Twentyish Drummer Questions Volume Sixty: Matt Climer!
Drum interview!
1. How long have you been a drummer?
13 years.
2. When/why did you decide to be a drummer?
I was in 6th grade and my parents made me take up an instrument. I insisted that the only instrument I would play would be drums and they finally caved. 13 years later it seems like the right choice.
3. What kind of set did/do you play?
When I first started I had a 5 piece Peace kit with some Sabian B8 cymbals. Ya know, it was a start. Since I was 17 I've had a 4 piece Mapex Pro M "honey yellow" kit. I use an old Yamaha brass snare (my favorite drum) and use a 22" Zildjian Medium Ride, 20" Sabian HHX Explosion Crash and either a 19" Sabian HHX Extreme crash or a 19" Zildjian A Custom Rezo Crash. Normally I use Dream 14" hi hats but mine are currently thrashed.
4. What album(s) did you learn to drum to? If not an album, with whom? Or did you just bang it out?
Well, I took lessons for a few years with a couple different teachers but I was too stubborn to take it seriously (in hindsight I should have) because I just wanted to play songs, not learn rudiments. I learned a lot of the basics though from playing along to The Hives "Hate to Say I Told You So" and various Ramones songs. From there I would just try to play along with my favorite bands at the time (NOFX, Rancid, The Clash, etc). I was poor at it but it laid the groundwork I suppose.
5. When you started out, did you buy so many accessories?
Hahah, I actually didn't. I kept it pretty simple honestly. I did have a short phase with a china and a splash but I thought all those other accessories were to "bro rock" for my 12-15 year old punk mind, hahah.
6. Single or double?
Single
7. Stick size/type?
I've worked my way up to a 2B. Pro-Mark, Hickory.
8. Nylon tips, or wood?
Wood tips all the way. I can't stand the Nylon tips. They always would fall off and sounded weird to me.
9. What brand of heads do you prefer?
On my kick I go with an Aquarian Super Kick II (I think, haha). The only snare head that I've found that can withstand how I hit is the Remo Powerstroke 4. On my toms I use the Evans EC2 Coated.
10. What is your favorite cymbal of all time?
Hmmm, probably the Paiste Giant Beat Ride, Sabian 20" HHX Explosion Crash or the TRX 22" Crash/Ride.
11. What are your thoughts on china cymbals?
I wish they didn't exist, hahah, but they do. I used one for a bit many many moons ago but Jesus, they are awful.
12. How about splashes?
Maybe even worse than Chinas. Actually, yes, worse than China cymbals.
13. Where did you get your gear from?
I got my set from the now defunct George's Drum Shop in the Akron/Cleveland area. I got my cymbals from Russo Music in Asbury Park, NJ and everything else comes from Columbus Percussion here in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Percussion is amazing. I highly recommend it.
14. How do you feel about the statement “any drummer with more than a four piece set is an asshole?”
Ya know, I used to think that (and to some extent I still do sometimes) but, to each their own. It's how you play/carry yourself. Not about how many pieces you have drum wise.
15. I don't remember the specifics of which bands you are in that are active now.. What bands have you been in/are you in? Would you mind listing out a bandography for us?
Well, I play in The Sidekicks. That band started in 2004 and has been my main focus over the years. I also filled in and briefly play/played with these bands: Asinine, No Target Audience, Cleveland Undercovers (3 piece ode to Green Day where the objective was to get as fucked up as we could before we played.)
16. Where is your best performance located? (This refers to physical media.)
The most recent Sidekicks record, "Awkward Breeds". You can get it through Red Scare Industries (CD)/Really Records (LP) or pretty much all of the digital sites as well.
17. Who are your top three drummers now?
Hmmm, that's tough...
Matt O'Conke (Tin Armor)
Pat Briar (Tigers Jaw/Three Man Cannon)
John Wurster (Superchunk/ a million other bands)
18. Who were your initial top three drummers?
Damn, that's even more difficult, shit! Probably these three:
Brett Reid (Rancid)
The drummer from the Hives
Neil Hennessy (Lawrence Arms)
19. Have you ever actually stopped a cymbal crack?
Temporarily, yes! Actually, the tour that we did with Hop Along back in September all of my cymbals were cracked. My buddy Cody gave me a sheet metal tool to cut the cracks out. So, before every show I'd cut them out and it worked for quite a while until I got to a point where there wasn't enough cymbal to use, haha. Ah, the life of a broke drummer.
