Drummers on Drumming

Ben Hilzinger
  • 5.0 (44)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Drummers on Drumming

DRUMMERS ON DRUMMING dives deep into the groove, quirks, and ingenuity that define some of the world’s most innovative drummers. Hosted by Ben Hilzinger (Cannons, Eve 6) and powered by Big Fat Snare Drum, this podcast brings together a unique blend of personal stories, raw insights, and surprising perspectives. Each episode unpacks what makes a drummer's voice their own—whether it's through Big Fat Five, where guests reveal the five albums, moments, or influences that shaped their style, or The Drum Panel, a spirited roundtable tackling the instrument's most polarizing debates. Expect bold opinions, unexpected connections, and an authentic look at the drumming life—on and off the kit. --- 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.

  1. The Drum Panel: Our Guilty Pleasures, Drum Trolls, and the IG Cheating Debate

    3 DAYS AGO

    The Drum Panel: Our Guilty Pleasures, Drum Trolls, and the IG Cheating Debate

    Episode 8 of The Drum Panel This week, Eric (@ericsurrea) is back!...alongside our newest bestie George Martinez (@skinnygeorge). In this episode, we dive into: Are ghost notes the modern-day equivalent of skinny jeans—cool now but overdone? How do you strike the right balance between technical precision and feel in your playing? Are dynamics the single most important factor in making a drummer sound great? Why is it so challenging to produce a high-quality drum part on the spot? Are tambourines and shakers actually more essential than toms? What are the guilty-pleasure drum songs we secretly love to play but would never admit to? Is a rubber practice pad less effective than a gel pad or pillow for improving your playing? Are self-taught drummers at a disadvantage in the long run? What’s the best way to handle trolls in the drumming community? Is quantizing your Instagram drum videos considered cheating? --- 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.

    1h 5m
  2. The Drum Panel: Audition Advice, Anecdotes, and Staying Hired—Thriving in the Touring Industry with Elias Mallin & Stacy Jones

    DEC 11

    The Drum Panel: Audition Advice, Anecdotes, and Staying Hired—Thriving in the Touring Industry with Elias Mallin & Stacy Jones

    Episode 7 of The Drum Panel This week, we're joined by Stacy Jones (Miley Cyrus, Letters to Cleo, American Hi-Fi) and Elias Mallin (Kesha, Noah Cyrus, Filter)—two seasoned veterans of the touring music industry and influential figures in shaping the competitive LA music scene. This episode steps away from our usual bullet-point list of hot takes and dives into a bigger-picture conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in live music. We cover everything from technique tips and tuning tricks to staying mentally sharp during performances, audition dos and don’ts, and plenty of honest stories about the ups and downs of auditions and live shows. Special thanks to Patches Sound for hosting us! --- 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.

    1h 11m
  3. Big Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records

    DEC 4

    Big Fat Five: Sterling Laws (NIKI, Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Berninger) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records

    Welcome back to Big Fat Five—a segment of Drummers on Drumming brought to you by Big Fat Snare Drum, where I chat with my favorite drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. I’m your host, Ben Hilzinger, and this week’s guest is the incredible Sterling Laws. Sterling is a fellow Pacific Northwest native now based in Los Angeles, but more importantly, he’s a Grammy-nominated drummer whose resume is as impressive as it gets. He’s worked with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Gordon, Chappell Roan, NIKI, Matt Berninger, Liz Phair, The War on Drugs, Linda Perry, Aly & AJ, Lo Moon, Dave Stewart, and many more. Sterling is out there doing the thing and still manages to bring a unique perspective to the kit while working with such a diverse roster of artists—a quality that’s both rare and inspiring. It’s exactly why I was so excited to talk to him. --- 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. STERLING'S BIG FAT FIVE: Album - Badmotorfinger Artist - Soundgarden Release Year - 1991 Key Track(s) - Rusty Cage, Searching With My Good Eye Closed, Jesus Christ Pose Drummer - Matt Cameron - Album - In Rainbows Artist - Radiohead Release Year - 2007 Key Track(s) - 15 Steps, Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes, Reckoner Drummer - Philip Selway - Album - Future Self Artist - The Globes Release Year - 2011 Key Track(s) Pigeon, Stay Awake, A Stitch Couldn't Save The World Drummer - Marcus Ourada - Album - Boxer Artist - The National Release Year - 2007 Key Track(s) - Mistaken For Strangers, Brainy, Apartment Story Drummer - Bryan Devendorf - Album - Live From The Ryman And More Artist - Sheryl Crow Release Year - 2019 Key Track(s) - A Change Would Do You Good, Everything Is Broken, Maybe Angels, If It Makes You Happy Drummer - Fred Eltringham For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

