Aged maple hoops

Posting more examples for myself later in the future. Really dig the way these aged maple hoops look! Been in the garage a while building character. All photo taken from C&C as usual. Their work is always on top!

Ducco

Just a Batch photos so I may reference "ducco". All photos stolen from C and C drums.

Vintage Kit pt. 2

Just making references to more things I have seen/taken from C&C. Although posting about a red kit before, these are mainly dedicated to grains, vaneers and stains. Randomly collected pictures.


stain reference (blood red)


texture

texture

color


vaneer/grain

Drum Kit Idea #6: Vintage

Its been a very long time since I have thought of a drum kit idea, atleast a coherent one. I think about drums on a daily basis!

Since getting my custom it has all gone a little quiet in the thrashing sea that is my brain. I would be lying if I said I wasn't already thinking of a new kit as my current one was being birthed. So, I wont lie!

I have bounced a few ideas around in my mind and I was pretty much dead set on my next set up if i ever have the opportunity or god willing, the money! Slowly things have been starting to turn and the original idea started to morph. I want something vintage.

The original idea was red glitter, Natural claw style("hide a head") hoops with red glitter inlays and brass tube lugs. Pondered on the thought of no glitter at all and just using a stain, possibly no inlay on the hoops at all. Thinking of what color stain had my head hurting! As time went on the vintage idea started to creep in and make itself at home. More and more I was looking at different kits and thinking about most common vintage sizes, looks and styles. Stripping the proverbial onion to a much simpler, basic and easy form. Not to mention inlays, brass and wood hoops also equal more money and the odds of myself ever actually falling into a good situation and getting this created are slim. So with basic and simple comes more affordable. There isnt anything wrong with that either.

C&C posted this kit on instagram and at 7:30am half awake I said "THATS IT!". With thinking vintage I have been trying to decided whether or not to go the super old school route with single lugs in the middle of the drums. A friend of mine had bought an early 60's KENT kit for himself to try to get a band going, i used the KENT rig to try out and thats when my band Fortune Healers was born. The Kent kit had all single lugs on the rack tom and snare.

Notes to self: Kick- Maple poplar maple with walnut outter/Floor-walnut poplar walnut.
red mohogany based stain on walnut.

The C&C kit is PERFECT. Beavertail lugs is my choice for sure when it comes to vintage. This kit has single beavertails on the floor and regulars on the kick. Really digging the singles! Instead of red glitter, im going for a hue of red stain. Not too sure exactly what this color is but I asked if a Cherry stain would have the same result. Cutting down from wood hoops on all drums to just naturals on the kick with a matching inlay from the kit. I personally would not get a banana rail. This kit is a solid inbetween from what I was originally thinking about to the new stripped down vintage look.

Here is a picture of a Darkhorse kit with a Cherry stain on it for an example:

As far as sizes go:
24x16 Kick
13x9 Rack
16x14 Floor

Chip Ritter/Trick Drums

I found out about Chip Ritter this morning looking at the TRICK drums webpage. TRICK is a custom drum company from Arlington Heights, IL. That I also found out about recently.

I attended the Harvest/Burnt By The Sun last show in NYC last week. The drummer from Burnt By The Sun who I was told is also the drummer for Municipal Waste, had a TRICK drum kit, a company I have never heard of before. So this morning I finally got a chance to check out their webpage. Thats where I found Chip. Dude has some chops and I'm a sucker for stick tricks. A little flash is cool and all but personally not my thing but stick trick drummers are definitely a thing that interest me and make me laugh whenever I see someone doing some whacky shit. Stick juggling is his shtick he is running with and I think its pretty cool. Decent video to watch. Quality is a bit off, but it is what it is.

TRICK has a Orange Country Choppers of drums vibe. All their drums are created with an alloy called AL13 shells from their own custom design. Along with all their hardware options, pedals, throw offs, etc that are also all made of metals. TRICK Drums may not appeal to me but they are on top of their shit. They really are doing something unique. Creating drums that are very industrial but at the same time look no different than any company thats using wood shells. They are machinists and they seem to be really good at what they are doing. They offer the ability to machine whatever it is you want on site (for a price increase of course) to fulfill your dream. They also offer laser etching, textured Metal Grain, Millusion and pin striping. Which if you chose to not wrap or finish your Trick drum kit, is something you could not do with wood shelled drums.

