Adam Silverman : Nashville Session and Touring Drummer

This is one of those questions that’s really been haunting me for the last few days. Someone asked me from a marketing perspective, “What’s your thing as a drummer?” Immediately I said, well I am working to be the best drummer that I can be. Seemed like a great answer, but it wasn’t quite what they were looking for. They were really asking, what specialty is it that I have as a drummer that puts me into the competition in Nashville? The answer is that I really have no clue.

I mean let’s be honest here for a second. You look at drumming magazines and many of the drummers in Modern Drummer are there because they are in a popular rock band, or maybe they are crazy cool with the Double Kick pedal. Sometimes they are known for being a session musician. There are very few guys in there that are just amazing at everything and I think there may be something to that concept. So what’s my thing as a drummer, am I Pop, R&B, Gospel, Country, Rock, do I only do solo ostinado patterns, do I live in the studio… what am I, what’s my angle?

To be completely honest, this is an open ended blog entry because I have no answer to that question. I change faces so much depending on what gig I am doing. With 33Miles, I am a jam band drummer that’s conformed into a Pop Country universe. Is that my thing… not really but I do really enjoy it. In college I spent the better part of my time studying Jazz and Latin music at school, while diving deep into Indian Drumming, as well as loving bands like Tool and Dream Theatre that push the boundaries of what we call “rock” music in 2009. For the last year I’ve been working like crazy on double and single foot chops, developing a lot around just doing the excellent grooves. I’ve been into major POP music and Rap music, learning to duplicate drum machines on POP records and shooting towards doing sessions. So I would say I am far from specialized at any one thing… is that a bad thing?

To say my musical tastes are diverse would definitely hit the nail on the head. I change phases and faces so quickly I truly feel like the chameleon drummer. Whatever the gig is, I can adapt my playing to fit that mould. There are few drummers I’ve seen that really can jump around, and those are the guys that I really look up to. Vinnie, Dennis Chambers, Jeff Porcaro, Bernard Purdie, etc. So what is it about these guys to me that makes them so special? They can literally do anything. Now obviously I am no where near as good as these guys on the drums, though I hope to be one day… but the point that maybe my thing is that I really don’t have a thing. I don’t have a speciality, my speciality is being able to specialize in whatever I need to for whatever time is allowed for that job.My special might just be diversity right now Maybe that’s a good thing, maybe I am taking on the impossible by trying to become something that isn’t attainable? Who knows.

Maybe the reason I am not “known” for anything is that I just haven’t been around long enough yet to be known. Maybe it’s not possible, or not easy to be able to do everything so not everyone does. Maybe it’s because some people only love rock music and don’t like to listen to other things. In any case, it’s a question and thought that has no answer for the time being. I guess I’ll just keep doing everything as much as I can and see where it takes me.

In the meantime, I guess I’ll keep practicing.

Here are a few shots from Peoria, IL with 33Miles. Thanks to Erin Borcherding for the images. That was a rockin’ show that we did for I’d say at least 3,500 peeps the other night. Amen to rocking out!!

Howdy Folks,

This past week started my first real summer tour with 33Miles. We headed out with Building 429, Lanae Hale, and Kimber Rising to play dates in Tennessee, Illinios, Kansas City, and Springfield for our first run. It’s really an honor to share the stage with such awesome performers as Building 429, Lanae, and Kimber Rising. I have been amazed by the talents and the hearts of the people surrounding us on the tour. I hope and pray that many children across the world will be sponsored through World Vision and that we can continue to fight hunger, thirst, pain, and the lack of educationa about the Lord in our world.

So far the shows have been amazing. My favorite thing about being with 33 is that we always go out there to rock faces off and ask questions later :) I love that I can just shred with them and leave it all out on the stage. Every night is a new chance to do something new and different and that’s a really unique opportunity as a drummer. I am really excited for what’s to come with the rest of the tour.

Click on the picture below to check out the summerfest ’09 website. That will give you all the information you need to catch us in your town. I hope to see you out on the road, it’s going to be a face-rockin’ blast.