    37 min
  4. Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves): Start Somewhere To Go Somewhere

    NOV 27

    Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves): Start Somewhere To Go Somewhere

    Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming! Today, I’m thrilled to share a conversation with a true force in modern drumming—Ilan Rubin. You’ve heard his incredible work behind the kit with artists like Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore and so many more. But Ilan is not just an outstanding drummer; he’s also a passionate educator, and his latest project proves just that.  He’s recently released his instructional book, Start Somewhere to Go Somewhere, and trust me, it’s not just another drum method book. In this episode, we certainly discuss the book, but we dive deep into Ilan’s philosophy on practice and technique in a way that I personally haven’t heard him talk about before … and why he felt compelled to share his unique perspective in an already crowded field of drum education. I have the book and ive been able to spend some more time with it since recording this episode and I can say first hand, it’s worth it. So without further ado…here is my chat with the youngest rock n roll hall of fame inductee, Ilan Rubin. --- 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.

    44 min
  5. The Drum Panel: The Ultimate Compliment, Jazz Study—Essential or Overrated?, and Is the Band Drummer Era Over?

    NOV 20

    The Drum Panel: The Ultimate Compliment, Jazz Study—Essential or Overrated?, and Is the Band Drummer Era Over?

    Episode 6 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are two of my favorite drummers and people, Sarab Singh (MUNA) and Adam Christgau (Tegan and Sara). In this episode, we dive into: What’s the greatest compliment a drummer can get, and does it truly matter? How do others really describe your playing style—are you sure you'd agree? Should every drummer dive into jazz, or is it a skill only some truly need? Has the golden era of iconic bands come to an end, or is it just evolving? Are music schools churning out technical robots at the cost of creative souls? Is practicing on pillows with heavy sticks a hidden secret or just a myth? Are quintuplets and sextuplets essential or a complete waste of practice time? --- 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.

    50 min
  6. Big Fat Five: Lucy Ritter (Chappell Roan) Share Her Top 5 Influential Records

    NOV 13

    Big Fat Five: Lucy Ritter (Chappell Roan) Share Her Top 5 Influential Records

    We’ve got another installment of Big Fat Five: a segment where I talk to drummers about the stories and records that shaped their sound. Today’s guest is Lucy Ritter, a New York/New Jersey native who picked up the drums at just 9 years old and was already landing professional gigs by 14. After three years at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, she made the bold decision to leave and join her first major tour: the Broadway musical An Officer and a Gentleman. That gig opened doors, eventually leading to her being offered the drum chair for the Grammy Award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill. These days, Lucy has stepped away from the Broadway scene and taken on an exciting new role as the drummer for one of today’s fastest-rising pop acts, Chappell Roan. We dig into how she landed that gig and explore the five records that have profoundly influenced her drumming style. This episode has been a long time coming, so let’s dive in. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the incredibly talented Lucy Ritter... cheers! --- 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. LUCY'S BIG FAT FIVE: Album - A Love Supreme Artist - John Coltrane Release Year - 1965 Key Track(s) - Pt. II - Resolution & Pt. III - Pursuance Drummer - Elvin Jones - Album - Earfood Artist - Roy Hargrove Release Year - 2008 Key Track(s) - Strasbourg / St. Denis, The Stinger, Mr.Clean Drummer - Motez Coleman - Album - Grow Artist - Chon Release Year - 2015 Key Track(s) - But / all of them Drummer - Nathan Camarena, Brian Evans, Matt Garstka - Album - Live at Velfarre Artist - Earth, Wind & Fire Release Year - 1996 Key Track(s) - In The Stone, September, Let Your Feelings Show, Let’s Groove Drummer - Sonny Emory - Album - Take Off Your Pants and Jacket Artist - Blink-182 Release Year - 2001 Key Track(s) - 3 Drummer - Travis Barker For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

