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Alvas Showroom

Music, Music, I Hear Music

Wow. It’s been a heavy few weeks. Hurricanes. Fires. Earthquakes. More hurricanes. Another mass shooting. More fires. I haven’t been writing even though I had a bunch of blog ideas underway, including one on travel that I teased at earlier. I’ve been struggling with doing anything in light of recent events. My negative self asks me, “What good is writing about things when people are dying, being killed, homeless, devastated by events, both natural and man-made. What does one do?” As “hippy – dippy” as it may sound, the only way I can keep from going crazy in this world is to put something positive out there in it. This can take shape in the form of music, words, or any other expressive, artistic medium. That is my contribution. Sometimes it can be hard. Especially on social media. Everyone is right. Everyone has a cause or belief, but we don’t talk to each other anymore. We make “comments” and argue endlessly about a wide range of issues, including the ones that have impacted my depression. It came to me that I must write. Write about how I feel. Write about how I am choosing to use positivity and music to impact my immediate community.

When music is an obsession. My CD collection at its peak.

Besides expressing myself thru writing, one of the things I have always turned to for support during times of anxiety and stress is music. It has always been there for me. It can inspire, enrage, sadden, inform, and make you fall in love, just to name a few effects. I love music. I recently saw a tweet that said “being obsessed with music is a full-time job” (@ThatEricAlper). I can attest to that. I love playing music and drumming, but the obsession with music began as a listener. It all started with the 45 rpm record and grew into the usual formats such as iPod, headphones, car or home stereo. Besides listening, I particularly enjoy seeing and hearing live performance. This is especially true when the music is of a high calibre, such as jazz, fusion, or progressive rock.

Since moving to Los Angeles, I have had the opportunity to see some amazing shows at some intimate performance spaces. Some of the venues are well known, such as the Baked Potato in Studio City and the Catalina Club in Hollywood. There are other lesser known clubs that also dot the area’s musical landscape such as The Mint in Los Angeles and the Jazz Bakery (currently in a “moveable feast” mode, but planning on a permanent space in Culver City). Another venue is Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. A historic, family owned facility that in addition to being a world class performance space, also houses a gymnastics and dance studio, music lesson school, and one of SoCals hidden gems of a music store (especially for guitarists). It’s an out of the way performance space conveniently located in my newly adopted hometown. I always tell the owner, Matt Lincir, that Alvas is the reason we moved to San Pedro. After living in downtown Los Angeles since 2006, we had decided to get out of the city, but still needed to stay close to our respective workplaces. We attended a show by one of my favorite drummers, Virgil Donati, at Alvas and as we drove around the area, we thought, “Hey, what if we could move here?” My wife Liz was looking up apartments the next day.

We moved to San Pedro and haven’t looked back. More stellar gigs at Alvas ensued, which included Jeff Hamilton, Peter Erskine, The Aristocrats, and Tony MacAlpine to name a few. At the MacAlpine gig, guitar great Allan Holdsworth was in attendance as a listener and after the show he chatted amicably on the sidewalk with the rest of the concertgoers. Where else but Alvas?

I recently attended a performance by avante-garde cellist Artyom Munukyan. During a pause between songs, an audience member asked about the effects pedals he uses in conjunction with his cello. He explained their different uses and proceeded to launch into an improvised jam with his band demonstrating their various sounds he uses in conjunction with his cello. Where else but Alvas?

At the recent show by fusion band OHM, the guitarist, Chris Poland, had major technical difficulties right when the show started. He uses a complex set of rack equipment for his guitar tones and after having to change tubes in his amp, had to re-program each effect at the beginning of each song. He handled the situation calmly and smoothly and the attending guitar aficionados received an up close lesson in keeping your cool when your gear goes down. Where else but Alvas?

I mentioned Allan Holdsworth earlier. Sadly, one of his last performances before he died was at Alvas. He was in rare form, talking with the audience and joking about his equipment. Virgil Donati was playing in his band at the time and the gig really stands out to me as one of those special performances. Where else but Alvas?

Pretty cool when your new boss comes to a meeting wearing a Mike Keneally t-shirt.

