Freese Takes All

Halloween night I got a call from a friend who had an extra ticket to see Ninch Inch Nails at the Summet Center in Nashville, and honestly, I've been a bit of a distant fan of there's over the years, but an appreciator non-the-less.

There was no question, I was going..

Since this was a last minute thing, I was in a state of less expectancy. Oblivious in some sense yet curious. The stage was flat black, simple looking as the house lights were on and we waited.

Lights went down and the full band starts out rocking, lights flashing. The norm of what to expect from a rock show. Halfway through the second song the drummer, out of nowhere, spits out these amazing single stroke 16th note fills that were seamless. "I know that I know this drummer." I couldn't see him clear because we're in a suite on the second level..

Our friend James splirts out the drummers name... no other than Josh Freese.. Of course! He started playing with them back in 2005. Them and everyone else respectable... practically.

It just got better. And better.

What other drummer could come in and play a show like this and be this eclectic? Josh Freese ladies and gentleman. The dude has played on many modern pop and non-pop records you've heard. I'll just let you look him up on wikipedia for the mass discography.

He hit the highs and the lows of the set perfectly. At one point in the set the band plays a musical interlude where the singer is on a marimba and a mod, the guitar player on a xelaphone, there were keys, Freese had a stripped down kit with triggers and a bunch of rad sounding axilery percusion. It ruled. Not to mention that all there drums sounds kick butt.

By the end of the jam, he was playing completely around the beat, but in time. Fills were well placed. One of the best shows I've seen all year.

Drummers, musicians, live music appreciators, if you have a chance to see NIN when they come to town.. make that happen. And Drummers, Freese doesn't disapoint.

I haven't even started talking about how killer the visual aspect of the show were.

But, this being a drum blog, I'll just let you know that it is one of the greatest visual shows that I can ever remember seeing.

Totally worth it. Great band. Great drummer. Makes all the difference.

Looking for more on Freese?
You should check out this Modern Drummer issue, there's a great interview about his session work and how he lays it down for such a collective drummer as himself. Check it.