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WEBSITES:
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BIOGRAPHY:
Joe when did you start playing drums? I started playing drums when I was twelve. I got my first kit for Christmas that year, which really ticked off my older brother, cause he had been asking for one for years. He was gracious enough to show me the basics of how to get my hands and feet working together, and I pretty much took it from there.
Do you play any other instruments?
I play a little guitar…at least enough to do a cover song or two. I also sing, which is what I originally went to college to study. Then I joined a rock band and figured I’d better get a business major…just in case.
How did you get hooked up with NEEDTOBREATHE?
We all grew up in the same town, so I’ve known the guys since I was about 13. We all did our own separate things until Bear and I went to college together at Furman, where we started NEEDTOBREATHE our freshman year. A few years later Bo and Seth joined the band and stuff really started to come together. We’ve been hitting it hard ever since.
What's your favorite NEEDTOBREATHE song to play?
Right now my favorite song to play is “More Time.” That song feels amazing live. It’s so fun to play because I use mallets, hot rods, and sticks all in the same song. Plus I get to sing some harmonies…always a nice bonus.
Who are your favorite Drummers besides Keith, Dan and Grady?
I don’t know if anybody can match the magnitude of pure awesomeness that three-headed-monster brings to the table. But, if I had to choose, I’d say my favorites are Dave Grohl, Matt Cameron and John Bonham (of course). I’m not a fan of a lot of flashy drumming. I like guys who can really lay down a solid groove and give a song exactly what it needs and every now and then throw in something that really blows your mind.
How do you develop your drum parts? As a band, in the studio, whatever just explain the process a little to us.
I develop my parts differently, depending on the song. Sometimes I’ll come up with a part that I love on my own and let the guys build a song around it. Other times they’ll have a certain part that they’re really set on, but most of the parts evolve as we work on the songs. Bear and Bo write constantly, so there’s always fresh material to work with. One of the benefits of having our own studio is that we’re not pressured to do a lot of writing when we go in to make the actual record. We can go through several stages of demos to really get a song feeling right.
Tell us what made you fall in love with Risen. By the way, thanks for the flat screen TV's you sent each of us at the shop. That was really nice of you!
No problem! The PS3’s are in the mail. I ran across the Risen website a couple years ago when I was looking for a new kit and was really impressed with all the different styles and innovations y’all were doing. I didn’t get to sit down at a Risen kit until we did some shows with Sanctus Real and I got to use Mark’s drums the whole tour. I was blown away! They had so much warmth and power, and the tone was so clean. That clinched it for me. I called to order my kit before the tour was even over.
Tell us more why you love Risen.
I love the fact that all the guys at Risen get just as excited about drums as I do. I’ll call up with some crazy idea for a drum and Keith will be right there with me tossing around ideas. Y’all are willing to try anything when it comes to drums, and it’s really refreshing to get that kind of excitement from a drum company.
Why did you go with a 24" kick drum?
I had always played a 22” kick, but I wanted something a little fatter sounding. My 24”x14” has a huge low-end, but it doesn’t sound too flabby, like some of the other larger kick drums I’ve heard. It’s really fat, but the tone is still very controllable. Plus, it’s a universal fact that bigger drums look cooler.
Do you prefer wood snares or metal snares and for what applications? (like wood live or metal in studio or whatever)
In the studio the snare I use depends completely on the song. In general I use wood snares for slower ballads and metal for the more up-tempo rock tracks, but you never really know what the “perfect snare” will be until you get in there and start hearing how everything sounds in the context of the song. On our new record, “The Heat,” I used wood, metal and acrylic snares. It’s always better to use what complements each song, rather than what you think you’re “supposed to use.” In live settings I generally prefer wood snares. They tend to be more versatile. My latest Risen snare is absolutely amazing live! It’s a 14”x8” 10-ply maple snare with single flange hoops. It has great sensitivity and a ton of body, but it still has a great crack when you really lay into a rim shot. It’s hands-down the best snare I’ve ever owned.
We know where you get your drums but we gotta know where you get your sweet hats? Come on share the goods. Between you and Keith I think we could do a feature on how to play great and look great doing it!
I find hats in random places whenever we’re out on the road. I’m kinda scared that it’s on the verge of becoming an addiction. It’s hit or miss a lot of the time, though, cause I’ve got a pretty huge dome. Maybe Keith and I should team up and start a clothing line. Watch your back, P. Diddy! |
