October 2011

I thought I would let you know what I have been up to the last few months.

The latest release from Boom Bip, Zig Zaj, came out this week on Lex Records. I played on the first single, Goodbye Lovers and Friends, which features Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos on vocals, Jen Lindberg (Warpaint) on bass, the newest member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Klinghoffer on guitar. Spin magazine did a write up about the song and there is a free download here.

I have been performing quite a bit with Brass Monkey Brass Band. The band had shows in California, Texas and Idaho. The band will be going in to the studio to record their third album in early 2012.

I have continued to do live performances for the Japanese Chrome Hearts Magazine as part of their From the Factory series. I performed a few songs with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols / Jonsy's Jukebox) and an all-star band that consisted of Kirk Hellie, Dan Rothchild, Dave Palmer and Eric Heywood. That will be out in 2012. Here is a recent video clip with Kirk Hellie.



On the educational side of things, I was a judge at the Super Jazz at the Ranch in Valencia, CA. It is a jazz band competition for high school and college big bands and combos from around Southern California. It was my first time doing such an event and I had a great time!

I wrote my first class curriculum for Musicians Institute. It's an upper level elective class called New Orleans Drumming. It focuses on the history of the development of the drum set and drumming in New Orleans over the last 150 years while taking a look at brass bands, the evolution of the trap set, R&B and early rock & roll, Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans Funk, etc). It was quite an undertaking but I am having a great time teaching a subject that I have been so passionate about for many years!

I am thrilled to announce that I recently signed on with Vic Firth Drumsticks.

Cheers.

Kevin


November 2010

This year is quickly coming to an end and it's been a great year! I did a bunch of great sessions with Kirk Hellie at the Chrome Hearts factory. You can see one of them with Miranda Lee Richards here.



I also did some drums for Kirk's upcoming solo release. Speaking of releases, I am on a CD by Scrote that came out a few months back. We did the basic tracks one evening at Brett Simon'sTin Room last year and it just kept going from there. The end product has an amazing cast of musicians and is a really great record. I also played drums and percussion for the next Frankel record. I have heard the final mixes and it's another homerun!

In May, I performed on the Ellen Degeneres Show with Shakira.

In October, I went to Egypt with saxaphonist, Ron Dziubla. We played a few jazz festivals in Cairo and Alexandrea and did some workshops for school-aged kids. It was an amazing trip that I will never forget!

I had the chance to play a few shows with the tremendous Lucy Woodward (Verve Records.) I first saw this New York / LA based jazz-blues singer last summer and she is a great talent, performer and person!

A few friends and I were asked to be part of the latest OK GO music video. They were doing a parade here in LA and wanted to beef up the group, so they called Brass Monkey to see if we could join in. It was a brutal day of 8.5 miles and 8 hours of marching with a drum, but it was great fun and totally worth it. Check it out here:

I've been enjoying the teaching at Musician's Institute as well. I started teaching a few classes in addition to the private lessons.

January 2010

The last few months have had included some cool new experiences. In September, I started teaching at Musician's Institute (PIT) in Hollywood. They have an all-star faculty of instructors and I am honored to be part of the MI family. Right now I have private drum set students that are from all over the U.S. France, Latvia, and South Africa.

In October, I had the amazing opportunity to perform with house band for the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show on ABC. I was filling in for their great drummer, Johnathan Dressel. It was a last minute and high pressure, but it came off great and it was a blast playing with Cleto and the Cletones!

July 2009

I just wanted to let you know what I have been up to lately.

I am on a record that was just released this week by Frankel - Anonymity Is The New Fame. It's a great record in the spirit of Wilco and Elliot Smith. We went for a super warm 1970's drum sound and I think we got it! They are doing a limited pressing of vinyl as well, so it's the first actual LP record I've played on!

I will be going to Mexico in July for a few dates with Chilean pop-star, Beto Cuevas in support of his new CD, Miedo Escenico. I have also done some live TV appearances with Beto over the last 6 months.

I have also been playing with singer/songwrinter Miranda Lee Richards in support of her new album out on Nettwerk Records, The Light of X. In March, we played a live set on the internationally-known taste-maker radio show, KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. The set is now available as audio or video-cast from the station's website.

Neon Neon wrapped up their 2008 dates with a tour that took us from festivals in Brazil, straight to Europe for a 2 week run in the UK. By the time is was all said and done, we did 16 countries (on 4 continents) in 2008. Neon Neon will begin working on the follow up album in the fall.

In between the things mentioned above, I have been keeping busy with a variety of sessions, in-town shows, teaching, and many performances with my band, Brass Monkey Brass Band.

Most of the last 5 months has been taken up with the group, Neon Neon. It’s a great new project made up of Gruff Rhys (lead singer of Super Furry Animals) & Boom Bip (well known artist/producer). So it’s starting off with alot of visibility / press / opportunities because of these guys (kind of like Gnarls Barkley.)

We have traveled across 4 continents, played some of the biggest festivals in the world (Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, Isle of Wight) and have had a blast doing it! Great music, great people - it doesn't get any better than that!! You can read all the details about the adventures on my tour blog.

I officially signed on with Sabian cymbals as well this summer. It's really great to be on board with a company that is committed to making such a great instrument.

I've done some sessions for some great records as well. Kirk Hellie and Michel Orendy (FRANKEL) both had me come in and do some songs for each of their albums (which sound amazing!!) Can't wait for the records to be released so I can hear the finished product!

September 2007

I just got off of the road with Minnie Driver. We were out in support of her 2nd CD and did shows all along the West Coast and Northeast. Minnie is a great person and singer and the band (Zak Schaffer, Doc Dauer, Brian Allen, Mark Noseworthy) was top notch and a super fun hang! Hopefully we will be going to the UK in the spring. Opening for us on a few dates was Michael Miller, a great singer / songwriter from LA. I have had a few chances to play with him in the last month as well - which have been great.

