Drumming with Chad

So last month I signed up for a Legend of the 70s course on Drumeo featuring Chad Smith. Today all the classes dropped and I went over to show Jackson and watch him play along. Well....it was not what we had hoped for. The courses were more of a "workout" and the pacing wasn't as fast as the actual tracks. I think Jackson and I were thinking it would be the full song with maybe some practice beforehand. Oh well. We abandoned the courses and I wound up recording him play freestyle, which was way better. This kid, this kid is so freakin' good. 

Post Script: 

March 13th was the Live Q&A with CS and we made it three minutes before Jackson and I bailed. It was essentially the host in the Drumeo studio and then a Zoom call from Chad's phone whilst in a freakin' basement. The video quality for him was dreadful. I stupidly thought it would be both of them in the studio together. What a joke. I figured the host would ask questions rather than the public and that CS would do a bit of drumming to round out the Legends of the 70s course. Nope! It was shoddy as hell. I turned to Jax at minute three and said, "Wanna ditch this and hit Wawa for hoagies?" Hell to the yeah was his reply, and off we went. Frankly, it turned out to be a rad night with my fave teenager - we jammed to Sabbath, Queensrÿche, some Ani DiFranco, Sevendust, and Pumpkins, then grabbed some grub and stopped to see Mama/Nana Rose and pal, Ivy, before I dropped him at my in-laws. I even scored a hug from MeMom while Mannix played on the telly. Still, I'm mega-disappointed that the course and the Q&A were so blah. It felt like a cheap cash grab for his charity and I genuinely got zilch out of it. Oh well, time to move on!

(I mean this guy has more money than god but can't be bothered to set aside time to be properly filmed? And on something that isn't an iPod Touch from 2011? Horrendous.)

(*"when I mentioned" not "mr tinker" - fucking autocorrect...)

The Zeppelin Gig

Tonight's School of Rock concert was one of the best yet. Jax played drums on Good Times, Bad Times, Dazed and Confused, and Stairway to Heaven plus bass on Living Loving Maid and Communication Breakdown. The whole gang came out, with me bringing Lucy - Dave, Xavier & Mary, Syd, Zach, MeMom & Pop, Mum, Jen, Wayne & Chrissy and her son, Chase, Jackson's BFF. The show was phenomenal and Jax played on his new mango wood bass that his parents got him for Christmas, with Dave's approval. (Dave plays bass and keyboards.) Lucy couldn't handle the volume, even with earplugs, and only lasted for one of Jackson's songs before Dave had to take her home. I always stand in the back of the venue and so the footage I take is craptastic, but I filmed as much as possible and messaged them to Dave. 

Raddest Drummer EVER!!

I love this kid so stinkin' much. Last night I stopped by to drop off some Chad Smith Funk Blaster drumsticks and he let me film him, very briefly, playing with the Bonham sticks I gave him a couple weeks back. (Bishop sent him a pair as well, so he's gonna play with one set and use the other pair for display.) Here he is doing a little impromptu performance. 

(Just before I recorded this. he was playing and when he stopped I could hear Xavier in the next room shout "TRY HARDER! YOU SUCK!!" Ha!)

Drum On, Man.

Here is our boy drummer playing for me on his new kit. It's February 5th, 2016 and Jax turned four the day before. His full body intensity towards the end has me cracking up. It is so wonderful that he stayed with drumming and has only gotten better and better. I cannot wait for January when School of Rock does Zeppelin!!!! He is gonna effin' crush it.

(performing alongside Thin Lizzy on Showdown)

Smells Like Teen Spirit

September 7th of 2024 was another School of Rock concert. This time it was at a new location and they were performing the songs of Nirvana. It was not great. The kids seemed to forget their audience (Moms, Dads, and grandparents) and the one lead singer actually asked the crowd to sing along. To Nirvana?!?! I mean I spent high school and college listening to Nirvana and I couldn't sing along if offered all the whiskey in Ireland. And he acted out the lyrics like little kids do. Y'know, waving when you sing hello, bending down when the lyric is "how low", and most tragic, pounding his chest (heart) and holding up four fingers when singing "I've been locked inside your heart shaped box for weeks". It was just super cringey. The only shining moment was, no lie, Jackson's drumming. He was exceptional.

Jazzin' Jax

March 23rd of last year Jackson and his class at school performed at the Jazz Concert. Jax blew us all away with his drum solo that HE came up with. His teacher trusted him to work on it and he nailed it.

Take that, Keith Moon!

Today's School of Rock concert was The Who and once again, Jackson and crew slayed the stage! Sophie was back as lead vocalist for the songs Jax drummed on and I really like her energy. This time Jackson even did a bit of backing vocals on I Can See for Miles and Boris the Spider. He was so obviously out of his element on Miles and stood at the mic with his arms crossed and later even shrugged his shoulders and threw up his hands as if to say "I've no idea what to do." But he channeled his inner metal head for Boris and clearly had a good time. He was phenomenal on drums and didn't miss a single beat. His old (as in former) teacher even came out to show his support! As a surprise, I brought Kayla, since she is his fave stop on the Books & Cooks Tour. The guest list just for Jax was Dave, Mum, me, Kay, Xavier, Mary, Syd, Ciaran, MeMom and Pop, and Aunt Jen. Here's some of the best bits from the show:

Baba O'Riley

Pinball Wizard

I Can See For Miles

Love, Reign o'er Me

Boris the Spider

(Mum filmed Love, Reign o'er Me)

Charlie Watts, Eat Your Heart Out

This afternoon the whole gang went to Vineland to see Jax and his crew from The School of Rock perform. Jax has been drumming since he was in diapers and has taken the same confidence he had as a two and three year old and held on to it. He really blew us all away. They did three Rolling Stones tunes and, naturally, were the best of the groups and had the most enthusiastic singers. Nearly everyone turned up and were immensely proud of our gifted eleven year old. Can't wait to see what his future holds!

(Above photo and two video clips courtesy of big brother Dave.)

(Songs performed by Jackson's group: It's Only Rock 'n Roll, You Can't Always Get What You Want, & Gimme Shelter)

Next day texts with Bella, Kayla, and Natalia:

Xylo-drumming

On Saturday night I took Jax to see Night Forms: Infinite Waves at Grounds for Sculpture. I knew his fave part would be in the amphitheater where he could drum-out on a xylophone pad that added to the music being played. I didn't want to take too many photos that night or film every little thing, but I did get a lil' clip of him xylo-drumming.