I had an absolute blast on Saturday evening. Played drums over at a church where friends of mine worship. Played the very sorts of songs that, as a teenager, I'd have been mortified to play; a mix of gospel and bluegrass, with a swing feel. Fantastic.
Took the 18 kick Designer setup, with the Lite snare.
Very rewarding how the drums and cymbals that have come my way, and the finger strokes I've been practicing, combine to work in a setting like that. The church is essentially a big barn, no acoustical padding at all. Cement floors, drywall walls and cathedral ceiling, and lots of windows. Reflective as can be. 60x40, with a 30 foot ceiling at it's highest point. A veritable echo chamber and nightmare for drummers. Or for any amplification, for that matter. A Bose PA took care of that end. Perfect sonic control, no hot spots, no echo, and no need for separate monitors.
Played energetically but at very low volumes, the drums filled the room with a lush percussive character that blended perfectly with the music, but never bounced back. I suppose I could have played that quietly a year ago, but not with the same energy and (to myself at any rate) interest... and almost certainly not with sticks.
However, good as all that was, the best part of the evening was sharing the stage with Lily, who sang the caulk right out of the joints in the roof.
Practice pays off.
Praise God. Really looking forward to putting together a band with Lily.
