Music
I've played drums in bands since I was 15 years old, but I started playing snare drum in the 5th grade when a music teacher came to my elementary school and had auditions for his drumming class. I had never played before but apparently I had rhythm because I passed the audition and made the class! From then on I was hooked.
From 5th grade until the first time I sat behind a drum kit in the 9th grade, I would bang on our family's coffee table with drum sticks. I pretty much demolished that thing. In high school, a friend of a friend had a kit at her house and she was kind enough to let me sit behind it. The first song I played was "Love Is A Slug" by Fuzzbox. It's not a very difficult song so I could actually play it. I still remember the euphoric feeling I had from that, and the massive headache I got from the loud noise that I wasn't used to.
During the summer between 9th and 10th grades I formed my first band with my best friends. We were called The Initiative and we played covers of The Cure, The Smiths, Stone Roses... all that great 80s music. Since then I've been in a million bands, some "successful", most not.
I studied at UCLA where I graduated with a B.A. in music (summa cum laude, thank you very much). During this time I focused on classical percussion and played in ensembles and orchestras such as the UCLA Symphony & Phiharmonia, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Idyllwild Arts Orchestra, and the American Youth Symphony among others.
Below are some links to some of the music and moments I'm most proud of...
Ninja Academy - A bass and drums instrumental duo. Yes, we dressed like ninjas. We rarely play out these days.
Evangenitals - Alt-country-ish? Kinda hard to describe. You should just come and see us play.
Do Something - Good 'old fashioned Rock & Roll but without guitar. Instead? Violin!
Zach Dracula - A three-piece bucket of noise rock. (No music on Spotify or Apple yet but see video below)
Fish Circus - Quirky & theatrical rock/pop with odd time signatures and a fantastic live show. We very rarely play out anymore since our singer lives in Las Vegas and our bass player lives in Spain. When he comes to town we may play in Vegas or the L.A. area.
Funeral Party - Rock band, used to be signed to Sony. I got to tour the world with them, play major festivals and be on TV. No longer together.
Ninja Academy
Your Kung Fu Sucks! music video. Directed by Rachel Tejada. 2006.
The Evangenitals
Here we are covering The Devil Went Down to Georgia in San Francisco at the El Rio for their annual shit-kicking Memorial Day event in 2017.
The rhythm section and violinist for The Evangenitals is actually also Do Something, so this is technically a Do Something cover.
Zach Dracula
This is from our first show at the Redwood Bar in downtown L.A. 2024.
Do Something
This was shot as a promotional video at Fiddle Dan's school's auditorium. 2023. He's a music teacher!
Funeral Party
Our performance on Late Night with David Letterman in 2011. No longer together.
Fish Circus
Live at The Beauty Bar in Las Vegas in.... ?
We have been doing a yearly show in August in Vegas lately.
I'll add to this as I do more performances and get more videos.