Not my thing but still cool in its own right. If you have a minute and care to check it out look here at TRICK DRUMS

BIG.

So since I was heading south to DC and my snare drum just happened to be ready, we made a little pit stop in Kenilworth, NJ to pay a visit to the Dark Horse Percussion shop! Unfortunately DHP is not a 24/7 operation like I thought it was so I didn't get to take a tour of the shop. Real big bummer considering I didn't have to go pick up my drums like I had originally planned to do when they were finished. To actually be AT the shop and still not be able to see it was a bummer. Hopefully Healers will get down to New Jersey at some point or if I'm ever passing by again I'll get to check the joint out!



What was waiting for me in the hallway however was this beefy young lady:

14x8 15ply maple. Aged marine pearl wrap, single tube lugs and diecast hoops.

I originally ordered a 10ply but Anthony had this 15 on the shelf and decided to hook me up. Which I appreciate! I've seen a lot of people ordering 14x8 snares lately, you could say its the "cool thing" right now. So I kind of figured hey, why not? I already own a 14x7 why not go for a little more. I did NOT know what I was getting into! This snare is SO big its crazy. They never look all that big when I've seen others or when you're holding it yourself but once its set up in your stand, whole other perspective. It could be the single tubes that give it a bigger effect, I don't know but shes one big bitch!

I haven't had much time with her, I took her to the healers practice space last night and tuned her up to how I usually tune my snares but I haven't gotten an ear for her yet. My drums took a little while for me to get used to and this snare won't be any different. My tuning methods might not work for this snare. Theres still some kinks to be worked out. I'm used to a 7ply birch shell, so this is a HUGE difference in sound. In the end I'll figure everything out and get used to her and she'll be amazing. Can't wait for my band mates to see and hear it. I'm really interested in opinions of how she sounds. The shows I'm playing in June will hopefully give some valuable feedback.

My Drum Rig

Photo: Albert Longo

My drums set up after load in at The Fortune Healers show we played at The Met Cafe 2 weeks ago.

Matthew Richard...BACK on the internet!

After getting up on The Dark Horse roster list and the website being redone shortly after my presence was extremely short lived. However the time has come again! I now have my drums, a band and all the other appropriate information together and I am back up on the site amongst the other DHP artists!



Head on over to www.darkhorsepercussion.com and check the ARTIST section to see the whole deal!

My Year In Pictures

2010 was an amazing year for me. Probably one of the better years of my life. This blog is actually one quite contrary to all my other year ender blogs that I have posted in the past. I see this to be a very good thing. I set out to do things this year and I accomplished ALL of them. Everything went my way. I feel very fortunate and lucky to be able to say that. I've also met a ton of new people this year, I'm pleased to have met all of them, everyone is so awesome and respectful. Its great. I look forward to the lifetimes ahead with everyone. 2011 starts off amazing and I have only a vague idea of whats in store. Heres to having just about everything I could ever want.

April 2010: I moved out of my parents into the city of Providence.


July 2010: I was referred by a friend to talk to his boss/co-worker about a band he was working on. Thats when I met TJ, who is a dude thats totally on my level. TJ needed a better and more available drummer. Thats when I joined The Fortune Healers. Our Bass player wasn't working either, so I took the pleasure of getting my good friend Derek in the band as well. Not to mention I've known Jae for about 7 years. I'm excited to be in a band with good people.

August 2010: After over a years wait, I FINALLY received my custom drums from Dark Horse Percussion.

September 2010: I visited the country of Australia. This is me on the steps of the Opera House.

December 2010: After months of "dating", I have a new girlfriend. Its nice, different. Wish me luck! I'll need it!

Barrel Snare

I think this snare is so badass! I don't think I ever posted my drum kit idea that I've had for a long time that I guess is supposed to resemble being made out of old floor boards. Excluding the 2 horizontal rings, since this snare is supposed to resemble a wooden barrel, the finish pertaining to MY kit idea is very similar. The hardware is PERFECT. I don't think I ever described it well enough whenever I told someone about this idea I had. Now there is a great picture representation of it.

One day this kit might be made!

LIVE!

Here is a  picture of my kit thats on the Dark Horse website!

AND here is what it looks like in action!


My band(blog coming soon) played our first show last Friday. It was the musical side to the Love Thy Neighbor Art show tossed together by Mcinnis Tattoo. A place where many local and New England tattooers can come and show off their art and sell it.