20. Do you play any other instruments, or do you feel like a drummer should just concentrate on doing their drummer job well?
I don't play any other instruments but that's mainly because I don't have a natural "music mind" so to speak. I mean, I have rhythm (or fuck I hope so, haha)...but it has always taken me much longer to learn things than those who can just pick an instrument, fuck around with it for a bit and then start playing. It has taken a lot of work to get where I'm at as a drummer and I still don't understand a lot of patterns, rudiments etc, haha. But, to those who can play multiple instruments, kudos!
21. How do you feel about that “This drummer is at the wrong gig" video?
I've never laughed so hard in my life hahah. I mean, what he is doing is just so fucking absurd and outlandish but, it's awesome because his tempo is spot on and he never misses a beat or drops a stick while doing all of that dumb shit. Also, the fact they are playing Sharp Dressed Man and wearing those suits makes it that much better. Little known fact about me: ZZ Top was probably my first "favorite band". I was a toddler but I used to run around the house in my diaper while their music was playing and would get a white towel out of the bathroom and put it over my face to mimic their beards. Now here I am as a 25 year old with a real life beard. Weird.
22. What is your signature move?
Hahah, umm, screaming/yelling beating my thigh to the point of being permanently bruised because my hand hits that spot every time I hit my snare. Breaking sticks/cymbals and having fun? That's a signature move, right? Hahah.
23. What cd do you put in just because the drums are amazing?
That's tough, here's a few:
Both Tin Armor records: Matt O'Conke is the master of the fill. Simple, tasteful and interesting.
Hop Along "Get Disowned: Marky may be the best drummer I know. Sits back in the pocket and comes up with really interesting parts.
Brand New "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me": the tones are insane. They just punch you in the face and the performance is absolutely flawless.
24. What would be the most exciting fill in spot for you; the kind where you would puke from excitement before going onstage?
The Replacements, without a doubt. I would puke/shit everywhere. Close runners up would be Tin Armor and Superchunk.
25. Shoe preference or no shoe?
Cowboy boots with a large heel.... Haha, nah, just whatever shoes I'm wearing at the time. Normally my Vans.
26. How do you feel about playing to a click track?
I've actually never tried to play to a click before.. It's something I'm open to for sure but, we (the Sidekicks) have always wanted our records to feel very organic and natural so it just hasn't happened yet. I think I may start practicing with one though, just to try it out.
27. Is there any better feeling than a freshly cleaned, shiny drum set gives you?
I'd imagine the answer would be no but to be honest I haven't cleaned my set in a very very long time . I love having freshly cleaned cymbals though, and the feel of a fresh pair of sticks is the best. No better feeling than that.
28. Are you concerned at all about the type of wood that sticks, the kit, and. etc are made out of?
Yeah, I suppose I'm a bit particular about that stuff. I'll never buy sticks that aren't hickory because I've had bad experiences with other woods (oak particularly). They would just snap so easily. Sometimes it's a bad stick but I found that hickory has held up the best for me in the stick department. I really love Maple shells for the kit. I feel like it's the most safe route to go and they sound so warm but pack a good punch to them. I'm not into those acrylic sets and all of that nonsense. I was against metal snares for the longest time but then I turned the corner when I got my brass snare. It was still deep and very warm but the crack and how loud it was really blew me away.
29.Do you use different sticks for different songs, depending on need?
No, I'm normally always sticking to my 2B's. Very rarely, I'll step down to a 5B when playing a faster jam. Using the 2B's is almost like using a donut while on deck in baseball or something. It warms ya up and then you more to the lighter stick and it can speed your up some. That's on some rare occasions though. I just like the feel of 2B's.
30. What are your thoughts on triggers?
Yuck, nah, not for me. It's just too fake sounding. I remember when we were on tour w/ Say Anything they used them. I'd listen out front for a minute and be like "whoah, they made his drums sound a lot better (to my liking at least) and then I'd go to the side of the stage and be like "oh wait, nevermind, they still sound well, crappy" haha. To each their own but I'm not into triggers much.
31. Fill in the blank:
Best word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: Solid, powerful.
Worst word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: "The drummer with the weird set up".
Word (phrase) that you are aiming for while drumming: Hard-hitter, steady tempo.
Dear Matt,
This was RIGHTEOUS.
Sincerely,
Basher