Real World Example: Playing with the right volume & dynamics for the gig.
My favorite moment in the Forever Motown show is when we play a medley that includes my favorite Marvin Gaye song, “What’s Going On?”. I’m sharing this snippet as a real-world example of something I talked about in my newest “Hey Man!” YouTube video: playing with the right volume, dynamics, and attitude for the situation.
During the soundcheck for this song, my enthusiasm had me playing too loudly and aggressively (at first) for that moment in the show and the mood it was trying to set. The lead singer, Theo Peoples (formerly of both the Four Tops and The Temptations), stopped us in the middle of the soundcheck/run-through and asked if we could bring things way down, especially during the verses of the medley. As we worked through the arrangement, we could gradually build & increase the volume to create some additional energy, but the key was getting the volume just right in the verses to match what Theo wanted to do with the song.
I could have let my own excitement for the song (and my ego) get in the way of what Theo was trying to accomplish, but I was happy to give him what he asked for. As a result, we were able to play this song with the right energy and attitude to complement Theo’s vocal performance.
Drummers, especially when working with an artist operating at such a high level, remember that your role is to serve the artist and their vision for the music.