Twentyish Drummer Questions Volume Thirty-Six: Luke Crawford!
Nice!
1. How long have you been a drummer?
-I was a drummer for about 4 years, pretty much through high school and for a short while after. I don't think I've held a drumstick since about 2002.
2. When/why did you decide to be a drummer?
-I decided to start playing because Sam Banta and Brandon Thomason didn't think Sam's hillbilly neighbor Chuck Schwartz was "punk enough" to be in their garage band (EPR) anymore.
3. What kind of set do you play?
-They were cheap and red... maybe Sound Percussion, but I'm not even sure.
4. What album(s) did you learn to drum to? If not an album, with whom? Or did you just bang it out?
-Mostly just banged it out for sure. We played a lot of NOFX, Green Day, and Blink-182 covers. If I picked one album, I'd say Blink - "Dude Ranch."
5. When you started out, did you buy so many accessories?
-I bought a double kicker I never really learned to use. I spent a lot of time at Guitar Center, but I was too broke to buy a lot.
6. Single or double?
-Mostly single, see #5 above...
7. Stick size/type?
-I think I usually used a 5A Vic Firth. I also bought some of those metal ones with the plastic covers.
8. Nylon tips, or wood?
-Wood, mostly.
9. What brand of heads do you prefer?
-I always used Remo.
10. What is your favorite cymbal ever?
-I had an 18" Zildjian Rock Crash I liked. I think it was a ZBT...
11. What are your thoughts on china cymbals?
-No.
12. How about splashes?
-There's a time and a place.
13. Where do you get your gear from?
-Guitar Center in Forest Fair Mall.
14. How do you feel about the statement “any drummer with more than a four piece set is an asshole?”
-Haha, it's either a really good drummer or an asshole. I guess probably more of the latter.
15. I don't remember the name of that band that you were in when we first met, but I believe that was the day that we became besties. Is that the only band that you've played in? What makes you want to stay far away from your roots as a drummer?
-Well, I was in a few (thankfully defunct) bands. First was EPR with Sam and Brandon. That morphed into NOOD, with the illustrious Justin Sheldon involved. That morphed into Worse for Wear, which did not involve me. I then got involved with the Midwest Ballers with Sean Martin, Dave Dettenwanger, and Jeremy Blair. All of those guys were (are) totally crazy. I suppose I was (am) too. I've never really done any serious drugs in my lifetime, but when I think about that period of my life it feels like I did.
I "retired" from drumming because I was never very good. It was more as a favor to the community at large. I went through a pretty transient/vagabond period for several years. I didn't like carrying drums around from apartment to apartment, so I left them places for long periods of time. Eventually I just lost track of them and don't even know where they are. Probably still in the basement of first Glendora for all I know...
Having no drums, no band, no talent, no money, sometimes no home; I just never saw the benefit to trying to get back into it. If I had time and a teacher and a drum set (and a sound proof room so I didn't bother my daughter), I would probably have fun with it. However, I seem to have a hard enough time just trying to learn a few chords on my acoustic guitar. Baby steps, I suppose...
16. Where is your best performance located? (This refers to physical media)... Did the aforementioned band ever record?
-Oh, it was at the Grange in Joyce Park. It always was. I don't know which show. It's probably a conglomerate memory of all of them that fused itself together in my mind. Jamie Bryant getting hit in the head with a Razor Scooter, Bob Music getting the shit kicked out of him out back, Tom Caruso serving grilled cheese sandwiches in a bear costume, smashing a dresser into tiny pieces, setting my cymbals on fire while playing.... it all runs together into one big, happy, dysfunctional memory for me.
The only band I was in that recorded anything was NOOD. We went to a studio like somebody wanted to buy our crap. I don't have a copy. Sam or Justin might, but who knows. All I remember was that I was using this really harsh sounding piccolo snare that never fucking stopped. Kinda wrecked the album. That's my legacy.
17. Who are your top three drummers now?
-I love Scott Churilla (formerly of the Reverend Horton Heat, maybe with Hank III now...), Joe Easley of the Plan, and I've always loved Erik Sandin from NOFX.
18. Who were your initial top three drummers?
-Probably still Erik Sandin, I loved Josh Freese of the Vandals, and I think maybe the dude from Pennywise.
19. Have you ever actually stopped a cymbal crack?
-I only MADE cymbals crack, not STOPPED them...
20. Do you play any other instruments, or do you feel like a drummer should just concentrate on doing their drummer job well?
-I played an upright bass for awhile (also left it in a transient period), and now I've got an acoustic guitar gathering dust.
21. How do you feel about that “This drummer is at the wrong gig” video? That shit rules, right?
-I never saw it until this very minute, but it's pretty tight! I love a guy that looks like he wants to beat the shit out of his drum set!
22. What is your signature move?
-When I stop playing.
23. What cd do you put in just because the drums are amazing?
-The Dismemberment Plan - "Change"
24. What would be the most exciting fill in spot for you; the kind where you would puke from excitement before going onstage?
-I'd probably puke if I had to get on stage with anyone now, but if I were good enough the Reverend is still my favorite live show. Or, since we're being totally hypothetical, I'd could go back in time before Freddie Mercury died and play Wembley Stadium with Queen.
25. Fill in the blank:
Best word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: Crude.
Worst word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: Enjoyable.
Word (phrase) that you are aiming for while drumming: BRUTAL.
26. Do you remember what piece of furniture that band destroyed at The Grange?
-It was a dresser I'm pretty sure. I don't know if we found it on the curb on garbage day or just took it out of Dave's house. I think the latter.
Thanks for asking! This was fun!
Thanks for answering, Luke! It was enjoyable to read!