adam owns and operates Christgau Design: a high-end custom furniture company. I’ve wanted to get Adam on the show for awhile and it seemed like a great time to do it after Stacy Jones spoke so highly of him during last week’s episode. So here we go, I hope you enjoy the top 5 records that shaped Adam Christgau into the drummer he is today. Cheers! ---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2023 • 1h
Big Fat Five: Stacy Jones' (Miley Cyrus, American Hi-Fi, Matchbox Twenty) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Stacy Jones … a hell of a drummer, front man, guitarist, singer, producer and musical director. He is currently the musical director AND drummer for Miley Cyrus, the primary songwriter / singer / rhythm guitarist for American Hi-Fi and the drummer for Matchbox Twenty and Letters to Cleo. As a Musical Director, he’s also worked with Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, The Chainsmokers, Logic and Ryan Tedder, Noah Cyrus, Troye Sivan, 5 Seconds of Summer, Broods and many more. And to list off a few more names he’s worked with - Veruca Salt, Madonna, Everclear, Avril Lavigne, Ariana Grande, Joan Jett, The Flaming Lips, Sheryl Crow, Butch Walker…I mean…yeah. Get out your notepads for this one ya'll. This dude not only HOLDS the drum seat, but he HIRES drummers so he knows what works and what WILL GET YOU PAID. SORRY FOR THE CAPS! I can’t say enough good things about him. Please enjoy the 5 records that shaped Stacy Jones into the drummer he is today. ---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2022 • 52min
Big Fat Five: Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) Tells The Stories Behind His Favorite Jimmy Eat World Recordings
This week’s show has Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World breaking down his favorite Jimmy Eat World grooves and tells the story of why they each hold a special place in his drumming heart. There are a lot of great perspectives in this episode including how the element of surprise is an artist’s greatest weapon, acknowledging when you’re not needed and how he’s always thinking about what he can take AWAY from a part to make it unique as opposed to adding more.---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 2022 • 45min
Big Fat Five: Daniel Fang's (Turnstile, Angel Dust) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Daniel Fang…drummer for the hardcore band Turnstile.Turnstile was nominated for three Grammys this year which includes:Best rock performance (Holiday)Best rock song (Blackout)Best metal performance (Blackout)Daniel’s Tour Kit Rundown---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 2022 • 41min
Big Fat Five: Nick Ruffini's (Drummer's Resource Podcast) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Nick Ruffini…host of the longest-running drumming podcast out there today…Drummer’s Resource. With over 650 episodes, Nick has talked to almost every drummer one could think imagine. I love his interviews; I’ve learned a lot from him and his show is one I look up to quite a bit. We’ve chatted a few times off the air over the years, but it was great to finally get him on the show. If you’re a fan of drumming podcasts, I’m sure you’re aware of Nick, but you might not know a lot about him as a player so let’s get to know Nick through the records that shaped him into the drummer he is today. And go check out Drummer’s Resource…but then be sure to come back to this feed! 😊---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.Check out this episode's playlist HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 7, 2022 • 1h 15min
Big Fat Five: Sarab Singh's (MUNA, Joji, KLVR GRL) Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is Sarab Singh. I’ve admired Sarah from afar for a long time and it’s funny that we’ve never met face to face prior to this chat as we’ve randomly shared lockouts in LA essentially across the hall from each other twice at this point. Sarab has worked with Ingrid Michaelson, Charlie XCX, Joji, his solo project called KLVR GRL, and most recently he’s kept busy with the band MUNA. Please enjoy the top 5 records that shaped Sarah Singh into the amazingly-unique drummer he is today. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 2022 • 44min
THE James Gadson Breaks Down the Songs That Define His Recording Career
**This is the new and improved interview with James Gadson that happened 2 years ago now in November of 2020.** ‘Gadson on Gadson’. Today was a milestone for me. I’ve been such a huge fan of this man for years and I hope I hide my nervousness well enough in this conversation. This week’s guest is James Gadson…one of the funkiest drummers out there. He gave life to the 16th note groove and used it on countless records with Bill Withers, The Jackson Five, Beck, Cheryl Lynn, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and many more. For a time, it was rare to go a whole day without hearing James’ drumming on the radio, and probably still true to this day on some stations. We discuss the top records on which he played that best represent his career in the studio. I had a blast talking with James and he is a gentleman through and through. And if you’re a drummer, his DVD ‘Funk / R&B Drumming’ is a must watch. Honestly…must OWN. It will get you paid. I guarantee it.---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2022 • 43min
Big Fat Five: Sam Merrick's (Broadway's '& Juliet') Top 5 Influential Records
This week’s guest is THE Sam Merrick, drummer for ‘& Juliet’ on Broadway at the Sondheim Theater in New York City. We’ll learn more about that show later on in the episode, but Sam just got done with a 1200+ long run as the drummer for the national tour of Hamilton: An American Musical. In addition to live theatre, Sam has played with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Charlie Wilson, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires…and many more. He’s also got an amazing sample pack series called Break Habits (available exclusively at The Drum Broker). He’s a stud; people want to hire him and he can teach all of us a whole hell of a lot. I wanted to find out what he focuses on from a drumming perspective that’s formed him into such a professional, consistent player. Please enjoy my chat with Sam Merrick about the 5 records that shaped him into the drummer he is today. Cheers!---Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 Click here to order now!Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


