In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Cain Daniel (Jesus Molina, Derek Hough) for a roundtable discussion on all things drum.
Today we discuss:
How we get out of a creative rut
Redefining success — how your goals change as you grow
Self-work — therapy, breathwork, and staying sane on the road
Live performance as meditation — the balance between awareness and letting go
Gear stories that hurt
Pushing back on bad adviceIf your younger self saw you now… — the reality vs. the fantasy
Insurance tips every musician should know (seriously)
---
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.
--------
56:20
--------
56:20
The Drum Panel: Taste Is Fake, but My Feelings Are Real
In this episode, The Drum Panel returns with ME (Ben Hilzinger), alongside my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City), Max Flanders (Lukas Nelson), and Dean Sinclair (Capital Soirée, Worry Club, Ostin) for a roundtable on the ever-fragile topic of taste.
Today we discuss:
How to handle unsolicited feedback without spiraling into existential dread
The delicate balance between self-expression and being hireable
Whether “good taste” is something you're born with—or can develop
That awkward moment when a producer tells you to “play something you’re already playing”
Learning to interpret non-drummer feedback without losing your mind
The anxiety of showing people your work… and how to move past it
Whether your teenage influences are a crutch… or your secret weapon
Developing your own voice in a world full of technically perfect drummers—and incoming AI
Overcoming “red light syndrome” in the studio and learning to groove under pressure
This one is for anyone who's ever questioned their taste, their technique, or their place in the industry. It’s funny, raw, and packed with perspective.
---
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.
--------
45:17
--------
45:17
Big Fat Five: Ari Hoenig (Drummer / Educator) Shares His Most Influential Records
My guest today is Ari Hoenig — drummer, composer, educator, and all-around wizard behind the kit. Ari is known for his melodic, almost vocal approach to the drums, especially his ability to bend pitch and bring out distinct note choices on the instrument in a way that sounds nearly impossible. He’s collaborated with artists like Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, and many others, but it’s his own solo work that really puts a spotlight on his creative spirit.
In this episode, Ari walks through five records that helped shape his unique voice — from the expressive swing of Papa Jo Jones to the unconventional phrasing of Thelonious Monk. We also dive into Ari’s early classical roots, why Keith Jarrett changed his musical DNA, and how he began developing his signature melodic drumming approach.
Hope you enjoy the five records that shaped Ari Hoenig into the deeply expressive and fiercely original musician he is today.
Join Ari's Patreon HERE
ARI'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Artist – Keith JarrettAlbum – BelongingRelease Year – 1974Key Track – "Spiral Dance"Drummer – Jon Christensen
-
Artist – Jo JonesAlbum – The Jo Jones Trio: The Everest YearsRelease Year – 1959Key Track – "Philadelphia Bound"Drummer – Jo Jones
-
Artist – Kenny GarrettAlbum – TrilogyRelease Year – 1995Key Track – "Wayne's Thing"Drummer – Brian Blade
-
Artist – Miles DavisAlbum – NefertitiRelease Year – 1968Key Track – "Nefertiti"Drummer – Tony Williams
-
Artist – Thelonious MonkAlbum – Monk's DreamRelease Year – 1963Key Track – "Monk's Dream"Drummer – Frankie Dunlop
---
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.
--------
31:42
--------
31:42
The Drum Panel: Master Rights, Mid-Gig Panic, and the Myth of “Making It”
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum.
In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City) for a laid-back but honest conversation about drumming, the music industry, self-worth, and everything in between.
We had originally planned to bring on a guest, but when that fell through, we decided to just catch up and hit record—which, honestly, ended up being exactly what we needed.
Today we discuss:
A belief we both held about drumming early on that we’ve since let go of.
Why learning kick drum patterns is my first step when tackling new material.
The very real anxiety of walking into a new gig and playing in front of a band for the first time.
Our approach to charting vs. memorizing—and why it changes depending on the situation.
Whether drummers deserve songwriting credit and how we navigate that conversation.
The difference between publishing and master rights, and what every drummer should understand about the business.
Our evolving definitions of “making it” as working musicians.
How our instruments can feel like both a source of pride and frustration—and how that ties into self-worth.
The constant push-pull between confidence and impostor syndrome, and how we deal with it.
If you’re navigating your own creative path, juggling multiple projects, or just trying to stay inspired through the ups and downs, I think this episode will hit home.
---
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.
--------
45:01
--------
45:01
The Drum Panel: Trash Can Lids, Technique Traps, and Amateur Traits
Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this episode of The Drum Panel, host Ben Hilzinger is joined by Sterling Laws and Fred Eltringham for an insightful roundtable on all things DRUM.
Meet the Panelists:
Sterling Laws: Grammy-nominated drummer from the Pacific Northwest, now based in Los Angeles, known for collaborations with Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, and more.
Fred Eltringham: Nashville-based drummer, a mainstay with Sheryl Crow since 2012, with credits including The Wallflowers, The Chicks, and kd lang.
In today's episode, we discuss:
Dream pieces of gear from music history.
Albums they wish they could have witnessed being recorded.
Balancing technique and groove, and the idea that overemphasis on technique might mask a lack of feel.
Essential, budget-friendly gear they rely on.
Personal experiences of re-evaluating their approach to the drum set.
Common drumming advice they find questionable, such as rigid techniques or creative limitations imposed by producers.
Trends in drumming they're eager to see fade.
Identifying traits that distinguish amateur drummers in live settings, like cymbal choices and hi-hat control.
---
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.
DRUMMERS ON DRUMMING goes beyond technique and gear, diving into the stories, influences, and perspectives that shape the world’s most compelling drummers. Hosted by Ben Hilzinger (Cannons, Eve 6) and powered by Big Fat Snare Drum, this podcast delivers honest conversations, deep insights, and unfiltered takes from the players who move music forward.
Each episode offers an authentic look at the drumming life—on and off the kit.
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.
México