I spent alot of time (and $$$) setting up my own studio to record drums, program, etc. Alot of learning, but very rewarding.

It looks like the Meow Meow CD will finally be released in early 2008. We just met to decide on mixes, artwork, etc. It is going to be a double CD - my first!

Kirk Hellie (Meow Meow) and I started playing with Miranda Lee Richards as well. She is tremendous and producer/engineer, Rick Parker, is in the band as well! She has a new CD coming out on Nettwerk Records. Hopefully the band will be going with her to London to do some shows the week of Thanksgiving.

This summer, I also had the opportunity to play with a number of other great artist in town like: Geoff Pearlman, Sofie Bonde, The Fuxedos, and Jake Eckert.

February 2007

It's been a year since I posted any news up here, so I figure it's time.

Some highlights include:

I performed a few tunes with British pop sensation, Natasha Bedingfield, on Dick Clark's Rockin' (New Years) Eve - 2007. Her songs are great, she is a real nice person, and it was a fun and talented bunch of guys (Yogi, Brett Simons, and Chris Joyner.) Actaully, Brett, Yogi and I also did a scene for the short lived TV show, 20 Good Years (starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor.)



In August, I played the Hollywood Bowl with Brass Monkey Brass Band. We were on a bill with The Meters (all original line up) and the Neville Brothers. It was a night to remember.



I became the primary drummer for the musical, Rock of Ages, in the spring. We were playing to standing-room-only crowds of 600 people at every show. We also did a successful run in Vegas for a few weeks as well. It was great getting to work (and hang) with Kyle Gass (Tenacious D.) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger, Damn Yankees) who were part of the show. A NYC and touring production of the show are in the works at this time.

I performed with many great bands, singers/songwriters in 2006 from all across the country, but some that stand out are the shows I did with LA based singer/songwriter AM. He is garnered a lot of attention from KCRW in addition to having many of his songs placed in TV and film. He has an all-star band (with percussionist Chris Lovejoy) which made it a great time for all!

I also performed a set with the Miami-based artist, Fulano. He was in town for the Grammy's! He was nominated for “Best Latin Pop Album” for his album "Individual." It was great to work with Elstin (and some old friends who were on the gig as well!)

Many exciting things are in the works so stay tuned and be safe. Thanks for checking in.

February 2006

The last few months have been great. Most recently, I have been doing some of the shows for the new musical, Rock of Ages. It's a high-energy show with a cast of 31 people blasting out hits from the 80's!

Bruce Robb & Cherokee Studios are starting a new label and one of their other acts is Cody Carpenter (son of movie director, John Carpenter - Halloween, Escape from NY, Christine.) Cody is a very talented 21 year old who's music is much like early Genesis, Gentle Giant, etc. I just recorded a few tunes for his record and have been doing shows around town. It definitely keeps me on my toes!

I have had the privilege of working with Rob Shrock in a few different situations over the last few months. Rob has been the musical director for Burt Backarack & Dion Warrwick for years. One of the artist we have been working with is Galen Callahan. Galen is a tremendous young vocalist from Dallas who has been working with Bernie Taupin, Jud Friedman, and Marti Frederiksen.

Brass Monkey finally did a CD release show in San Francisco in January, but the big news is that we are going to play The Hollywood Bowl on August 16th with (the original lineup of) The Meters and The Neville Brothers!

September 2005

I just shot a new Faith Hill video for the song "Like We Never Loved At All." It's a duet with her husband, Tim McGraw. They were both very cool and great to work with. I guess the video should be coming out on CMT sometime soon.

I have been busy recording and mixing the new Meow Meow album since December. We have 25 songs recorded and they all sound amazing. It's going to be tough to narrow it down to 12 or so cuts for the CD.

In July and Sept, I played shows with former 'New Kids on the Block' member (and recently on Dancing with the Stars,) Joey McIntyre. It was a great band lead by Jeff Babko (from the Jimmy Kimmel Show Band.)

I also spent a few months playing with Mother Pearl. Great band lead by Pearl Aday (who is actually Meatloaf's daughter.) The project was produced by Bruce Robb at Cherokee Studios.

Not as much TV stuff the last few months. I did a episode of 'Las Vegas' with Tony Orlando. Of course, we did "Tie a Yellow Ribbon." The highlight of the day was the meeting Don Knotts on the set. He was in full-on Mr. Roper clothing - leisure suit, scarf and shades!

I also did some recording with a great LA-based soulful singer/songwriter, Ernie Halter.

Fall 2004

Kevin joined the LA noise-pop group, Meow Meow, who's debut CD is receiving critically acclaim in the US and Europe.

The band 2 Cent Penny brought Kevin in for recording drum tracks for their upcoming CD release. The project is being produced by Stone Temple Pilots' drummer, Eric Kretz.

Recent releases include a release for Island Records artist, Marc Broussard (Kevin plays percussion on a few tracks.) Marc is a soulful singer from Louisiana with a great band! Percussion legend, Lenny Castro, is playing percussion on the album as well.



TV appearances in the last few months include:
CSI, CBS 2004
American Dreams
- Performed with Ritchie Sambora and Bonnie McKee, NBC 2004
Frasier - Episode 238, NBC 2003


Coming up...

Kevin will be in an episode of the new CBS show, Dr. Vegas with Rob Lowe on Friday, November 5th at 10pm and he will be performing a few tunes with Peter Galliger on The O.C. on January 13th.

The Brass Monkey Brass Band (Kevin is drummer and leader) CD is coming to completion and will have a Fall '04 release date.