Alan, I couldn't agree with you more. I started playing before I met my wife. There hasn't been a time that there wasn't a kit in our living room or bedroom.
I had begun to play an acoustic kit, and actually had a couple of friends that were interested in starting a band. I ended up moving out of state, so those plans fell through. Once I was here in North Carolina, I met a guy at my job who was interested in teaching himself to play guitar. He found a good deal online and bought a guitar and amp. I was online to buy the same package, and we were going to both learn and go around and hopefully play some local stuff. I spotted a Roland TD-6 kit. It was about five times the price of what I was supposed to be buying, but I did it anyway. We jammed in my apartment all the time. It was great because of the volume control. I had that kit until 2008, when we lost everything to a fire. My wife ended up surprising me with a new kit, an updated version of the TD-6.
I kept just playing for the fun of it, until I found an ad on Craigslist for a band looking for a drummer that plays an e-kit in 2015. My wife talked me into auditioning. I credit her for my involvement in this band to this day.
I'm plagued with back and knee problems, and haven't been in the greatest shape for some time. I have, however, had more success in getting back into shape during times that I'm able to put at least an hour a day into playing. I've had some shows that have been a little tough getting through, specifically a date in April where we played a show on a warm Saturday morning, then followed up with a 4-hour gig the same night. We try not to take many of those!
I'm the same way you are, I just want to get the most out of this. I have learned a lot in the last 3 years especially, on top of just learning to play over the last 20 years of my life. I handle all the video and audio mixing and processing for the band, so I've learned how to use the equipment. I sat in on a session, with the girl who has since become the band's keyboard player, to add drum tracks to a few songs on her indie band's album a couple years ago. It's given me this craving for more. Ultimately, I want to set up a studio, where I can invite songwriters in to record. I'll provide drums if they want, but mostly, it will be to provide mastering services. My area has an amazing songwriter community, and I want to be able to help give that community the tools to reach as many people as possible.
I feel the same when I see an amazing drummer, live or on TV. I'm proud to share that as an attribute, and it makes me just want to sit down at my kit and have at it.
My band has come a long way in 3 years. We've released an album, and we have a huge library of cover songs that we do. However, I think the most fun I've had is in those moments when we're just noodling around, and before long, there's an improvised jam taking shape. Getting into that groove and playing off each other's spontaneity is a feeling like no other. We're often amazed at what happens. And there's one or two of those that have been incorporated into songs we recorded for the album.
I love this life, and I just want to do this as long as I can!
--
Shawn.