Fast forward to three years later. I’m ten months into retirement from my “day job” at the United States Postal Service and was looking for something to do to keep me out of trouble and make some extra money (man does not live by government pension alone). In my meanderings amongst my social media addictions, I happened upon an add on Facebook for “Lobby Host” at Alvas Showroom. I leapt at the opportunity to be involved somehow and after going thru a job application and interview process, I was chosen for the gig. I really love what Matt does with the Showroom and part of how I am dealing with my depression and anxiety concerning current events is to be involved in my neighborhood by being part of a local business that supports the arts. Being involved with giving the community the opportunity to hear and see high calibre music gives me great joy and satisfaction.

So, turn off your television, get off of your computer (except to read my blog), and go listen to some live music!

“The answer is love, you just need to decide what the questions are.” – Me

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Gandalf

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Why I Play

Music Chose Me

I wrote in my first blog about Aloke Dutta’s description of the transference of inspiration and influence via learning an instrument (or other expressive art form). I thought I would attempt to tell the tale of how I came to be so enamored with music and drums and why it has continued to be a driving force in my life. Special thanks to Carl King for the amazing photo above. It’s a still from a video Mr. King shot at my old studio.

I find it fascinating that I am so obsessed with music. I had virtually no exposure to it growing up, save for my older brother’s record collection and my uncle, who was a violinist with the Atlanta Symphony. My father listened to records and occasionally played the radio in the car, but music was never a focal point in our household. The extent of my grandmother and mother’s interest in music did not reach beyond church hymns sang on Sundays. Although these were minor influences, they had no real direct impact on me in my journey of musical discovery. A brief encounter with a saxophone in middle school changed all of that. I was in a band class at school and for some reason, when volunteers were called on for instruments, I chose saxophone. I can remember excelling at sight reading and being called on to play passages for the rest of the class. It was empowering to be good at something and at the same time, help others to learn. Although I didn’t stay with it for long, it left a definite impression on me.

Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog

Another experience I remember having an influence on my love of music was learning words to songs and singing in school or church. I was not, and am not, a skilled singer, but the indescribable feeling of when everyone is harmonizing and in tune was a huge rush. As I grew older and started listening to the radio, I would anxiously wait for the disc jockey to play that song I liked. When I discovered I could buy the record and then listen to it whenever I wanted, it was like a miracle. I remember the first 45 I ever bought. It was Three Dog Night’s, “Joy to the World.” I could not get over being able to play the record whenever I wanted. I no longer had to wait on the DJ at the radio station. This was a revelation to me. I think I must have played that record a hundred times the first day I had it. I immediately began saving my money to buy more 45s. As my 45 collection grew, I began raiding my brother’s record collection as well. He had the fancier 331/3 LPs. I figured if he already had it, I didn’t have to save up and buy it! I also liked some of my father’s music. He had a great collection of Benny Goodman 78s and was also a big Neil Diamond fan. Things really went into overdrive when I bought my own record player and could now play LPs and 45s.

I bought the first two LPs I ever owned with special points I had earned at school for good behavior and doing extra credit work. There was a student store with various things you could trade your points in for and among some of the items were some records. I chose Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies and Deep Purple’s In Rock. Looking back, pretty heavy albums for a 12 year old. Ian Paice’s drumming with Deep Purple was appreciated, but it was the opening drum riff from the song “Billion Dollar Babies” that planted the percussive seed in my fertile mind. I remember the exact moment when inspiration consciously gave life to the thought that I wanted to play drums. It was during a listen to Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s live triple album, Welcome Back my Friends to the Show That Never Ends. Carl Palmer does an amazing drum solo during “Karn Evil 9” and I can remember thinking, “I want to do that“!

Drum -N- Bass

That was 43 years ago. Just writing that sentence blew my mind! People, places and things have come and gone but the music plays on. Not only the music I hear from others around me, but also my own music in my mind and heart. Part of my creative path is finally learning other instruments in order to express myself musically even more. I am fortunate that my early retirement has given me the time to pursue this. A couple of weeks ago, I dusted off my bass guitar and began re-acquainting myself with it. Needless to say, I have some work to do! I also have aspirations to get my keyboard chops in shape, but one thing at a time. In looking back, I am so grateful for all the joy that music has given me. As I move into another season of my life, one of my goals is to continue to fuel that passion and ambition by inviting you to join me!