It was a fantastic event to introduce ourselves to Providence. Lots of friends and just an overall great vibe and scene to be apart of. I could not be any happier with how the night went and how we played. It was a blast!

photos by: Rich Gaccione

Customs Are DONE!

Here is another sneak shot of them lugged up and assembled. Better pictures to come soon!

I cannot even express how I feel right now. They look PERFECT.

My Customs!

FINALLY! I got this sneak peek earlier this afternoon. I cannot tell you how stoked I am right now!

All they need is drilling, lugs and assembly and they will finally been mine. It's been quite a trip...and wait but it's finally happening.

This picture doesn't really do them justice, the inlay looks white, when it isn't and the glare is making the glitter make it look like a snow storm. I will be posting better pictures in September.

Epic Snare.

I found this video randomly poking around on youtube. Its of the Mars Volta performing the song "Goliath" at some large festival. Not only is this song is one of my favorites but holy shit!

I'm not too familiar with Dave Elitch but the dude is shredding right here. That roll set at 1:07 dominates. His energy is top notch and listen to that snare! I have no idea what it is, it would appear to be aluminum but I'm not positive. Thing must be cranked!

I only say aluminum because its shell looks like this snare that C&C did for Derek Grant of Alkaline Trio.

Giggin Vidz

I filled in for a friends band not long ago. They wanted to play a last show and since I had filled in for them before last summer, I said sure, why not and offered my services. After the original person that was supposed to play for them flaked (which I knew would happen) I took the duties.

I have always been a skilled drummer, well, not ALWAYS but I am now. I haven't been given much out of music. I've had the drumming blood flowing through me as a child until finally got my first real drum kit for my 16th Birthday. You would think playing 9 years I'd have something to show for it. I guess that I do, I have a Demo of the only actual band I've ever done, which wasnt very good and I have rough cuts of a handful of songs from my band that just never got off the ground. I only have a few pictures from these events.

Now however, I have video proof! I think that this is totally awesome! I'm also glad that I do not sound as bad as I thought I did that night. There is some minor misses but overall, I think everything is great!

If you'd like to see all of them you can go HERE. I'm just going to post the video that has me in it the most (natrually) and the cover of Martyr ADs "American Hollow".

Intro/First Song


Martyr AD "American Hollow"

Drum Tensions For Tama Swingstar

For personal reference.

10x12:
Remo coated emperor- 75
Remo clear ambassador- 80

16x16:
Remo coated emperor- 73
Remo clear ambassador- 80

18x22:
Remo Fiberskin 3-Reso: 70
Remo Powerstroke-kick side- 70

Kits In The Stude.

My good friend Jared is an Audio Engineer & Producer. He's a great guy and good at what he does. Recently Jared has gotten the opportunity to assist recording a record of a very recognizable band. I couldn't be anymore stoked for him. Jared sent me a bunch of pictures from the studio that he has been at for the past week or so. They look totally unreal!

I naturally took a liking to one of the photographs specifically.


Here is a shot of Joe Zizzos kit from The Sleeping set up in Applehead Recording Studio in Woodstock, NY.

Here is the kit on the Truth Drums website:

turquoise ripple, beavertail lugs, vintage spurs.

The most sincere congrats to Jared! Way to go man! I'm super excited to hear the record! I can't wait to experience all the new found knowledge he's learning the next time I lay anything down with him!

Book Snare.

I wish that I thought of it! I suppose that I could always still do it, but with Bukowski books. Still wouldn't be all THAT original, so I will most likely refrain. I just thought it was really cool.

Wheres Your Showmanship!?

I totally back this! It doesnt show how many people are actually there but it could be 300 it could be 30 and that dude is going all out and having a blast as if he was playing to 1 million people. Thats exactly how I feel about drumming. I love stick tricks and he has a huge bag full of them.

Once you get past how ridiculous it looks, you start to appreciate how amazing it is. So into that flame Ludwig kit!

Makes me think of Animal from the Muppets. So here is a video of Animal and the mighty Buddy Rich slaying.

This Is Awesome

Lady GaGa "Telephone" drum cover.

I havent posted anything drum related in a really long time. I came across this browsing around and was like "okay, ill check it out" thinking it wouldnt be anything too special. Its actually really fucking good!

Touche to this gentleman.