    41 min
  7. The Drum Panel: Timeless Drum Tones, AI’s Impact, Advice We’d Give Our Younger Selves, and More...

    NOV 6

    The Drum Panel: Timeless Drum Tones, AI’s Impact, Advice We’d Give Our Younger Selves, and More...

    Episode 5 of The Drum Panel This week's guests are my co-host Eric Urrea (Marina City / Sessions) and good buddy Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum). SUBMIT YOUR CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC OPINIONS HERE In this episode, we dive into: If you could reinvent one aspect of your drumming, what would it be, and why? What's the one piece of advice you wish you'd known as a young drummer starting out? How important is style to a drummer’s career—can visuals be as impactful as skill? What ingredients create a drum tone that stands the test of time? Have we lost the ability to have a hit song without the use of a click? With AI's influence growing, what do you think drumming will look like in the near future? Is the quest for 'perfect' recordings draining the soul out of live music? Why do so many drummers gravitate toward intricate playing—are we losing the groove? --- 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.

    44 min
  8. Big Fat Five: Jesse Boyle (Chase Atlantic) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records...

    OCT 30

    Big Fat Five: Jesse Boyle (Chase Atlantic) Shares His Top 5 Influential Records...

    Today I’m joined by Jesse Boyle, my good buddy and the drummer for the boundary-pushing band Chase Atlantic. Known for blending genres like alternative, R&B, and electronic music, Jesse’s unique approach drives the pulse behind Chase’s immersive live soundscapes. We’ll dive into the top five influences that shaped his drumming and musical journey and we get into a newer career he’s started…all because he gave himself permission. I think it’s important for everyone to stay tuned through the end of the episode.  --- 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. JESSE'S BIG FAT FIVE: - Album - Reggatta De Blanc Artist - The Police Release Year - 1979 Key Track(s) - Message in a Bottle, Walking On the Moon Drummer - Stewart Copeland - Album - By The Way Artist - Red Hot Chili Peppers Release Year - 2002 Key Track(s) - By the Way, Don’t Forget Me Drummer - Chad Smith - Album - Only by the Night Artist - Kings of Leon Release Year - 2008 Key Track(s) - Closer, I Want You Drummer - Nathan Followill - Album - The Colour and The Shape Artist - Foo Fighters Release Year - 1997 Key Track(s) - My Hero, Everlong Drummer - Dave Grohl / William Goldsmith - Album - TOTO IV Artist - TOTO Release Year - 1982 Key Track(s) - Rosanna Drummer - Jeff Porcaro For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

    41 min
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5
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

DRUMMERS ON DRUMMING dives deep into the groove, quirks, and ingenuity that define some of the world’s most innovative drummers. Hosted by Ben Hilzinger (Cannons, Eve 6) and powered by Big Fat Snare Drum, this podcast brings together a unique blend of personal stories, raw insights, and surprising perspectives. Each episode unpacks what makes a drummer's voice their own—whether it's through Big Fat Five, where guests reveal the five albums, moments, or influences that shaped their style, or The Drum Panel, a spirited roundtable tackling the instrument's most polarizing debates. Expect bold opinions, unexpected connections, and an authentic look at the drumming life—on and off the kit. --- 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Hilzinger
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    218
  • Copyright
    © Ben Hilzinger
  • Show Website
    Drummers on Drumming

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