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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!
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.
Wow, this is long overdue! In the last six months, I did a tour with Chilean pop superstar, Beto Cuevas. He is the lead singer of the band, La Ley, but is now releasing his long awaited solo debut. I played part of a US tour, filling in for Brendan Buckley (who had a commitment with Shakira.) It was a lot of fun and they are a great group of guys. Hopefully, I will be doing some more work with them in the future.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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