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Steel Sharpens Steel

My First Drum Clinic

I love drum clinics. For the uninitiated, this is a performance — usually educationally based, by a drummer known for their technical prowess. Typically, there is a demonstration of technique through playing a drum solo or with prerecorded tracks. In some cases, there are live performances with other musicians. The very first drum clinic I attended was sometime in late 1988. It was put on by Music Mart, a larger music store in Palm Beach County that I frequented. It featured Billy Cobham and Dom Famularo. I was familiar with Cobham and his work with The Mahavishnu Orchestra and now as a solo artist in the 80s.

I was not familiar with Mr. Famularo. I was floored by his enthusiasm, presentation and sheer joy and mastery in his playing. Although not a member of a famous band, Dom has nonetheless parlayed that enthusiasm into a career of drum instruction. He has truly become the drum ambassador to the world. I encourage you to check out his website and see his educational lineage. Dom is like a master yogi that has learned from the master yogis. Billy Cobham’s performance was just as exciting, but in a different way. Famularo’s clinic had really struck a chord in me at that time. I began taking formal lessons again with a private instructor.

Drum Clinics, Lessons, and Beyond

As I progressed in my playing, I would attend any drum clinic in my vicinity and still seek out occasional private lessons. In a behavior that would foreshadow my interviewing drummers and writing for magazines, I would pick their brains at these clinics. I would ask questions that I didn’t see answered in the magazines or ask them if they had any projects or performances that were off the radar. On our vacation that partially inspired us to move to California, I took the opportunity to take a private lesson with Zoro, master R&B drummer and passionate educator. Among the drum set study materials he assigned, he also gave me a list of books to read. Among them was Dom Famularo’s “The Cycle of Self-Empowerment.”

This book is not for drummers only. It talks about real and practical ways to achieve things that you envision. There are several concepts discussed by Famularo but one thing that stuck out in my mind was his statement of “steel sharpens steel” in the very first chapter. This is the concept that the people you surround yourself and hang out with should be honing and sharpening you as a person. In turn, you provide accountability and inspiration back to reciprocate the sharpening. It is difficult, if not impossible, to inspire yourself. It is a rare individual that needs no external stimulation for the process of inspiration. I believe we need the tangible feedback and energy of others to spur us to creativity or out of complacency. I recently experienced this personally and after spending some time with a friend. We were both in a similar state of depression and complacency. We benefited from and were inspired by each others physical presence. Some of the results of my “sharpening” are right here on this humble website.

The Collective Energy


Collective Vision by Alex Grey

There is a concept in some religious, spiritual and self-help theologies that wherever there are two or more believers (or people with a focused, common purpose), gathered together, there is an energy there as well. I believe there is something to this. I have experienced various levels of phenomena with group energies through Qi Gong, yoga, 12-step based recovery fellowships and various spiritual-based gatherings. I can attest to the energy that is present when you have a group of people entirely committing themselves to a collective cause or purpose.

One of my theories on why certain bands are successful is that I believe for a specific moment in time, every member was laser focused on their vision. All members were in agreement in the direction of the band. Some bands crash and burn after a moment in the spotlight. Others may last longer because all members remain focused. Of course, this is all subjective and my opinion only, but it’s hard to ignore some examples of this theory at work. I encourage you to scientifically explore this concept for yourself, either through personal experience or looking for examples of it elsewhere.

Everybody’s a Critic

One of the results of my “sharpening” is going to be a page with reviews of books, recordings, films or whatever comes to mind, starting with Dom’s book. My grandmother would tell me growing up, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” With that in mind, all reviews will be positive and about things that I enjoy or have been impacted by and wish to share with others. I see no benefit in doing negative reviews or trying to convince people of my viewpoint that something is “bad” or “wrong.” There is enough of that in the world already. My goal is to uplift and inspire.

Constructive criticism is another story. We all have ideas on what would make things better, including me! One of my most cherished memories from my early years of self-discovery is of sharing music I discovered with my friends. We would constantly share and constructively criticize the music we shared with each other. That same desire continues today, but has been made much simpler and far reaching with the internet and social media. With a few clicks of a button, I can instantly share something that caught my ear or recommend a recent discovery.

Here’s a great example. I occasionally have the opportunity to work with Carl King, friend and colleague. He was doing some video work for French guitarist Renaud Louis-Servais and I helped with some lighting and general teching. I had almost forgotten about the project when I happened upon the completed video the other day and remembered how much I enjoyed his playing. The video also features one of my favorite drummers, Virgil Donati. Check it out: